Chapter 68 A vengeful mission
CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT
Ian has no idea what had gone wrong with Ria and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Was it something he had done or said to her? It must be Valeria walking up to them and telling Ria that he used to date her. Ian concluded.
But what was that sudden change after Drake Robert introduced himself? Ian doesn’t know! And as much as it bugged his mind he can’t even figure out why she had cried in toilet! And the problem was that Ria wasn’t talking or even say a word since they left the party.
Ian replayed everything in his mind to see if he had missed something. Ria’s usually animated, expressive and approachable face was closed the moment she opened that door. Her expression was so distant!
Even when he had tried to talk to her about the progress of her workplace she had responded to the conversation over politely, cold and somewhat absent. Something was definitely wrong!
The Limousine driver pulled into the private driveway in Ria’s home. She got out of the car without saying anything and immediately Ian did the same too. He followed her to the front door still wondering what had made Ria change so suddenly.
Ria stood at the entrance and expected Ian to say goodnight but again he didn’t do what she expected. Instead Ian just stayed and his eyes studied her.
Several seconds passed by in silence before he cleared his throat. “I am really glad that you attended the party as my date.” He said as if it was a confession. Still she didn’t say anything.
“Ria.” Ian leaned in closely and paused.
Ian figured that it must be Valeria that triggered her mood swing this time. He blamed himself for not telling Ria about Valeria before she showed up at the party. He worked his courage before speaking up again. “Ria, I want you to listen to what I have to say. The truth is, I have thought about you since the day we met at the park.”
Ria definitely didn’t want to talk about that day and not today. Although Ria knew how much she had started to think about him since he stepped into her life to help her but she didn’t want to accept it. Especially not now that the air around them seemed to have taken a shift to intimacy.
So instead she said. “I should probably go in and rest. You should do the same too. It is late.”
Ian ignored the exit line and just went on to looking into her eyes. “It is almost like I have been carrying around a part of you since then.”
And certainly Ria realized that she had been carrying around a part of him ever since she started suspecting that she might possibly be attracted to him too. But again, it is not something she wanted to say and she doesn’t want to feel the effect of his words within her.
“Listen Ria.” He tried to hold her hand but she hid them behind her back.
“Don’t do this to me, Ian.” She whispered.
“Don’t do what to you?” He looked straight into her eyes.
The stern look made it hard for her to maintain her train of thought. Did he have to look at her that way?
“Don’t compliment me. Don’t be too nice to me. Don’t try to make me believe that-”
“What do you want me to do? Insult you?” Ian asked.
“That’s not what…” Her voice broke off when tears was about to spill down her cheeks again.
Ian leaned forward just slightly though. Was he testing her resolve? Was he wondering what she would do if he touched her? Or was he going to kiss her again?
“Let us just be business partners and… nothing more.” It took her a lot of courage to say that to him
Ian breathed out heavily. “Is that what you want?” He asked.
“Yes.” Ria said before she even decided which it was.
But her own tone was almost a whisper because her resolve was really weak. And at that moment, her gaze attached itself to his lips but just as she thought he was going to close the inch and press his lips on hers, he took in her words and drew back.
“Maybe. You are right.” Ian said.
There was actually a part of Ria that told her that no she wasn’t right! A part of her that craved that almost kiss but it shouldn’t be happening.
So Ria drew back too and stood a little taller. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ian muttered.
Ria removed the jacket hanging around her shoulder and she gave it back to him. “Sleep well.”
Ian turned back to his car while Ria slipped inside when the car drove away. Then Ria realized that she felt something for him! She was even more attracted to him now! But with what she just found out tonight, Drake Robert, Frederick Robert and the decision to get revenge there was no way she could give in to being attracted to Ian Bryant. She had too much at stake.
Tears burned down her cheeks when she recalled the look on Ian’s face when she had clarified things. Business partner and nothing more.
“Miss Ria.” Ma’am Elise called.
Ria went to her quickly and wrapped her arms around her immediately. “Ma’am… Elise.” She sobbed.
Ria lasted about two minutes in tears. Her hands were shaking when ma’am Elise led her to the couch.
“What’s wrong?” Ma’am Elise asked.
Ria took in a shaky breathe. The thought of her parents set the tears flowing again. “Just relax and tell what happened at the party.”
Ria nodded. “I.. I.. met Frederick’s son at the party.” She said.
“What?!” Elise jaw dropped. “Hold up… no.. wait… which Frederick?”
Ria stood up and paced the room. “The same one that ordered the killings of my parents!”
“Unbelievable!” Ma’am placed her hands on her mouth.
“This guy came to Ian and introduced himself as Drake Robert.” Ria cried.
“How sure are you that he is your uncle’s son? I mean, he could be another Robert.” Ma’am Elise scrunched up her face.
“He is the chief executive officer of Limos company in Idaho. And I even asked if he was related to Frederick Robert. He said yes that… Frederick is his Father.” Ria explained.
“Oh my God!” Ma’am Elise gasped in shock.
“I was shocked too… and I couldn’t stand him.” Ria sobbed.
“Is he friends with Mr Ian?” Ma’am Elise demanded.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
“It seems Drake Robert is Ian Business Partner.” Ria answered.
Ma’am Elise stood up and went to her. “At this point, I suggest you tell Mr Ian the whole truth.” She blurted out.
“What?! No!” Ria declined.
“Listen Miss Ria, it is the best option. Telling Mr Ian the truth will make things easier for you.” Ma’am Elise persuaded.
“No.” Ria shook her head in disagreement.
“Why?”
More tears flowed down her face. “You don’t understand? Ian is my present.” She sobbed.
“But you can let him know your past too.” Ma’am Elise suggested.
Ria shook her head from side to side. “No, I can’t tell him. I don’t want him to get caught in my past.”
“I understand what you are trying to say. But you know, if you explain things to him with Mr Ian’s connection he could file in a case of reinvestigation on your parents death. You are a living witness which is enough to put Frederick Robert behind bars!” Ma’am Elise tried to make Ria understand her points of view.
“No, I can’t tell him about it. Ian already has too much to handle and I don’t want him to know about it. I’ll sort things myself.” Ria wiped her tears with the back of her hands.
“How?” Ma’am Elise asked.
“Just wait and see.” Ria replied with a stern look on her face and she balled her fists in anger.
Ma’am Elise shook her head slowly when she saw Ria’s expression. Revenge! A bloody one and it might get Ria in trouble in the end!
“I’ll deal with Frederick Robert alone. I swear it, I’ll destroy him.” Ria gritted.
Ma’am Elise was quick to figure that Ria was willing to take law into her hands! And right at that moment, Ria swore that she would bring Frederick down when the time comes! She was determined to destroy him even if she ends up dying after the fight! She would avenge her parents death and make him pay for his crimes! She concluded
Deep down in Ria’s heart, there was a great fear and it was not the fear of getting revenge or what would happen to her in the course of getting revenge on Frederick. But it was the fear of Ian Bryant finding out what she used to be eight years ago.
What would he do? Would Ian Bryant reject her? She thought deeply.
Ria shook her ahead slowly. The best way to avoid his rejection or distance is to hide her past! The thought of not seeing Ian again made the tears flow again and this time she couldn’t control it.
Ria motioned towards her room while Ma’am Elise was lost in thought on how she could possibly change her mind on this quest for revenge.