Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 202: Beauty Wrapped In Sensuality

Gabriel's POV

I checked the time again.

Ten minutes late.

Clairessa was never late.

In all the time I'd worked with her, she'd never kept me waiting—at least not without a damn good reason. Once, maybe twice, she'd cut it close, but only because I'd sent her a meeting brief late. She never made excuses. She never let things slip.

I kept my expression neutral, but inside, my thoughts were already spiraling. If she wasn't here yet, something was wrong—and I had a damn good idea what. This had Adrian written all over it.

He'd screwed something up. Again.

I looked across the boardroom table at Randolph-CEO of Randolph Corporation. He sat stiff in a tailored suit, lips pressed into a line of disapproval. The impatience practically rolled off him.

His board members surrounded him like statues-silent, unsmiling, their expressions heavily judgmental.

Randolph tapped his fingers in an edgy rhythm against the glossy oak surface, then narrowed his eyes, locking onto me with an impatient glare.

"Gabriel," his voice came low and tensed with a subtle warning, "you know how much I hate being kept waiting."

I offered a patient, measured smile-calm but firm. "My team is never late. They're on their way. Should be here any moment."

I paused, meeting his gaze. Lying to someone like him left too much room for humiliation.

Especially when I had no idea where Clairessa was or what was holding her up. I'd already messaged Tems, told him to find her and bring her here immediately- no matter what it took.

Randolph leaned back, clearly unimpressed.

I didn't wait for him to press further.

"But let's not forget," the words slid out smoothly, easing the pressure back his way, "we were supposed to deliver this pitch in a month. Instead, you gave us... what, three days? No prior notice, no chance for extensions-nothing but the weight of the Randolph name."

That got a few stiff chuckles from the board. Even Randolph's stone face cracked slightly.

I nodded once, firm but respectful. "They'll be here. And they'll deliver a great presentation."

And right then, as if summoned by the thinnest thread of hope, the boardroom doors opened.

Clairessa walked in-steps unsure, breath quick, face a shade too pale.

I noticed instantly. Something was wrong.

My eyes moved past her, expecting Adrian to follow.

But it wasn't him.

It was Nicole.

Just Nicole, clutching a laptop like a shield as she stepped in behind Clairessa.

No Adrian.

"Damn it." The words slipped out under my breath.

My chest tightened. My suspicions were right. Adrian screwed it up. Again.

As she approached, her head stayed down, hands fumbling slightly with the folder

she carried. When she reached the table, she stopped.

Her gaze darted everywhere-the screen, the chairs, the board-anywhere but

me.

She took a breath, straightened slightly, then lifted her chin just enough to speak.

A soft smile touched her lips. “Mr. Storm,” she began, still refusing to meet my eyes, her voice silky, almost too calm as it cut through the tension. "I apologize for the delay."

halfway, offering a formal nod. “This is Ms. Hartwood and Ms. Wilkins," I said, gesturing toward Clairessa and

to Randolph with practiced grace and

we sincerely

Then she smiled.

Elegant. Poised.

can assure you," she added, "it'll be worth

It landed.

focus settled on her, his interest

slow breath as the screen lit up with our expansion plan. Calmly, she walked

focused on the numbers. The charts.

Randolph team. On the stakes riding on

But I wasn't.

was locked on her. Watching. Studying.

angry. I needed to

But how could I blame her? I knew exactly

for her. It was for him-my arrogant, self- absorbed,

again and again, why he would never be ready to carry any legacy

couldn't pull off one simple task. And now, he'd left Clairessa to drown. And yet...

nerves were there. I saw it-the slight tremble in her hands as she clicked to the next slide. But the more she spoke, the steadier she became her voice growing clearer, more confident. Sentence by sentence, she found

hadn't spared

maybe this was her way

setting her

throwing her

into the

me he wasn't ready.

But I pushed anyway.

I didn't care.

just wanted it over. Done. Off my

it couldn't stand

time with my son.

want her near

with me. And only

ready to lose her.

frustrating-burned through every

thought I'd felt.

more she held the room in the palm of her hand, the more everything in me

Something raw.

Darker.

Hungrier.

through me-low and consuming and I couldn't stop my eyes from dragging over her like I

that clung to her hips like

in a way that made my blood heat. Her waist was so narrow I

shirt was fitted, tucked

at

cleavage that

hair-brown waves-fer net

too precisely. Not

didn't have to.

weaponized-wrapped in maddening sensuality

grace.

into a room and

wanted to

dropped to her lips-glossed,

Fuck.

Kissable.

way they moved as she spoke.

breath, every word.

know what she was

Or maybe... she did.

I wanted to taste

hers until she stopped speaking-until her perfect sentences shattered on her tongue and she melted into me, wanted to slip

burned through