CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA


    AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT


    TWO WEEKS LATER


    It was time! The day tounch “RIA ROBERT COUTURE” after several weeks of setting up! The inside was what one could imagine as high decorations, white walls, windows and the huge ss entrance has Ria’s designer brand “RRC” engraved on it.


    Clothing racks filled with clothes, glittery gowns and silk dresses in different style and beautiful color schemes. These dresses were designed and made by Ria and with the help of her sewing team, ma’am Elise, ma’am Loretta, Cassidy, Phoebe and Phoenix. They had spent weeks working on each dresses to put it up for this day.


    Dresses over the whole sections. There were a lot of them. Twodies standing at each rack to attend to people. Due to the publicity and invitation that has been sent out, people showed up for the event. So many people walked in and out of the building most especially high and mighty people of high ss intelligence.


    It was a sight to bear! A dreame true for Ria Robert.


    “This is incredible!” Ma’am Elise screamed.


    “Yes! I am super excited because people really turned up for theunch party!” Cassidy pped in excitement.


    “Yeah. I think giving out the invitation cards really helped.” Ma’am Loretta added


    “Hey, have you guys seen Phoebe and Phoenix around?” Ria demanded as she grabbed her dress from the single rack.


    “They must be with Mr Ian.” Cassidy replied


    “He is here?” Ria asked again as she stared down at her dress. She hasn’t seen him since he left her new homest night.


    “Yeah. I saw Mr Ian with his mother a while ago.” Cassidy responded.


    “Well… maybe he just came in because I haven’t seen him too.” Ma’am’Loretta added.


    “You should get dressed now.” Ma’am Elise said to Ria.


    “Oh yes! It is almost time for your speech.” Cassidy said as she checked her wrist watch.


    Ma’am Elise steered Ria around after she wore the gown and she also helped to zip the dress open at the side. Ria stepped carefully into the centre and carefully shifted the gown into ce around her body.


    “Did you add more weight in just few days?” Ma’am Elise giggled as she zipped the dress properly.


    Cassidy and ma’am Lorettaughed too. “I think she did.” Ma’am Loretta said as she dropped down a beaded stiletto silver heels.


    Ria was excited over the dress she had made and everything that was happening today. Ria quickly put the five inches heels on that Mrs Pe had gifted her in the morning and she found them surprisinglyfortable. Cassidy also helped in wearing the essories on Ria.


    “How do I look?” Ria swirled around for her team to see her.


    The dress was a shocking deep blue and strapless gown with a form of fitting bodice and it flowed out in stunning billowy waves of fabric to the floor. Her hair was styled elegantly into a bun sitting at the top of her head and tendrils wisps around her face. Her makeup has been wlessly applied too by a professional make up artist hired by Ian Bryant from Ziggy’s agency.


    “You look beautiful!” Cassidy pped with a bright smile on her face.


    “I think we all looked beautiful in our stunning dresses!” Ria giggled.


    “Now let us show Miss Ria to the world!” Ma’am Loretta enthused.


    They all rolled intoughter and a soft knock sounded on the door. “Come in.” Ria replied.


    Ady stepped in and bowed slightly. “It is time.” She said.


    “Oh! We will be out soon.” Ma’am Elise said to thedy.


    “Let us go.” Ria and her team filed out of the office.


    A rostrum was set up at the center part of the room that it didn’t affect the racks around. They stepped into the crowd as Ria eyes searched the room for Ian.


    “Look! He is over there!” Ma’am Elise pointed towards a direction.


    Ria looked towards the direction and her eyes found him. Ian was taller than most of the men around him. He wore a custom tailored tuxedo that fit him perfectly like a groom about to walk down an altar. No doubt, this man seems to always connect with her on a new levels. He really does.


    Ian Bryant stood tall, looking so handsome, so sexy and so mischievously sweet on top of everything else. Ian was talking to his familiar business associates and then he came to an abrupt halt when his eyes saw Ria heading towards him as she greeted people along the way with the brightest smile on her face.


    Ian gasped lowly trying to take in Ria’s beauty and her breathe caught at the same time when their gaze met. Damn! He loves every inch of this woman.


