Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Clairessa's POV

Still trying to catch my breath after what just happened in Gabriel's office, I

stepped into the hall-only to come face to face with the last person I wanted to deal with.

Adrian.

Leaning against the wall like he'd been waiting all day.

He straightened the moment he saw me.

"Clairessa-hey, wait—"

"No." I brushed past him, but he fell into step beside me.

"Just let me explain. Please."

"You had all day yesterday to explain," I snapped, not slowing down.

"I called you over a hundred times. And instead of answering like a decent person

or replying to a single text, you ghosted me-knowing how important today was. And now I'm supposed to stand here and listen to whatever crap you have to say?"

He dragged a hand through his hair. "I wasn't thinking straight after our last conversation. I... I just need you to try to understand me."

I stopped mid-stride and spun on him.

"Understand you? You mean like I was supposed to when you cheated? Or today when I had to cover for you because you showed up late to one of the most important meetings of our careers?"

His expression cracked.

"It's clear you haven't changed." My tone was firm, so he knew I wasn't kidding. "You're still that same entitled, selfish boy who thinks the world revolves around him—and that someone else will always clean up the mess."

His eyes flashed with hurt. "Claire, that's not fair."

"I'm not here to be fair. I'm being honest."

He looked vulnerable and damn it, I hated that a small part of me still cared how he felt.

Then he kept talking.

"I know ghosting you was wrong. I'm sorry. But what did you expect me to do when you broke my heart?"

I blinked, stunned.

He did not just say that.

He had the nerve to flip this on me?

"You think I broke your heart?" I scoffed, nearly laughing at the irony of it all.

"Adrian, I walked in on you screwing Nicole. And don't even try the 'one-time' excuse-I found out about the six-month affair. You even helped her get this job. And now you want me to feel bad for saying no to getting back together?"

His eyes dropped, shame creeping in.

"You're unbelievable. Trying to play the victim. Trying to guilt me."

He reached for my hand. And for some reason—some stupid reason I let him hold it.

"You're right about everything," he murmured. "And I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. You have every reason to be upset."

"Damn right I do."

His fingers tightened slightly. "Please... just forgive me. This once. I swear I won't mess it up again."

I yanked my hand free. "You've said that before. I'm not falling for it."

"Trust me. Just this once."

I laughed coldly. "That's never going to happen again."

He hesitated, then tried a different approach.

"Claire... think about it. In the end, it worked out. The pitch, the project-it was your idea. Maybe it's better the CEO saw that. Maybe it was meant to be."

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

"You really think that excuses you? You showed up late, gave the company a bad impression, and left me to fix everything. We got lucky-that's all. Don't twist this into some silver lining that lets you off the hook."

"I know it doesn't." His voice softened again. "But we won the pitch, didn't we? Or... did my dad say the CEO changed his mind after we left the room?"

"We won," I bit out. "No thanks to you."

His face lit up. "Then let me make it up to you. Just one drink?"

I let out a dry, bitter laugh. "You think I can stand to be around you right now?"noveldrama

He looked desperate. "I know you're mad. But please—"

"Stop," I cut him off, stepping back. "All I want is space. If you'd shown up like you were supposed to, maybe we'd be celebrating right now. But since you pulled the classic Adrian move-disappearing when it matters-I just want to be alone."

“Claire, please. Just one drink. Let me start somewhere."

I folded my arms. "You really think a drink is going to fix this?"

He searched my face, still holding on. "Then tell me... what would it take?"

I shook my head slowly. "I don't know. But I know it's not this."

Without waiting for his response, I spun around and walked away, done with the conversation-for now.

I dragged myself into my office, exhaustion crashing over me like a wave. I was

wiped out-physically drained and emotionally spent.

The walls of my office... hell, the whole building felt like it was closing in,

suffocating me. I needed to get out. I didn't care how early it was.

I had busted my ass, closed the deal, and held everything together while it all

threatened to fall apart. I deserved to leave early.

I thought about going home.

But damn... Gabriel's house was my

new home. And walking back in there now would feel like diving headfirst into everything I'd been trying to escape-especially today, with all the chaos still circling

around Adrian.

I needed a fresh space. Somewhere that didn't reek of memory or tension.

Somewhere quiet.

Somewhere I could think. Breathe.

Unwind with a clear head.

And there was only one place I knew.

I didn't even remember the drive just the heaviness in my chest and how the

weight of the day pressed into my shoulders. By the time I got to Jess's

apartment, I was barely holding it together.

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When the door swung open, Jess stood barefoot in an oversized T-shirt that read *Men Are Cancelled in glittering silver letters. I almost laughed until her expression shifted from confusion to full-blown dramatic shock in seconds.

"Clairessa Hartwood on my doorstep at two-freaking-thirty on a weekday?" she squealed, gripping the doorframe. "Did I miss the apocalypse? Did hell freeze

over?"

"Whatever,” I mumbled, brushing past her and stepping inside like I lived there. Jess shut the door behind me, eyebrows raised with a smirk.

“Uh, miss—where do you think you're going? No hello? No 'Hey Jess, how've you been?' After blowing me off all weekend?"

"I'm sorry," I muttered, kicking off my heels with a groan and collapsing onto her velvet couch like my bones had just given out. "Work's been... intense."

"Yeah, I've been hearing that all week."

She flopped onto the other end of the couch, curling her legs under her as she

held up a finger, like she just remembered something.

“But..... wait—isn't today the big pitch?"

I gave her a tired half-smile. "It was."

"And?" She leaned forward, eyes narrowing like a detective closing in.

"How'd it go?"

I exhaled. "Actually... it went really well."

Jess tilted her head. "Then why do you look like someone ran over your dog and

reversed to double-check?"

I shook my head. "Because everything else is a mess."

She sat up straighter. "Define 'everything else.""

"Adrian."

Her face contorted like she'd tasted something bitter. "Oh God. What did that

mediocre man-child do now?"

"He ghosted me. The day before the pitch. I called over a hundred times, Jess. Not one text, not one call back. He showed up late today. I had to lead everything myself-salvage the whole thing."

Jess threw her hands up. "Of course you did. Adrian's the kind of guy who'd drop

a baby and blame the baby for falling."

Despite myself, I let out a small laugh.

"But,” I added, “the CEO-Mr. Randolph-was thrilled with the presentation. The

deal's sealed. We're moving forward."

ет

"Then we should be celebrating!" Jess declared, springing to her feet. "You just saved the project! We should be in tight dresses, shaking our asses, ordering overpriced cocktails, and pretending men don't

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exist." en don't

I gave her a weak smile.

But she caught it-how forced it was. Her expression softened.

"Claire... what's really going on?"

I stared down at my hands. My fingers were trembling.

"It's Gabriel."