Page 29 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

As we turned into the driveway, I glanced in the rearview mirror at him. “We’re home, buddy,” I said softly, hoping to pull him out of his music trance.

Jake blinked, pulling out one earbud and looking at me with a sheepish grin. “Can I finish my homework later?”

“Just make sure it’s done before bed,” I replied, watching him trudge up the porch steps. Once I was sure he was inside, I pulled out my phone and dialed Sarah.

“Ellie?” Sarah answered on the second ring, her voice cheerful. “What’s up?”

I let out a long sigh, leaning back against the car. “A lot. My folks are back from Florida, and we went to have lunch with them today. Jake had a great time with my dad, but… I told Mom about Cory. And then, she dropped a bombshell.”

“What kind of bombshell?”

“She said Cory’s a billionaire,” I said, the words still feeling strange on my tongue. “Apparently, he inherited his grandfather’s oil business in Oklahoma, then sold it.”

“Wait—what?” Sarah sounded as shocked as I felt. “And you didn’t know?”

“I Googled him,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “But all I saw was the stuff about his foundation. Nothing that led me to conclude he is a billionaire. I don’t even know if it’s true.”

Sarah was quiet for a moment before saying, “You need answers, Ellie. Real answers. Not just for you but for Jake. You need to know what kind of man he is and what he wants from you.”

“I tried calling him,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “But he’s not picking up. And now, with that fire in Dallas, I don’t even know if he’s okay.”

“Then go to Dallas,” Sarah said firmly. “I’ll watch Jake and take care of your clients. You can leave first thing in the morning and figure out the truth. You can’t keep second-guessing this, Ellie.”

I hesitated, glancing toward the house where Jake’s bedroom light was already on. “Are you sure? Watching Jake, I mean. It might take more than a day.”

“Of course, I’m sure,” Sarah said. “You’d do the same for me… that is if I had a kid. Besides, this is important.”

I exhaled, the weight of her words settling over me. “Okay. I’ll go. Thank you, Sarah.”

Tomorrow, I’d go to Dallas. Tomorrow, I’d insist on answers. Not just for me, but for Jake—for our future.

Fifteen

Cory

The smell of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint charred scent that still lingered in the air near my office building. I sat at a corner table in a small café just across the street, nursing a black coffee that had long since gone lukewarm. The view outside was dominated by the blackened skeleton of what used to be the office of the Horizon Foundation. It looked surreal, almost like a set piece from some apocalyptic movie.

Across from me, Roy, a close friend and insurance adjuster, scrolled through his tablet, occasionally looking up to glance at the wreckage. His gray polo shirt was neatly pressed, as always, and he carried that calm demeanor even in the face of chaos.

“Good news,” he said, tapping the screen. “The inspector’s preliminary report rules out foul play. Looks like lightning during those storms the other night caused the fire. It also knocked out the cell tower for a bunch of providers in the area, which is why you couldn’t reach anyone. Just bad luck all around.”

I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair. “Well, that’s something, I guess. At least I don’t have to worry about some arsonist on a vendetta because I didn’t approve their grant application.”

Roy smirked. “Yeah, just Mother Nature reminding us who’s boss.”

Despite his attempt to lighten the mood, my chest felt heavy. The building wasn’t just an office—it had been part of my transition from Grandpa’s oil money to something more meaningful. Losing it felt like losing a piece of myself, even if the work could continue elsewhere.

I stared out the window, my thoughts churning. That’s when I saw it—a car I would recognize anywhere.

“Damn, is that…Elena?” I murmured under my breath, blinking as if she might disappear if I looked too hard.

Roy glanced up. “What?”

I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the tile floor. “That’s her. That’s Elena.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t stop me as I pushed through the café door, stepping into the morning sun.

“Elena!” I called out, waving and whistling loudly like some kid trying to get his friend’s attention on the playground.

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