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

I’m sitting across from Jake in Eleven Madison Park, a bustling popular restaurant, his current favorite place to eat and watching him mess with his cell while we wait on our food.

“Jake?” I interrupt gently.

“Emma?” He responds without looking up. He’s deliberately being evasive.

“The Hunter merger?” My curiosity has been niggling all the way here and I have been extremely patient. He sighs and looks down at his cell, puts it inside his jacket, bringing his steady green gaze back to me. His face unreadable.

“My father and Hunter are not what you would call the best of friends anymore,” he mumbles quietly. Sighing that he can’t avoid this any longer.

“Anymore?” I repeat flatly.

“Yes, Emma, anymore. They used to be as close as Daniel and I.” He leans back, sliding down into his chair a little and slides his feet to cage mine under the table on either side. Our upper ankles connecting slightly. Jake is a toucher; he always has to have some sort of contact it seems. It no longer bothers me given it was such a slow thing that I just got used to.

“What happened?” I watch his face carefully, he’s good at giving nothing away, amazing poker face.

“My father had an affair with Elsa Hunter.” Daniel’s mother, and Hunter’s wife.

Crap.

I wasn’t expecting that.

Is that the basis of his bond with Daniel, shared anger at their parents?

“It’s not exactly common knowledge.” He sighs and moves his water glass; he needs a point of focus. I can tell this is something he hates talking about. Jake only fidgets when he’s very uncomfortable and it’s his biggest tell, watching items he moves around, as though for distraction.

“When?” I know I shouldn’t pry, but Jake rarely denies me knowledge, on any subject. Weirdly.

but I didn’t, not for a long time … I’m not sure I’ve forgiven him, even now. He broke her heart.” Jake’s relationship with his mother is unparalleled.

him?” I nudge his ankle gently with mine, so he’ll

do well with this, but I guess it’s always been a factor.” He shrugs and avoids my gaze, signaling that the money hasn’t been the main reason. Jake’s also a “shrugger”; it has to be his most common mannerism, annoyingly so. It does, however, emphasize his shoulders and the sheer solid mass of

my gaze from his upper body. Still appreciative that he looks

in his own house.” He’s still focusing on

watch his every movement, a little empathetic

much

better than him.” I know Jake’s close to his mother, he visits her often and he has me send her flowers every month. A

A thoughtful son.

She could have left him if she wanted too.” I point out, a little enamored with how deeply he feels for his

Who would

and all about his reputation.” The

her to stay?” I understand why he

a way, I feel he did.” He gazes across the restaurant as though trying to find his inner calm in the

Coaxing him with no real input

She’s trapped in a loveless marriage.” He looks back at me, a small sardonic smile brewing. The hurt evident on his face and it makes me

loveless marriage?” The thought is so sad, especially for someone as

for a long time, Emma. I think even before the affair there were cracks in the facade. My father married her

was the only affair?” I

only

at events.” That is true; a beautiful woman and her adoring husband is what they excel at portraying in person. How odd that the

Jake looks angry again, but his demeanor is still cool and controlled, he moves his glass for the

behavior in your younger years? … Rebelling was payback?” This has interested me for a while, his teen wild

… I had other reasons too.” He looks anywhere but me, and I can tell he’s hiding something. Being evasive