Blind Billionaire Bride

IDAHO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT FREDERICK ROBERT MANSION

“Darling.”

Mrs Vivian Robert called at her husband as she stepped into the luxurious living room.

Mr Frederick Robert sat on the couch with a newspaper high up in the air. “What is it, Vivian?” He asked, bringing the newspaper down a bit to look at her.

“I am traveling to Chicago.” Mrs Vivian said.

Mr Frederick dropped the newspaper and stared at her in shock. “Why? When? You didn’t–” He paused to study her expression.

Vivian hardly makes a request to go on a vacation outside Idaho. Not that she hasn’t been out of Idaho to other states or countries but she doesn’t fancy traveling all around the world. She would rather stay back at home or spend time with her friends having dinners.

“I know you are wondering why I want to travel to Chicago.” Mrs Vivian sat next to her husband on the couch.

Mr Frederick cleared his throat. “Yes, I am surprised but don’t get me wrong. I am not saying you shouldn’t travel but I am only disputing the fact that you chose Chicago. There are better places to go on a vacation.”

Mrs Vivian let out a handful of breathe. “I am not going on a vacation. Moreover, have you forgotten I said that I would only consider going on a vacation after I must have seen a grand child?”

Oh yes! Mrs Vivian always says that too anytime her husband asks her to go on a vacation with him. “I remember.” Mr Frederick shook his head. Thank goodness they would have a grandchild soon!

“Listen, at dinner yesterday my friends didn’t stop talking about this new clothe store in Chicago because some of them even went to the launch party. I watched it online. Darling, you really need to see those stunning dresses in that store! Even the designer is currently famous on National Tv, billboards and fashion magazines.”

Mr Frederick listened to his wife rattled on about the famous clothe designer and her store in Chicago. Mr Frederick wondered how on earth the store and clothe designer was his concern.

Mrs Vivian came closer, she collected the newspaper and tossed it aside. “Watch this.” She placed her iPad on his palm. “You will be amazed.” She clicked on the screen and played a video.

Mr Frederick saw a big building with a designer brand of RRC engraved at the entrance. It was beautiful! The whole place was crowded and there was barely any space for people to walk around.

“Whoever owns this business must be rich because the whole items used were of high standard.” Mr Frederick commented.

“Exactly!” Mrs Vivian snapped her fingers. “This is the launching of the store. It took place three days ago.” She added.

“Isn’t that Jack Bryant’s?” Mr Frederick pointed to Ian Bryant when he saw him.

“Yes. He is partnering with the clothes designer.” Mrs Vivian replied.

“Well maybe because his family is running a textile company.” Mr Frederick shrugged.

“I guess so. My friends mentioned something about the clothes designer signing a partnership contract with Lint Corporation main textile branch in Chicago. Look Perla was there too. I heard she planned the whole event.”

“Really?” Mr Frederick arched his eyebrows in surprise.

“Yes. The whole place was filled with famous business people in Chicago. There she is again.” Mrs Vivian pointed at Mrs Perla again.

Then Mr Frederick saw Mrs Perla Bryant talking to a group of women. “What is RRC?” He asked.

He had to ask because RRC was engraved on the walls and windows and they even showed it on a dress tag a woman was holding.

“It is like a clothing brand. And it means Ria Robert Couture.”

“Ria Robert Couture?” Mr Frederick repeated.

“Look at her! She is the famous clothe designer!” Mrs Vivian screamed as she pointed at a beautiful and elegant lady on a blue gown. She was walking up to a podium.

Mr Frederick swallowed hard. “She is a beauty goddess!” Mrs Vivian exclaimed.

Mr Frederick shifted uncomfortably on the couch as he stared at the image of the lady smiling so happily on the phone.

“Her name is Ria Robert.” Mrs Vivian said.

The name echoed in Mr Frederick’s head. She looked like someone he used to know but he was trying not to think she is the one!

“This lady has been through a lot in life.” Mrs Vivian sighed.

“How do you know?” Mr Frederick asked.

“She shared her life experience in an interview on national TV and even in this video. Listen.” Mrs Vivian increased the volume and clicked on the iPad screen to forward the video.

The clapping ended abruptly and the lady named Ria Robert continued. “I was once a blind lady with a dream of becoming a clothe designer. You might be wondering how possible that would be because of my disability. The truth is I was blind but I had a dream. At that point being disabled made that dream seemed like a burden to me because I was hopeless.”

Mr Frederick heart beats rapidly at her words. This lady was once blind.

“Her life story has served as an inspiration to many women and young teenagers. She was blind but she still held on to those dreams. Isn’t that wonderful?” Mrs Vivian asked but her husband didn’t give an response.

Mr Frederick was trying to put things up in his head. This Ria Robert was once blind but now she can see. He has known just one Ria Robert in his entire life and she was a little blind girl who happened to be late step brother’s child. He didn’t know much about the child though.

