Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

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."

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

She tilted her head, sizing me up. "Knowing Adrian, you should've just said yes.

Get through the pitch-then dump him. Would've been the smart play."

"I couldn't do that to him," I murmured. "I didn't want to lead him on."noveldrama

Nicole threw her hands in the air. "Well, congrats, Miss Integrity. And now? He's gone. Just perfect."

I dragged a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands, frustration pulling at every nerve.

"Unbelievable."

Nicole was right. I never should've let my conscience get in the way. I should've played along-done what Gabriel asked, gone to any lengths, even if that meant pretending I had feelings for Adrian.

I should've told him what he wanted to hear, made him believe the lie-just to get him to show up. Then I could've told him the truth later.

But no... I ruined it by being honest, because I genuinely believed he'd changed. I thought these past few weeks meant he actually cared about his future.

But I was wrong.

I bit down the rising anger at myself for being so naïve. "Nicole, that's water under the bridge. What matters now is figuring this out. Otherwise, this whole thing's going to implode."

She straightened in her seat, eyes scanning the floor like she was working through an impossible equation. "You're right. We need a plan."

I drummed my fingers against the table, trying to steady my spiraling thoughts.

My mind was a mess. Gabriel was probably already in the boardroom-checking

his watch, wondering where the hell I was. Wondering where Adrian was, too. Wondering why I wasn't dragging him in by the collar.

And it was far too late to tell him the truth-that Adrian disappeared after I turned him down.

He'd probably have my head for it.

Nicole pushed to her feet. "Alright. I think I've got a plan."

"What?"

She gave me a look like the answer was obvious. "You go in there and give the pitch."

My eyes flew wide. "No way?!"

"Yes. You go in there and own it. 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 there and blow them away."

"You don't understand "

She rolled her eyes. "What now?"

"I... I can't," I whispered, backing away, shaking my head. "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 him..."

Nicole slammed her hand on the desk. "You don't have a choice! What, you want

to run around the city playing hide and seek? For all we know, Adrian's in another country. Or passed out in some VIP lounge."

I shook my head. "No... that's not possible. He's broke. He can't afford to travel right now. He's probably just crashing at a friend's place."

Her voice took on a colder edge. "You thought you knew him, but you didn't see what I did. Every time you two fought, he came to me. We'd go out, drink, hit the clubs-like none of it ever mattered to him."

“Nicole, not right now, please," I snapped. "I don't care what you two had—or didn't. You can have him. I just want to get through this."

"Great. Then go in there and take the lead. Period."

I turned away, pacing faster, my heart thudding in my chest.

Oh my God. I was screwed.

This presentation was supposed to seal the deal. Finalize the contract. Adrian

was meant to lead it-prove himself, check every box.

And Gabriel? He'd finally let go. He'd have no reason to keep me around

anymore.

That was the whole point.

But now?

Adrian was a no-show.

Nicole didn't understand that if I walked in there alone, it wouldn't just look bad it would be catastrophic Gabriel would see it as a complete failure. And I'd be the one stuck dealing with Adrian-babysitting him for God knows how long-because of this crap he pulled.

Weeks of work. All that effort-for what?

I sank into the chair, the weight of it all crashing down on my shoulders.

Just then, my phone buzzed on the desk.

I lunged for it, heart leaping with an ounce of hope. Maybe just maybe—Adrian

had finally replied to one of my hundred messages.

But no. It was an email from Tems-Gabriel's assistant.

Subject: URGENT: Boardroom Waiting

Message: Ms. Hartwood, Mr. Storm would like you to know that he and Mr. Randolph have been waiting in the boardroom for the Randolph Page presentation. He asks that you report immediately. He is currently very displeased.

Like I didn't already know.

I flipped the phone over quickly, screen down. The last thing I needed was Nicole reading over my shoulder and adding fuel to an already burning fire.

When I looked up, she was already watching me. Brow raised. Arms crossed. Suspicion all over her face.

"Let me guess," she said dryly. "That was Mr. Storm asking where the hell you are."

I hesitated, trying to deflect, but there was no point pretending.

"... Yeah," I muttered. "It is."

Nicole leaned over my desk, her tone flat. “Clairessa, from where I'm standing, you've got two options. One-go in there and deliver the pitch. Two-call Mr.

Storm and tell him his son's vanished."

She paused, eyes steady.

"And trust me—you do not want to go with option two."

I looked up at her, eyes wide, throat tight.

She straightened. "So we take them by surprise. Walk in, own the room, and

deliver a damn good pitch. It's the only card we've got left."

I didn't answer.

Because she was right.

But that didn't make it any easier.