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."

Ms. Hartwood and Ms. Wilkins," I said, gesturing toward Clairessa and

to Randolph with practiced grace and dipped her head

sincerely apologize for keeping

Then she smiled.

Elegant. Poised.

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

It landed.

shifted-just slightly. Randolph's focus settled on her, his interest

with our expansion plan. Calmly, she walked

been focused on the numbers. The charts.

Randolph team. On the stakes riding on

But I wasn't.

was locked on her. Watching.

to be angry.

didn't show. But how could I blame her?

for him-my arrogant, self- absorbed, spineless son who couldn't pull off one simple

he would never

he'd left

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

hadn't spared me a

her way of

setting her up to

her into this

her to turn Adrian into the face of the pitch-when she'd

me he wasn't ready.

But I pushed anyway.

I didn't care.

over.

down, I couldn't stomach it couldn't stand

time with my son.

didn't want her

her with me.

to lose her. Not

through

thought I'd felt.

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

Something raw.

Darker.

Hungrier.

consuming and I couldn't stop my eyes from dragging over her

clung to her

her ass in a way that made my blood heat. Her waist was so narrow I could've spanned it with

was fitted,

dipping at

tease of caramel cleavage that begged to be kissed.

hair-brown waves-fer net

her shoulders. Not styled too precisely. Not trying

didn't have to.

was beauty, weaponized-wrapped in maddening sensuality and

grace.

of woman who walked into a

help me, I wanted to ruin all

eyes dropped to

Fuck.

Kissable.

the way they moved as she spoke. Clear. Intentional. Owning

breath, every word.

what she was doing to

Or maybe... she did.

wanted to taste her. Right now. Right

she melted into me, wanted to slip my tongue past her

burned through