Clairessa’s POVMy eyes shot open. I stretched slowly beneath the duvet before reaching for my phone and glancing at the screen. It was past ten. I’d slept in longer than planned, but I had no one to blame but myself. Most of the night had been spent tossing and turning, restless and frustrated by the memory of Gabriel turning me down yet again. Keeping up this bad-girl act was draining, and I couldn’t help but wonder if revenge was worth all this effort. Men like Gabriel had been with countless women—elegant, experienced women who were probably far sexier than I was. It was clear I wasn’t his type. Still, as much as I told myself to give up, I knew I couldn’t. He consumed my thoughts. I shook my head, trying to clear it as I rose from the bed and headed to the bathroom. Staring at my reflection, I sighed, then brushed my teeth and splashed cold water on my face to shake off the remnants of sleep. “You can do this,” I whispered to my reflection. With one final glance, I stepped
Gabriel’s POV “This is the final report for the Rainers project,” Clairessa said, her hands gliding over the cursor on my desktop. As she stood behind me, her body lightly brushed against mine, sending a jolt through me that I couldn’t ignore.Her perfume lingered in the air, intoxicating all my senses, making it impossible to focus. All I could think about was how much I wanted her—how badly I needed to bend her over this desk and make her mine. My fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch her, but I clenched them, keeping them firmly on the desk.Clairessa wasn’t making this easy. The more time I spent around her, the worse it got. I had built walls around myself—shutting out emotions, attachments, anything that could weaken me—but she was tearing them down piece by piece. And I hated it. I hated how she made me feel, how she awakened desires I thought I’d buried long ago.I wondered what she saw in me. Yes, I was a billionaire, and women often fell for my wealth and po
Clairessa's POV“So, who is she?” I asked, leaning in closer to wipe the lipstick stain left by Tina’s annoying kiss. God, I hated how jealous I felt watching her kiss and speak to him, even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. I couldn’t help myself. I wiped Gabriel’s cheek with the pad of my thumb. He flinched at first but quickly relaxed.“You’ve got lipstick on your cheek,” I murmured, cleaning the last red smudge before settling back into my seat. “Thanks,” Gabriel smirked, his expression slightly stiff. “But my personal life is off-limits to you, Clairessa. Let’s eat.” He signaled for the waiter, his gaze locked on mine with a trace of amusement in his eyes. I could feel it—there was something going on between Gabriel and Tina. The way she looked at him, how her hand lingered on his arm... It sent a surge of jealousy burning through me. I tried to suppress it, but the knot in my stomach tightened. I glanced down at the menu to distract myself, my eyes scanni
Gabriel's POVSitting in the grand auditorium, I couldn’t focus on anything but Gabriel. The room was packed with influential people—investors, tech gurus—but my focus stayed on him. Even though he was across the room on the big stage, it felt like his eyes were on me, and I couldn’t help but feel warm all over.He stood tall, wearing a sharp grey suit, speaking with passion about how technology could change the world. His voice was calm and confident, making every word sound important.The way he moved—his posture, his gestures—showed strength and control. Gabriel wasn’t just a businessman; he was a visionary—a man who saw the future and was determined to reshape it. His presence was magnetic, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t look away. I glanced at the crowd and noticed everyone else was as captivated as I was. It wasn’t just admiration—it was respect. Gabriel had a way of making everything else seem insignificant, and all I could think about was how much I admired him—
Gabriel’s POVI held Clairessa’s hand tightly as we walked through the hotel lobby. She protested, telling me to let her go, but I ignored her. My emotions were raging. Seeing her with Daniel had set me on fire.Out of all the men in the world, she chose to have lunch with him—my enemy. Daniel had always been a thorn in my side, constantly trying to take everything from me, even my ex-wife, Angelique, back when he had more money than I did. That was years ago, though. Now, things were different.I had more power and wealth than Daniel could ever dream of. I had built my empire with sweat and blood, surpassing him in every way. Yet here he was, acting as if he could still take what was mine.I tightened my grip on Clairessa’s hand, feeling her tremble beneath my hold. Good. Let her feel it. Let her understand no one crosses me. I wanted her to know how angry I was—not just for leaving the conference without a word but for walking out with him. For letting him make her laugh and smile w
Clairessa’s POVAs I walked into my apartment, I was seething with rage. Gabriel had pushed me to my limit. I wanted to hate him, to forget he existed. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried. I wanted him. My fingers brushed my lips where he had kissed me, and I clutched his shirt close, letting his scent fill my senses. I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin. Pressing a hand against my chest, I tried to steady myself."Get a hold of yourself, Clairessa," I scolded aloud. This was supposed to be about revenge, not about losing control over him. Gabriel’s jealous tantrum over my lunch with Daniel was infuriating. Instead of talking to me like an adult, he used my attraction to him as a weapon to force me into following his ridiculous rules.He had no right to demand I never see Daniel again, even though I had no intention of doing so. Who was Daniel to him? Why did Gabriel care so much about one simple lunch? His reaction at the restaurant made it clea
