Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 25: Fighting Off My Attraction

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Gabriel’s POV

“This is the final report for the Rainers project,” Clairessa said, her hands gliding over the cursor on my desktop. As she stood behind me, her body lightly brushed against mine, sending a jolt through me that I couldn’t ignore.

Her perfume lingered in the air, intoxicating all my senses, making it impossible to focus. All I could think about was how much I wanted her–how badly I needed to bend her over this desk and make her mine. My fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch her, but I clenched them, keeping them firmly on the desk.

Clairessa wasn’t making this easy. The more time I spent around her, the worse it got. I had built walls around myself–shutting out emotions, attachments, anything that could weaken me–but she was tearing them down piece by piece. And I hated it. I hated how she made me feel, how she awakened desires I thought I’d buried long ago.

I wondered what she saw in me. Yes, I was a billionaire, and women often fell for my wealth and power. But with Clairessa, it felt different, like she was looking for something more–something I wasn’t willing to give.

“Thank you, Clairessa,” I muttered, forcing a neutral tone as I watched her walk back to her seat. Her black dress hugged her curves perfectly, every step she took tempting me more. I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t let myself go there–not with her.

She smiled brightly, clearly proud of her work. “I think with this, we can wrap up the project earlier than expected,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement.

She wasn’t just beautiful–she was brilliant. Efficient. Every task I threw her way, no matter how complex, she handled with ease. Each success only made her more irresistible, more impossible to ignore.

“Yes, we can wrap it up,” I replied, keeping my face blank, hiding the internal struggle raging inside me. I wanted her, but I couldn’t let myself have her. It would ruin everything.

“So, did you have a good weekend, Mr. Storm?” she asked, her eyes meeting mine.

I swallowed hard. She had no idea. My weekend had been torture. I’d tried to distract myself with work, with anything, but it was useless. I’d gone to bed and woken up thinking about her, wanting her so badly it ached.

“I had… a decent one,” I lied, forcing myself to look away. My gaze lingered on her full, red lips for a second too long. I wanted to close the gap between us and kiss her until she was breathless and begging for more. But the image shattered as I wondered if she still thought about her ex. Was she still in love with him? Did she think about him the way I thought about her? Fuck….. She was vulnerable, and I wasn’t the type to take advantage of that.

But God, I wanted to.

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10:12 Wed, 19 Feb

Chapter 25: Fighting Off My Attraction

“I, on the other hand,

found myself saying, eager

friends were still over when I got home, and my apartment was a mess. I spent the entire weekend cleaning instead

“Does that happen often? Them leaving your apartment like that after a party?”

often,” she replied, but I could tell she was lying, protecting her

make it clear they have to clean up after themselves or

do that to Jess. She’s wild and crazy, but she’s always been there for me,”

only asking you to set

Otherwise, you’ll end

up other people’s messes,” I said, my frustration

you’re right.” She shifted in her seat, brushing off the topic. “But enough about Jess and my messy apartment,” she

how I was with so much concern

like I’m doing?” I retorted, harsher than I intended. I needed to

have to put on this hard exterior. It’s okay to let your guard down sometimes,” she said softly. Her fingers inched across the desk, and before I could react, her hand

if burned, my heart racing. She was seeing too much, getting too close. Vulnerability always came at a cost–an insanely expensive one–and

standing abruptly. “You’ll only

flashed in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. For a brief moment, I regretted my actions. But I couldn’t let her in. I couldn’t allow myself to care for her. It would only lead to pain–for both of us. It was better this way.

fingers. Her skin was soft and warm, her innocent gaze pulling me in. I hated myself for pushing

stuff,” I said, my voice cold again.

I turned and walked away. I needed distance–needed to remind myself

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Wed, 19 Feb

5.

Off

no matter how much I

that familiar flirtatious way I had grown used

eyes lingering a little

beside me, her presence calm, but I could sense her nervousness. I noticed every small movement, every soft breath she

reached the table, I pulled out a chair for her, trying to keep my composure as

a voice cut through the restaurant’s gentle

“Gabriel?”

had been avoiding her calls for weeks, hoping she’d take the hint, but clearly,