Adam waits for Ellie to come back, and he finishes his milkshake. Luckily, he doesn't have to wait for long.

A few minutes later, Adam sees Ellie walk in with another girl beside her. Though not as beautiful as Ellie, the girl has her own charm, a face that is a little wide, but she does a good job of hiding it behind her hair by framing it to her face.

As for her body, she is curvy, and she clearly likes to show it off in the way she dresses. Even though her dress looked formal, with a white shirt, a black overcoat, and a black skirt, it hugged her body in a way that made her shape stand out, ensuring that people noticed her wherever she went.

She even has her shirt's buttons unbuttoned to show off her jugs. The girl clearly wants attention and isn't afraid to show off what she has.

Adam isn't surprised. When you are a girl and friends with someone who is much prettier than you, you will try your best to do something else to stand out.

While Adam checked out the girl beside Ellie, she was doing the same. Her eyes became wide in surprise as she saw Adam looking handsome, sitting in his chair, waiting for them.

"Oh, my~ Ellie~ You never said your new business partner was so handsome. I am surprised you were hiding him from me for this long." The girl whispers to Ellie.

"Stop it! He is just eighteen years old," Ellie whispers back, warning her friend to keep her hands to herself.

Ellie knows her friend very well. She is a little loose. And that's a very gross understatement from Ellie's way of describing her. If Ellie were to tell the truth, she would have to call her friend a slut because she would sleep with anyone she finds attractive.

Even Ellie herself can't believe that she and her are friends. Ellie is reserved and quiet, while her friend is out there, being run through by every other guy she meets.

"So what if he's younger. You said he's eighteen. That means he is ripe for picking. And you should know, young men like him are horny 24/7. They would pounce on an older hot woman like me in a second if I just say yes," her friend says.

Ellie gives her friend the side eye. Ellie feels something inside her. She knows what it is. It's jealousy. She doesn't like the idea of her friend and Adam getting together.

Even though her friend and Adam are adults and are free to do whatever they want, and that means her friend getting her brains fucked by Adam's massive cock, Ellie doesn't want that to happen.

'Why did I think of his dick?' Ellie questioned herself and could only blame her friend for putting that thought in her head.

With a light flush on her cheeks, Ellie brings her friend to Adam.

"Adam, this is my lawyer-" As Ellie tries to introduce her friend to Adam, her friend cuts her off and speaks for herself. "Helena~ my name's Helena Cruz,"

Helena extends her hand forward, introducing herself.

Adam smiles and stands before taking her hand in his. "Nice to meet you, Helena. I am Adam Grant," Adam says, shaking her hand.

Helena gives Adam a flirtatious smile before they all take a seat.

"So, tell me, Adam. What for to interested in becoming Ellie's business partner?" Helena asks.

"Helena, Adam, and I have already talked this through," Ellie cuts in to make sure that Helena doesn't try to do anything stupid. She has already talked and discussed this with Helena, so she doesn't understand why Helena is bringing up things that don't need to be dug up again.

"Ellie, as your friend, I just want to make sure that you aren't being taken advantage of," Helena says, smiling at Ellie before bringing her focus back on Adam.

"So, I will ask again. Adam, why are you interested in being my friend's business partner?" Helena asks.

Adam looks at Helena. He feels there is something off about her, but she can't say what. So for now, he will treat it as if there is nothing wrong.

"Well, I have been working under Ellie for a while now, and I have seen how much effort and passion Ellie is putting into his restaurant. I see great things happening with this restaurant in the future with Ellie on the leash. I want to be a part of it," Adam says.

"That's it? There is no ulterior motive behind it?" Helena asks.

"Just money. If I didn't think Ellie would succeed, I would have never brought it up," Adam says.

Helena smiles.

"One last question. Why work part-time in a restaurant when you have so much money, Mr. Grant? I am sure people of your stature don't like being bossed around by other people," Helena says.

"We are not all the same," Adam says.

"Oh, I am sure, but I think there is more to this than what you are telling, Adam. I think you already knew Ellie and just wanted a reason to get close to her, so you started working under her, and now you want to help her with her business. All of this is a little too convenient, don't you think?" Helena says, smiling, and her brows raised.

Ellie's eyes widen, hearing Helena accuse Adam out of the blue. She can't believe Helena would do this to her. What if her words offended Adam, and he backed off from the deal? But her words also spark curiosity inside Ellie.

Is what Helena said true? Did Adam start working under her just to get close to her? 'This is so wrong,' she thinks, but her heart is beating with excitement and her cheeks are a little flushed. She realizes that she wouldn't be offended by it if it's true.

As Adam hears Helena's question, he notices something in her eyes. A twinkle of curiosity, not about him, but about his motive. It's as if she already believes in the story she just created out of the blue.

Adam is also surprised by how close Helena is to the actual truth. But instead of Ellie, Adam's interest has always been in her restaurant. Ellie is just a bonus he is going to acquire.

Adam smiles. "That's quite a theory, Miss Cruz, but I would have to shatter this fantasy of yours. Sure, Ellie is a beautiful woman and any man would be lucky to be with her, but I didn't start working here to get close to her.

You see, my dad is a self-made man, and he wants to see me struggle to prove to him that I can appreciate what he built, hence here I am, trying to earn show him that I can do it. If you want proof, you can search him on the internet. His name is Jack Grant," Adam says, smiling.

Helena doesn't say anything, just smiles.

While Ellie's eyes droop a little, it's as if she is a little disappointed that Adam didn't start working here for her.

"Hehe, I am sorry for accusing you out of the blue. I just wanted to make sure you are not manipulating my friend," Helena says, putting her hand on Ellie and smiling at her.

Ellie smiles back, feeling happy to have such a caring friend.

But Adam, catching onto something. That smile on Helena's face when she called Ellie her friend. It's as fake as a fake smile can be.

Even in her tone, there was a slight mocking undertone that most people don't notice, but Adam did. He has lived that life.

Where people constantly pretend to be your friend, smiling at you, trying to act as if they care about you more than anyone in the world, but in reality, they are just pretending. 'Leeches,' Adam thinks.

His eyes go cold as he stares at Helena. He is sure that Helena is just pretending to be Ellie's friend. Looking at Helena, Adam can't help but be reminded of Joe, as he was the same.

Always acting like he is Adam's best friend, only to stab him in the back when Adam needed him the most.

Adam won't tolerate such snakes around his people. Since he has decided to make Ellie his, he will have to rid Helena from Ellie's life.

Of course, Adam keeps his thoughts to himself. He is not going to outright tell Ellie that her friend is a snake and that she should stop being friends with her.

From the looks of it, Ellie truly believes Helena is her friend. And his putting her on blast with no evidence would make Ellie and his relationship sour.

Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. All three of them turn their heads to look outside and see a woman standing right outside the entrance.

The woman waves at Adam.

Adam smiles and gets up. "Looks like my lawyer is here as well," Adam says and opens the door for Clara to walk in.

Adam stands before Clara, his eyes checking her out as she looks as stunning as ever. Clara meets Adam's eyes and smiles.

"Thanks for coming," Adam says and gives her a hug, which Clara happily reciprocates. "No need to thank me, anything for my sweet boy," Clara says.

They separate and smile at each other again while Ellie and Helena watch them with curious gazes.

"Holy shit!" Helena suddenly exclaims softly, startling Ellie.

"What is it?" Ellie asks, confused.

"I know her!" Helena whispers back.

"You know her?" Ellie repeats after her.

"That's the Ice Queen!" Helena exclaims in shock.