Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

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.

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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

on a design

being proactive,” she replied, tilting her head slightly.

version.”

my voice edged with sarcasm.

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

I said slowly, weighing my words. “But it’s missing the creativity we need.

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

“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

I see what you mean. So, what

the full potential. We need something that brings that excitement to life. Something that

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

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her. “How does

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This feels alive–like it

small, satisfied nod. “Now

clearly impressed. “I’ve got to admit, this is way better

not done yet. We still need to finalize the team selection. And Mr Storm expects a comprehensive report

expression shifted to alarm. “Wait–he

it out. Let’s just focus.”

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

Storm.

up for the day, an email

From: Gabriel Storm

To: Clairessa Hartwood

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Subject: Pitch Delivery

in 30 minutes. I’d like to see where you’re at

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

I had made, I wasn’t sure if it was enough to meet his impossibly high expectations.

in the boardroom in fifteen minutes,” I finally blurted

fine,” she said, placing her hand lightly on mine, almost as if

we’ve done.”

a smile before standing from my seat. Together, we made

already seated at the head

had grown accustomed to his intense energy, today felt different. The

what you’ve got,” he said, his tone commanding as he gestured for us to

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41: Under His Gaze

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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

hand, halting me mid–sentence. “Clairessa, you seem nervous,” he observed, his piercing dark eyes still locked on me.

me momentarily

I struggled to find the right words.

moment, we can reschedule,” he added, his tone oddly

this a test to see

to give him that satisfaction of seeing me fold. Nicole and I had spent the entire day refining this presentation,

Storm, but I’m fine and ready to continue,” I replied, summoning all the confidence