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. I can see why he harbors so much

pushed for this? … To get at him?” I nudge his ankle gently with mine, so he’ll

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

his upper body. Still appreciative that he looks good in

Hunter caught them in bed together, in his own house.” He’s still focusing on his glass and turning it absent-mindedly. Clearly

around?” I watch his every movement, a little empathetic to how young he

so much

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

A thoughtful son.

left him if she wanted too.” I point

Who would

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

to stay?” I understand

gazes across the restaurant as though trying to find his inner calm in the sea of strange faces around

Coaxing him with no

fact she won’t ever be able to find someone else and I guess she still has feelings for him. She’s trapped in a loveless marriage.”

thought is so sad, especially for someone as lovely as

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

affair?” I ask,

not, but it’s the only one

explains why you’re always so off with him. Your parents seem 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.

to play her part.” Jake looks angry again, but his demeanor is still

while, his teen wild days and then

too.” He looks anywhere but me, and I