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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18:49 Wed, 19 Feb.

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,

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

Regards, Clairessa

42%

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,

18:49 Wed, 19 Feb

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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Following My Impulse

To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project

Clairessa,

over the course of the coming months, I’ll

regards, Gabriel

42%

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

Gabriel Storm

Mr Storm,

accept a 400% raise. It feels like you’re trying to pay me off for that night at

Regards, Clairessa

really what she thought? That I was trying to buy her? The heat rose inside me, my fingers hitting the keys

To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

to become one of my sexual partners, Clairessa, it wouldn’t come through your official salary. Don’t insult

regards, Gabriel Storm

+x

+1

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Wed, 19 Feb

Following My Impulse.

42%

if my words were harsh. She needed to understand. This wasn’t about ownership or power.

Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm

Mr Storm,

not for sale, Mr.

regards, Gabriel Storm

always knew how to provoke me.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

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

Regards,

Gabriel Storm

6/15

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Wed, 19 Feb

38: Following

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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

F

Re: Project

Mr Storm,

I’ll sign it soon.

Regards, Clairessa

enough. It felt dismissive,

+1

x+

Following My

?

her response felt like an eternity. When her email finally

Following

getting ready to go to a club. You asked about

Regards,

Clairessa

club, surrounded by other men, drove me mad with jealousy.

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Project

Clairessa,

project should be your priority. Clubbing seems like the last thing

right now.

regards, Gabriel Storm

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Following

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

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Re: Project

Mr Storm,

42%

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

Regards, Clairessa

steam? I couldn’t stand the idea of her needing an escape–especially one that didn’t involve

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Project

FRE

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10/15

19

38: Following

Clairessa,

club is

Best Regards

Gabriel Storm

answer, but of course, she didn’t

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Project Update

my personal time,

with you.

Regards, Clairessa

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