2. Adrian
Chapter two
Adrian
I slam my hand against the desk, a perfect imprint of frustration on the mahogany. Isabella just marched out of here like she owns the place. She has some nerve trying to tell me she was using my father’s tactics back at the meeting this morning. And what was all that about me desperately trying to escape his shadow?
Isabella King is a clueless buffoon. I’m starting to think it was a mistake asking her to join my firm when our last corporate finance lawyer retired.
If she wasn’t always quoting the damn employee handbook, I might actually let myself appreciate the way her white blouse and black trousers fit her. Like they’re tailor-made to trace the lines of her curves, which ... crap, I really shouldn’t be thinking about.
And if I’m being honest, if it wasn’t for her insistence that she knew my father better than me, we just might get along. It’s not like I’ve forgotten how stunning she looked last Christmas—or was it the year before?—all festive and fiery. But now? She’s even more infuriatingly beautiful—if that’s possible—each button of her blouse a taunt, each crease in her trousers a challenge .
I rake a hand through my hair, catching a glimpse of her in my mind again—the way her long brown hair falls over her shoulders, bangs framing her face like some sort of siren’s call. It’s ridiculous. There’s a heat to those thoughts, a dangerous kind of spice that should come with a warning label.
“Off limits,” I mutter to the empty air, shaking my head as if I could dislodge the image of grabbing onto those locks.
The sharp rap on my office door is like a starter pistol, snapping me out of my Isabella-induced daze. I don’t even get the chance to call out before Leo Sterling—partner in crime and actual business—saunters in with that all-too-familiar cocky grin plastered across his face.
“Run into a hurricane on your way here?” he quips, shutting the door behind him. His eyes are dancing with curiosity, not missing a beat.
“Something like that,” I reply, leaning back in my chair and trying to regain composure. “Isabella just has a unique way of turning discussions into ... well, tornadoes.”
“Ah, the meeting this morning?” He chuckles, taking Isabella’s recently vacated seat, which still seems to hold the electric charge of our confrontation. He leans forward, elbows on thighs, looking far too amused for someone who didn’t have to endure the whirlwind himself.
“Let’s just say the rookie has a knack for pushing buttons she shouldn’t even know exist,” I grumble, my attempt at nonchalance probably failing miserably.
“Give her time,” Leo advises with an easy shrug. “She’ll adapt. Or combust. Either way, it’ll be entertaining.” He flashes a grin that tells me he’s only half-joking.
But before I can decide whether to laugh or launch into a rant, he shifts gears .
“Speaking of entertainment,” he says, his smirk widening, “Aurora Tech rang. They want us for the merger with NexGen Industries.”
I sit up straighter, any irritation from earlier dissipating like mist in sunlight. This is the kind of news that could turn a bad day into a champagne-worthy one.
“Seriously?” I ask, the prospect already igniting a familiar thrill in my veins. “That’s huge. We nail this, and we’re golden.”
“Golden, platinum, diamond—pick your precious metal, Adrian. If all goes well, we’re on the Forbes cover by next quarter,” Leo says, the excitement in his voice mirroring my own.
“Damn right we will be,” I say, already mentally rolling up my sleeves. This is the game I live for—the cutthroat, high-stakes dance of corporate mergers. And I intend to lead.
“Your father would be proud.”
I glance down at my desk and nod. “I know.”
Admittedly, I was shocked when Dad left the firm to me in his will. I was almost certain he would leave it all to Leo, who’s been his partner for almost twenty years. Isabella is right about one thing—I wasn’t a good son to Thomas Cole. I was rebellious and cold. I even married Colette against his warnings that she was trouble. And boy, was he right.
I’ve spent the past three years since his death trying to make up for it all and managed to turn his multi-million-dollar firm into a billion dollar one in the process. But this merger? The big leagues.
I clap my hands together, the sound echoing off the glass walls of my office. The thrill of a new challenge is electric in my veins. “Leo, this one’s mine,” I declare with a grin that feels like it could split my face in two.
“Adrian, you sure? I can handle the initial correspondence if—” Leo starts, but I wave him off.
“Appreciate it, but no thanks. You know how I am with contracts—I want to be in the trenches.” My fingers tap an eager rhythm on the mahogany desk. Meticulous, precise—that’s how I work best when it comes to the delicate dance of mergers and acquisitions.
He sighs, resigned. “Alright, man. Your show.”
Our moment of corporate glee is cut short by the buzz of my phone. It’s Hannah, my nanny. I brace for impact. “Hey, Hannah. What’s up?”
“Mr. Cole, I’m really sorry, but I’ve caught some sort of stomach bug. I don’t think I can work this week,” she says, her voice weaker than usual.
“Take the time you need. My mom can tap in for a bit. She’s been dying to spend time with Caleb recently.” I keep my tone light and reassuring. No need for her to worry about us.
“Thank you, Mr. Cole. I’ll keep you posted on how I’m feeling. Oh, and don’t forget about Caleb’s dentist appointment at one o’clock.”
I eye the clock on my wall. It’s 12:20 already, so I should get going.
“Thanks for the reminder. Get some rest, Hannah. And fluids. Lots of fluids.” I end the call and look up at Leo, who’s watching me with an amused eyebrow raised.
“Kid duty calls?” he asks, smirking.
“Yep. Caleb’s got a dentist appointment. Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I reply, shoving my laptop into my leather bag with more force than necessary. As I snap the bag shut, Leo chuckles.
“Attentive single dad and a billionaire? How do you keep the ladies at bay?”
“Trust me, between boardrooms and bedtime stories, there’s no room for any playdates of my own.” I grab my keys, spinning them on one finger, the metallic jingle punctuating my point .
Sure, before Colette turned my life into a courtroom drama series, I played the field. But now? My heart’s got trust issues thicker than the Sunday Times.
“Later, Leo.” I nod at him, and he nods back, the unspoken language of lifelong friends and business partners.
“Later, Adrian. Don’t let the kiddie germs bite.”
“Ha-ha,” I deadpan, and push through the door.
“Suzy,” I call out to my secretary as I pass her desk, “hold down the fort. I’ve got a client dinner at Bistro Laurent tonight, won’t be back in.”
“Will do, Mr. Cole,” she replies efficiently, not missing a beat as her fingers fly over the keyboard.
“Thanks,” I say, already halfway to the elevators, my mind shifting gears from contracts to cavities. Welcome to my world—where the battles are fought with legal briefs and dental floss.
Fifteen minutes later, I arrive at the front office of Laurel Heights Preparatory, waiting for Caleb to be pulled out of class.
“Adrian Cole,” I hear a voice behind me as I wait.
Sam Velasquez, the slick lawyer from Davidson that’s barely an acquaintance. Doesn’t she miss her own son? ”
The bitter taste of reality is one I’m familiar with, but it still stings. “She never wanted to be a mom. She did it for me.” My voice hardens. “Well, mostly for my money.”
“She is the foolthen.” Mom shakes her head, her eyes softening. “You’re doing great, Adrian. And if you ever need a break, remember this bored retiree is more than happy to step in.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I manage a chuckle, feeling a weight lift, even if just a little. “You might regret that offer when you realize how often I’ll take you up on it.”
“Try me.”
“Alright. I’m going to game with Caleb for a bit before I head back to work.”
With a grin, I turn to follow Caleb’s path, ready to lose myself in a world of fantasy battles and quests. It’s easier there—no heartbreaks, no custody battles—just me and my boy taking on dragons.