It can’t be possible. This Ria Robert can be the same Ria Robert he had gotten rid of years ago.

“I want to meet her too.” Mrs Vivian blurted as she stare at the devise.

Mr Frederick heard just clapping from the crowd now. He didn’t pay attention to what his wife had said about meeting the famous clothe designer. He was lost in deep thought.

“Are you okay darling?” Mrs Vivian screwed up her face when she looked at her husband.

Mr Frederick jolted out of thought. “Yes.. yes.. I am fine.” He stuttered.

“Are those sweats?” Mrs Vivian pointed out.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Mr Frederick touched his forehead only to realize that he was sweating. “Yes… I am just feeling hot. It must be the weather.” He cleared his throat and gave the device back to his wife.

“But the air conditioner is on and it is not sunny today.” Mrs Vivian arched her brows in confusion.

“I’ll just take a shower and rest.” Mr Frederick stood up from the couch.

“Okay. But can I go to Chicago?” A smile grazed her face.

“For what?” Mr Frederick stopped on track without turning to face his wife.

“I want to get dresses for myself, Bay and Serena from Ria Robert Couture.” Mrs Vivian answered with excitement in her tone.

He closed his eyes at the mentioned of that name. “We’ll discuss it later.” He signed.

“Why not now?” Mrs Vivian frowned.

Mr Frederick turned sharply. “Are really going to do this to me? Chicago of all places? Don’t get on my nerves, Vivian.” He raised his hands up to silence her.

Mrs Vivian stamps her feet on the floor like a child as her husband walked away to the bedroom.

Mr Frederick Robert paced to and fro when he got to the bedroom. It is not a good idea for his wife to meet Ria Robert. If this Chicago famous clothe designer is the same Ria Robert then there is a big problem! But she can’t be one. He pondered deeply.

Mr Frederick remembered Lucas said that he had fun with the little girl in his car and threw her off a cliff. Ria Robert is dead.

“But what if Lucas had spared her life but lied to me?” He thought.

No. No. No. Ria Robert is dead! Frederick was disturbed. He can’t sit back now that he knows there is another Ria Robert in Chicago!

“And looking at her closely, she looks so much like Madison, Ria’s mother and that her vibrant aquamarine eyes looks like that of my step mother’s.” Mr Frederick bantered internally.

He stopped pacing. “I have to do something before things gets out of hand! I need to find out the truth!” He concluded.

But how?

Some minutes later, it struck him that there was only one way to find out the truth about what happened eight years ago.

***********

AT LIMOS COMPANY

Drake sat at his desk. This time he wasn’t handling any task neither was he signing off deals. He was staring at an image on the system. The image of Ria Robert! He met her at the BMW party and it was hard for him to take his eyes off her the moment his gaze fell on her.

She was beautiful! Drake admitted that he hasn’t seen any woman as beautiful as Ria Robert! At that moment he had set his eyes on her, he would have made his move on her but he couldn’t do it because she was with Ian Bryant. She was his date.

Drake had searched the room for Ian Bryant even as he greeted some business associates in Chicago but all thanks to Harvey Wesley who had told him where he could find Ian in the part of the crowded room. Harvey didn’t warn Drake that he was going to see a beauty goddess with Ian Bryant so he wouldn’t have drooled when he saw Ria Robert.

At first Drake felt this happiness within him when he introduced himself to Ria. His first impression about her was that she was a business woman who was just talking to Ian Bryant so he thought that he would take the chance when she said Ria Robert. But she turned out to be Ian Bryant’s date.

Drake noticed something strange about her while he studied her carefully. Ria’s smile had disappeared the moment Ian introduced him properly to her. Even though she had tried to maintain equanimity but she failed at it.

“Ria knows my father? No she said that she has heard about him. Of course! Everyone should know Frederick Robert the famous business tycoon in Idaho.” Drake sighed.

But Ria had excused herself to use the restroom and it had sounded lame to him. The surprised look after he confirmed that Frederick Robert was his father, the need to visit the restroom, and leaving at a close run. Perhaps was she too pressed at that moment? Was it what he had said? He mused.

“No I didn’t even get to say too much just my name and position. Maybe it was the way I stared at her. Damn! It was hard to not stare. Still I shouldn’t have stared too much but I couldn’t control watching such beauty.” A slow smile crept on his face as he recalled that moment.

Ria Robert must be the type of woman who doesn’t like men staring at her and taking in her beauty. But that’s impossible! She was irresistible! And her beauty was enough to cause traffic on highway! Ian didn’t tell Drake too much about Ria when he asked who she was.

“She is my date.” Ian had clarified but he also sounded like he was warning Drake to back off and not get silly ideas in his head.