Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 196

Gabriel’s POV

"Tems, let her in."

I spoke into the intercom, then cut the line.

Seconds later, my office door creaked open—and there she was.

Nicole strutted in like she was performing on a runway, hips swaying with exaggerated confidence. It was almost laughable. I half expected her knees to buckle under the weight of her own theatrics.

She halted at the edge of my desk, leaning forward just enough to shove her cleavage into view. Her lips curled into that smug little smirk she always wore—like she thought she had leverage, like she believed she still mattered.

“Mr. Storm,” she purred. “You sent for me. I was surprised… but pleasantly so. Especially after how our last little encounter ended.” Her smile stretched wider. She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, eyes glittering with suggestion. “Then again, you know how useful I can be, sir. So I’m glad you’ve come around.”

God, she was exhausting.

The sound of her voice grated—like nails dragging against glass. She always spoke too much, and somehow always managed to say the wrong thing.

She kept going, licking her lips before each sentence like she was still starring in some performance the world cared to watch. If anything, it only deepened my disgust.

I lifted a hand, palm out. “That’s enough.”

A slight crease formed between her brows—maybe disbelief. Whatever it was, I liked it. She’d expected warmth, maybe even a smile. What she got was ice. Exactly what she deserved.

“Get off your high horse, Nicole. This isn’t the time for theatrics—or whatever fantasy you’ve cooked up in that conniving little head of yours.”

She frowned and folded her arms, clearly annoyed that her fake charm had failed.

“I asked to see you,” I continued, “because of that last meeting—and because there have been some changes at the company.”

Her brow lifted, curiosity flashing in her eyes.

“What kind of changes?”

I leaned back in my chair, fingers clasped tightly. “You’ll see soon enough. Adrian is now working at the company.”

She burst out laughing—loud and mocking, like she’d just overheard a joke in a boardroom.

“Adrian? Working here?” she scoffed. “That’s rich. He hates this place. I mean, he literally—”

“Nicole,” I cut in, flat. “I don’t tell jokes. And if I did, you’d be the last person I’d tell one to.”

That wiped the amusement from her face.

I stood slowly and walked around the desk, my eyes locked on hers, reading every flicker of reaction.

“Now, let’s get to why I called you.”

She stiffened.

“You’re going to forget those pictures you showed me. In fact, you’ll forget our last meeting ever happened. You’ll forget there was ever a moment when you thought it was smart to show up in my office and try to manipulate me.”

She squared her shoulders, challenging me. “And if I don’t?”

I stepped in closer, towering over her now. My chest squared, my height filling the space between us, pressing in with quiet force. Her pupils shrank, her eyes darting around—like she was searching for someone to save her.

But the office was silent. Empty. Just the two of us. And in that stillness, she realized—whatever power she thought she wielded crumbled beneath the weight of mine.

“I will break you. That’s a promise.”

Her lips parted, voice trembling. “You… can’t do… that.”

“Can’t I?” My voice dropped—biting, cold. “If a word—so much as a syllable—about Clairessa or me reaches my son, if you so much as whisper your assumptions anywhere in this building, you won’t just be fired. You’ll be blacklisted. I’ll make sure you never work again—not in this city, not in this country.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, her body trembling now. “Mr. Storm, this is insane. You can’t threaten me like this—”

“I just did.”

I scanned her from head to toe. Her legs were starting to shake—fear creeping in where arrogance used to be. Good. She was folding. And one thing about me—I don’t make empty threats.

“So, what’s it going to be, Nicole?” I tilted my head slightly. “Now’s a good time to show how smart you really are.”

Her lips trembled before she finally spoke. “You’ve left me with no choice.”

I gave a short nod, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Good. You know where you stand.”

I walked back to my seat and eased into it, then reached behind the desk for a folder. Sliding it across to her, I kept my voice even.

“This is a non-disclosure agreement. It states you’re not allowed to talk about me, Clairessa, my son—or anything, real or imagined, related to our personal lives. Not to anyone. Not to any party.”

She hesitated, then flipped open the folder. Her eyes skimmed the pages quickly, scanning—until she found the clause about the penalty if she defaults.

Her eyes widened. “Two hundred thousand dollars if I break it? That’s… that’s ridiculous.”

I leaned back. “No, it’s not. All you have to do is keep your mouth shut and do the job you’re paid to do. Do you want to keep your job or not? Do you want to stay relevant at all? If the answer’s yes, I suggest you sign it.”

She contemplated for a moment, then rolled her eyes and muttered, “Whatever,” under her breath.

Her hand curled tightly around the pen, fingers clenching as she took it and signed the contract. I watched her closely until the final stroke was made.

Without sparing her a glance, I took the contract back and slid it into the folder.

“Good. Now that we’ve cleared that up,” I said calmly, “I’m placing you on the Randolph project.”

Her eyes widened. “Isn’t that the project your girlf—” She caught herself, lips twitching. “—that Clairessa was handling?”

She forced a tight smile. “I didn’t expect you’d want me anywhere near it.”

“There’s been a change in timeline,” I replied coolly. “We’re pitching to Randolph himself earlier than planned. Clairessa and her team are already on track, but they need more capable hands to tighten every loose end and make sure the project is finished perfectly—and on time.

So I’m assigning you to join them.

And I expect you to use your brain for something that actually benefits this company… instead of spinning stories.”

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