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 POVI paced frantically around my living room, struggling to control my spiraling thoughts and my throbbing erection, desperately aching to be buried inside her. Clairessa had just confessed she was a virgin, then backtracked, saying she wasn’t. I didn’t know what to believe, and the confusion was driving me mad.If she was a virgin, I couldn’t touch her. That was a line I never crossed. I didn’t want to hurt her or take something so important from her. But the thought of her being innocent made me want her even more, and it was messing with my head.I felt torn—frustrated and suddenly, it all felt wrong, as if I was taking advantage of her pain for my own selfish gain. What kind of man did that make me? No different from her cheating boyfriend, who kept her around for his personal benefit.“Gabriel, say something…” she said, her voice shaky. “Clairessa, I need you to tell me the truth,” I replied, my gaze fixed on her. “Are you a virgin?” “I… um… no… of course not. I’ve
Gabriel’s POV"Mr. Storm…" Clairessa’s voice echoed softly through the intercom, and something inside me tightened. "Clairessa, my office. Immediately," I said, my tone firm, my mood darker than I cared to admit. Ever since that night at my house—the night I lost control and let the passion between us overtake me—she had made it a point to avoid me. She barely spoke to me, kept her distance, and buried herself in work as if nothing had happened. I should have been relieved. After all, I was the one who pushed her away, drawing a line between us that she now refused to cross. But instead of relief, all I felt was... emptiness. I missed her. God, how I needed to see her. It was something I didn’t even want to admit to myself. Yet every time she walked into a room, the atmosphere shifted. She was a burst of energy, a breath of fresh air in my otherwise suffocating world. Now, she had grown cold—so distant that I barely recognized her. And it was my fault. I deserved her indiffe
Clairessa POVThe day had finally gone by faster than I expected. Adrian had settled into his downstairs room—claiming it was more convenient, already filled with his things—while I was placed upstairs. It felt like life was playing another sick, twisted game on me, because he’d placed me in the room closest to Gabriel’s. He even joked about it—said maybe his dad would finally warm up to me, get to know me… even like me. What he didn’t know was that I already knew Gabriel. Intimately. He was my secret. My mistake. My obsession. The man I had once given everything to—and the one I still wasn’t over. And I knew this house—every hallway, every door, every room. So when I left my room and wandered to Gabriel’s door, I told myself it was just to say thank you—for letting me stay until I figured things out, for not turning me away.But a voice in my head warned me to go back. That nothing good would come from this. Still, I didn’t stop. His door was ajar. I didn’t knock—
Gabriel’s POVI looked at Adrian—and for the first time, I saw something different. Adrian wasn’t fighting.He wasn’t bluffing.He was broken.Humbled.He wanted to make things right.And in that moment, I knew—if I said no, I might lose him for good.This wasn’t just about Clairessa anymore. It was about righting something that clearly mattered to him. And he needed me—not as a boss, but as a father—to back him up.Fuck.“Fine,” I bit out. “She can stay. But not more than a month.”Relief washed over his face, lighting him up like the boy I hadn’t seen in years.“Thanks, Dad,” he breathed, pulling me into a quick, tight hug.I stood stiff for a moment, then patted his back, still not used to these moments.As he pulled away and walked out, I turned back toward the window.At least I had one consolation: Adrian’s vulnerability had given me leverage.Now he’d listen.Now he’d obey.This was my chance to mold him—straighten him out, finally turn him into the man I knew he could become.
