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 POVMy office door burst open, and Clairessa walked in with confidence. For a moment, I felt annoyed at her boldness, barging into my office like she owned the place. But the anger quickly disappeared when I noticed something was wrong. She was pacing back and forth restlessly, her hands tightly clenched at her waist.“Clairessa, what’s the matter?” I asked, watching her closely. She looked as if she might explode but still refused to speak. “Is there an issue with the project? Are you unwell?”Still, she said nothing.“Speak up!” My voice came out harsher than I intended. I stood and moved toward her, trying to understand what was going on. The way she was acting was unsettling. I didn’t like how it made me feel—on edge, almost worried. I rarely felt that way.The sound of my raised voice must have startled her because she flinched, her body trembling as she looked up at me with wide, fearful eyes.“I can’t work with Nicole,” she blurted out, completely catching me off guar
Gabriel’s POVFrom: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Project UpdateClairessa,How’s the Gemia project going? Have you and Nicole come up with a solid plan yet?Best regards, Gabriel StormI leaned back in my chair, waiting for her reply. The tension in my chest grew. I shouldn’t be this eager, but with her, I couldn’t help it. A soft chime broke the silence.From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project UpdateMr. Storm,I apologize for the delay. I haven’t met with her since the boardroom meeting.Regards, ClairessaHer short, unbothered response frustrated me. Of course, she was being vague. She always tested my patience. My fingers flew across the keyboard before I could stop myself.From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project UpdateCLAIRESSA,My orders were very clear. You need to put whatever issues you have with her aside and work together. Get it done.Best regards, Gabriel StormI hit send, hard, my pulse quickening
The bass pounded through the club, shaking the floor beneath me, as neon lights painted the crowd in vibrant colours. Jess leaned in, shouting over the deafening music, "I can’t believe you have to work with that bitch Nicole!"I rolled my eyes, the tequila shot I’d just taken warming me from the inside. "I can’t believe it either," I replied, scanning the packed club. Jess had suggested we come to Club Fire to blow off some steam. It was nice, but nothing like the exclusive billionaire’s club."Here, another round!" Jess shoved two more tequila shots toward me.I shook my head and pushed them back. "No more for now.""Don’t ruin the night," she pouted, trying to persuade me."I won’t, promise," I reassured her. "I just don’t want to get drunk too early. The night’s still young."Tonight, I wasn’t looking to get wasted. I wanted to get tipsy—just enough to make me feel bold—but I needed to stay sober enough to make smart decisions. I needed to choose a man who would help me forget Gab
Gabriel’s POVI sank back into the plush cushions of my Manhattan apartment’s leather sofa, feeling utterly disinterested as Tina ran her tongue across my neck in a slow, deliberate stroke, attempting to ignite something within me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the familiar sensation of desire to take over me. But all I felt was nothing—cold, empty nothing. Her soft hands roamed over my chest, caressing the fabric of my shirt, her fingers teasing the muscles beneath. She straddled my lap, pressing her body against mine, Her lips moved lower, trailing kisses as she reached for my shirt buttons. I grabbed her wrists, stopping her.“Tina… I’m sorry.” I apologized, already regretting why I’d invited her over. “We can’t... not today.” Instead of stopping, her eyes, full of longing, locked with mine. “You can... we can... if you would just let me,” she pleaded softly, moving on top of me, her hips grinding against mine more forcefully. But still, nothing. No spark. No fire. No desire
Clairessa’s POV“Hey, Clairessa,” Nicole greeted as she approached my desk, her tone warm and her usual bright smile in place.I glanced up from my computer, trying to suppress the anger rising in my chest. Of all the people I had to deal with today, Nicole was the last on the list but I had no choice. “Hi, Nicole,” I responded, keeping my voice short and my expression neutral.She paused briefly, as though gauging my mood, before continuing. “I know our meeting is set for noon, but I thought we could talk first. May I?” She gestured to the chair across from me.I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and motioned toward the seat. “Go ahead.”“Thanks.” She eased into the chair, still wearing that overly cheerful smile that got on my nerves every time I saw it. “Look, I know after the Adrian situation, you probably can’t stand me—”I interrupted, not bothering to hold back. “It’s not an ‘Adrian situation.’ I caught my boyfriend cheating on me with you. And then you had the nerve to flaunt
Gabriel’s POVThe moment we were alone, I turned my full attention to Clairessa. She looked incredibly sexy leaning against the edge of the giant boardroom table; everything about her pulled me closer.I had the worst weekend because of her. While she was out partying, doing who knows what with who knows who, I was drowning in jealousy.I was tempted to call her but hung up before it rang. I couldn’t let her see how much power she had over me.I wasn’t about to go easy on her.My eyes shamelessly traol over her figure without permission, drinking in every detail of her stance. God help me. I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus. "Have you signed the contract yet?"She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden question. "No, I haven’t."My expression darkened, and I slammed my hand on the desk again. "Why not? What’s your excuse this time?""The salary," she replied, her voice gaining strength as she stood her ground. "Well," she said, her eyes fixed on mine, "It's way more
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
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