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.

broke her heart.” Jake’s relationship with his mother

this? … To get at him?” I nudge his ankle gently with mine, so

to 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

from his upper body. Still appreciative that he looks good in

bed together, in his own house.” He’s still focusing on his glass and turning

watch his every movement, a

much

can ever forgive him for hurting my mom like that. She deserves better than him.” I know Jake’s close to his mother, he visits her often and he

A thoughtful son.

if she wanted too.” I point out, a little enamored with how deeply he feels for his mother’s

loyal. Who would have

reasons I feel like I do about him. He’s a fucking control freak and all about his reputation.” The flash of anger surprises me. Jake isn’t one to lose his cool so easily, or publicly. He shifts

stay?” I understand why he feels that

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

I urge. Coaxing him with no real

someone else and I guess she still has feelings for him. 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 want to reach out and take his hand, but

The thought is so sad, especially for someone

I think even before the affair there were cracks in the facade. My father married her after a one-month

affair?” I ask, wondering why he’s telling me

but it’s the only one

fine when I’ve met them at events.” That is true; a beautiful woman and her adoring husband is what they excel at portraying in person. How odd that the truth is so very different. I know all about hiding true appearances. I am a master of deceit in my

her part.” Jake looks angry again,

for a while, his teen wild days and then reform always seems at odds with how he is now. He shrugs and drinks

reasons too.” He looks anywhere but me, and I can tell he’s