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

Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

Clairessa's POV

Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

“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 it in my face. What kind of person does that?"

Nicole inhaled deeply, remorse etched on features.“Clairessa, I'm sorry for how I behaved that day in the restroom. Looking back, I regret it deeply, which is why I'm here now-to apologize."

"Apology denied," I shot back without hesitation. "You're not here because you feel bad-you're here because we're stuck working together on this project."

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

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"This isn't about convenience,” she replied firmly, placing her hand on the desk as if she were going to reach out, only to pull it back when she saw the hard look in my eyes. "I'm offering a genuine apology. It's up to you whether or not to accept it."

I leaned back in my chair, my lips pressed into a tight line. She had some nerve walking in here, thinking she could smooth things over so easily.

"Look, Clairessa," she continued, softening her voice. "I made a horrible choice by taunting you, but I wasn't the one who broke promises to you. Still, I'm trying to be mature here-for both our sakes."

My arms crossed as I studied her face. She wasn't entirely wrong. The blame rested on Adrian, who broke his commitment to me and betrayed my trust.

I couldn't let my anger toward him cloud my professional judgment. But forgiving Nicole was easier said than done.

“So, now you're doing me a favor?" I asked, my tone sarcastic.

"In a way, yes,” she admitted with a shrug. “The Gemia project is a chance to prove to Mr. Storm that we're the right people for the job. You don't want to jeopardize that over something that isn't work-related.”

As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. Gabriel trusted us to spearhead one of the biggest projects Storm Innovations had ever taken on in the entertainment industry-a project that had the potential to transform the way people experienced entertainment and travel. This wasn't the time to let my emotions dictate my actions.

“Fine,” I said after a long pause, exhaling slowly. “For the sake of Gemia, I'll put our differences aside. But once it's over, we're done."

“That's all I'm asking for." Nicole's shoulders relaxed as she smiled. “I knew you'd make the smart choice, which is why I've already started working on the project's design."

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

I arched an eyebrow. "You worked on a design without discussing it with me first?”

“I believe in being proactive,” she replied, tilting her head slightly. “Think of it as a draft, not the final

version."

I leaned forward, my voice edged with sarcasm. "Let's see this so-called draft.”

Nicole tapped on her phone and sent me the mock-ups. My laptop pinged, and I opened the files. The designs were clean and functional, but dull. The colors lacked energy, and the concept felt too plain for the bold vision Gabriel had pitched.

"This is decent," I said slowly, weighing my words. "But it's missing the creativity we need. The designs feel too safe for what we're trying to achieve."

Nicole leaned over to view the screen. “What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, remembering Gabriel's words from the previous meeting. “This project is meant to revolutionize how people experience live entertainment. It's not just about booking a hotel room or playing casino games–it's about creating an immersive experience. Gabriel said it himself: Gemia combines casino gaming with exclusive hotel experiences and real-life events. It's supposed to be engaging, colorful, connecting users with promotions and activities in a way no app has ever done before."

Nicole glanced at the designs again. “Hmm....... I see what you mean. So, what do you suggest?”

I could see the realization dawning in Nicole's eyes as I spoke. I continued, "These designs are good, but they don't capture the full potential. We need something that brings that excitement to life. Something that pulls users in and makes them feel like they're part of something big."

I took control of the laptop, my fingers flying across the keyboard as I made swift edits to the colors and layout. Within minutes, I had completely revamped the designs, infusing them with bold colors and dynamic visuals that reflected our goal: to be engaging and colorful, connecting users with real-life activities and promotions in a way that's never been done before.

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

I turned the screen toward her. "How does this look?"

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Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow... You've completely changed it. This feels alive-like it actually captures

the excitement we're going for."

"Exactly,” I said with a small, satisfied nod. “Now we're getting somewhere."

Nicole leaned back, clearly impressed. "I've got to admit, this is way better than what I had in mind."

“Thanks,” I replied, keeping my tone professional. "But we're not done yet. We still need to finalize the team selection. And Mr Storm expects a comprehensive report by the end of the day."

Her expression shifted to alarm. "Wait-he expects a report today?"

I nodded. "We'll figure it out. Let's just focus."

After hours of working through revisions and discussing ideas, Nicole and I finally put together a presentation

we felt confident about.

Storm.

