Clairessa’s POVAs I walked into my apartment, I was seething with rage. Gabriel had pushed me to my limit. I wanted to hate him, to forget he existed. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried. I wanted him. My fingers brushed my lips where he had kissed me, and I clutched his shirt close, letting his scent fill my senses. I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin. Pressing a hand against my chest, I tried to steady myself."Get a hold of yourself, Clairessa," I scolded aloud. This was supposed to be about revenge, not about losing control over him. Gabriel’s jealous tantrum over my lunch with Daniel was infuriating. Instead of talking to me like an adult, he used my attraction to him as a weapon to force me into following his ridiculous rules.He had no right to demand I never see Daniel again, even though I had no intention of doing so. Who was Daniel to him? Why did Gabriel care so much about one simple lunch? His reaction at the restaurant made it clea
Clairessa’s POVThe night couldn’t have been better. I had just graduated at the top of my class in software engineering and landed my dream job at Storm Innovations—the company owned by my boyfriend Adrian’s father. Everything in my life was finally coming together. I stood outside Adrian’s apartment, holding a bottle of champagne, excited to tell him the good news and celebrate.I had planned every detail of the night in my head. We would toast to our future, laugh about the struggles of the past few years, and maybe even talk about taking the next big step in our relationship. I had been dreaming of this moment for weeks, and now that it was finally here, I felt like nothing could ruin it.But as I reached for the door, my excitement shifted. The door was unlocked.Adrian was always so careful about security. He’d warned me so many times about locking up and double-checking the door whenever I left. It was one of the things I teased him about, calling him “paranoid.” So why was the
Clairessa’s POVThe club was everything Jessica had described and more—a hidden world of luxury, desire, and danger. The dark, dreamy atmosphere pulsed with music and whispered conversations. It radiated exclusivity, the kind of place where rules didn’t apply.The moment we walked in, I felt dozens of eyes on me. Instead of shying away, I embraced it. Tonight, I wanted to be seen. I needed to feel alive.At the bar, I downed a few shots of something strong. The alcohol burned as it slid down my throat, giving me the confidence I desperately needed.I glanced around, absorbing the chaos and passion in the room. Men and women kissed without shame, their bodies pressed together as they moved in hypnotic rhythms. It was intoxicating to watch.The women looked so confident, so free, as though they held all the power in the world. I couldn’t look away. Deep down, I craved that kind of confidence—the kind that drew people in without a word.As my gaze swept over the crowd, I wondered what—or
Clairessa’s POVI saw Gabriel heading toward a dimly lit hallway, one that I guessed led to the restrooms. My heart pounded as I realized this might be my only chance. Without overthinking, I followed him.The hallway was quiet, the music from the main room faint in the background. Halfway down, Gabriel must have sensed me behind him because he suddenly stopped and turned around. I froze as his intense gaze locked me in place. Before I could take another step, he moved—fast—closing the distance between us and pressing me against the wall. His muscular frame caged me in, his hands trapping my wrists above my head. My breath hitched as the cold wall chilled my back while his heat surrounded me."You again," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement. His eyes roamed over me, slow and assessing. "Following me now?”For a moment, I couldn’t speak. The way his eyes burned in mine, dark and scary made my head spin, and it wasn't just from the drinks I'd had earlier. Instead of answerin
Clairessa’s POVGabriel’s hands roamed over me, tracing the curves of my body before settling on my breasts. My nipples hardened beneath his palms, sensitive and aching as he squeezed them at the same time. His index finger traced the circle of my areola through the dress, teasing my sensitive peak. A soft moan escaped me, my head tilting back as pleasure rippled through me. The feel of his rough hands against my soft skin sent heat flooding between my thighs. He paused for a fraction of a second, his darkened eyes locking onto mine, silently asking for permission. I gave a small nod. That was all he needed. His mouth descended, capturing my breast through the dress, his teeth tugging at my hardened peak before his lips closed around it, sucking deep. The sensation sent a fiery jolt of pleasure straight to my core. I writhed beneath him, desperate for more, but when his hands moved to my zipper, it refused to budge. “Damn zipper,” he growled, his frustration turning into
Clairessa’s POVI grabbed my phone from the nightstand, squinting at the bright screen. Several missed calls from Adrian stared back at me, twisting the knife already lodged in my chest. I had thought he was the love of my life, the one I would marry and finally give myself to on our wedding night. But all those dreams shattered when I found him in bed with another woman.My fingers hovered over the call log, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen to his voicemail. I tossed the phone onto the bed, the pain of his betrayal still fresh. Last night, I had tried to forget what I’d seen, but it was still there, hiding beneath the surface, ready to pull me down again.Jess sat beside me, watching my expression. “Are you okay?” she asked softly.“I don’t know,” I said, my voice low. “I feel... confused. I just saw Adrian’s missed calls and voicemails, and now I feel like I cheated on him. Damn it... I feel just like him."Jess shook her head. "No, you’re nothing like that jerk.""I am," I mut
