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

Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

Gabriel's POV

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Project Update

Clairessa,

How's the Gemia project going? Have you and Nicole come up with a solid plan yet?

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

I 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 Update

Mr. Storm,

I apologize for the delay. I haven't met with her since the boardroom meeting.

Regards, Clairessa

Her 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 Update

Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

CLAIRESSA,

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 Storm

I hit send, hard, my pulse quickening. I wasn't in the mood for this. Not tonight. She knew how to push me to the edge.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

I'm trying. We have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Regards, Clairessa

I could feel the indifference in her words. It only fueled my irritation. Why was she always so composed when

I was losing it? I clenched my jaw, but I wasn't done.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

Good to hear. So it's the weekend. Do you have plans?

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

As soon as I sent the message, I regretted it. What was I doing? Why did I care what she was doing in her

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

free time? But deep down, I knew the answer. It was clawing at me, burning beneath my skin.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr. Storm,noveldrama

What I do in my personal time is none of your business.

Regards, Clairessa

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Defiant. As expected. She knew exactly how to trigger something inside me-something I hated to admit was there. My pulse quickened again, anger and something darker coursing through me.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

Have you reviewed your latest contract update?

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

I needed to pull this back into something more professional, something I could control. I couldn't let her know

how much she was affecting me. Not like this.

Mr Storm,

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

I was just going through it before you emailed.

Regards, Clairessa

I smiled. Of course, she was. She wouldn't miss the raise and benefits I'd included. But I knew she wouldn't

accept it easily. She always pushed back.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

Good. Review it thoroughly and get back to me.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

I waited, my fingers tapping the desk with every second that went by. Why was I so restless? It wasn't like I hadn't dealt with tougher negotiators. But there was something about her response, something in her that had me gripping the edge of my desk.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

I reviewed it. Most of it looks fine, but a 400% raise? That's way too much. Why?

Regards, Clairessa

Of course, she'd question it. She always challenged me, pushing me to explain myself. She didn't understand, though. This wasn't about the money.

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

Because over the course of the coming months, I'll be requiring a lot more from you.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

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I hit send, knowing it would provoke her. She would take the bait, and sure enough, her response came almost immediately.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

I can't accept a 400% raise. It feels like you're trying to pay me off for that night at your house.

Regards, Clairessa

Her words hit me hard. Was that really what she thought? That I was trying to buy her? The heat rose inside me, my fingers hitting the keys harder than necessary.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

If I wanted to pay you to become one of my sexual partners, Clairessa, it wouldn't come through your official

salary. Don't insult me.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse.

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I didn't care if my words were harsh. She needed to understand. This wasn't about ownership or power.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

I am not for sale, Mr. Storm.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

My jaw tightened. She always knew how to provoke me.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

I never said you were. If you have any more concerns about the contract, share them now.

Regards,

Gabriel Storm

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

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I needed to end this back-and-forth. But she wasn't done yet. She had a way of getting under my skin, and I

hated how much power she had over me. I needed to stay calm, stay in control, but she made it nearly

impossible.

F

Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

Everything checks out. I'll sign it soon.

Regards, Clairessa

That wasn't enough. It felt dismissive, incomplete.

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?

The pause before her response felt like an eternity. When her email finally came through, it was like a punch

to the gut.

Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

Because I'm getting ready to go to a club. You asked about my weekend plans-there it is.

Regards,

Clairessa

A club. The thought of her at a club, surrounded by other men, drove me mad with jealousy.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

The Gemia project should be your priority. Clubbing seems like the last thing you should be focusing on

right now.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

Her reply came fast and sharp, as if she had anticipated my reaction.

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

-42%

I'm fully aware of my priorities, Mr. Storm. But since you're forcing me to work with Nicole, I need to blow off

some steam first.

Regards, Clairessa

Blow off steam? I couldn't stand the idea of her needing an escape—especially one that didn't involve me.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Subject: Re: Project Update

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

Clairessa,

Which club is that?

Best Regards

Gabriel Storm

I waited, anticipating her answer, but of course, she didn't make it easy.

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Subject: Re: Project Update

I don't think that's relevant, Mr. Storm. It's my personal time, and I'm not obligated to share those details

with you.

Regards, Clairessa

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

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I could feel the tightness in my chest. She was testing my limits, and I was dangerously close to losing it.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

I forbid you.

Best Regards,

Gabriel

I typed with all the jealous emotions I was feeling as though she could feel how angry I was through the words

I sent.

From: Clairessa Hartwood

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

To: Gabriel Storm

Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

You can't forbid me! You don't have that right. My personal time is protected under the contract, as you well

know..

Regards,

Clairessa

That was it. She'd crossed a line, and I no longer cared about keeping boundaries.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

I'm sending Dario to pick you up. I need you here.

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

Best Regards

Gabriel

I didn't care how desperate it sounded. I couldn't stand the thought of her being anywhere else.

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

42

You can't do that. I haven't signed the new contract yet, so I'm taking advantage of my freedom while I still

can.

Regards,

Clairessa

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Chapter 38: Following My Impulse

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She was pushing me further, and I was on the verge of damning all the consequences to hell and driving over

to her house and ordering her to follow me home.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Subject: Re: Project Update

Don't test me, Clairessa.

Best Regards,

Gabriel

Minutes passed without a response. The silence was deafening, my anger was growing by the second. She

was toying with my emotions, and I was at my breaking point. Slamming my laptop shut, I stood, pacing the room. She was playing with fire, and I was ready to burn

everything down just to have her.

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Chapter 39: Blowing Off Steam