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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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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38: Following My Impulse

Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re:

Clairessa,

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

regards, Gabriel

42%

She would take the bait, and sure enough, her response came almost immediately.

Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject:

Mr Storm,

It feels like you’re trying to pay me

Regards, Clairessa

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

Hartwood Subject: Re: Project

Clairessa,

sexual partners, Clairessa, it wouldn’t come through your official salary. Don’t

Gabriel

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19 Feb

38: Following

42%

She needed to understand. This wasn’t about ownership or power.

Storm Subject: Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

for sale, Mr.

Gabriel Storm

She always knew how to provoke

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

said you were. If you have any

Regards,

Gabriel Storm

6/15

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Wed, 19 Feb

38: Following My Impulse

42%

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

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Project Update

Mr Storm,

out. I’ll

Regards, Clairessa

It felt dismissive,

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38: Following My Impulse

?

–

eternity. When her email finally came

Following

to a club. You asked

Regards,

Clairessa

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

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Re: Project Update

Clairessa,

seems like the last thing you should be

right now.

regards, Gabriel

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38: Following My

came fast and sharp, as if she had anticipated my

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Re: Project Update

Mr Storm,

42%

you’re forcing me to work with Nicole, I

Regards, Clairessa

idea of her needing an escape–especially

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

Project

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38: Following My Impulse

Clairessa,

is

Best Regards

Gabriel Storm

her answer, but of course, she

From: Clairessa Hartwood

To: Gabriel Storm

Project Update

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

with you.

Regards, Clairessa