Clairessa’s POVWhen he first walked in, I thought he was just another senior executive. I didn’t realize he was the Gabriel Storm. The man who gave me my first orgasm was my boyfriend’s father. This was way too much to handle. I swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze as he kept talking."I'm sure you're all familiar with the rules for submitting your apps. If selected, you'll work closely with me to launch the next-generation software that could change the business industry. The project will be fully funded by Storm Innovations."Everyone clapped, smiling with excitement. It was clear everyone in the room had big dreams riding on this. Gabriel rested his hands on the table, giving a quick smile."Sandy will work closely with your team and keep me updated on your progress. If your app doesn’t get selected, don’t be discouraged—there’s always room to improve. But remember, only one app will win. Good luck, everyone." Gabriel gave a brief smile, then stood and walked out of the room.-------
Gabriel's POVI couldn’t believe what had just happened in the boardroom with the Next Generation team. The girl from last night, the one I had been trying to forget, was one of my employees. How could I have made such a huge mistake?I had a strict rule: never get involved with anyone who worked for me. It was non-negotiable. But last night, from the second our eyes met at the club, something about her pulled me in. She was persistent, sneaking into the VIP area and even using the classic ‘spill a drink’ trick to get my attention. And damn, it worked.I couldn’t shake the memory of her from my mind. The way her soft brown eyes looked at me, the way she begged me to take her... I could still feel the heat from her body. She had been drunk—so drunk that she passed out in my arms. I had to send for her friend and drop them home. The whole situation was a mess.I needed more information about her, fast. I paged Sandy, the manager of the team. "Mr. Storm," her voice came through the li
Clairessa’s POVAs I walked into my apartment, I was seething with rage. Gabriel had pushed me to my limit. I wanted to hate him, to forget he existed. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried. I wanted him. My fingers brushed my lips where he had kissed me, and I clutched his shirt close, letting his scent fill my senses. I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin. Pressing a hand against my chest, I tried to steady myself."Get a hold of yourself, Clairessa," I scolded aloud. This was supposed to be about revenge, not about losing control over him. Gabriel’s jealous tantrum over my lunch with Daniel was infuriating. Instead of talking to me like an adult, he used my attraction to him as a weapon to force me into following his ridiculous rules.He had no right to demand I never see Daniel again, even though I had no intention of doing so. Who was Daniel to him? Why did Gabriel care so much about one simple lunch? His reaction at the restaurant made it clea
Gabriel’s POVI held Clairessa’s hand tightly as we walked through the hotel lobby. She protested, telling me to let her go, but I ignored her. My emotions were raging. Seeing her with Daniel had set me on fire.Out of all the men in the world, she chose to have lunch with him—my enemy. Daniel had always been a thorn in my side, constantly trying to take everything from me, even my ex-wife, Angelique, back when he had more money than I did. That was years ago, though. Now, things were different.I had more power and wealth than Daniel could ever dream of. I had built my empire with sweat and blood, surpassing him in every way. Yet here he was, acting as if he could still take what was mine.I tightened my grip on Clairessa’s hand, feeling her tremble beneath my hold. Good. Let her feel it. Let her understand no one crosses me. I wanted her to know how angry I was—not just for leaving the conference without a word but for walking out with him. For letting him make her laugh and smile w
Gabriel's POVSitting in the grand auditorium, I couldn’t focus on anything but Gabriel. The room was packed with influential people—investors, tech gurus—but my focus stayed on him. Even though he was across the room on the big stage, it felt like his eyes were on me, and I couldn’t help but feel warm all over.He stood tall, wearing a sharp grey suit, speaking with passion about how technology could change the world. His voice was calm and confident, making every word sound important.The way he moved—his posture, his gestures—showed strength and control. Gabriel wasn’t just a businessman; he was a visionary—a man who saw the future and was determined to reshape it. His presence was magnetic, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t look away. I glanced at the crowd and noticed everyone else was as captivated as I was. It wasn’t just admiration—it was respect. Gabriel had a way of making everything else seem insignificant, and all I could think about was how much I admired him—
