Chapter 22 Taking a loan
CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
AT LINT CORPORATION
Well Ma’am Elise hopes that Ian’s expression is not what it means to her. He continued. “I’ll be very honest with you, ever since I set my eyes on Ria at the park, I haven’t been at rest at all. Thank God I met her again and also thanks to you for giving me her card.”
Well to be sincere, Ma’am Elise didn’t give out Ria’s card for Ian just make a dress but it was for him to get closer to her since she noticed that he was interested in her. She had seen how concerned Ian was and how happy he was when Miss Ria was talking to Phoenix. He had looked at her differently, like he felt something for her.
“If only Ria could see him then his look would have swept her off her feet.” Ma’am Elise said to herself.
“Ma’am Elise, I will really appreciate if you tell me few things about Ria.” Ian requested.
“Huh?!” Ma’am Elise was stunned out of her thought. Everything seems to be working out the way she had envisioned it in her mind. Now the chief executive officer of the most successful company wants to know about Ria Robert!
“What do I say? There is a lot to know about Miss Ria.” Ma’am Elise muttered.
“I don’t want you to think I am trying to dig into her personal life but I just want to know about her. It might not be all but just few things would do.” Ian said.
“I will leave you two to talk.” Cassidy stood up.
“Thank you Cassidy and please try calling the baker again.” Ian replied.
“Sure.” Cassidy exited the office .
“Are you in love with Miss Ria?” Ma’am Elise blurted out unexpectedly.
Ian Bryant’s eyes widened at the question. Wait what was that spark in his eyes? “No.. no.. no.. I don’t want you to think that way. Believe me, ma’am Elise I am just concerned about Ria.” He stammered.
“Concerned? But not in love? This wealthy man is concerned and must feel something for miss Ria but he is denying it while his countenance says the opposite.” Ma’am Elise said within herself.
She stared intensely at Ian and nodded slowly. She already got what she wanted from those sparkling eyes. Ian Bryant, the chief executive officer of Lint Corporation is interested in Miss Ria Robert! She tried blink back tears at the realization.
“Someone is interested in Miss Ria but it is so sad that such doesn’t exist for her. She doesn’t care about his existence or even his kind. I am sure if miss Ria was asked to take away one thing from the world, it would be men! Yeah I know it because of what happened to her in the past. But would things have been different in her life now if she didn’t go through those horrible experiences. And sometimes I can’t help but wonder if she will ever fall in love with a man?” Ma’am Elise sighed out loud after she concluded that it is not bad to let this young man into their lives anyways.
“What exactly do you want to know about Miss Ria?” She asked.
“If it is not too personal, can you tell why she behaves unusual anytime a man is around?”
Ma’am Elise looked down at her fiddling fingers. “Mr Ian, I really want to tell about Miss Ria.. but what you just asked is too personal.”
“Is it about her past?” Ian asked.
“Yes. I am sorry but I can’t tell you about it. Miss Ria doesn’t want to share it with anyone… but maybe if you get close to her she might tell you about it.” Ma’am Elise responded.
“No.. I doubt if Ria will ever allow me close to her.” Ian rubbed his palms together.
“I must tell you that it won’t be easy but you can give it a try. Mr Ian, please don’t get close to her for that reason.” She looked straight into his eyes.
Ian Bryant had spent the whole night trying to research all kinds of phobias and he found one that seem to suit Ria’s condition. She must suffering from androphobia which is an extreme anxiety or fear of men. Victims of this kind of phobia must have been physically and sexually violated at a tender age. Ian reasoned that Ria must have been through a lot in the hands of men but it came down to the fact that it might be her husband, the father to her children.
“Yes ma’am Elise, I don’t want to be friends with her because of that. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know about it.” Ian replied.
Ma’am nodded her head. It is quite sensible. “How old is she?” He asked.
“She is twenty four years.” Ma’am Elise replied.
“What about the kids? Are they are her biological children?” Ian asked.
“No.”
“No?” Ian furrowed his eyebrows.
“Miss Ria adopted them few months ago and she is ready to raise them as her own.” Ma’am Elise explained without saying too much.
