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.

him, 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

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

No … We stand 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 does, however, emphasize his shoulders and the sheer

I try tearing my gaze from his upper body. Still

in his own house.” He’s still focusing on his glass and turning it absent-mindedly. Clearly not

I watch his every movement,

much more sense

him.” I know Jake’s close to his mother, he visits her often and he has me send

A thoughtful son.

she wanted too.” I point out, a little enamored with how deeply

loyal. Who

been caught with his finger in someone else’s pie, Bambino … She knew he would have caused chaos for her if she tried. It’s one of the 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 in his chair, taking a deep breath and quells his outburst a little; his

stay?” I understand why he feels

he did.” He gazes across the restaurant as though trying to find

now?” I urge. Coaxing him with no real input to

She’s trapped in a loveless marriage.” He looks back at me, a

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

loveless on his part for a long time, Emma. I think even before the affair there were cracks in the facade. My father married her after a one-month romance.” He finally stops looking around evasively,

I

only

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 own

is all about appearances, my mother knows her place and how to play her part.” Jake looks angry again, but

behavior in your younger years? … Rebelling was payback?” This has interested me for a while, his teen wild days and then reform always seems at odds with how he is now. He shrugs and

He looks anywhere but me, and I can tell he’s hiding something. Being