Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Clairessa's POV

Still trying to catch my breath after what just happened in Gabriel's office, I

stepped into the hall-only to come face to face with the last person I wanted to deal with.

Adrian.

Leaning against the wall like he'd been waiting all day.

He straightened the moment he saw me.

"Clairessa-hey, wait—"

"No." I brushed past him, but he fell into step beside me.

"Just let me explain. Please."

"You had all day yesterday to explain," I snapped, not slowing down.

"I called you over a hundred times. And instead of answering like a decent person

or replying to a single text, you ghosted me-knowing how important today was. And now I'm supposed to stand here and listen to whatever crap you have to say?"

He dragged a hand through his hair. "I wasn't thinking straight after our last conversation. I... I just need you to try to understand me."

I stopped mid-stride and spun on him.

"Understand you? You mean like I was supposed to when you cheated? Or today when I had to cover for you because you showed up late to one of the most important meetings of our careers?"

His expression cracked.

"It's clear you haven't changed." My tone was firm, so he knew I wasn't kidding. "You're still that same entitled, selfish boy who thinks the world revolves around him—and that someone else will always clean up the mess."

His eyes flashed with hurt. "Claire, that's not fair."

"I'm not here to be fair. I'm being honest."

He looked vulnerable and damn it, I hated that a small part of me still cared how he felt.

Then he kept talking.

"I know ghosting you was wrong. I'm sorry. But what did you expect me to do when you broke my heart?"

I blinked, stunned.

He did not just say that.

He had the nerve to flip this on me?

"You think I broke your heart?" I scoffed, nearly laughing at the irony of it all.

"Adrian, I walked in on you screwing Nicole. And don't even try the 'one-time' excuse-I found out about the six-month affair. You even helped her get this job. And now you want me to feel bad for saying no to getting back together?"

His eyes dropped, shame creeping in.

unbelievable. Trying to play the victim.

for some reason—some stupid reason

"And I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. You have

"Damn right I do."

"Please... just forgive me. This once. I swear I won't mess it

my hand free. "You've said

me. Just

laughed coldly. "That's never going to happen

hesitated, then tried

worked out. The pitch, the project-it was your idea. Maybe it's

at him,

and left me to fix everything. We got lucky-that's all. Don't twist this into some silver lining that lets you

softened again. "But we won the pitch, didn't we? Or... did my dad say the CEO changed his mind after

I bit out.

up. "Then let me make

out a dry, bitter laugh. "You think I can stand

desperate. "I know you're mad. But

is space. If you'd shown up like you were supposed to, maybe we'd be celebrating right now. But since you pulled the classic Adrian move-disappearing when it matters-I

please. Just one drink. Let me start

arms. "You really think a drink is going to fix

searched my face, still holding on. "Then tell me... what would

"I don't

waiting for his response, I spun around and walked away, done

crashing over me like

drained and emotionally

office... hell, the whole building felt like it was

me. I needed to get out. I

ass, closed the deal,

apart. I deserved to leave

thought about

damn... Gabriel's house

in there now would feel like diving headfirst into everything I'd been trying to escape-especially today, with all the

around Adrian.

a fresh space. Somewhere that didn't

Somewhere quiet.

I could

a clear

only one place I

just the heaviness

the day pressed into my shoulders. By the time I

was barely holding

ve

Cancelled in glittering silver

on my doorstep at two-freaking-thirty on a weekday?" she squealed, gripping the doorframe. "Did I miss

over?"

stepping inside like I lived there. Jess shut the

do you think you're going? No hello? No 'Hey Jess,

a groan and collapsing onto her velvet