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.

it, but before I could

too. Let's all go," she said

just smiled as she tucked the folder into the desk drawer-one of my dad's, I figured-effectively

two of them exchanged a quick, suspicious, wordless

just go," Clairessa

I needed to hear. I shoved the lingering questions aside for

definitely upscale. It was just a short walk from the office, but felt

brow. "Adrian... isn't this a little too fancy for

either the

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

curls and a sleek red dress approached us, her smile

Welcome, Mr. Storm. We're

I

both as well. Shall I seat you and your friends at your father's

a little too

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

at a place

across the room, and

We ordered.

We ate.

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

off, guarded,

I was determined to change that... determined

her attention mostly on Jess, whispering back and forth like I wasn't even

eating, the waiters came by to clear

her expression suddenly all business-like she'd come here with an

gaze head-on. "So, Adrian. What exactly do

a sip of water, unbothered. "I want her forgiveness. Because

clearly uneasy with where the conversation

"Love? After cheating on

my voice even, though it was obvious neither of

we supposed to believe you

to believe me," I said quietly. "She just has to feel it.

leaned back

to be a

now that

finally realizes she's got options-and that she can

me. She

between Clairessa and me,