Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Clairessa's POV

Chapter 36: Emergency Meeting

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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 sleep much, yet here he was, composed and distractingly handsome.

“Clairessa, you're late,” his voice cut through the room like steel, smooth yet reprimanding.

My chest tightened with irritation. “I apologize, Mr. Storm. But the memo came barely two hours ago-"

“I sent my driver for a reason. Why are you still late when I made it so convenient for you?” His tone grew colder, and his eyes darkened with an intensity that went beyond simple anger.

My voice trembled slightly. "I thought I'd have more time-❞

Chapter 36: Emergency Meeting

“You should have been better prepared.” His gaze bore into me, silencing the excuses forming in my head. "When I say 8 a.m., I mean 8 a.m. No excuses. This won't happen again, Clairessa. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Storm," I replied, swallowing the urge to snap back. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. There would be a time for that battle, but not now.

"I want to personally welcome you to the latest project we're handling for one of our biggest clients," he continued, his tone serious, though there was a hint of sarcasm. "Normally, I'd assign a senior team, but I decided to give you the opportunity you've been asking for.”

So, he had been paying attention. Despite my annoyance, excitement bubbled inside me. This was my chance to prove myself, to finally work on something big. My heart raced with anticipation.

"Thank you, Mr. Storm," I said, keeping my tone neutral, though I felt extremely grateful for the opportunity. "I won't let you down."

His lips curved into a faint smirk. "We'll see. But you won't be handling this alone."

Before I could ask what he meant, he glanced at his watch as though waiting for someone. Right on cue, the boardroom door swung open.

I turned and froze in my seat when I saw her.

Nicole.

Of all the people in the world, it had to be her. My hands curled into fists under the table as I fought to keep my composure. How dare she walk in with that fake, overly bright smile?

"Good morning, Mr. Storm,” Nicole greeted in a cheery tone as she practically glided into the room. That wide, irritating smile made me want to scream.

Chapter 36: Emergency Meeting

She wore a sleek, black fitted dress and outrageously high stilettos, looking flawless, like she'd just stepped off the cover of a magazine. Of course, she wanted to make an entrance.

She took the seat across from me, her eyes briefly meeting mine before settling on Gabriel. The audacity of her to act like she hadn't slept with my boyfriend-and was probably still sleeping with him. It took everything in me to keep from yelling.

Gabriel's expression hardened instantly. "Nicole, you're late," he said brashly.

Her smile shifted slightly. “I apologize, Mr. Storm. It won't happen again."

"It better not," he warned, his voice colder than it had been with me. "And let me be clear. You won't get any special treatment just because you're friends with Adrian. Is that understood?"

My nails dug into my palms. Adrian. Of course. He'd been helping her too. I rolled my eyes in anger. It wasn't enough that he used his connections to charm every woman in sight-now he was pulling strings for them?

“Yes, Mr. Storm. I understand,” Nicole replied quietly, her smile completely gone now. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as Gabriel reprimanded her, finally putting her in her place. For once, she looked genuinely humbled.

Gabriel turned his attention back to both of us. “Now, as I was saying–the project you two will be handling is the Gemia Project. It's a high-stakes venture for a major client. This app will revolutionize how people experience and book live entertainment, combining casino gaming with exclusive hotel experiences and events. It's designed to be engaging and innovative, connecting users with real-life activities and promotions in a way that's never been done before."

His words faded into the background as my focus narrowed on Nicole. How could she sit there, so calm and poised, after everything she'd done? Not only had she cheated with that jerk Adrian, but she'd also flaunted it in my face, bragging about how he couldn't keep his hands off her. She had no shame-none at all.noveldrama

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24 Wed, 19 Feb

Chapter 36: Emergency Meeting

Gabriel's voice snapped me back to the moment. "I'm trusting both of you to assemble a teain and deliver results. Nicole will handle the technical build and integration, Clairessa, you'll manage the project's strategic direction, partnerships, and overall user experience. This is a massive opportunity for both of you to prove yourselves. Don't disappoint me."

Nicole eagerly responded with an excited tone. "You can count on us, Mr. Storm. We'll make you proud."

I nearly rolled my eyes. We? There was no "we" here,

Gabriel's gaze landed on me, his brow raised. "Clairessa? You haven't said a word,"

I straightened, forcing the bile down. "You can count on me, Mr. Storm. I'll deliver."

“Good.” He gave a satisfied nod, a faint grin crossing his face. Rising to his feet, he tapped the table lightly. "Don't disappoint me."

With that, he walked out, leaving me alone with her.

For a long moment, the room was silent. I stared at Nicole, my anger intensifying with every second. Finally, she turned to me, her voice cautious.

“Clairessa,” she began, "I know things might be messy between us because of Adrian, but I hope we can

“Don't you dare,” I cut her off, standing so abruptly that the chair screeched against the floor. My voice trembled with rage. “If you think for one second that I'm going to work on this project with you after the sick stunt you pulled in the restroom months ago, then you're out of your mind. You disgust me.

Chapter 36: Emergency Meeting

Her eyes widened, but she stayed silent.

Without another word, I stormed out, heading straight for Gabriel's office. There was no way I'd work wen the woman who had torn my life apart. He had to take her off this project because I wasn't about to spend another second playing nice with someone who didn't deserve it.

10:24 Wed, 19 Febō ·

Chapter 36: Emergency Meeting

Her eyes widened, but she stayed silent.

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Without another word, I stormed out, heading straight for Gabriel's office. There was no way I'd work with the woman who had torn my life apart. He had to take her off this project because I wasn't about to spend another second playing nice with someone who didn't deserve it.