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.
My mother forgave 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 mother is unparalleled. I can see why he harbors so much anger toward
get at him?” I nudge his ankle gently with mine,
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
from his upper body. Still appreciative that
own house.” He’s still focusing
weird atmosphere when he’s around?” I watch his every
much more
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 has me
A thoughtful son.
him if she wanted too.” I point out, a little enamored with how deeply he feels
loyal. Who
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
to stay?” I understand why he
feel he did.” He gazes across the restaurant as though trying to find his inner calm
with no real input
in her fifties, she’s 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
loveless marriage?” The thought is so sad, especially for someone as lovely
the facade. My father married her after a one-month romance.” He finally stops looking around evasively, his eyes coming to rest on
only affair?” I ask, wondering why he’s telling
but it’s the only one I found
they excel at portraying in person. How odd that the truth is so very
to play her part.” Jake looks angry
has interested me for a while, his teen wild days and then reform always
reasons too.” He looks anywhere but
Update Chapter 16 of The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO)
Announcement The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) has updated Chapter 16 with many amazing and unexpected details. In fluent writing, In simple but sincere text, sometimes the calm romance of the author L.T.Marshall in Chapter 16 takes us to a new horizon. Let's read the Chapter 16 The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) series here. Search keys: The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) Chapter 16