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.

now. He broke her heart.” Jake’s relationship with his mother is unparalleled. I can see why he

this? … To get at him?”

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

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

his own house.” He’s still focusing on his glass and

atmosphere when he’s around?” I watch his every movement, a little empathetic to how young he looks when

so much more sense

I know Jake’s close

A thoughtful son.

have left him if she wanted too.” I point out, a little enamored with how

loyal. Who would have

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

I

across the restaurant as though trying to find his inner calm in the

him with

resigned herself to the 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.” He looks back at me, a small sardonic smile brewing. The hurt evident on his face and it makes me

so sad, especially for someone as

before the affair there were cracks in the facade. My father married her after a one-month romance.” He finally stops looking around evasively, his eyes coming

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

it’s the only one

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. How odd that the

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

had other reasons too.” He looks anywhere but me, and I