Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 189: Signing The Contract Clairessa's POV My fingers tapped restlessly against the massive boardroom table. The contract lay in front of me-official, overly formal for something that should've been a straightforward meeting.

I couldn't understand why Gabriel had chosen the boardroom instead of his office.

Everything felt rigid now, like we were strangers negotiating terms when just weeks ago, we were lovers wrapped in each other's arms, making love like it meant forever, whispering promises to love each other with every fiber of our being, dreaming aloud about a future we thought was ours.

It was all moving too fast forto process.

I'd texted him earlier, letting him know I was ready to sign. Nicole's lawyer-well, her friend who handled legal stuff-had reviewed the terms. She'd calledback sounding half stunned, half impressed.

"This is a solid contract," she'd said. "Honestly? Almost too good to be true." There was only one red flag: no end date. The contract didn't specify how long I was expected to keep Adrian "in line," as Gabriel had so bluntly put it.

The original verbal agreement had been thirty days, but that wasn't reflected here. It simply read: until Gabriel decides.

That madeuneasy. When would that be? A month? A year? Longer? There was no way I could tolerate Adrian for that long.

I hated the ambiguity, but the rest of the terms were in my favor. And really, what mattered most was what I stood to gain-I could handle Gabriel. I'd chosen the lesser evil, and if a fight clater, I'd be ready.

With a sigh, I let the thought go. No point worrying about a battle that hadn't started yet.

I glanced at the ton my phone-almost 11 a.m. The meeting should've started fifteen minutes ago, but Gabriel was late. Nothing new there.

He always had a way of making things run on his time, whether I liked it or not. I'd texted him thirty minutes ago to say I was ready to sign.

Suddenly, the door swung open and Gabriel walked in like he owned the place- because, technically, he did. The entire building was his.

He wore a navy-blue suit that had no business looking as good as it did. The top button of his shirt was undone, like he hadn't bothered to fix it before coming in. Somehow, that only made it worse-like he was effortlessly hot. Damn him.

I hated how my heart still skipped a beat when I saw him. I should've been over this-over him-but I couldn't shake the pull. I wanted to hate him, to make him feel every ounce of the hurt he'd caused me. But it So damn hard.

His gaze met mine as he sat across from me. "Hello, Clairessa... you look well." His voice was hoarse. Not this. Not the forced pleasantries. We both knew exactly what this was. He could sparethe act.

Too irritated to speak, I gave him an obviously fake smile.

He smirked, of course. And I hoped he caught the hint.

was hard.

"Straight to business, then," he murmured, still smirking. "I hope you had tto review the contract with your lawyer." He flipped open the black file in front of him, his voice smooth and laced with that usual authority that always madewant to roll my eyes.

"Yes," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. "Everything checked out." Gabriel raised an eyebrow, watchingclosely. "Any concerns?" I subtly adjusted in my seat, trying to ignore the way my heart pounded just from being this close to him. "Yeah. There's no end date. It says 'until you decide,' but how long is that supposed to be? Thirty days? Thirty years?" My voice was calm, but the challenge was clear. I wanted answers.

Gabriel didn't even blink. He leaned back in his chair, that infuriatingly knowing smile tugging at his lips. "That's correct." "That's not what we agreed on," I pushed. "You said thirty days." "I changed it," he replied smoothly. "And it could be sooner or later. It all depends on you, Clairessa-how quickly you're willing to get the job done." I let out a sarcastic snort, caught between disbelief and disdain. He had the nerve to call this a job-to askto deceive his own son after all that self-righteous talk about honesty. So much for 'I hate lies' when he clearly didn't mind whatever lengths I had to go to just to keep Adrian in line.

He was just another power-drunk billionaire who'd do anything to get his way. "Whatever," I muttered.

Gabriel watchedlike I was both a puzzle and a provocation. Then he simply nodded and slid the pen toward me. "Since we're in agreement, it's tfor the signing." I took the pen, my fingers trembling slightly as I hovered over the dotted line.

This was it. No turning back once the ink touched paper.

I glanced sideways-Gabriel was already signing with that maddening, composed confidence, like he hadn't just turnedinto a pawn. Like this meant nothing to him. It madewant to slap the smug off his face. No hesitation. No second thoughts.

So why should I feel bad? Adrian was an ex who'd lied and cheated. I didn't owe him anything anymore. If his father wanted to useto get what he wanted, then I'd do the sfor my app, for my future.

"Jerk," I muttered under my breath, then signed-too quickly-trying to mask the surge of emotion rising inside me. Gabriel caught my eye, his smirk deepening. "What was that?" "Nothing," I said, looking away-though part ofhoped he heard exactly what I whispered.

Now that the contract was signed, I set the pen down and stared at the paper in front of me. "Now that it's done, what's next?" Gabriel's smile didn't waver. "Now, I formally promote you to Project Coordinator. You'll be working closely with me. And Adrian"-he paused, watchingcarefully "will be your assistant." Assistant? The word echoed in my head like a warning bell. This was a disaster waiting to happen.

"You'll oversee him directly," Gabriel continued. "He reports to you. You report to me. Any objections?" I had plenty. But I swallowed them-hard. This was what I'd signed up for.

"No," I said tightly. "No objections." "Good." He pressed the intercom. "Tems, cin." Moments later, his assistant entered with a clipboard. Gabriel handed over the signed contract.

"Have this sent to Mr. Rodrigo-the company lawyer. And let Adrian know I want him in the boardroom." Tems nodded and exited, the door clicking shut behind her.

I stood slowly, bracing myself-for what, I wasn't entirely sure. My pulse hadn't settled since I picked up that pen.

A few minutes passed before the door opened again. Adrian stepped in, his expression shifting the moment he saw us. The shock was instant, written all over his face.

"Uh... Dad? Claire? What's going on?" He glanced between us, then at the documents on the table. His brows pulled together as he turned to me. "Is he giving you a hard time?" Before I could answer, Gabriel shot him a pointed look and gestured to the seat across from us. "Adrian. Sit." Adrian obeyed slowly, his eyes bouncing between us like he was trying to piece together a silent conversation. "You do realize Clairessa works here," Gabriel said, his voice stern. "I can summon her for a meeting anytI please." "Yeah... yeah, Dad, you're right. It's just... surprising to see you both here, calm, and then I walk in..." Adrian trailed off, trying to defend his reaction.

"Apologies, Dad," he added quietly, adopting a more sober tone.

Gabriel waved it off. "Adrian, it's been a few days since you joined the while company, and while ! know you're ve! already familiar with Clairessa on à already more personal level, I'd like to formally introduce her in a professional capacity. She's just been promoted to Project Coordinator. You'll be working closely with her-as her assistant." Adrian blinked, visibly stunned. "Wait, what? Dad, seriously? Wow. I mean, I never would've expected this. I thought you didn't even like Clairessa."

"Well, Adrian, my personal feelings don't factor into business decisions.

That's something you'lHearn sobn enough Clairèssa is excellent at what she does. And what better way to help you succeed than to have you work directly under someone with real experience?" "You wantto report to Claire?" Gabriel nodded. "Yes. Clairessa will be guiding your integration into the company.

She'll be working with you day in and day out. You report to her. She reports to me." Adrian's brows pulled together. "Dad, a few days ago you were practically trying to keep us apart, and now this? Something's clearly going on, and I want an explanation. Now." Gabriel cleared his throat and turned to me. "Clairessa, would you mind giving us a moment?"

"Of course, Mr. Storm," I replied with a wry smile as I rose from my seat my seatn Honestly, I was glad to leave them to it Let them figure it out-at this point, I cared only about my own interests. Nothing else mattered.