Clairessa’s POVI arrived at Adrian’s restaurant, and a wave of nostalgia hit me as I took in the familiar surroundings. Memories of our time together overwhelmed me—late nights spent here, the ideas I had shared to help him grow the business, even the colors I chose for the walls. I had put so much into his dream, pausing mine because I believed we were building a future together. How wrong I was.Lost in thought, I barely noticed a waitress approach. “Do you have a reservation?” she asked.I nodded absentmindedly, my eyes scanning the tables for Adrian. Then I saw him, standing by the bar.He wasn’t alone.Nicole stood beside him, laughing, and they were deep in conversation.My heart sank. Of course, he hadn’t changed. All those promises, all the begging for a second chance—it was all a lie. He was still the same lying, cheating… jerk. Tears stung my eyes as I tried to hold myself together, but it was too much. Why did it still hurt this much? Maybe because I hadn’t fully let him g
Clairessa’s POV For just a moment, Gabriel hesitated. Then his lips crashed into mine, hungry and desperate. Our tongues tangled, and a surge of heat swept through me as I melted into him. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, and I felt his heart pounding hard against mine. The fire between us grew with every kiss, every touch. Each time his lips met mine, waves of pleasure rippled through me. I pulled away, breathing hard, staring into his dark eyes. For the first time, I felt powerful, knowing I was the one making him lose control. Slowly, I began to undo his shirt, revealing his firm, toned chest. My hands explored his skin, marveling at the firmness of his muscles. His body was sculpted and hard beneath my fingertips, each touch awakening something primal within me. I needed more, craved more of him. I let my lips trail down his neck, tasting him, feeling his body tense beneath my touch. His arousal pressed against my thighs, and I reached down, grasping his throb
Gabriel’s POV “Dad?” I didn’t bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. “I’m here,” I called out. I heard Adrian’s footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around. “Wait—are you cooking?” he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. “Dad, I’m shocked. You haven’t cooked in… what, years?” I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder. “Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon.” I offered a casual shrug, reaching for the ladle and giving the pot another stir. “I was hungry and couldn’t wait that long.” I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue. Truth was, I wasn’t hungry. Eating was the last thing on my mind. The food I was cooking—it was for Clairessa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of
Gabriel’s POV I gently pulled the duvet down and slipped my arms around her, lifting her against me. Her body was burning, her skin clammy, her breath shallow. She didn’t stir—just shivered helplessly in my arms, trapped in some fever dream. “Clairessa.” My voice cracked as I shook her gently, trying to coax her into consciousness. “Hey, open your eyes… please.” No response. “It’s me. Gabriel. I’m here,” I whispered, lifting her slowly into my arms and brushing damp strands of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, they opened. Our eyes met—just briefly. She gave the faintest smile, soft and dazed—then slipped back into the fever, her eyes shutting again. Fuck. I had to do something. I lowered her carefully onto the mattress and rushed to the bathroom, soaking a towel in warm water. I came back and laid it across her forehead, holding it there, hoping to ease the heat. After a minute or two, I replaced it with a fresh one, trying to bring her temperatur
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the steering wheel. “Clairessa—” “You made it clear you’re never going to forgive me,” she said, cutting me off. Her voice trembled. “So it’s better if I go. At least that way, I don’t have to stand next to you, knowing you think the worst of me.” She paused, her eyes glassy. “That look in your eyes… like I’m something filthy. It’s more than I can take. So please… just let me go.” And then she turned and walked away. Just like that. For a moment, I just stared at her, stunned. Her words tried to cut deep into my heart, but I fought it off. How dare she try to make this about my reaction to her betrayal, when she should be grateful—that I was offering her a hand when she deserved far worse for what she’d done? This felt like classic manipulation, just like she’d done before. And I was on the edge of giving in to the voice telling me to turn back... but I couldn’t. Watching her stumble through the storm, drenched and defeated by the rain... It tore some