Just as we were wrapping up for the day, an email notification pinged on my laptop. It was from Gabriel

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

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Chapter 41. Under His Gaze

Subject: Pitch Delivery

Meet me in the boardroom in 30 minutes. I'd like to see where you're at with the project.

I swallowed hard, my nerves jittering at the thought of presenting to Gabriel with so little preparation. Yesterday, he emailed me about submitting a report, but there was no mention of a presentation. Was this his way of punishing me for defying his orders and going to the club? Did he want to see me fail?

Christ. Despite the progress Nicole and I had made, I wasn't sure if it was enough to meet his impossibly high expectations.

"Mr. Storm has requested we meet him in the boardroom in fifteen minutes," I finally blurted out to Nicole. She, on the other hand, remained composed, grabbing her materials with a reassuring calmness. "We'll be fine,” she said, placing her hand lightly on mine, almost as if sensing my unease. “Let's just show him what

we've done."

I nodded, forcing a smile before standing from my seat. Together, we made our way to the boardroom. When we arrived, Gabriel was already seated at the head of the table, his expression stoic.

His presence dominated the room. Even though I had grown accustomed to his intense energy, today felt different. The stakes were higher, and I couldn't shake how tensed I felt.

Gabriel wasted no time. "Let's see what you've got," he said, his tone commanding as he gestured for us to

begin.

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

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I drew in a deep breath, nodded at Nicole, and began the presentation. I walked Gabriel through the updated designs, emphasizing the creative choices we had made to capture the project's energy. But his stern gaze never left me, making my hands fidget slightly as I spoke.

He must have noticed because he raised his hand, halting me mid-sentence. “Clairessa, you seem nervous,”

he observed, his piercing dark eyes still locked on me.

His words left me momentarily speechless,

and I struggled to find the right words.

“If you need a moment, we can reschedule,” he added, his tone oddly considerate.

What was this? Was he genuinely concerned, or was this a test to see if I'd crack under pressure so he could

use it against me later?

I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction of seeing me fold. Nicole and I had spent the entire day refining this presentation, and I wasn't going to let my nerves ruin it.

“Thank you, Mr. Storm, but I'm fine and ready to continue," I replied, summoning all the confidence I could

muster.

“Go ahead,” he said, gesturing with a slight nod, his expression still the same.

I resumed, making an effort to project confidence as I outlined the vibrant designs and the concept we had envisioned for the project. This time, I avoided rushing, ensuring every point was clear. When I finished, I handed the floor to Nicole, who outlined our plans for user interaction and future development. Stepping aside, I watched Gabriel closely, trying to decipher his expression. It was as blank as ever. He had mastered the art of hiding his emotions, especially in moments like this.

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

When Nicole concluded, we both stood in silence, awaiting his verdict.

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spoke.

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. After what felt like an eternity, he finally

“It's reasonable," he began slowly. "I like the direction you're heading in, and the designs are solid.” Reasonable? That word echoed in my mind. Did that mean he didn't like it? That it wasn't good enough? But then he said he liked the designs, so maybe there was some hope-until he continued.

“But,” he continued, his tone shifting, “it's not enough.”

His voice rose brashly, and he slammed his fist on the table, startling Nicole. "This project is supposed to be innovative, groundbreaking. What you've presented is safe, uninspired. I'm not impressed."

I fought to keep my disappointment from showing. "We can go back and improve it,” I said, keeping my tone

as steady as I could despite the intensity of his anger.

"You'll do more than rework it,” he shot back, his gaze hardening as it fixed on me. "You have two weeks to deliver something worthy of this project, or you're both off it."

The finality in his words hit like a blow. The look in his eyes left no room for Nicole or I to object.

“I don't take kindly to mediocre efforts,” he continued. “When I give you my time, it's a privilege. If you're going

to put forth anything before me, make sure it's worth my attention. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Storm," we replied in unison, our voices shaking slightly.

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

The room fell silent again. I couldn't wait to leave, but then Gabriel's cold gaze shifted to me.

“Nicole, leave us. I need to speak with Clairessa alone."

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da

Alone. Hell no. My nerves spiked. I wasn't ready to face him one-on-one, especially not after defying his

orders and going to the club. Was that why he wanted to speak with me privately?

Nicole gave me a worried glance before gathering her things and quickly leaving. The door clicked shut

behind her, leaving me alone with Gabriel.

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