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."

I said, gesturing toward Clairessa and

turned to Randolph with practiced grace and dipped her

Randolph, once again, we sincerely apologize

Then she smiled.

Elegant. Poised.

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

It landed.

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

as the screen lit up with our expansion plan. Calmly, she walked them through

focused on the numbers. The charts. The bored, expectant

On the stakes riding

But I wasn't.

locked on her. Watching. Studying.

to be angry. I

Adrian in line. And he didn't show. But how

wasn't for her. It was for him-my arrogant, self- absorbed, spineless son who couldn't pull off

again and again, why he would never be

And now, he'd left Clairessa

her hands as she clicked to the next slide. But the more

spared me a

was her

setting her up

throwing her into

into the face of the

me he wasn't ready.

But I pushed anyway.

I didn't care.

it over. Done. Off

couldn't stomach it couldn't

time with my son.

want

her with me. And only

wasn't ready to lose her. Not

through every

thought I'd felt.

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

Something raw.

Darker.

Hungrier.

I couldn't stop my eyes from dragging

that clung to her

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

shirt was fitted,

at

a tease of caramel cleavage that begged

hair-brown waves-fer net

Not styled too precisely.

didn't have to.

was beauty, weaponized-wrapped in

grace.

woman who walked into a room and owned it without

me, I wanted to

to her lips-glossed, full,

Fuck.

Kissable.

the way they moved as

breath, every word.

what she was doing

Or maybe... she did.

wanted to taste her. Right now. Right

melted into me, wanted to slip my tongue past her lips and swallow her moan-the soft, pleading kind she gave me when she wanted more without having to say a

that burned through me