Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 200

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.”

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.”

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