Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Chapter 42: At My Beck And Call

Gabriel's POV

Chapter 42: At My Beck And Call

The moment we were alone, I turned my full attention to Clairessa. She looked incredibly sexy leaning against the edge of the giant boardroom table; everything about her pulled me closer.

I had the worst weekend because of her. While she was out partying, doing who knows what with who knows who, I was drowning in jealousy.

1. me.

I was tempted to call her but hung up before it rang. I couldn't let her see how much power she had over

I wasn't about to go easy on her.

My eyes shamelessly traol over her figure without permission, drinking in every detail of her stance. God help me, I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus. "Have you signed the contract yet?"

She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden question. “No, I haven't.”

time?"

My expression darkened, and I slammed my hand on the desk again. “Why not? What's your excuse this

"The salary," she replied, her voice gaining strength as she stood her ground. "Well," she said, her eyes fixed on mine, "It's way more than I deserve, and we both know it."

Was she deliberately trying to rile me up by bringing up the same excuse she did as the last time? I huffed. "We went over this yesterday when I clearly explained via email the reason for the increase.”

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Who argued about a salary raise? Only Clairessa would. That's why she was so different from any woman I'd ever encountered.

My jaw clenched as I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “Do you think you're in a position to defy me right. now? You think after your little night out, you can come in here and dictate terms?"

She folded her arms, meeting my gaze head-on. “I only went out for one night to clear my head. It has nothing to do with my job."

"Everything you do affects your job, Clairessa," I fumed. "You could've spent the weekend working on the Gemia Project and delivered better results. Instead, you went clubbing and handed in a mediocre mock-up presentation."

She didn't back down. "Mr. Storm, our approach may be lacking right now, but we'll work on it and deliver the best results. I'm good at my job, and you know it. But you have to give us a chance."noveldrama

“So you're asking me to go easy on you?" I questioned coldly. "Why exactly would I do that?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Mr. Storm. But if we're being honest, I think your remark was a bit too harsh,"

she retorted.

"Harsh?" I repeated, my tone hard. "How the hell do you think I got to where I am today if I didn't push myself and the people who work for me?"

"I didn't mean to..." she stuttered, clearly intimidated by me.

"You assumed that because we had one passionate night, I'm supposed to go soft on you?"

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Chapter 42: At My Beck And Call

“That's not what I assumed,” she countered quickly. “I'm professional about my job, sir, and I would never expect anything different."

“Listen, Clairessa, it doesn't matter what happens between us outside these walls, but never question me again,” I said, my tone harsh. I didn't know if it was because of my frustration with her or my feelings for her, but no one who worked for me had ever dared to challenge me. It was strictly her, and I had to put an end to

it.

“The feedback I gave on the Gemia Project was professional. There was no motive involved. I wanted to push you for more, but you couldn't see it."

"I apologize, Mr. Storm," she said. "It was never my intention to question your decision."

"Good. Now tell me the real reason you haven't signed the contract," I said, clasping my hands on the table. "I'm not buying the sob story that the salary increase is more than you deserve. No employee rejects a 400% salary increase, and we both know it."

"Mr. Storm, do you really want to know?" she asked, leaning against the desk now, her cleavage teasingly visible. My eyes dropped for a moment before I forced myself to focus. She was angry, and for some reason, it made her look even more attractive. She was trying to challenge me, to test me-but I wasn't going to let her win. “We're already being honest,” I said, leaning back against the desk, fighting for control.

"I've had time to think about it all weekend, and I don't know if I'm ready to sign away my freedom. If there's one thing I know about powerful men like you, Mr. Storm, it's that you don't give anything for free."

She straightened, her eyes still locked on mine. "You're offering me more than even some managers earn in this company. I think it's really about you wanting to control me-like you tried to do with Daniel at the seminar and forbidding me from going to the club. You want to control what I do with my life and time, and you're using the salary increase to ensure I'm too grateful to ever question you."

She thought she could figure me out, but she was wrong. "What you don't seem to understand is that you work for me. I wield a certain level of control over you whether you like it or not."

"Mr. Storm, you're my boss at work, and that's all there is to us. You may have control over me within. these walls, but outside, I do as I please. I'm not one of your women who make arrangements with you and

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Chapter 42. At My Beck And Call

cater to your every whim. I'm not for sale."

