Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 188: Standing Trial

Adrian's POV

Tina crossed her arms and gave me a glare cold enough to freeze July. "Yeah, it has."

There was a pause. Then she tossed her hair over her shoulder and added, "Just got back from Madrid, actually. A much-needed escape. Sun, sangria, and absolutely no drama."

I chuckled lightly, brushing off the jab. "Sounds perfect."

"Mm," she hummed flatly. "It was."

Hoping to soften the mood, I said, "You look great. I didn't expect to see you in the corporate world."

She arched an unimpressed brow. "Right back at you. Never took you for the office type."

I gave a casual shrug. "Yeah, well. Family business. I'm working here now."

"I heard," she replied coolly, her eyes narrowing just enough to add weight to her words.

My gaze drifted to Clairessa. She was suddenly engrossed in her laptop, fingers tapping aimlessly-clearly pretending to be busy after I'd caught her mid- conversation.

I refocused on her. "I was hoping to steal you for lunch. Just fifteen minutes." Clairessa blinked, then shook her head with a faint sigh. "Adrian, I don't know... it's your first day. You should be settling in, not sneaking off with me."

"I'm not sneaking," I grinned. "Just taking a well-earned break after an exhausting first day. You should too."

She gave me a pointed look. "It's barely past two. Shouldn't the well-earned break come at the end of the day?"

A slow, smug smile tugged at my lips. "Well, considering my dad owns the place, I figure I get to decide when break time is. Perks of being an only child."

She groaned, clearly irritated. "God. You're insufferable. Do you have to sound so proud of it?"

"Can't help it." I shrugged nonchalantly. "Especially if it gets me a few minutes with you."

Before she could answer, I reached for her laptop-not to close it, just to slide it aside so I could see her better. That's when something caught my eye.

A folder sat on the desk, half-hidden beneath another file. I hadn't meant to look, but the names printed in fine lettering drew my attention:

Gabriel Storm

Clairessa Hartwood

Something about the way it was formatted stirred my curiosity. I leaned slightly, trying to catch more-just a bit closer-

But Jess reached over, casually but intentionally, and slid the folder beneath a stack of papers as if it were nothing.

strange feeling about it, but before I could dwell on

too. Let's all go," she said

the

bag and what I assumed was Clairessa's phone. The two of them exchanged a quick, suspicious, wordless

go,"

the lingering questions aside for now —and for the first time,

It was just a short walk from

to me, arching a brow. "Adrian... isn't this a little

either the best or

I was officially working at the company, money wasn't a problem anymore. I knew my dad would restore all

brunette curls and a sleek red dress approached us, her smile warm and

Mr. Storm. We're excited to

I

to Clairessa and Jess. "And welcome to you both as well. Shall I seat you and your friends at your father's reserved table?" she asked with

nodded, a

good, honestly-to have a dad with the kind of pull that came with

table at a

led us across the room, and we took our

We ordered.

We ate.

talk—or rather, I did most of the talking. Clairessa

still closed off, guarded, not letting

was determined to change that... determined to make

mostly on Jess, whispering back and forth

time we finished eating, the waiters came by

didn't waste a second. She turned to me, her expression suddenly all business-like she'd

down and met my gaze head-on. "So, Adrian. What exactly do you

of water, unbothered. "I want her forgiveness.

shifted beside me, clearly uneasy with

"Love? After cheating on her with...

tried, keeping my voice even,

with a hard stare. "And how are we supposed to believe you

believe me," I said quietly. "She just has to feel it. And I'll do whatever

leaned back with a

going to

now that my

realizes she's got options-and that she

cut in, trying to stay calm even as irritation surged through me. She was clearly overplaying her

is respectfully between Clairessa and