    Ian excused himself from the group and he walked few steps to meet up with her. “Wow! You look so elegant and beautiful.” Heplimented.


    Ria’s cheeks flushed pink. “Thank you. And you look stunning too.”


    “Oh really?” Ian shed her a bright smile.


    “Yes.” Ria nodded.


    “Thanks for wearing the diamonds. I think it found the rightful owner.” Ian pointed to the twenty million dors diamonds he had bought for her.


    Few days after the business men and women party, Ria tried to give the diamonds back to Ian but he refused it saying that he had bought it for her. Ria declined the gift and stated that it was too expensive and that she couldn’t own such valuable essories. Then Ian blew her mind away by telling her that she was more expensive than the diamonds! He was persistent. In the end, Ian managed to persuade Ria to ept it as a gift from him. Ria knew there was no point arguing with Ian since he wouldn’t listen so she epted the diamond and with a promise that she would keep it safe and not lose it.


    “I should be the one thanking you, Ian.” Ria held his right hand.


    “For what?” He asked.


    “Everything.” Ria said in a tight whisper.


    Ian leaned closer and whispered to her. “Like I always say, I am happy with the choice I have made.” He nted a kiss on her cheeks before locking their hands properly. The gesture made Ria’s heart heart skipped a beat at a time as she could feel her cheeks blushing.


    “Hello everyone.” The famous master of ceremony said into the microphone as he stood on the rostrum. Everyone turned to face him.


    “Shall we?” Ian asked her.


    “Sure.” Ria nodded and she slid her arm into Ian’s as they motioned towards the rostrum.


    “We are all here for theunching of this new business in the state and to also celebrate with the owner.” The master of ceremony started his introductory speech and everyone pped.


    Ria exchanged pleasantries with Mrs Pe when she got to her side. Ma’am Elise, Cassidy, Ma’am Loretta and the kids were standing close too.


    “Now let us wee thedy of the day! Thetest business woman in our state and also the newest clothe designer in the fashion world!” Everyone began to p.


    “It is no other person than… Ria Robert!” The master of ceremony called out and the pping increased.


    She walked to the rostrum with everyone taking in the beauty of Ria and the elegance of her dress. She could see everyone and everywhere from where she stood. Ria Robert didn’t prepare any speech in a note but she is depending on her heart to deliver the words.


    The pping ended abruptly and Ria began. “I don’t have much to say but I have a few words to share with everyone present here today.” She paused to steal a nce at Ian and they made a close eye contact. He gave her a thumbs up urging her to continue with her unprepared speech.


    “In life, you need to have steps to turning your dreams to reality but at the same time taking hold of those dreams isn’t an easy task to aplish. And it is not about having a dream but it is about having the courage to act on it.” She stopped again.


    “I was once a blinddy with a dream to bing a famous 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. Nevertheless, that dream I saw as a burden became a vision and that vision was so bigger than me. But along the line I wrote down my dreams and also ced it in my heart so I won’t forget it.”  Ria stopped to study the expression on their faces.


    Everywhere was surprisingly silent! She had everyone’s full attention! Then she continued “Being disabled is not an excuse to be a failure.” Ria blinked back tears as she shared the words of herte mother. She promised that she wouldn’t shed a tear today because it was a happy day! And even if she was going to cry then it would be tears of joy!


    “Those are the words of myte mother and I held on it promising her that I won’t be failure.” She continued after a momentary pause.


    “You know, God can do anything far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! And I am grateful to God and to the people in my life. To my greatestpanion-” Ria looked straight at ma’am Elise who was now wiping tears at the corners of her eyes.


    “She was my eyes when I couldn’t see, my guardian and my support in hard and good times. And I don’t know if there would be a Ria Robert today if you hadn’t stepped into my life to help me. I love you so much, ma’am Elise.” Ria smiled.


    Everyone pped. “We love you too mommy!” Phoebe and Phoenix screamed at the top of their voice from the crowd.


    “I love you too.” Ria waved at them as she muttered.


