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

Clairessa's POV

I stared at Gabriel in disbelief, a knot tightening in my stomach as I waited for the

rest of the sentence-like it was some kind of sick joke and any second now, he'd laugh and take it back.

But he didn't laugh. He didn't even blink.

He was serious. Stone cold.

What the hell did he mean-help Adrian grow up? Keep him focused? Become the woman who inspires him to be a better man?

What the actual hell?

Was I supposed to play life coach now? Or worse... a supportive girlfriend?

"Gabriel, this isn't going to work. Can't you see that? Not after everything that's happened between us. And I thought you were a man who prided himself on honesty. Now you want me to lie to your son?"

He stepped closer, closing the space between us until I could feel the heat rolling off him—familiar and maddening. I instinctively moved back, but it wasn't enough. His breath brushed my cheek as he spoke.

"I'm not asking you to lie," he murmured, voice low and dark. "I'm asking you to keep pretending... like you've been doing all along."

My throat tightened.

"Besides," he added, "it's clear Adrian would do anything for you. I'm just using that. I've tried for years to get him serious about the company-now suddenly, he's ready to give it his all... because of you."

I knew Adrian's sudden interest in me was nothing but a weak attempt to win me back-and that was never going to work.

I rolled my eyes. "I refuse to be part of your babysitting plan."

Gabriel leaned in, his voice dropping to a growl. "And I was just a pawn in your games, remember? So no-you don't get to question this. You don't have a choice, Clairessa."

My body tensed. Frustration, confusion, anger-swirling inside me like a storm I couldn't calm.

"I've apologized-again and again for not telling you the truth. But that doesn't give you the right to make me spend the next month babysitting your son."

"I want you to guide him," he corrected. "Adrian listens to you. He respects you. Hell, he cares enough to fight me over you. Your only job this month is to help him stay focused. He says you've done it before-and honestly, you're the only one who can now."

"No... I'm not." The words slipped out before I could stop them. "We both know Adrian is only doing this because he wants me back. And I'm not going down that road again. The last thing I want is to lead him on."

Gabriel's expression hardened, his voice turning cold. "I don't care what it takes to keep him on track. If that means letting him believe he still has a chance-so be it."

The chill in his voice triggered something inside me. I stepped in closer, deliberately brushing against his solid frame, catching the sharp inhale the way he drew in breath like my body still had an effect on him.

My eyes locked onto his, searching for any crack in that cold exterior. I had to know if there was still something left-if I could still reach whatever part of him hadn't shut me out completely.

"So now you want me to parade myself like bait in front of your son... just to convince him to work at your company?" I asked, my voice low and laced with mockery.

He stiffened and turned away, slamming the door on whatever heat had sparked between us. His expression went blank-no softness left in his eyes.

"Like I said. Whatever it takes. But it's only for one month. And it stays between us."

I leaned in, close enough for my lips to graze the edge of his ear. "My answer is no," I whispered, then pulled back.

I barely took a step before his hand clamped around my arm. In an instant, he pulled me into his chest. The pressure of his grip, the heat radiating off him—it rattled me.

"You'll do exactly as I say," he breathed into my hair, voice low and cutting. "It's the least you can do after spending months making me fall in love with you... and then tearing my heart to pieces."

I shoved at his chest with more force than I realized I had, my hands trembling as they pressed hard against him.

My breath came in shallow bursts-fury and longing crashing in equal waves. He had no right to ask this of me.

"No," I said aga louder this time. "I won't do it, Gabriel."

His eyes didn't move. They just watched me-calm, cold, guarded. Like I was nothing more than a chess piece in a game he already planned to win.

"I don't care what you think I owe you," I snapped, my voice rising. "I'm done pretending. With you. With Adrian. With everyone."

I ripped my arm free from his grip and stepped back, heart pounding, lungs aching. He didn't follow. Didn't call after me.

Good.

I turned and walked away, head high, even as everything inside me crumbled. I wouldn't let him see me fall apart.

Not yet.

The moment I stepped out of Gabriel's room, I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe. My breaths came too fast, too shallow.

The fury boiling inside me begged for release.

I didn't know whether to scream, collapse, or throw something across the hallway -anything to keep from shattering completely.

How dare he?

Offer me a deal? A condition? I didn't even know what to call it. All I knew was that Gabriel Storm-the man who once looked me in the eye and said he hated lies-had just tried to trade me like I was nothing more than a bargaining chip for his son's attention.

After everything we'd been through, he had the audacity to tell me to "do whatever

it takes" to keep Adrian focused-even if it meant leading him on.

He didn't care what it would do to Adrian. He didn't care what it would do to me. He knew I didn't want Adrian knew I'd drawn that

line-and still expected me to dangle myself like some prize just to keep his son focused.

The anger surged through me so fast,

it nearly knocked the air from my lungs.

It wasn't just the hurt that burned-

I was livid because I'd let myself believe

there was still something worth fighting for.

I begged him.

I apologized.

I laid my heart bare-

And in return,

he acted like none of it ever mattered.

Like I was disposable.

That man?

The one I just walked away from?

That wasn't the Gabriel I had come to know and fallen in love with.

He wasn't the man who kissed me like I was the only thing keeping him sane.

Wasn't the one who once touched me with reverence, like the thought of losing me would break him.

The one who loved me so fiercely, it sometimes scared me.

No.

That man was cold. Hardened. Calculating.noveldrama

And selfish in a way that made my skin crawl.

One month, he said.

He wanted me here for a month-just to keep his son focused.

Well, screw that.

I was leaving before the day was done.

I needed to go back to my apartment.

See what I could salvage.

I didn't have time to waste.

I had to rebuild-on my own terms.

I raced down the stairs, each step harder than the last, my pulse pounding like a war drum in my car

I didn't know where was gong-1 just knew I had to move.

And then I slammed right into Adrian.