The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO)

He pats the sofa next to him suggestively, a cheeky Carrero glint in his eye but I continue with my notes refusing to make eye contact.

“I think not, Mr. Carrero.” Sighing inwardly at the man I have to deal with every day; he’s never dull anyway.

“Your loss.” He closes his eyes again. We pause as we hear voices in the room next to us, faint and distant, that quickly evaporate as the intruders leave again. Both of us silent and still.

“You’ve a meeting in about fifteen minutes, I’m sure half those suits are going to be in it.” I point out, sounding unamused and bored.

“I’ll just imply I was busy elsewhere.” He shrugs, refusing to open those eyes and managing to look crazily attractive in this pose. I sigh.

“Busy doing what?”

“Busy in a cupboard with my PA, trying out the softness of the couch.” He smirks, opening one eye and then the other slowly, to grin at me.

“I’m not having you imply we were up to no good somewhere in this building. Do you know how quickly that would get around the temp pool?” I respond calmly; this is a repetitive conversation which only makes me sigh again. Only I would be lumbered with a boss as trying as this, who loves nothing more than to stress me out. The sexual innuendos never run out with him or the jokes about implicating us.

“We are up to no good, may as well get on the couch and make it worth your while. I’m sure I could help un-wrinkle that skirt.” I roll my eyes; he’s in his playful mood. I probably won’t get much work done this afternoon at all when he is like this. He’s trying at the best of times, but worse in playful mode. I check my watch in irritation, we should get out of here.

“In your dreams,” I respond drily, trying my hardest to ignore him.

“Always.” He throws me a quick eyebrow lift, a cheeky smile. I remain impassive. He’s tiresome and we have a meeting we should already be arriving at. Needless to say, he no longer intimidates me, and his overly familiar behavior is a sign that we have grown somewhat closer in the past weeks. He stopped behaving quite so properly a while ago and I gave up objecting because he is simply too exhausting.

He’s watching me as I smooth a stray hair back into my French knot, aware that his eyes are on me. I raise mine in question. Throwing him my haughty look. My silent, “What?”

me now, a strange look

mumble trying to sort my jacket out. He really

able to intimidate you.” He’s grinning again and eerily reading my thoughts of

add a note to my planner for a reservation next week and pull up a new email I

it’s safe to leave the closet with you now, Mr. Carrero.” I close my iPad inside

you pout, Miss.

using his title when he pisses me off, he thinks I’m mad at

I am. He did haul me into a cupboard

as you just

my terrible behavior.” He’s still smiling at me and I have the urge to smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. This annoys me immensely. I hate that he always manages to make me cave, even when he’s pissed me off. He’s incorrigible and exhausting. I don’t know why I endure this

the door impatiently with a nod, crossing

I may stay here for a bit and watch you walk out.” He turns, getting comfy

my resignation on the desk as I pass.” I smile sweetly, upper hand as always. He couldn’t run things quite so well without me. “Reason being sexual harassment … … Again!” I raise my voice

me, Emma … You adore working for me too much. You would miss my sexual harassment.” The laugh in

Ass.

him and turn away as though I’m serious and fight the urge to smirk. He

is clear. A small walk to my old desk and I can check most of the floor is vacant, with only the

me hide in the closet from his father. Sometimes he acts like a

fussing my hair annoys me, yet it’s something he does several times a day for a reaction. I smooth it back in place and

* * *

entrance halfway through and everyone clears the room quickly. The two Carrero men go at it like raging bulls as I stand outside, observing the many eyes watching them through the glass. I stand with my back to them, iPad in hand as I reply to emails and I can hear them arguing in Italian so that no one