Gabriel’s POV I paced the room, anger and heartbreak twisting so violently inside me I thought they’d tear me in two. My fists clenched and unclenched at my sides as I stared out the window into the night sky—the only thing that made any sense in this goddamn chaos. Then I heard the door push open behind me. Adrian stepped in, shutting it with a firm click. “Dad,” he said, frustration clear in his voice, “why did you react that way? You just walked out of dinner because I asked you to let Clairessa stay? I don’t get it. What’s so hard about that?” “Adrian, not now,” I muttered, my voice low. “We’ll talk later.” But he didn’t back off. “Why not now?” he pressed, stepping closer. “Why can’t we talk about it now? What is it? What do you have against Clairessa? It feels like you don’t like her—you’ve never liked her, not from the first time you saw her. What is it? Is there something you know that I don’t?” I didn’t want to do this. Not now. Not while my mind was still spinning… n
Gabriel’s POVI sat at the dining table, seething, the rage in me growing hotter every goddamn second.Across the table, Adrian and Clairessa sat so close their arms brushed. He leaned in, whispering something in her ear. She smiled—smiled like she loved whatever nonsense he was feeding her.My blood burned.Her eyes met mine once. Just once.Then she looked away like I didn’t exist. Like I hadn’t given her twenty-four hours to tell him the truth.And judging by the way he looked at her—like she was some innocent angel who saved his life—she hadn’t said a word.It was more than obvious she hadn’t told him a damn thing.She was still pretending. Same as always.But she had no idea what hell I’d unleash if she kept this up.God… I was going to—I couldn’t even say it.Couldn’t bring myself to hate her, no matter how much I wanted to.Especially not when she was sitting beside my son, touching him, smiling for him—and jealousy slammed into me like a punch to the ribs.Shit. How could I s
Clairessa’s POVAdrian turned his head to look at me, eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”“I was angry that you cheated on me,” I whispered. “So I decided to get even… and I started seeing someone.”Adrian’s expression darkened; hurt flashed through his eyes before he quickly masked it. “Okay. So you were with someone while we were apart. If I’m being honest, I kinda suspected it… based on how quickly you seemed ready to move on from us.”He gave a short, shaky breath. “If that’s what this big talk is about, then… Clairessa, that’s not a crime. We weren’t together. You don’t have to beat yourself up over that. We can move on from it.”“Not when you find out who it was…”Adrian shifted and reached for my hands. “Claire, listen. I don’t need to know who the guy is. It doesn’t matter.”I stared at him, my throat tightening. “You don’t understand—”“Shhh…” Adrian hushed me gently, pressing two fingers to my lips. “I understand what you’re going through. I’ve carried my own guilt
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel didn’t look at me at first. His eyes stayed fixed on Gretchen, his tone calm but laced with a quiet threat. "Leave us," he said. Gretchen froze for a breath, clearly uneasy. "Of course, Mr. Storm." She slipped out without another word. And then it was just us—Gabriel and me. I barely had time to register the storm in his eyes before he crossed the room in three long strides and seized my elbow—not painfully, but firmly enough to jolt my heart. "Don’t get too comfortable in my house," he hissed. "You won’t be here much longer." I stared at him, stunned. Just yesterday, he’d been at my side, placing cold towels on my forehead, watching over me like I still meant something to him. He’d cared for me, staying by my side through the night. And for a moment, I let myself believe—maybe something in him had softened. Maybe there was still hope for us. But I was wrong. The anger was back—hotter, more intense. And I was foolish to think forgiveness would co
Clairessa’s POVAfter sleeping for what felt like forever, I finally dragged myself out of bed. My body still ached faintly, but compared to earlier, I felt stronger. No fever. No chills. Just a craving for fresh air and something cold to drink.I’d been holed up in that room all day, not just because I needed rest, but because it was easier.Easier to hide. Easier than running into Adrian and his mission to get me back… or worse, Gabriel and the drama that would unfold when he told the truth.The idea of running into either of them made my stomach twist, so I figured if I moved quietly enough, I could sneak down to the kitchen, grab a glass of juice, and return before anyone noticed.My throat was dry, parched even. I glanced at the empty glass on the nightstand and sighed. There was no escaping it—I needed juice.Slipping quietly out of bed, I padded across the room, easing the door open like it might squeak loud enough to call them both over.The hallway was empty. Good. I tiptoed
Clairessa’s POVMy body trembled, a deep shiver running through me like heat and cold were warring inside my veins.Through the fog, Gabriel’s voice cut in—urgent, panicked.“Clairessa... hey, are you okay? Look at me... please.”Then I felt his hands—lifting me, holding me close, peeling away layers of clothing…The dream came in flashes. The soft splash of water. His arms supported me as he bathed me—like I was breakable, like I still meant something to him.He dressed me gently, laid me in bed, tucked the duvet around me, then pressed a kiss to my forehead.When he turned to go, I reached for him, my fingers curling around his. I remember whispering it… three small words.“I love you.”A voice, distant and persistent, tugged me out of the warmth.“Claire… Claire…”My eyes flew open, blinking against the light. Adrian’s face swam into focus.“Thank God,” he breathed. “You’re awake.”I stared at him for a moment, disoriented, my heart still wrapped in the remnants of the dream. I gla
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