Chapter 53 Caught in the act
CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
LINT CORPORATION
“Sir Ian.” Ramsey popped his head in at first.
“Yes, Ramsey.” Ian looked up from the system.
“I just received a call from the interior designers.” Ramsey said as he walked into the office.
“So what did they say?” Ian asked.
“They are ready to check out the place.” Ramsey replied.
“Alright send the address to them. You still have the keys right?” Ian glanced down at the system again.
“Yes sir.”
“Good…” Ian tapped on the desk softly with his index finger. “Do I still have any meeting today?” He requested.
Ramsey’s eyes were now glued to the tablet. “No more meetings sir but Limos Company sent an official mail around eight o’clock and it stated that the CEO wants to see you.” He answered.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
“Drake Robert isn’t ready to give in to our demand of forty five percent of the deal so that can wait. I will attend to the issue later.”
Setting up Ria’s place is more important to Ian Bryant even though Ria Robert thinks they are just business partners! And she has been doing things strictly on business! That’s the deal so Ian Bryant is also just going with the flow and see how the thing goes.
Ian was super relief and excited when Ria didn’t yell at him last night after she found out the truth about his previous plans. And he was glad that he was able to man up and explain things to her. To be honest, his make up plans would have involved taking her on a date or a picnic but Ria wants to keep things on a business level with him. Strictly business!
“What should be the response to the email sir?” Ramsey asked in a polite tone.
“Send an official email to Limos and tell them we are not changing our mind. It is a forty five percent or no deal at all.” Ian stated.
Ramsey nodded in understanding. “Okay sir. Anything else?”
“Since you said that I don’t have any meeting…” Ian paused to check his wrist watch. The time was 10:45 a. m and Ria hasn’t called him. Ian had told her that he would be free by 10:00 a. m so he has been expecting at least a flash to remind him or notify him that she was ready. Or has she taken a taxi to the store? Ian pondered.
“Ramsey.” Ian called.
“Yes sir.”
“Go and meet those designers while I meet up with Ria. You wait for us at the place.” Ian instructed.
“Okay sir.” Ramsey bowed slightly before exiting the office.
Ian picked up his cellphone and dialed Ria’s number but she didn’t pick up the call. “What’s wrong?” He mumbled.
Ian dialed Ma’am Elise number and she picked on the first ring. ‘Hello ma’am Elise.’ He sighed in relief when she picked up the call.
‘Oh mr Ian, how are you doing today?’
‘I am fine. Please is Ria there with you?’
‘No. Is she not with you?’ She asked in a surprised tone.
‘No. We both agreed that I would come and pick her up by 10:00 or anytime she is ready to go to the store but she hasn’t called me.’
‘She went out not too long ago. So I guess she is still at the kids school.’
‘Is everything okay with the Phoebe and Phoenix?’
‘No problem at all. The school principal called today and said that she wants miss Ria to make a new design for the school uniform.’ Ma’am Elise explained.
‘So she will be at the school as we speak right?’
‘Yes. But I was hoping she would have called and told you about it. Well maybe she didn’t want to stress you. I can send the school address to you to meet up with her.’ Ma’am Elise offered.
A bright beam displayed on his face. “I would really love that, ma’am Elise.”
‘Okay. As soon as I drop this call, I’ll send it to you.’
‘Thank you, ma’am Elise.’ Ian hang up the call.
He stood up from the swivel chair and walked out of the office. “Ramsey, tell Ben to bring the keys to me downstairs.’
“Okay sir.” Ramsey acknowledged.
Ian’s phone beeped. It was a message from Ma’am Elise.
************
OWEN THOMAS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
Ria listened to Principal Brenda as she talked about the complaint of parents at the last PTA meeting. “The parents complained that the school uniform is so old fashioned. So they want something smart on the kids.”
Ria shook her head. “Something like this…” Principal Brenda showed Ria a design on her phone. “A parent suggested this at the meeting but I feel this might turn out to be is too short for the kids.”
