No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 161

CHAPTER 0161

LAUREN’S POV

“If I didn’t know you, I would think you’re the owner of Hale Industries,” Roman said sarcastically, his tone carrying that usual mix of charm and teasing confidence that somehow always caught me off guard.

“This outfit looks great on you. It really hides your employee side and brings out the fierce boss–chick side. I always knew you were a boss chick,” he added, his eyes sweeping over me in a way that felt both assessing and amused.

–

I let out a small laugh, half out of embarrassment, half because that was just so like him complimenting me, but in a way that made it sound like a joke. “A simple you look good would have been fine,” I said, stepping out of the doorway and closing the door behind me. My voice sounded calm, but inside, my heart was beating a little faster than I wanted to admit.

“So, I should take back my compliment then?” he asked, a smirk forming on his lips.

“It’s fine,” I said quickly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as we started walking toward his car. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my cheeks were already warming.

The late morning air brushed softly against my face, carrying that scent of metal and city traffic. The sound of his shoes against the pavement echoed beside mine – steady, deliberate. There was something about the way he carried himself that made people look twice, even if he wasn’t trying to draw attention.

“I have a feeling you don’t want me to see Aria today,” Roman said as we approached his car. His driver immediately stepped forward to open the door.

“Yes, and you know why,” I said, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. “You can see her as much as you want when we get back,” I added quickly, lifting the edge of my dress a little so it wouldn’t get caught as I climbed into the car.

The seats felt warm and smooth beneath my fingertips – black leather with that expensive scent, I adjusted myself and crossed my legs carefully so the fabric of my dress wouldn’t wrinkle.

“Speaking of Aria,” I continued, settling back against the seat, “her birthday is coming up on the second of next month. That’s two weeks from today. As her dad, I thought you should know.”

He didn’t respond right away. For a moment, he just smiled faintly and leaned back in his seat, eyes fixed on some distant thought. I watched him quietly, wondering what was going through his mind.

“What?” I finally asked when the silence stretched longer than usual.

Roman let out a soft sigh, his eyes still on the tinted window. “My dad died when I was still a kid. I don’t have any siblings, and I can barely even remember my best friend’s birthday. The only person’s birthday I have up in my mind is my mom’s.” He paused briefly, the edges of his lips curling into something between a smile and a frown. “But now, I’ll be adding one and a half women to the list. It’s just something I’m trying to get used to.”

“One and a half?” I repeated, raising a brow. I was confused for a second, but my curiosity quickly replaced it.

“You’re the one,” he said, finally looking at me, “and Aria is the half… for now.”

1/3

I couldn’t help it, a laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “One and a half women,” I said again, shaking my head. “That’s a new one.” But I understood what he meant, and that small bit of warmth that always appeared whenever he spoke about Aria bloomed quietly in my chest.

So he thought of Aria as half a woman, intriguing and funny at the same time.

“Here’s the earpiece we’re going to be using to communicate,” Roman said, breaking the quiet as he reached into the compartment beside him.

He pulled out a tiny earpiece that looked so light it could vanish between his fingers. I stretched out my hand, expecting him to drop it into my palm. But instead, he leaned a little closer, his gaze momentarily meeting mine before moving to my hair.

He brushed my hair aside gently, his fingers grazing the side of my neck, a touch so brief yet so unexpectedly intimate that I froze. My pulse jumped. I told myself to breathe normally, to act casual, but my body didn’t seem to listen.

Then he leaned in even closer, close enough that I could feel the faint warmth of his breath against my cheek. The smell of his cologne – crisp, clean, with a hint of spice filled the air between us. I couldn’t tell if it was the perfume or the way he carried himself that always managed to throw me off balance.

He carefully placed the earpiece into my ear, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin, and then attached the small, thin string behind my dress collar. His focus was absolute, like he was handling something fragile.

My heart was doing this strange thing beating so hard I was sure even his driver could hear it. Speaking of the driver, I could feel his eyes glancing at us from the front mirror, a subtle, amused smile playing on his lips like he was witnessing something he shouldn’t.

Roman, of course, looked completely unaffected when he finally leaned back into his seat, as if what he had just done was completely normal. He acted like the whole moment hadn’t made the air between us feel so thick.

I quickly ran my hand through my hair, adjusting it to make sure the earpiece wasn’t visible. My reflection in the car window showed a calm, composed woman, but inside, I was still trying to steady myself.

Then Roman took another earpiece, his own, and placed it in his ear with the same casual grace. He gave it a gentle tap, and I noticed a faint green light blinking from it. He brought out his tablet, fingers tapping across the screen with practiced precision as he paired the two devices together.

“Can you hear me through your piece?” he said, his voice suddenly soft but crisp in my ear.

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