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 cup 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 chbroke 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 pushto 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 O 2/15 FRA ||| O ᄆ 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 tis 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 hadgripping 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, pushingto explain myself. She didn't understand, though. This wasn't about the money.

00 1+ x+ FREE ||| = O < 4/15 18:49 Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 38: Following My Impulse From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Clairessa, Because over the course of the coming months, I'll be requiring a lot more from you.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm 42% I hit send, knowing it would provoke her. She would take the bait, and sure enough, her response calmost immediately.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update Mr Storm, I can't accept a 400% raise. It feels like you're trying to payoff for that night at your house.

Regards, Clairessa Her words hithard. Was that really what she thought? That I was trying to buy her? The heat rose inside me, my fingers hitting the keys harder than necessary.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Clairessa, If I wanted to pay you to becone of my sexual partners, Clairessa, it wouldn't cthrough your official salary. Don't insult me.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm +x +1 O 5/15 FRES O < 18:49 Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 38: Following My Impulse.

42% I didn't care if my words were harsh. She needed to understand. This wasn't about ownership or power.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update Mr Storm, I am not for sale, Mr. Storm.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm My jaw tightened. She always knew how to provoke me.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Clairessa, I never said you were. If you have any more concerns about the contract, share them now.

Regards, Gabriel Storm 6/15 O x+ FRE ||| O < Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 38: Following My Impulse 42% I needed to end this back-and-forth. But she wasn't done yet. She had a way of getting under my skin, and I hated how much power she had over me. I needed to stay calm, stay in control, but she made it nearly impossible.

F Subject: Re: Project Update Mr Storm, Everything checks out. I'll sign it soon.

Regards, Clairessa That wasn't enough. It felt dismissive, incomplete.

+1 x+ Chapter 38: Following My Impulse ? The pause before her response felt like an eternity. When her email finally cthrough, it was like a punch to the gut. Chapter 38: Following My Impulse Because I'm getting ready to go to a club. You asked about my weekend plans-there it is.

Regards, Clairessa A club. The thought of her at a club, surrounded by other men, drovemad with jealousy.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Clairessa, The Gemia project should be your priority. Clubbing seems like the last thing you should be focusing on right now.

Best regards, Gabriel Storm O Q x+ O FREE CY O III 9/15 < Chapter 38: Following My Impulse Her reply cfast and sharp, as if she had anticipated my reaction.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update Mr Storm, 42% I'm fully aware of my priorities, Mr. Storm. But since you're forcingto work with Nicole, I need to blow off ssteam first.

Regards, Clairessa Blow off steam? I couldn't stand the idea of her needing an escape-especially one that didn't involve me.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update FRE O 10/15 18:50 Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 38: Following My Impulse Clairessa, Which club is that? Best Regards Gabriel Storm I waited, anticipating her answer, but of course, she didn't make it easy.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update I don't think that's relevant, Mr. Storm. It's my personal time, and I'm not obligated to share those details with you.

Regards, Clairessa 11/15 о FA LEO m < 18:50 Wed, 19 Feb & O Chapter 38: Following My Impulse 42% I could feel the tightness in my chest. She was testing my limits, and I was dangerously close to losing it.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Clairessa, I forbid you.

Best Regards, Gabriel I typed with all the jealous emotions I was feeling as though she could feel how angry I was through the words I sent.

From: Clairessa Hartwood 12/15 O Q FICE III O < 18:50 Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 38: Following My Impulse To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update Mr Storm, You can't forbid me! You don't have that right. My personal tis protected under the contract, as you well know..

Regards, Clairessa That was it. She'd crossed a line, and I no longer cared about keeping boundaries.

From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Clairessa, I'm sending Dato pick you up. I need you here.

+4 x+ O FR54 13/15 C ||| < 18:50 Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 38: Following My Impulse Best Regards Gabriel I didn't care how desperate it sounded. I couldn't stand the thought of her being anywhere else.

From: Clairessa Hartwood To: Gabriel Storm Subject: Re: Project Update Mr Storm, 42 You can't do that. I haven't signed the new contract yet, so I'm taking advantage of my freedom while I still can.

Regards, Clairessa 14/15 ||| O < Chapter 38: Following My Impulse 42%

She was pushingfurther, and I was on the verge of damning all the consequences to helt and driving over to her house and ordering her to followhome. From: Gabriel Storm To: Clairessa Hartwood Subject: Re: Project Update Don't test me, Clairessa.

Best Regards, Gabriel

Minutes passed without a response. The silence was deafening, my anger was growing by the second. She was toying with my emotions, and I was at my breaking point.

Slamming my laptop shut, I stood, pacing the room. She was playing! fire ready's playing! with fire and was ready to burn everything down just to have her. the latest chapter there! Read 15/15 O FRES ||| O x+ 18:50 Wed, 19 Feb Chapter 39: Blowing Off Steam