Gabriel’s POV I stood by the window in my bedroom, staring out at the heavy downpour, hoping the rain could somehow drown out the noise in my head. But it didn’t. The ache in my chest was unbearable. It felt like someone had torn my heart out with their bare hands, and I was still expected to function. To breathe. To move on. Clairessa lied to me. She deceived me. And no matter how many times I tried to reason it out—tried to stitch together a narrative that didn’t hurt as much—I couldn’t move past it. The sickest part? My own son was also in love with her. We both fell for the same woman. But I didn’t just fall. I plummeted. I let my guard down for her. Let her in like she was my second chance at something I didn’t even believe in anymore. Love. I told myself she was different. Safe. Real. Mine. But no. She wasn’t. She was exactly like Angelique. The same games. The same fake innocence. The same damn sweetness masking manipulation. Deception. Lies. And I bough
Clairessa’s POVAs soon as the door slammed shut, it felt like my entire world collapsed.A sharp, jarring pain tore through my chest, and I clutched at my heart instinctively, as if holding it might stop it from breaking apart.My legs buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air as a sob ripped from somewhere deep inside me.I tried to silence it—to swallow the sound—but it was no use. I didn’t just cry. I broke down.Tears streamed down my face, falling freely onto the wooden floor beneath me.Gabriel’s last words echoed in my head again and again, each repetition cutting deeper into my already shattered heart.“We’re done. Nothing is ever going to happen between us again.”But it wasn’t just the words.It was the look in his eyes.A look that will haunt me forever.Disgust. Disdain. Like I was a mistake—a betrayal he regretted ever letting into his life.And what hurt the most wasn’t just losing him… it was knowing that someone who once loved me so deeply
Clairessa’s POVMy voice cut through the room, stopping Gabriel in his tracks.“No… I didn’t,” I choked out, my chest tightening, hands trembling at my sides. “This was a stupid plan. One I never should’ve gone through with—”He turned around slowly to face me—but I kept going.“But don’t stand there acting like you’re innocent. You cheated on me, remember?”His eyes darkened, pain flashing before it drowned in fury.“Don’t you fucking—” He stepped forward, his voice tight with rage.“Liar,” I spat, stepping into the fire between us. “I walked in on you and Nicole. Naked. In your bed. Don’t stand there pretending you ever gave a damn about me… about us.”“I was drunk, Clairessa!” he exploded. “I didn’t even know how I got home! Nicole told me I kept calling your name all night—like a pathetic mess. Over and over again. She didn’t touch me. Nothing happened.”I shook my head, unable to erase the image burned into my memory. “You expect me to believe that? That you just conveniently end
Gabriel’s POV “Which part?” I growled. “Dating my son? Or crawling into my bed, moaning my name like it meant something?” “No one sent me.” “Still lying,” I hissed, gripping her arms—maybe too hard, but I didn’t care. Not now. I needed the truth. I needed it like air. “You don’t just fall into bed with two men from the same bloodline by accident. So who the hell sent you?” She writhed in my hold. “I’m telling the truth! Gabriel, you’re hurting me. Please…” “Not until you tell me the truth,” I bit out. “This is mercy compared to what I’ll do if you keep lying.” My fingers sank deeper into her skin. I shut down whatever was left of my conscience. I was done being reasonable. The truth was coming out—no matter the cost. “I know you planned this,” I growled. “Every move. Every kiss. You made me fall while you played your sick little game. So tell me—who sent you?” “I’m begging you,” she sobbed, struggling against me. “Let me go, and I’ll tell you everything.” I stilled.
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the edge of the desk in my home office, holding it firm like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. I needed to act. Needed answers. The damn truth I grabbed my phone and hit the contact for Clayton—my PI. He picked up on the first ring. “Clayton,” I growled the moment I heard the click. “I was just about to call you,” he replied, voice tight—strained in a way that was unusual. “What did you find?” I demanded, not even bothering with a greeting. There was a pause. “Gabe…” he began, and that hesitation told me everything. Clayton never stalled. Never stumbled. He was a blunt, straight-to-the-point bastard. If his tone had changed, I knew the news was going to rip through me like a blade. “Just tell me,” I snapped. “This finding might shock you. I don’t know how to—” “Bloody hell, speak, Clayton. Now!” I barked. His delay was shredding what little patience I had left. I already knew—I just needed him to confirm it. “It’s... it’s going to hit har
Gabriel’s POV“Adrian… playing savior to a woman while your business circles the drain? That tells me your priorities are completely out of whack. Why bring her here of all places? What happened to your loft?”He shot me a bitter look. “You already know what happened. You refused to help out when the restaurant got scammed. So I had to let go of the loft in order to pay staff. Keep the business alive.”“That’s not my business,” I said flatly. “I gave you a choice: come work at the company or deal with your mess. You chose. Don’t come crying now.”Adrian rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.I continued, “You know how sacred this house is to me. I’ve always had a no-guest policy here. So why the hell bring her here? A hotel, a friend’s place—anywhere but here.”Adrian met my stare. “I’ve been staying here ever since I gave up my loft. Naturally, she’d stay with me. And no, I can’t afford a hotel right now.”“Adrian,” I said, stepping forward, “don’t you get it? I’m trying to set