Clairessa’s POVGabriel dragged me down the hallway, his grip tight around my arm, his anger radiating off him in waves. His fingers dug into my skin, but I stayed silent, resisting the urge to pull away. I didn’t want to make things worse, so I remained quiet. I’d only seen him this upset once before—back at the seminar when he saw me talking to Daniel. But this felt worse. His anger was directed at me, and it made me feel slightly afraid.When we reached his suite, he pushed me inside and slammed the door shut. He paced back and forth, his chest rising and falling as if he was trying to calm himself. Then he stopped, turning to face me, his eyes full of anger."You had no right to drag me out of dinner like that," I said, my own anger growing. I stood tall, refusing to let him intimidate me. "I’m not one of your possessions, Gabriel. This madness ends now."He didn’t seem to hear me. His voice was deep and cold. "I’m the only one who gives orders here," he growled. "Now tell me—why
Clairessa's POVDressed in a soft white robe, I sipped my coffee while standing on the balcony, overlooking the entire resort. The Gemia Resort wasn’t just beautiful—it felt like stepping into paradise. Our suite was on the top floor, offering a breathtaking view. From the sparkling blue pool below to the lush gardens spread across the resort, everything looked perfect under the morning sun.I had some time before the 2 PM meeting with Gabriel scheduled with Sergio, so I decided to relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. As I looked below, the nearly empty pool caught my eye. A few people lounged around, scrolling on their phones, while the water shimmered invitingly under the sunlight. Maybe a swim was exactly what I needed to clear my head.After a quick shower, I slipped into a bright yellow gown over my bikini. The cheerful color matched the brightness of the day. Feeling refreshed, I made my way down to the pool area.The atmosphere was just right—quiet and peaceful, with soft b
Clairessa’s POVThe moment we dove into the water, I kicked off hard, determined to win. The cool water rushed over me as I pushed forward with strong, quick strokes. I could feel Daniel close behind me, his presence pushing me to try even harder. My arms cut through the water, and I kicked with all the energy I had, refusing to let him catch up.But Daniel was fast, too fast. His powerful strokes closed the gap between us. My arms cut through the water, and I kicked with all the energy I had, refusing to let him catch up.The edge of the pool came into view, and I gave one final, strong push, gliding forward with all my strength. My fingertips brushed the wall. I had won.Gasping for air, I turned to find Daniel grinning, just a second behind me. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes sparkled with amusement, completely unfazed by his loss—if anything, he looked entertained, as if he’d let me win."I told you I was a pretty good swimmer," I gasped, still catching my breath
Gabriel’s POVSergio sat in his chair, calm as ever. Meanwhile, my mind was anywhere but here. We were in his office for a quick meeting, but I couldn’t focus. I was exhausted—last night had drained me. The argument with Clairessa had pushed me to the edge. I’d acted out of line, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to keep her away from Daniel.I had stayed out late on purpose, waiting until she was asleep before returning to the suite. I didn’t trust myself around her. My anger had nearly led me to kiss her last night. God, how badly I wanted to. Not just a kiss—I wanted her to know she was mine. But I held back, knowing if I crossed that line, there would be no turning back.Sergio’s voice broke through the haze. “Gabe, once again… I apologize for inviting Daniel without telling you.”My chest constricted as I slammed my palm against the desk. “Serg… you fucking know better,” I fumed, unable to hold back my anger. “After everything he’s done, you still invited him. Do you even reali
Gabriel’s POV Clairessa walked ahead of me, her towel wrapped tightly around her body. I followed, my jaw clenched, still fuming with anger from seeing Daniel too close to her, his hands helping her out of that dress. And then he had the audacity to tell me I had no right to control her. God! I should have punched that arrogant piss of shit and put him in his place. When we stopped in front of the elevator, she spun around to face me, fire burning in her eyes. "Mr. Storm," she vents. "This stops immediately. You don’t get to order me around." Her defiance only fueled my anger, but I kept it together. "Clairessa, you are not in a position to talk back," I shot back. My hands clenched at my sides as I fought to stay calm. She had no idea I was barely holding it together to avoid causing a scene. "You have twenty minutes to get dressed and show up in Sergio’s office." My tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. "The butler will show you the way." I turned to leave, desperate f
Clairessa’s POVGabriel opting out of lunch didn’t surprise me. His dislike for Daniel was clear for everyone to see. From the moment Daniel stepped into Sergio's office, Gabriel’s mood shifted. Earlier, he had seemed slightly uptight, but as the meeting progressed, he loosened up just enough to be tolerable—until Daniel walked in. At Daniel’s mere presence, Gabriel’s expression hardened, the disgust he felt toward him etched plainly on his face.Whatever had happened between them must have been more than a minor disagreement. Gabriel’s reaction wasn’t just annoyance—it was anger mixed with resentment. The memory of how he’d acted by the pool came rushing back to me—the fury in his eyes, all because he’d seen me swimming with Daniel.The Gabriel I knew was usually good at hiding his emotions, but when it came to Daniel, it was like he couldn’t help himself.Since Gabriel saw Daniel and me in the elevator, he had been different—more distant, more possessive. He acted like I belonged to
Clairessa’s POV “Let me help you,” I countered, regaining my stance as I took a cautious step toward forward. “Stop.” He shook his head. “There’s broken glass,” he muttered, his voice low as he pointed at the floor. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” I followed his gaze and looked down. That’s when I noticed a tray of glasses had shattered into pieces around his feet. He bent down clumsily, his movements sluggish as he tried to pick up the shards. Ignoring his warning, I carefully stepped around the glass and knelt in front of him. “Let me help,” I insisted, my hands already reaching for the broken pieces. “You never listen, do you?” he snapped, as his larger hands covered mine, pulling me to my feet. His grip was strong despite his clumsiness. He lifted me away from the broken pieces and set me down firmly at a safe distance. Once my feet were back on solid ground, I looked up at him. His eyes were glazed and dark. “When I give you an instruction, you bloody obey—no questions
Clairessa’s POVGabriel paused, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily. His eyes, dark and wild with desire, searched mine. “Why?” he asked, his voice low and full of frustration. “You’ve made it clear you want this.”His eyes roamed over my body, and I felt his lingering gaze on me. It made me painfully aware of how revealing my lingerie was. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I tried to look away.“Mr. Storm... we can’t,” I murmured, unsure if I was trying to convince him or myself.A sly smirk spread across his lips as he created a little space between us. “Can’t?” he teased, confidently. His eyes dropped lower, locking on my hardened nipples that were pressing against the thin fabric. My body betrayed me again, responding to his presence without my permission.My cheeks burned in embarrassment, and I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to cover myself. “Stop looking at me like that,” I muttered, but my voice didn’t sound convincing, even to me.He ignored my words and step
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