Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 198: He Was Drowning

Clairessa's POV

Adrian ran a hand through his hair, clearly at his limit. "I can't do this. Not with her condescending tone, not with this pressure. I can't keep running the same thing over and over again like a broken goddamn record. Fuck it. I'm out, Clairessa."

"Adrian-"

"You're either coming with me, or you're not."

My chest tightened. "Wait, okay-just calm down. How about we take five? Just a five-minute breather. We can work on another part later, okay?"

"No," he snapped, shaking his head. "You're not hearing me. I'm done working on anything today. I need space. This-" he gestured wildly between all of us, "—is too much."

And with that, he stormed out of the room.

"Adrian!" I called after him, taking a step forward, panic rising in my chest. He can't leave not now, not this close to the pitch.

But just as I reached the door, Nicole moved, blocking my path.

"Nicole," I said, glaring at her. "Why are you standing in my way? Move."

Her eyes glinted with something dark as she leaned in closer, her voice low near my ear. "I just want to know-what kind of hold you have on these men. Both father and son seem to hang on your every word. What is it, Clairessa?"

My lips parted, but she wasn't finished.

"I mean, sure—you're beautiful." She looked me up and down slowly, assessing me like a rival at an auction. "But not more beautiful than I am. And you're smart, I'll give you that—since I've worked with you on a few projects. But you're not smarter than me."

She stepped back.

"So what is it? The sex? Do you play innocent, then go full psycho in bed? Is that it?"

I drew in a deep breath, trying to suppress the fury clawing its way up my throat. I was one second-one-away from slapping her.

Don't. Not here. Not now.

I swallowed it down, barely keeping myself together.

"Nicole," I said through clenched teeth, "if you don't move, I swear I'll make you regret it."

She laughed, bitter and bold. "What? You'll send Mr. Storm after me?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said flatly.

"Oh, come on." She rolled her eyes. "There's no one else here. Just you and me. Quit pretending. I know you're screwing both of them. Adrian's still clueless, but Mr. Storm? He knows. And instead of cutting you off, he tried to silence me—with a bullshit NDA. Threatened to fire me if I spoke up. That's low, even for you."

I didn't flinch. "Anything Mr. Storm did, he did by choice. I never asked him for a thing."

"Liar," she spat.

I tilted my head, a slow mockery. "You said you signed an NDA. That you can't talk about Mr. Storm or this whole twisted mess. And yet-here you are, running your mouth. Know what that means?"

I locked eyes with her. "If I walk into his office right now and repeat what you just told me... that's a breach of contract."

Nicole stiffened, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes. Maybe now she'd finally back off.

softly, "then tell me

mouth opened. "You

word dangled on her

dare you to finish that sentence," I taunted, stepping closer. "Go ahead. Say it. Say it to

she clenched her

guess you're nothing but a coward. So get the hell out of

stepped aside without

triumphant smile. Her glare burned into me, but she didn't move to stop me.

dashed to the elevator and slammed the button, my heart

my head, but

her voice

could wait. She always tried to get under my skin-and succeeded

This was about Adrian.

had to find

I knew anything about him—and I did it was that he was probably out there somewhere, spiraling. Replaying every word Nicole said. Doubting himself. Internalizing everything. On the verge of shutting down. If that happened, all the work I'd poured into helping him with this project would be wasted-and we'd surely lose the

ran through the lobby and out into the street. My eyes scanned the

There he was.

Adrian.

shoulders tense, head bowed, walking in slow circles

"Adrian!" I called.

He didn't hear me.

again, louder this

Still no reaction.

hurried forward and laid a gentle hand on his arm. He stiffened, startled, then turned slowly. Our eyes locked, and for

still found you out here,” I said, breathless from the chase and everything else

he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was...

stepping closer. "About Nicole. About her

with a title. My dad's the one

admitted, swallowing hard. "But still. You're on my team.

wrapping both of his around it like he needed something solid-something

one can protect me

like Nicole.

enough to sleep with her, none of this would've exploded the way it

not go there," I interrupted, my voice firm. "That's the

what's next-this project, your future

work. That's all it's been with you

that's the only

"What

little, brows drawing together. "This whole setup-the mentorship' thing. The way you're always making sure shine prepping me, prepping yourself to make me look good... Sometimes it feels like you're trying to prove something. Or make up for something. And I don't even know where I fit

chest tightened because he was right. I was hiding something. And I

lie

He nodded tightly.

dad placed you

because I am. That's

to succeed.

I

too. I

ever want to see you

moment, then smiled-small, sad. “This is why