Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Clairessa’s POV

Chapter 10: Ready To Play The Game

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“Claire, what’s going on?” Jess’s worried voice called from the other side of the door. “You’ve locked yourself in your room and haven’t said a word since you got back from work.” Her knocking became more persistent, almost frantic.

I groaned, dragging myself off the bed. I knew Jess wouldn’t stop until I opened the door. I had locked myself away, wanting nothing more than to drown in my misery and be alone with the storm of emotions swirling inside me. But there was no hiding from Jess’s concern. I reached the door and hesitated, my hand hovering over the lock before finally turning it.

The door opened, and before I could say a word, Jess stepped in, her eyes locking onto my tear–streaked face. “Claire, what happened at work?” she asked, her voice soft, holding my face gently in her hands as if I might break.

“Adrian came to my office today,” I whispered, my voice cracking as the tears I had fought so hard to hold back came pouring out. My chest tightened painfully, each sob ripping through me.

“That bastard…” Jess muttered, pulling me into her arms. “He has some nerve showing up at your workplace.”

“It’s his father’s company, I guess,” I mumbled against her shoulder, feeling suffocated by my emotions. I wanted to be strong, to push the pain away, but it clung to me like a second skin.

“Still doesn’t give him the right to just show up at your office,” Jess insisted, pulling back to look at me. “So tell me, what did he say?”

“Jess… he admitted to cheating on me–more than once. God knows with how many Nicoles.” The words

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Chapter 10: Ready To Play The Game

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tasted bitter on my tongue, and the tears fell harder, my chest heaving with the force of the pain I felt inside.

Jess’s expression darkened, her grip tightening around me. “Oh, Claire… I’m so sorry that the jerk hurt you like this.” She held me close, her voice soothing, but the comfort she offered couldn’t numb the pain inside me. “You’re going to get through this… okay?”

“I don’t know how,” I sobbed, feeling utterly defeated. “Every time I think it’s getting better, I think of him, and it hurts all over again.”

lifted my tear–streaked face, forcing me to meet her gaze. “Listen to me.

I

she added, a

hesitant. The idea of being with someone else, of giving myself to another man, felt impossible. “I’m

she pressed,

to give myself to any other man,” I replied, the thought alone making my stomach churn.

studied me. “Who said anything about giving yourself? I’m talking about wild sex. That’s

down my spine, tempting me with the promise of escape from the pain. But

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10: Ready To Play The Game

of it crashing down on me. “As much as that sounds enticing, someone always

if it’s a one–time thing” she countered. “Simply intense sex with no

me, I argued, my voice trembling. “I can’t just sleep with any

with Adrian’s father,” she shot

defense, but I closed it again, the truth too heavy to deny. “That’s different,” I murmured weakly,

her lips. “Something different. So how about sleeping with Adrian’s father?

pretending not to know me, and all he could do was warn me never to speak of that night again if I loved

Jess’s face, softening her expression. “I’m sorry he was mean to you. But were you able

I’ve been shortlisted,” I replied with

sulking; this is

everything to me. I should be elated at being shortlisted by Gabriel and the possibility of my app getting funded, but all I felt was shame. “I know, but I can’t stop thinking about the way Gabriel looked at me coldly. I was certain I was just another fling to him. An unforgettable one, and

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Ready To Play The Game

that… love to be in control, not controlled. So I guess Gabriel pretending not

you know the things he said?” I asked, the realization sinking in that Jess understood this world far better than I ever

tinged with a knowing edge. There’s a way to handle men like him. You have to act as though they’re in control, so they let their guards down, and

within me. Gabriel Storm wanted to play, and I would show him just how well I could play his game. A surge of determination replaced the fear and shame

go to the club then,” I said, the words spilling out before I could second–guess