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

“Why I don’t get along with him? … Most women pry … They want the juicy details.” A hint of a smile in his voice, a gross generalization of my sex. I curb the urge to eye roll at him.

“No. It’s not my business.” I answer tightly; I’m not most women and I wish he would shut up. It’s a relief when we pull up in front of my building and I glimpse my chance of escape for a few minutes.

“This is me.” I point up at the block of attractive brown apartments rising above us; he regards me for a second then gestures I should go and I almost exhale with thanks.

“I’ll wait here, go get changed … Something feminine and soft … Something you wouldn’t normally wear.” He gives me an odd look, hiding his amusement and I have the sudden urge to throat punch him.

Something feminine? Really? I’m pretty sure any clothes made predominantly for women are classed as feminine!

Once in my apartment, I go straight to Sarah’s room. She’s still sound asleep in bed, so I quietly pull two dresses from the back of her closet with a grimace. This doesn’t sit well with me, but I pick the floral floaty number my mother would approve of. It’s not as short as the other one and I know she has shoes that match this. I go to my room so as not to disturb her and change quickly, despairing at my reflection with a curse and return to the SUV looking like some floaty hippy girl in love, in less than ten minutes.

“Better,” he says, his eyes appraising me quickly as I slide in. I ignore it. Dressed like this I feel exposed; I need my armor … my tailoring and hair to keep my PA persona with me. Dressed like this I’m like teen Emma and it scares me, takes away my defenses. I don’t like to be unprepared.

The car moves off again and I sit back trying to relax. It’s hard to do when every one of your nerve endings is on high alert. My legs are exposed a lot in this floaty dress, and I pull them in tightly against the seat, pulling the hem toward my knees sharply.

“Why all the secrecy?” I ask in attempt to interrupt the way he’s watching me. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was checking my legs out. His gaze has certainly covertly swept the length of me twice since I returned.

“His father, much like mine, owns a majority share of his business. Family money. If either gets wind of what we’re meeting about then they would oppose this before I can get things in place. Once I maneuver this a certain way, they will be unable to refuse.” He sits back, turning to stare ahead, instead of at me, thankfully. Finally, no longer pinned down by those green eyes.

“So, you’re going behind your father’s back?” I blanche, blinking at him as though I have no real sense of this.

“For now. He would refuse to even consider it.” He shrugs and starts pushing at something with the toe of his boot on the door. An odd mannerism for who he is.

“Why?”

have a history. They let their rift cloud what’s good for business.”

trying to keep the distance, trying not to inhale that aftershave or unique Carrero scent now it’s closer. He smells too

right, then yes … We stand to make a lot of money.” He shrugs and goes back to looking out his

going to be merging with?” I relax, glad to have

take our experience and build floating hotels and spas bearing the Carrero name. Modern

“Like cruise ships?”

lot bigger

you think they will be a success?”

to be plausible. Their reputation of late has suffered. They had a few multibillion-dollar disasters. They get our reputation

with his idea and know only too well the rich clients of Carrero would jump at a

to agree to the terms. He could dissolve the whole thing.”

when we get there, Mr. Carrero?” Best to know my part and be prepared so I can act

a media scandal … Caught screwing someone of importance and then she

grimace, wondering what looking adoring entails.

to follow my lead, Emma, and don’t get too insulted if I need to touch you.” He throws me a smile, watching for a reaction, a little too closely. My eyes

the tone of my own voice betraying me. My heart rate ups a

signed

out, they’re usually inclined to hang over me.” He shrugs again, those piercing eyes back on the

Of course, they are.

I want to run

he wants to touch me and cuddle up for the cameras; nowhere did I sign up for that in my