Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 278

Clairessa’s POV

The incessant buzz of my phone jolted me out of sleep. I groaned, too tired to move, my body heavy and sunk into the warmth of the bed. My eyes stayed shut as I stretched a lazy hand toward the nightstand, fumbling for the phone.

Before I could reach it, Gabriel’s arm slid firmly around my waist, pulling me back against him as though he couldn’t stand the thought of letting me go. I melted into him, settling against his chest, and his lips brushed the curve of my ear.

Gabriel hummed in agreement, his lips wandering down the curve of my neck, one soft kiss, then another, lingering just to make me squirm. His hand slipped beneath the silk of my lingerie, palm closing over my breast. He gave a slow, intentional squeeze, then tugged at my nipple with a taunting drag.

A low chuckle rumbled against my skin as the jolt of heat shot straight to my core.

He was clearly enjoying taunting me this early in the morning.

“Gabriel…” I breathed, half scolding, though my body arched into his touch. “I thought you said we should sleep.”

He chuckled against my skin. “Sleep’s overrated. This is more fun.”

His fingers found the other bud, rolling it with a wicked patience that drew a soft moan from my lips. Then his hand drifted lower, skimming down the curve of my breast, a single finger teasing across my stomach.

My teeth caught my lip, every nerve alive with anticipation as he inched closer to the place I craved him most.

The phone buzzed again, louder this time, almost angry.

Gabriel groaned, his hand stilled against me. “Unbelievable…” He pressed his forehead to my shoulder, his voice rough with irritation. “Who the hell keeps calling you like this?”

I let out a shaky breath, caught between laughter and frustration. “No, I have to get it. Let’s see who it is.”

Slipping from his arms, I reached for the phone. The name flashing on the screen made me pause.

“It’s Jess,” I murmured.

Gabriel pushed up on one elbow, brow furrowing. “Jess? What the hell could she possibly want this early?”

I gave him a look, breathless from both his touch and the interruption. “There’s only one way to find out.”

I swiped the call and pressed the phone to my ear. “Jess?”

Her voice shrieked so loud I nearly pulled the phone back. “Claire! Oh my god!”

My heart jumped. “What? What’s going on? Why do you sound like that?”

“Have you seen the blogs? Have you been online since last night, or this morning?!”

I frowned. “No, I barely even touched my phone. Jess, what’s happening?”

“Oh my god. You need to see this right now. I’m sending you a link, just check it, please.”

A chill ran down my spine. I put her on speaker and glanced at Gabriel. He was already leaning in, his expression darkening.

“What’s going on?” he demanded.

I shook my head helplessly. “I don’t know… she said she’s sending me a link.”

The notification pinged. My heart sank as I tapped it open.

And there it was.

The headline screamed across the screen in bold letters:

“Seductress or Whore? First She Dated the Son, Turned Down His Proposal, Now in Bed With the Father!”

Gabriel’s face appeared beside mine, reading with me as the article scrolled on, plastered with pictures, me, Gabriel, Adrian, all arranged like pieces of some twisted love triangle for the world to devour.

Before I could argue again, he pulled me against him. His arms locked around me, holding me so tight I felt the tremor in his chest. Then his lips pressed softly to my forehead, and for a moment, the world outside didn’t exist. I breathed him in, clinging to the warmth of his hold, loving the way he calmed me down when everything else was falling apart.

But just as quickly, he let me go. His hand reached for the phone on the nightstand, and his entire presence shifted.

“Bruno, get my crisis team on the line. Now.” His voice was commanding, all business. “I don’t care if it’s five in the morning, wake them.”

I watched as he began barking orders into the phone, pacing the length of the room.

“I want a full sweep, every platform, every outlet. Anything with her name comes down before the hour’s up. If we can’t erase it, we bury it with something better. Spin this as an attack, she’s the victim, not the villain. I want a full draft strategy in my inbox within the hour.”

I sat there, watching him transform. This wasn’t just Gabriel, the man I’d fallen in love with. This was Gabriel the billionaire, the one who made people tremble, the force others fought to defend or to bring down. And for once, it wasn’t me against the world. I had someone powerful enough to shift the tide in my favor. Strangely, instead of unease, what I felt was safety.

—----

I stood before the mirror, running the brush through my hair, trying to steady both my reflection and the reality that my personal life was splashed across sleazy blogs, torn apart by strangers calling me every name imaginable. As much as I wanted to stay still and hide, I knew I couldn’t. If I did, I’d lose my mind. So I was doing the not-so-smart thing, going into work with Gabriel. I didn’t want to hide from the drama. I wanted to face it head on.

Behind me, I caught sight of Gabriel adjusting his cufflinks, his shirt molding to him like it had been tailored from his very skin. He was impossibly composed, devastatingly handsome, and for a moment, I almost let myself sink into the dangerous dream of him.

My gaze followed him as he stepped up behind me, gently taking the brush from my hand. His fingers skimmed over my shoulder before he began to work the bristles through my hair. Each stroke was slow, tender, just the kind of affection I needed to stay sane.

“Are you sure you want to go in today?” His voice was low, coaxing. “With this scandal circling the way it is... maybe we let it cool off for a few days first.”

I met his eyes in the glass. “No. If I stay home, it’ll look like I’m running. Whoever spread those lies will think they’ve won. I can’t give them that satisfaction.”

His hand stilled, holding the brush away from my hair. I turned, facing him fully, my chest brushing against his. His hand slid naturally around my waist, pulling me into him like he couldn’t help himself.

“I understand that,” he murmured, “but my priority is keeping you safe. I don’t trust anyone out there. The staff could say something vile to you, and I wouldn’t be there to defend you.”

“Gabriel...” My voice softened as I searched his face. “You care for me so completely. Watching you take control of everything this morning, it gave me the courage to fight too. I don’t want to sit here and sulk. I want to stand beside you.”