“This is way out of it. This design looks like a club dress.” Ria complained. The dress was short! There is no way Ria would allow Phoebe come to school in something like this.
“What do you suggest?” Principal Brenda heaved a sigh of frustration. It was so obvious that the issue was beginning to stress her out.
“We can make it longer, I mean pass knee length or I make another design for you.” Ria replied.
“Make it pass knee length a bit and then add your designs too.” Principal Brenda said.
“So are you changing the color of the uniform? Or you want to maintain the initial color?” Ria asked.
“No, I don’t intend to change the color only the style and pattern.” Principal Brenda responded.
“Okay.” Ria shook her head in understanding.
“So how do we go about it?” Principal Brenda requested.
“Will you be the one buying the material so I can make a sample?” Ria asked.
“Yes please.”
“Okay. I’ll be busy for sometime -”
Principal Brenda interrupted her sentence “So you won’t be able to help us?”
“I will be able to help as soon as I finish the work at hand. I will start if you are ready by that time.” Ria answered.
Principal Brenda screwed up her face. “Miss Ria, I am ready. Look, I am tired of receiving calls from parents asking if the new design is in progress.”
“I am sorry about the stress. Let’s do this…” Ria paused. “Okay.. I will make out time for you. So please get the materials and I will make a sample so you can show it to the parents.” Ria replied.
“Thank you, miss Ria. I really appreciate it.”
Ria brought out a notepad and pencil and wrote down the necessary things to make a sample of the uniform. “Here.”
Principal Brenda collected the paper from her. “I will call you as soon as I select a material. Thank you once again, Miss Ria.”
Ria stood up from the chair. “You are welcome.”
Principal Brenda did the same too. She followed Ria out of the office, they walked down the silent hallway and then out of the building.
“Bye, Miss Ria.” Principal Brenda waved before walking back inside the school.
Ria glanced down at her watch, it is five minutes passed eleven. “Ian must be very worried.” She mumbled.
They had agreed that he would bring her to the store but plans changed after she received a call from Principal Brenda. The old lady sounded so desperate so Ria couldn’t turn her down. So Ria decided had to see her first before heading to the store.
Ria took out her cellphone from her handbag. She saw six missed calls from Ian and two missed calls from ma’am Elise. She didn’t hear the phone ring because it was on silent.
“Perhaps, is he at home waiting for me? What if the call is to inform me that he can’t make it? Oh my goodness, maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to him driving me to the store.” Ria bantered loudly.
The cellphone in her hand vibrated. She looked at it and saw Ian as the caller’s ID.
‘Hello -”
‘Were you ignoring my calls?’ Ian said as soon as she picked the call.
‘No. I am sorry. I was busy.’
‘Where are you?’
‘I am at the kids school.’
‘Stay right there I am coming to pick you up.’
‘No.. no Ian, you don’t have to come pick me up. I am already outside the building and ready to hail down a taxi.’
‘Ria, wait for me. I am almost there.’
No it can’t be! If Ian is still at the office then she would have to wait for long. The drive should be about twenty five minutes from his office.
‘I am in a taxi now!’ Ria lied. She was just about to cross the street and stop a taxi.
The truth is, she doesn’t want Ian to stressing himself to drive from the office to this place, then to the store and back to her place before he leaves for his place too.
‘What? You are in a taxi?’ Ian sounded like he knew she was lying to him.
‘Yes.’
Ian chuckled. ‘Turn around.’
‘What?’
‘Ria, turn around and look down the block.’ He instructed.
Ria did as he said and she saw his figure leaning against his car at the end of the block on the other side. He waved at her.
Ria disconnected the call. “What have I done? How did he get here? Ma’am Elise must have given him the address.” She let out a heavy breathe before crossing the street.
Ian entered his car and drove to her side and stopped right in front of her. He motioned to Ria to come in but she was too embarrassed to even look at him. She lied and he caught her in the act!