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.

Trying to play the victim. Trying to guilt

for my hand. And for some reason—some stupid reason I let him hold

everything," he murmured. "And I'm sorry for

"Damn right I do."

tightened slightly. "Please... just forgive me. This once. I swear

my hand free. "You've said that before. I'm not

Just this

laughed coldly. "That's never going to happen

then tried a different

about it. In the end, it worked out. The pitch, the project-it was your idea. Maybe it's better the CEO saw that. Maybe it was meant

at

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

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

I bit out.

make it up to you. Just

a dry, bitter laugh. "You think I can stand to be around you

know you're mad. But

"All I want is space. If you'd shown up like you were supposed to, maybe we'd be celebrating right now.

Just one drink. Let

folded my arms. "You really think

on. "Then tell me... what

shook my head slowly. "I don't know.

around and walked away, done with the conversation-for

myself into my office, exhaustion crashing over me like

out-physically drained and emotionally

office... hell, the whole building felt

to get out.

busted my ass, closed the deal, and held everything

I

about

Gabriel's house

now would feel like diving headfirst into

around Adrian.

that didn't

Somewhere quiet.

I could

a

only one

just the heaviness

pressed into my shoulders.

I was barely holding it

ve

Jess stood barefoot in an oversized T-shirt that read *Men Are Cancelled in glittering silver letters. I almost laughed until her expression shifted from

squealed, gripping the doorframe. "Did I miss the apocalypse? Did

over?"

and stepping inside like I lived there. Jess shut the door behind me,

No hello? No 'Hey Jess, how've you been?' After blowing me

my heels with a groan and collapsing onto her velvet couch like my bones had just given out.