She was pushing me, testing my limits.

"One of my arrangements..." I echoed coldly. She was pushing me, testing my limits.

I stood abruptly, watching her take a step back. Closing the gap, I towered over her. "Let's get one thing straight: I don't need to pay any woman to sleep with me. If I wanted to, I would've had you that night in my apartment when you were moaning in my arms, begging me to take you."

Her cheeks turned red with anger, and she gave me a furious look. But no matter how hard she tried to hide it, I could see the desire burning in her eyes...

I reached out to touch her cheek, but she shoved my hand away as I expected. Still, her shallow breaths gave her. I wanted to get under her skin as she had mine.

"I still remember the look of complete passion on your face when..." My voice trailed off intentionally, low and dark. I was savoring the moment, taunting her with every word. The closer I got, the stronger the pull toward her became, desire coursing through me.

I leaned in, wrapping my arms around her waist as she struggled to pull away. My grip tightened, pulling her closer, pressing her against my frame. My eyes locked on hers, and in that moment, I didn't care about the consequences. I'd thought about holding her all week, and now, in my boardroom of all places where anyone could walk in, I was ready to cross the line. I wanted her, and nothing else mattered. Slowly, I leaned in close,

untill out lips were mere inches apart.

Just as I was about to claim her lips, the buzz of her phone jerked me out of the moment. I reluctantly pulled back, my heart still racing.

She glanced at her phone screen briefly, before flipping it over.

"Who's calling you during work hours? I demanded before I could stop myself. "Is it your ex?"

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Chapter 42. At My Beck And Call

She hesitated for just a second, then met my gaze with a sly, taunting smirk. “No,” she replied, her smile.

daring me. “It's someone new. Someone I met at the club."

"Why the hell is he calling you during work hours?" I snapped, unable to hide my jealousy.

"Maybe I should answer and find out."

She smirked again, taunting me. "Besides Mr. Storm, in case you've forgotten, it's past 7 PM. My office hours

are over for the day."

I let out a bitter laugh, ignoring her taunt. “This is what you do now? Hand out your number to random men?”

My tone hardened. "What do you really want?"

To get your heartbroken again, I wanted to add but I kept silent.

She shrugged, unfazed by my anger.

"At the moment, I want to know about my car."

Her response threw me off, and I scowled. Why was she bringing that up now? “Your car is at the mechanic,” I

said flatly. “It'll be ready soon."

cost?"

"Thank you for handling that," she replied softly, her tone unexpectedly gentle. "How much is it going to

"Don't worry about it," I said, dismissing her question. There was no way I'd let her pay for something so trivial. I knew her situation, which was why I'd given her a substantial raise. I wanted her to have a better life, but she called it control. Maybe it was-but control was the only way I knew to show I cared. Damn it, I cared for her more than I was ready to accept.

“Mr. Storm, thank you,” she said, looking into my eyes. "But I'd prefer to pay for my own car."

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"I'll send you the bill." I hastily agreed, knowing full well I wasn't going too. I just wasn't in the mood for

another back and forth.

leave.

“Thanks,” she replied, giving me a small, genuine smile, one that stirred something in me as she turned to

But I wasn't going to let her have the upper hand. "You're right about one thing," I said coldly, stopping her in her tracks. "Powerful men like me don't make unworthy investments, and your salary increase was one of

them."

She turned back, her eyes widened slightly, but I didn't stop. "In the coming months, you'll be at my beck and call-weekdays, weekends, whenever I decide. I'll see it to that Tems makes that addition in your contract. Your working hours are when I decide. After all, men like me give nothing for free—your words, weren't they? Let me show you how men like me operate.”

She gasped, taken aback by my cold words, but I wasn't done. "This weekend, you'll be attending an award show with me. Tems will send you the details. Sign the contract before the end of the day, and don't be late.

My tone left no room for argument. "Understood?"

“Understood,” she replied quietly before walking away.

I expected her to fight back, to challenge me like she usually did. But she didn't. She agreed, playing the obedient role I demanded. I hoped she finally understood her place. She thought she could challenge me, but she had no idea how far I was willing to go. This was just the beginning.

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Chapter 43: Caught In The Middle