FULL NOVELXO Chapter Dad By Oma 11
Clairessa's POV
Chapter 11: Rebound Night Out
The club was alive, pulsing with the same powerful energy I remembered. It was a place where powerful men came to live out their fantasies. Jess and I stood by the bar, and I could feel the eyes of some of the men on me, drawn by the silver dress I wore-the one with a plunging neckline that left little to the imagination. The attention gave me a sense of power I hadn't felt in a long time, and I relished it.
“Claire..... it's your night. They're all staring,” Jess whispered in my ear, her voice full of encouragement. I gave her a satisfied smile, and we both giggled like we were sharing a secret the world couldn't understand
The bartender handed us our drinks, and I ordered a margarita, something light but potent enough to keep me in control. I took a slow sip, savoring the taste while my eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face. But Gabriel was nowhere to be seen, and my heart sank, the confidence I felt moments ago waning.
“Hello, beautiful,” a deep, bold voice called out behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I turned to face the voice and found myself looking at an undeniably attractive man. Tall, dark, and with a sexy charm that was hard to ignore. "Hi," I replied, taking him in, trying to gauge if he could offer the distraction I desperately needed.
“I'm Dave,” he introduced himself, extending a hand toward me.
"Claire,” I said, my voice low as I took his hand, offering a soft smile in return.
"Would you like to come with me to my private section?" he asked, his tone inviting yet filled with an expectation I wasn't sure I wanted to meet.
I hesitated, unsure of what I wanted, when Jess's voice cut through my thoughts. "Yes, we would. Where are you seated?"
"Right above," Dave said, pointing to the secluded section upstairs.
“Great, lead the way," Jess chimed in, and before I could protest, we were following him to a dimly lit, more private area of the club. The atmosphere was more intense, with a couple nearby lost in each other, making out with a passion that made me feel out of place.
Dave offered us a seat, and I took it, trying to steady myself as I took a sip of my drink. He was attractive, no doubt, but something felt off, something I couldn't quite place. As he poured us another drink, he leaned in close, taking my hand. “Dance with me,” he whispered, his voice coaxing.
I wanted to decline, to stay seated and out of reach, but Jess nudged me forward. "Alright," I found myself saying, letting him lead me to the dance floor.
His hands wrapped around my waist as our bodies began to move to the rhythm of the music. But the closer he held me, the more anxious I became. His touch, his presence—it all felt too cold and forced. It reminded me of Adrian's touch, the subtle pressure to do his bidding even when I wasn't feeling up to it. I thought a night out and dancing with this attractive man would make me feel powerful and desired, but instead, I felt nothing.
He pulled my face close to his, his striking grey eyes locking onto mine. He was beautiful, yet I felt tense and on edge. “Relax,” he murmured into my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “I don't bite."
I forced a faint smile, leaning into him as I continued to search the room with my eyes. I wanted what I had felt that night with Gabriel–that connection, that fire—but with Dave, there was nothing. Maybe I was still that timid girl underneath it all, scared of what I couldn't control.
"I would love to kiss you," Dave whispered, pulling away just enough to lean in closer. But as his lips neared mine, my body froze, everything inside me screaming that this wasn't right. It was too much, too soon, too... wrong.
“No, please,” I finally managed to say, pulling away from him. I grabbed my purse from the seat and hurried out of the private section, Jess quickly following behind.
Once we were outside the club, Jess looked at me, worry etched on her face. “What's wrong? Did something happen with that man? Did he try to-?"
"No, he didn't do anything. It's not him, it's me,” I blurted out, my voice breaking as my emotions got the best of me. “I just want to go home, please.”
“Oh, Claire...” Jess sighed, pulling me into her arms. "You're going to be alright,” she whispered, holding me close as I let the tears I'd been holding back finally fall.
I sat on my bed, staring blankly at my laptop screen, unable to focus on the files displayed in front of me. My mind was elsewhere, replaying that night at the club with Gabriel. His intense gaze, the way his touch had ignited something within me, and his lips—I could feel my body come alive just thinking about it. As much as wanted to push the images away, I was powerless to stop them. But then I remembered how cold he had been to me at the office, and I suddenly felt angry. That night had meant nothing to him, proving he was no different from Adrian.
Adrian, the man I thought was the love of my life, turned out to be the one responsible for my pain-the reason I ended up at that club in the first place. If only he hadn't cheated, none of this would have happened. Now, all I felt was an emptiness that longed to be filled. I was wallowing in the chaos of my thoughts when my laptop pinged with a notification.
I opened the email and froze. It was a message from Tems, Gabriel's PA.
“You will be going on a two-day business trip with Mr. Storm. Please pack your bags. A car will be sent to pick you up."