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’s POV I pressed the send button, letting out a long sigh of relief. Finally, the reports were done. It had taken forever, but I’d always loved a challenge—especially one that involved putting the arrogant Gabriel Storm in his place. There was no way I was losing this. My goal was clear: to get my revenge on Adrian by sleeping with his father. The plan was already in motion, especially after what happened between Gabriel and me at his home. The only reason he stopped was that I had mistakenly let it slip that I was a virgin, leading him to assume I wanted to trap him into some emotional commitment. As if… Everything was spiraling out of control. My feelings for Gabriel… Adrian’s betrayal… they were both pulling me in different directions, making things more complicated and dangerous. Gabriel made it clear—sex was all he was after, and that’s all I wanted too. This wasn’t about love or affection; it was about revenge—revenge on Adrian. Gabriel had no idea about that,
Clairessa's POV"Oh my God... was that Gabriel Storm dropping you off?" Jess exclaimed the moment I stepped into my apartment."Jess, what are you doing here?" I asked, surprised to see her. She had a spare key, but I wasn’t expecting her today."This is basically my second home, so I can show up whenever I want," she answered, grabbing my hand and leading me to the couch. "Now, tell me what's going on between you and Gabriel."“There’s nothing to tell,” I replied, rolling my eyes, not surprised by her nosiness.“You’re lying.” She studied my face. “Your boss dropping you off past ten o’clock is practically screaming, ‘We’ve had sex.’”“We’ve not had sex,” I countered, feeling my cheeks heat up at the thought.“But you want to,” she teased, pressing for more."Jess, I just got back from work. I’m tired. I need to freshen up and go to bed," I said, standing up from the couch, but she was right behind me."Not until you spill all the juicy details," she teased, folding her hands under h
Clairessa’s POV I slammed the elevator button, my heart pounding with fear. I was late for an 8 a.m. meeting with Gabriel—an emergency meeting, no less. The email had only come through two hours ago. This had to be his way of punishing me. I just knew it. The man probably got a kick out of watching me scramble like this. Normally, I was an early riser, but after the stressful week I’d had, dragging myself out of bed was a feat in itself. By the time I reached the boardroom, Gabriel was already there, seated at the head of the table. My nerves spiked as I glanced around. Where was the rest of the team? I slipped inside quietly, taking my seat at the far end of the table. I wanted to put as much distance as possible between us. Gabriel’s stern gaze locked onto me, sending a shiver down my spine. Damn him. How did he manage to look so infuriatingly good—his hair perfectly slicked back, his black suit tailored to perfection—especially this early in the morning? He didn’t even s
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
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