Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

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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2/15

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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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Wed, 19

Following

Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject:

Clairessa,

course of the coming months, I’ll be requiring a lot more

Gabriel

42%

knowing it would provoke her. She would take

Storm

Mr Storm,

you’re trying to pay me off for

Regards, Clairessa

was trying to buy her? The heat

To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project

Clairessa,

of my sexual partners, Clairessa, it wouldn’t come

Gabriel

+x

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5/15

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Wed, 19 Feb

38: Following My Impulse.

42%

if my words were harsh. She needed to

Gabriel Storm Subject: Re:

Mr Storm,

am not for

regards, Gabriel Storm

always knew

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Project

Clairessa,

any more concerns about the contract, share them

Regards,

Gabriel Storm

6/15

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Wed, 19 Feb

38: Following My Impulse

42%

wasn’t done yet. She had a way of getting under my skin, and I hated how

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Project

Mr Storm,

checks out. I’ll

Regards, Clairessa

It felt dismissive,

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38: Following

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–

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

38: Following My Impulse

a club. You asked about my weekend plans–there it is.

Regards,

Clairessa

thought of her at a club, surrounded by other men, drove me

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

priority. Clubbing seems like the last thing

right now.

Gabriel Storm

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sharp, as if she had anticipated

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Project

Mr Storm,

42%

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

Regards, Clairessa

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

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Project Update

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10/15

19

38: Following

Clairessa,

club is that?

Best Regards

Gabriel Storm

of

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Project Update

It’s my personal time, and I’m not obligated

with you.

Regards, Clairessa