Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 186: Playing Dirty

Clairessa's POV

I sat behind my desk, staring at the contract spread out before me for what felt like

hours.

Tasks piled up around me emails, meetings, deadlines-all screaming for attention.

But my eyes kept tracing the same lines, the same signatures, the same bold header with Gabriel's name and mine. I couldn't look away. I couldn't bring myself to put it aside.

My chest felt like it might explode from the pressure of it all. Was I about to make another mistake-one I couldn't undo?

Damn it...

How could this feel so wrong when it was the very reason I came to Storm Innovations in the first place? I fought my way in. I played their games. I proved I belonged. All for this-one shot to bring Hart to life.

And now, it was right in front of me. And more.

Full funding; seventy percent ownership; creative control.

It felt almost unreal.

I'd retain full intellectual property rights. Gabriel would take a thirty percent equity stake in exchange for complete financial backing.

There didn't seem to be any buried clauses—just capital, connections, and a guarantee that I'd remain CEO and lead developer for as long as I wanted.

I wasn't a lawyer, but after reviewing the terms and doing my research, everything seemed solid.

Ideas I once only dreamed about were now laid out in black and white, bound by legal ink across my desk.

He was offering me everything I'd bled for-everything I'd stayed up late designing, pitching, praying for.

Hell, the terms were recklessly generous. Completely lopsided-in my favor.

Yet all I felt was rage. Rage at the man who shattered me the one who now looked at me like the love we shared these past few months meant nothing, even as he handed me my dream on a silver platter.

I swallowed hard, eyes still fixed on the page.

It felt like a gift... and yet, unmistakably, like a bribe.

I could still hear Gabriel's voice from earlier-firm, measured, subtly controlling:

"Don't let your emotions cloud your reasoning."

As if it were that simple.

As if he hadn't broken me in ways I was still trying to piece together.

Suddenly, the door to my office swung open.

"CLAIRE!"

I jolted, nearly spilling the coffee on my desk. My heart jumped. "Jess?!"

She rushed in, eyes wide, arms open.

"Where the hell have you been?" I asked, still stunned. “I tried calling, but your number wasn't working!"

"Oh my God, Claire-I'm so sorry! I totally vanished, but I swear there's a good reason. But first... just hug me. Please. I've missed you."

I stood and let her pull me into her familiar warmth. "There better be," I muttered against her shoulder.

When we finally pulled apart, she let out a dramatic sigh, spinning slowly as she took in the room.

"Wow... Storm Innovations is big. Big. And this office? Fancy corner view, floor-to- ceiling windows facing the city? Claire, this is literally your dream—and you're living it."

"Yeah..." I offered a smile, but it barely touched my eyes.

She turned to face me fully, her own smile faltering. "Oh, Claire. Hold me again."

She stepped forward, wrapping me in another hug. "I went by your apartment... That's how I found out about the fire. I'm so sorry." Her arms tightened. "I knew if I couldn't find you there, you'd be here. Working. As always."

"It's... surreal," I whispered, my voice catching. "Still feels like a nightmare. One minute I was heading to Gabriel's, and the next... I came back to flames. I lost everything, Jess. It happened so fast."

Jess stepped

to the studio-offered me a spot in a showcase in

one of those once-in-a-lifetime things. I had to leave that night. I barely packed-just grabbed my stuff and jumped on a plane with

to

process, my bag got stolen,"

reach me. It was chaos,

it."

touched her shoulder gently. “Then I'm happy for

"This is what you've always

Claire. I'm really sorry I wasn't here when you needed me.

don't have your number

a flat look. "Seriously? After all these years of

I'm the artist, remember? You're the one with the brain for numbers

I muttered,

chair in my office. "Now come on. It's your office, but let me play therapist. How are

the chair. "As good as I can be. I'm trying

hand. "You're brave,

nodded, swallowing the knot

herself into the chair

now? With Gabriel,

She didn't know the half of

at Gabriel's... but

together. "Complicated how? Wait-" Her

clicked. "Don't tell me... he found out

and that

she whispered. "How did

just say... not

I told

to confess, but

walked in on Gabriel in bed

ran-only to come home to my place

me back to Gabriel's

me.

The chaos that followed.

The yelling. The heartbreak.

looked at me like I

to find

only work at the company if

I finished, Jess stared at me as

days?"

"Jess," I warned.

just... I'm so sorry Gabriel's acting like an ass. And Adrian?

honestly? I'm tired of all of it. I just

me. Screw Gabriel and Adrian. Take a break

hand back slowly. "I

chin up. "Claire. Talk to

reached across my desk and slid the

the pages with narrowed eyes. "What

to me about an hour

Gabriel gave it to you an

"And?"

to fund the Hart app

I keep all rights and control. It's basically the dream

jaw dropped. "Claire, that's amazing! This is what you've worked for.

as she noticed my expression. "Why aren't you jumping up and

"he wants

"What?"

bitterness. "Keep him in check at the company, so he stays focused. In return, he funds

let out a low whistle. "Shit. Okay. That's...

only agreed to work at the company because of

in love with me—and

deep in thought, then

unsure I'd heard her

repeated. "I

work for Gabriel or anyone else again unless you choose to. This is your dream. Think about what you could

on the desk and pressed my fingers to my

wrong—if this worked out, it could completely change my life. Not just