CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA


    AT PERLA JEWELRY STORE


    It was nearly 12:00 p. m when Ian and Ria got to the Pe Jewelry Store. It was an enormous, old red building that had been renovated with an eye towards retaining the original design. The building was carved into a granite arch above the main entrance and Ria was curious to know how they came about such structure even as Ian pulled up in the private driveway and stopped the car.


    Ria couldn’t help but nce around when they stepped into the store. “Want to check out some stuffs before seeing my mom?” He asked.


    Ria figured Ian must have noticed from the way she was looking around with a surprised look on her face.  “No.. no.. I don’t need to check out anything.” Ria replied.


    Why does she need to check out anything when she doesn’t n to buy one. She can’t even afford such essories. Ria thought.


    Ian nodded in understanding and they resumed walking side by side. Every person that passed by in the store stopped to greet Ian as if he were a prodigal son returning home. There was no need to ask why most people stopped to say hello. He is Ian Bryant! He is the chief executive officer of Lint Corporation! And he is quiet popr in the business world! Plus they must greet him as the son of the owner of the store.


    “Ian.”


    Ria heard a soft voice call his name. Ian heard it too because he stopped and turned to look at the person. Ria did the same and she saw a young woman dressed in an expensive red knee length gown and matching stiletto heels and bag.


    Who is she? Ria mused as she drank in the features of the beautifuldy that walked up to them. She was absolutely pretty. Her straight molten short red hair framed her forehead in a neat fringe cut and it also tumbled over her shoulder. She has a slender shaped bleached velvety eyebrows, ck eyes, sea nymph ear, a dainty nose and plump lips. Her baster skin shimmered with the lighting in the area.


    Ria knew this young woman was rich noting from her outfit and the way she carried herself. She walked gracefully with her shoulder up. Who is she?


    Ian tucked his hands in his pocket. “Lorna.” He called at her.


    Thedy in question stared at Ria for a second before looking back at Ian. “We need to talk.” Lorna said with a frown on her face.


    “Okay.” Ian replied.


    “Privately.” Lorna said again when he didn’t make an attempt to leave.


    “Lorna as you can see I have apany.” Ian said.


    Lorna red at Ria. “Rx girl, I don’t think I want to be the one stopping you from talking to him.” Ria said to herself.


    “Heypany, I need to talk him.” Lorna said rudely.


    “Lorna-”


    “I will just give you some space to talk to her.” Ria stepped aside at least far away for them to talk privately.


    Her phone beeped. It was Cassidy then she looked back at Ian and Lorna before turning awaypletely to answer the call.


    ‘Hello Cassidy.’


    ‘Hi, Miss Ria.’


    ‘It is so good to hear from you again. How is school?’


    ‘Fine. I just finished a tutorial. Are you home?’


    ‘I am at Mrs Pe store with Ian.’


    Cassidy was silent. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you about it when we see Cassidy.’ It has been quite a while since Ria saw Cassidy because she has been busy at school but they have kept in touch via text messages.


    ‘Okay. See you tomorrow then.’ Cassidy replied.


    ‘Yeah. Take care, Cassidy.’ Ria hang up the call.


    “I am sorry for dying you.” Ria heard Ian say behind her. She turned and saw that thedy on red wasn’t around anymore. Where did she go? She pondered.


    “She already left.” Ian said as if he was reading through her mind.


    “It is okay.” Ria managed to say.


    Every part of Ria wanted to know who thatdy is to Ian. His girlfriend? Or his ex girlfriend?  But Ria cut off the thought quickly. She shouldn’t be bothered about it. She concluded.


    “Let us go. Your mom would be waiting.” Ria said and they continued walking.


    They stopped in front of a huge door. Ian opened it and stepped aside for Ria to walk in first. She did and he stepped in right behind her. The olddy sitting behind therge desk who Ria immediately recognized to be Ian’s mom stood up and met them halfway. This was Ria and Mrs Pe first meeting but they have spoken on phone thrice while she was China with Ian through a video call.


    “Good afternoon, ma’am.” Ria greeted.


    Ian stood beside Ria and perform the introduction. “Mom, this is Ria Robert and Ria meet my mom, Mrs Pe Bryant.”


    Then they both exchanged pleasantries. “Good to see you in person, Ria. Please take a seat.” She pointed to arge couch.


    Ian and Ria settled on it. “Son, did you see Lorna? She just left my office not too long ago.” Mrs Pe asked.