“Well I thought she birthed them when I noticed her likeness for them at the park and the hospital. What about the blindness? What’s her eye condition?”Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
“She was born blind.” Ma’am Elise replied.
Ian rubbed his palms together. He wasn’t really satisfied that ma’am Elise was giving him little details about Ria. It seemed like she was trying to be careful from spilling the huge secrets about Ria Robert.
“So has she looked into getting eyes surgery?”
Yes! Severally! Even when she was little her parents had accepted an offer that led to their death. So sad! Even Miss Ria had tried saving up but something ends up happening to her savings. Ma’am Elise wanted to reveal everything to him but she wasn’t in the best position to do so.
Instead she said, “Yes Mr Ian but you know eye surgery is expensive. Miss Ria doesn’t have that huge amount of money to get an eye surgery but our plan is to take on a loan from the bank to foot medical bills.”
Ian scrunched up his face. “A loan?”
“Yes. We are starting the process next week.” Ma’am Elise added.
Ian Bryant stared at her with a serious look on his face. “I want to help Ria.” He blurted without looking away from me.
“Help? I am afraid that I don’t quite understand what you mean by you want to help her.”
Ian cleared his throat. “I can pay the medical bills.” He said.
Ma’am Elise eyes widened in shock. “Really?! You will foot the bills?!” She was excited to hear those words but her smile dropped quickly. Oh yes! Ma’am Elise knows Ian Bryant can afford the medical bills because he is the chief executive officer of a great industry but the problem is Miss Ria will turn him down.
“I am willing and ready to do it for Ria.” Ian spoke up after noticing her change in countenance.
“You see Mr Ian I don’t have any problem with you paying the medical bills but Miss Ria won’t accept your help.” Ma’am Elise confessed.
“Why?”
Ma’am Elise heaved a sigh. “Hmm let us just say that she doesn’t trust your kind.”
“You can help me ma’am Elise. You are the closest to her so try to persuade her. It is for her good. It will be a good thing if she can see again.” Ian said in a calm tone.
“I suggest you just loan the money to her.” Ma’am Elise said.
“No I don’t want to do that. If I do that then I am only adding more to her problems. I am sure eye surgery cost thousands of dollars.” Ian replied with a raise eyebrow.
Ma’am Elise liked that he is being considerate. “Okay, I will try to talk to her.” She agreed.
“Well ma’am Elise if she doesn’t want to see me then you tell her Lauren Bryant who owns a foundation heard of her case and so she wants to help her.” Ian tried to work according to the things Cassidy had planned out.
“No.. no we don’t have to tell her a different story. It is best we tell the truth if you want to win her over.” Ma’am Elise declined.
“I just thought that it will only make her accept my offer.” Ian responded.
“No I will explain it to her in a right way. And thanks for offering to help us. I should take my leave now.” Ma’am Elise smiled.
“You are welcome. Please feel free to reach out to me if Ria needs anything.” They stood up and walked out of the office.
“I’ll talk to my personal doctor and let him know about Ria.” Ian said as they made their way to the elevator.
“Thank you, Mr Ian.” Ma’am Elise was so happy.
“Say me hi to the children and Ria too.” Soon they stepped out to the opening where the staffs bowed as they passed by. He hail down a taxi when they came out of the company.
“Bing Restaurant.” Ma’am Elise said to the driver as she entered the car.
“Okay ma’am .” The driver replied.
“Bye Mr Ian.” She waved at him.
Ian did the same before he went back to his office. “Ramsey.” He called the young man at the desk
“Yes, sir Ian.”
“Set up a meeting with Doctor Hawn.” Ian instructed.
“Okay sir.” Ramsey bowed slightly.
Ma’am Elise thought of everything she had discussed with Ian Bryant. He was willing to help but she still doubt if Ria would ever accept such help.
“How do I convince her?” She mumbled. Images flashed through her mind too. They were the most horrible moments of her life but it is all in the past now. “Why now? I should try to convince her.” The images on her mind’s eye sounds like a good way to talk to Ria Robert.
BLIND BILLIONAIRE BRIDE
(They call it madness but he calls it love)