    Then she continued after the pping ended. “And to the one who I’ll forever be indebted and grateful to-” This time she focused on Ian. “I haven’t said this to you before but I am confessing it now that you are nice, kind,passionate and the most wonderful man I have ever encountered. You brought the greatest joy into my life which is helping me and making my dreams into reality. Ria Robert Couture is in existence because of you and I am grateful for everything that you have done, Ian Bryant.”


    Everyone pped again. Ian couldn’t control his emotions for Ria. He was joyful at this woman’s words to him. He could hardly believe that Ria considered him as most wonderful man.


    “A big thank you to my sewing team, ma’am Loretta and Cassidy we worked together to make these dresses you all are seeing and I also appreciate Mrs Pe Bryant for her support. It is amazing to have such a motherly figure in my life because all she ever does is care and support me.”


    Mrs Pe shed her a smile from the crowd. She was happy to be a part of Ria’s sess story.


    “If you are discouraged and feel as though your dream is dying, don’t give up! Don’t give up too soon on your dreams! Keep going. Keep dreaming that dream God has put into your heart. I mean it is always too soon to quit and remember winners never quit and-”


    “Quitters never win!” The crowd chorused.


    “Thanks foring!” The people present pped as she disappeared below the crowd level.


    “Congrattions on your business.” Ian gave Ria a bouquet which Ramsey brought to him not too long ago. He kissed her cheeks.


    “Thank you.”


    “And that was awesome Miss Ria!” Cassidy eximed.


    “You didn’t prepare a speech but I felt those words and Elise felt it too because she didn’t stop wiping her face.” Loretta giggled.


    “Those are deep words and they make me so emotional right now.” Ma’am Elise sniffed.


    Ria moved to ma’am Elise. “Now look at what you have done to these babies.” She pinched her cheeks gently.


    “She is so emotional.” Cassidy pouted.


    “Congrattions Ria.” Mrs Pe had a very bright smile on her expression.


    “Thank you ma’am.” Ria replied.


    “Come on ma’am Elise! Today is a happy day!” Cassidy cheered.


    “Yes I know. Trust me I am not sad… these are tears of joy. I am just happy. Miss Ria, congrattions on fulfilling your dream.” Ma’am Elise sobbed.


    Then Ria hugged her. “Thank you.” She whispered into her ear.


    It was only ma’am Elise that could really rte to those words about Ria’s dreams. Ma’am Elise knows her whole story and how Ria has worked really hard to fulfill these dreams and also what she has been through in thest eight years.


    “You deserve the best.” Ma’am Elise said to Ria after she calmed down.


    It was the best feeling! That joy of fulfilling your dreams! Ria blinked back tears again as she wished her parents were alive to see this day. Then she would have been the happiest person in the world today.


    “Sir, the media houses are waiting.” Ramsey whispered to Ian.


    “Mommy, can we share the candies and towels now?” Phoenix asked Ria.


    “Yes my love.” Ria replied.


    “Thanks mom!”N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    “And a kiss too.” Phoenix added.


    Ria crouched down to their sizes and they ced kisses on her cheeks before racing off to the office to grab the items they want to give out to people. They had bought the candies with their savings. Phoebe and Phoenix both insisted that they would give out candies to people when Ria told them not to worry about it but she had to agreed in the end.


    “Ria, it is time for the interview.” Ian said to her.


    Ria looked at Mrs Pe. “Can you handle it?” Mrs Pe asked.


    Ria was silent. The representatives sent from the national TV were waiting patiently outside the building.


    “I can tell them to leave if you don’t-”


    “No.” Ria cuts him off.


    It was already nned that she would be interviewed today. So telling them to leave without any good reason isn’t a good idea. Moreover it is going to help the visibility of her new business.


    “I will do it.” It is just an interview anyways but she was still a bit nervous about it.


    “Alright.” Ian smiled.


    Ria drew in a deep breathe as she followed Ian outside the building.


    “I know for sure that the interview on National Tv and few words to other media houses would help boost Ria Robert Couture poprity across the country.” Cassidy whispered to her aunt who nodded in agreement.


    Author’s note: But little did Ria Robert know that her appearance on National Tv would bring destruction to another fellow.