    “Yeah I saw her.” Ian replied after a cough in a bid to caution his mom from saying more about Lorna.


    Even his mom knows Lorna. Ria said to herself.


    “So how is business? How have you been doing, Ria?” Mrs Pe after exchanging facial signs with her son.


    “Everything is fine ma’am.” Ria answered.


    “Good to hear that.” Mrs Pe picked up a blue print file from her side and stretched it towards Ria. She leaned forward and epted it from the olddy. “It is Amber Foundation File. Madam Charity insisted that the designer should know about the foundation and kids too.” She added.


    “Is that necessary?” Ian questioned with a raised eyebrows.


    “Madam Charity insisted that the seamstress should know about her foundation.” Mrs Pe repeated.


    Ria scanned through the files. In the blue print file was the number and names of children ranging from the selected ages of six to eight.


    “Madam Charity already indicated the right figure in the file. So will you be able to make seventy dresses in less than three weeks?” Mrs Pe’s voice was so calm.


    “Yes ma’am.” Ria has to do it because she needs the money! It doesn’t matter if there are seventy children in file she could ce an advert and hire another seamstress to work with her.


    “How do you intend to make all those dresses?” Mrs Pe asked. Ria looked up at her trying to make sense of her question. “I mean will you be the only one to make all those dresses all by yourself?”


    “No, I have someone who is helping me in the business. And I might hire one more person to hasten the process of the job.” Ria responded and she noticed that Ian was busy with his phone.


    “Alright. That’s good.”


    “What sort of dress do you want for children?” Ria brought out the collections from the bag and ced it on the table.


    “I want a very beautiful and elegant gown.” Mrs Pe picked one out of three.


    Ria was a bit nervous when the olddy opened the collection. What if she doesn’t like the style in the collections? They are actually dresses Ria had designed herself when she was blind and she only got to see after the surgery. To Ria, they could pass as pretty and awesome when she got to see them after the eye surgery but for someone like Mrs Pe she was not sure if the olddy would like it.


    Ria’s phone beeped as she waited for Mrs Pe to say at least say a word. It was a message from who this time? Ian. But why did he send her a message when he was right there with her? Ria wondered even as she read the message.


    ‘Don’t be nervous. Your dresses are pretty and I am sure she would like it. I have to get somewhere quickly. I’ll be back to pick you up.’


    Ian stood up. “Mom.”


    Mrs Pe nced up at her son. “Are you leaving?”


    Ian went to her side. “Yes, I need to see someone. I will be back soon.” He kissed her cheeks and shed Ria a bright smile before walking out.


    No way! Did he just leave Ria alone with his mom?! And where was he heading to after making it clear earlier on that he was off work?! Ria heart beat elerated.


    Mrs Pe cleared her throat and Ria looked up at her. “Your collections are -” She paused with her gaze fixated on the collection.


    What is she going to say? Awful? Boring? Old Fashioned?N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    “Intriguing.” Mrs Pe said finally.


    And did she just say that?!


    “And attractive.” Mrs Pe added.


    A smile automatically formed on Ria lips immediately and she heaved a huge sigh of relief.


    “Did you make these dresses when you were blind?” Mrs Pe questioned.


    “Yes ma’am.” Ria’s face lightened up.


    “I must say that this is amazing.” Mrs Peplimented.


    Ria Robert has three collections for all the dresses she has made. Andrea put the first collections together in a folder while Mrs Elise put the second and third collections together and printed them.


    “No lies Ria, you are creative in this field.”


    “Thank you ma’am.” Ria’s cheeks flushed at her words.


    “But you can also do better than the designs in these collections. Can you make another design for the dress? A special one for me.” Mrs Pe requested.


    “Yes ma’am. What type of design do you want?” Ria brought out a notepad and a pencil.


    “I want something that would amaze everyone at the party. A one of a kind design that everyone would see at the event and they will be dying to know whoever made the dresses. Something that spells professionalism and practically designed by a clothe designer.” Mrs Pe exined.


    And that was exactly Ria’s greatest dreams! The only thing she has ever desired after regaining her sight was to be a famous clothe designer! It is what Ria wanted to be since she was a kid!


    “Let us make a sketch about the design so our next meeting will be at the Little Angels Home to take the kids measurement.” Mrs Pe said.


    “Okay ma’am.” Ria shook her head in agreement.