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.

was a strange feeling about it, but before

too. Let's all go,"

the desk drawer-one of my dad's, I figured-effectively burying whatever

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

go," Clairessa

that was all I needed to hear. I shoved the lingering questions aside for now

and definitely upscale. It was just a short walk from the

brow. "Adrian... isn't

me-it's either the

wasn't a problem anymore. I knew my dad would restore all

curls and a sleek

Mr. Storm. We're excited

Adrian," I

and Jess. "And welcome to you both as well. Shall I seat you and your

a little

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

table at a

led us across the room, and we took

We ordered.

We ate.

made small talk—or rather, I did most of the talking. Clairessa barely answered, offering only brief smiles

off,

to change that... determined to

her attention mostly on Jess,

the time we finished eating, the waiters came by

me, her expression

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

unbothered. "I want her forgiveness. Because I love

uneasy with

cheating on her with...

the past," I tried, keeping my voice even, though

a hard stare. "And how are we

have to believe me," I said quietly. "She just has to feel it. And I'll do whatever it takes to earn my way back

back with

it's going to be

now that

realizes she's got options-and that she can do better than

surged through me. She was

is respectfully between Clairessa and