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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Chapter 25: Fighting Off My Attraction

sighed. “I, on the other hand, had

eager to know more, needing to understand her

a mess. I spent the entire weekend cleaning

could anyone disrespect her like that? “Does that happen often? Them leaving

but I could tell she was lying, protecting

at your place, make it clear they have to clean up after themselves or hire cleaners afterward. Otherwise, your house should no

wild and crazy, but she’s always been there for me,” she defended.

only asking you to

you’ll end up spending

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

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

much concern and tenderness. Clairessa was getting too close, breaking through

doing?” I retorted, harsher than I intended. I needed to keep her away from

to put on this hard exterior. It’s okay to let your guard down sometimes,” she said softly. Her

my heart racing. She was seeing too much, getting too close. Vulnerability always came at a cost–an insanely expensive one–and I wasn’t willing to pay.

snapped, standing abruptly. “You’ll only hit

in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. For a brief moment, I regretted my actions. But I couldn’t let her in.

soft and warm,

I said, my voice cold again. “Meet me in the

waiting for a response, I turned and walked away. I needed distance–needed to remind myself

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5.

25: Fighting Off My Attraction

was dangerous, no matter how much I didn’t want to

atmosphere was warm and inviting. A hostess approached us, smiling in that familiar flirtatious way I had grown used to. Women often

a little too long as she led us

her nervousness. I noticed every small movement,

I pulled out a chair for her, trying to

when a voice cut

“Gabriel?”

one of my no–strings–attached flings. I had been avoiding her calls for weeks, hoping she’d take the hint, but clearly,