Clairessa's POV“So, who is she?” I asked, leaning in closer to wipe the lipstick stain left by Tina’s annoying kiss. God, I hated how jealous I felt watching her kiss and speak to him, even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. I couldn’t help myself. I wiped Gabriel’s cheek with the pad of my thumb. He flinched at first but quickly relaxed.“You’ve got lipstick on your cheek,” I murmured, cleaning the last red smudge before settling back into my seat. “Thanks,” Gabriel smirked, his expression slightly stiff. “But my personal life is off-limits to you, Clairessa. Let’s eat.” He signaled for the waiter, his gaze locked on mine with a trace of amusement in his eyes. I could feel it—there was something going on between Gabriel and Tina. The way she looked at him, how her hand lingered on his arm... It sent a surge of jealousy burning through me. I tried to suppress it, but the knot in my stomach tightened. I glanced down at the menu to distract myself, my eyes scanni
Gabriel’s POV “This is the final report for the Rainers project,” Clairessa said, her hands gliding over the cursor on my desktop. As she stood behind me, her body lightly brushed against mine, sending a jolt through me that I couldn’t ignore.Her perfume lingered in the air, intoxicating all my senses, making it impossible to focus. All I could think about was how much I wanted her—how badly I needed to bend her over this desk and make her mine. My fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch her, but I clenched them, keeping them firmly on the desk.Clairessa wasn’t making this easy. The more time I spent around her, the worse it got. I had built walls around myself—shutting out emotions, attachments, anything that could weaken me—but she was tearing them down piece by piece. And I hated it. I hated how she made me feel, how she awakened desires I thought I’d buried long ago.I wondered what she saw in me. Yes, I was a billionaire, and women often fell for my wealth and po
Clairessa’s POVMy eyes shot open. I stretched slowly beneath the duvet before reaching for my phone and glancing at the screen. It was past ten. I’d slept in longer than planned, but I had no one to blame but myself. Most of the night had been spent tossing and turning, restless and frustrated by the memory of Gabriel turning me down yet again. Keeping up this bad-girl act was draining, and I couldn’t help but wonder if revenge was worth all this effort. Men like Gabriel had been with countless women—elegant, experienced women who were probably far sexier than I was. It was clear I wasn’t his type. Still, as much as I told myself to give up, I knew I couldn’t. He consumed my thoughts. I shook my head, trying to clear it as I rose from the bed and headed to the bathroom. Staring at my reflection, I sighed, then brushed my teeth and splashed cold water on my face to shake off the remnants of sleep. “You can do this,” I whispered to my reflection. With one final glance, I stepped
Clairessa’s POVI stepped out of the bathroom, my skin still damp from the shower, wrapped in a clean towel. As I walked back into the room, my eyes landed on the bed, where a pair of boxer briefs and a shirt were neatly placed. My heart skipped a beat. Gabriel had been in the room while I was in the shower. Had he watched me? The thought made my cheeks flush, embarrassment mixing with a shiver that shot through me, leaving my skin tingling.I pulled the shirt over my head, and his scent hit me—Gabriel’s scent. It was a masculine mix of freshly cut wood and something darker, intoxicating. The smell wrapped around me, pulling me back to the club: to the moment our eyes locked, to the feel of his hands on my skin. My breath hitched as the memories flooded back, making my skin tingle and my body restless.Sliding under the duvet, I tried to relax, but the scent of him lingered in the fabric, refusing to let me rest. My mind kept replaying the events of the night, refusing to settle. I ha
Gabriel’s POVThe heavy bass of the music thudded through my chest as I stormed over to the bar area. My vision narrowed until the only person I could see was Clairessa in some strange man’s grasp, fueling my anger. I reached them in seconds, shoving the man back with a force that sent him stumbling. “Touch her again, and you’ll regret it,” I threatened in a firm, intimidating tone. Before Clairessa could react, I grabbed her wrist and hoisted her over my shoulder. Her yelps of protest were drowned out by the loud music and the cheering crowd, who seemed to think we were putting on some sort of show. The man she’d been flirting with stepped forward, his stance bold, but a single deadly look from me made him falter. “She’s mine,” I growled, my tone making it clear he didn’t stand a chance.The man raised his hands in surrender, muttering something about not wanting trouble before disappearing into the crowd.As I carried her out of the club, her dress shifted, exposing more skin
Gabriel's POVI sat in the VIP section of the club, utterly exhausted as I forced myself to settle into the wild atmosphere around me. After the week I’d had, I thought a drink might help clear my head and distract me for the night. That was until I saw her.Clairessa.She was there in the middle of the dance floor, laughing, her body swaying to the music. Our gazes locked, but she acted like she didn’t know me, continuing to flirt and laugh with a man I didn’t recognize. His eyes were fixed on her plunging neckline, drinking in the sight of her. She wore a sky-blue gown that glittered under the club lights, enhancing her caramel skin. The dress clung to her curves, ending just above her thighs, exposing her soft, slender legs.I knew exactly what he was thinking, and there was no way I was letting that happen. Not on my watch.When he leaned in to kiss her, she pulled back slightly, but that was the last straw. My restraint snapped.I strode over, my anger building with every step. I