Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 200: Where The Hell Was He?

Clairessa's POV

"Five minutes, Clairessa. Five freaking minutes-that's how late we are for the meeting," Nicole snapped from the doorway. "And your star boy is still MIA. Are you kidding me?"

I didn't look up. My fingers trembled as I hit redial-again. For what felt like the hundredth time.

Nicole scoffed behind me. "This is a joke, right? I knew this was a fluke from the beginning. I told you-Adrian wasn't cut out for this. And you vouched for him. You swore he could pull it off. Wow."

His phone rang once-then straight to voicemail.

Again.

The sound of that robotic voice telling me to leave a message only made my heart pound harder, like it was trying to outrun the panic rising in my chest.

I hung up and dialed again. Still nothing.

I hadn't seen him since our last conversation-since I told him there was no chance of us getting back together. He never returned to the house, never answered a single call or text, leaving me with no explanation for his whereabouts.

How could he just disappear-today of all days-just because I told him no?

Clearly, nothing had changed. He was still the same selfish man I'd always known.

“Clairessa,” Nicole's voice yanked me back to the present, grating against my last nerve. "Do you even have a plan? Because this was supposed to be his pitch. Mr. Storm is waiting. The entire damn board is waiting. And I'm not putting my name on something that's about to crash and burn."

"Nicole." My teeth clenched as I turned to face her, the heat rising in my chest. "Can you just stop for once? This presentation—this moment-affects both of us. It's about the company. Not you. Not me. Not whatever personal grudge you've got going. We're a team, whether you like it or not, and you breathing down my neck isn't helping."

She muttered something under her breath but backed off a step.

My hand was shaking so badly the phone nearly slipped. I slapped it down on the table, my head spinning. "Damn it! I just need a second to think, okay? Just give me a moment."

My brain was scrambling for solutions, but nothing was clicking.

God. I wanted to scream.

Nicole stood there, arms crossed, watching me like a hawk. "Fine. You're right," she said at last. "I'm on this project too, and we need a solution. But let's be honest-calling Adrian again is a waste of time. This is who he is. An entitled little rich boy who thinks the world should rearrange itself around his mood swings."

I shot her a dry look that said, tell me something I don't know.

She settled back in her seat. "Last time I saw you two, his pitch wasn't perfect, but he looked ready. Confident."

Then came the question. "So? What happened? Did you two fight? Step on his fragile ego a little? Because honestly, this disappearing act? It's textbook Adrian."

I shut my eyes, weighing whether to tell the truth. But what was the point in hiding it now?

"The last time we spoke... he asked if there was a chance we could get back together. I told him no."

let out a dry, mocking laugh. "Of course you

tilted her head, sizing me up. "Knowing Adrian, you

the pitch-then dump him. Would've been

do that to him," I murmured. "I didn't

congrats, Miss Integrity. And now?

hair, tugging at the strands,

"Unbelievable."

conscience get in the way. I should've played along-done what Gabriel asked, gone to any lengths, even if that meant pretending I

told him what he wanted to hear, made him believe the lie-just to get him to show up. Then I

genuinely believed he'd changed. I thought these past few weeks meant he actually cared about

But I was wrong.

rising anger at myself for being so naïve. "Nicole, that's water under the bridge. What matters now is figuring this out. Otherwise, this

eyes scanning the floor like she was working through an impossible equation. "You're right. We

fingers against the table, trying

mind was a mess. Gabriel

the hell I was. Wondering where Adrian was, too. Wondering why I wasn't dragging him in

was far too late to tell him the truth-that Adrian disappeared

probably have my head

to her feet. "Alright.

"What?"

was obvious.

eyes flew wide.

After all, this was your idea from the start. You were just helping Adrian find his footing. No one knows this material like you do. So walk in

"You don't understand "

rolled her eyes.

"Gab-Mr. Storm," I corrected myself, "he made it clear Adrian was supposed to lead this. Not me. This was his project. His redemption arc. His big O moment. If I walk in there without

on the desk. "You don't have a choice!

playing hide and seek? For all we know, Adrian's in another

broke. He can't afford to travel right now. He's

but you didn't see what I did. Every time you two fought, he came to me.

please," I snapped. "I don't care what you two had—or didn't. You can

in there and take

turned away, pacing faster, my heart thudding

God.

to seal the deal. Finalize

meant to lead it-prove himself, check every

go. He'd

anymore.

was the whole

But now?