The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO)

Felicity makes a beeline for his room with her overnight bag, eyeing us weirdly, but he makes no attempt to follow. As she disappears his expression changes back to full blown frown mode.

“Who was it?” serious, no-nonsense boss tone.

Ughhhh!

I should have known better … He’s hard to palm off even on a good day.

God dammit, Jake.

I turn away breezily, I know he won’t let up … he’ll cancel dinner and stay here if I say nothing. There’s no point being evasive when he has that look on his face, so I resign myself to caving.

“My sperm donor.” I wave an airy hand as though I’m saying something non-important, but I can already feel the tension in my face. I’m glad I’m looking toward the open door of my room away from him and pull out my cell to cradle in the charging dock on the table beside it.

“Your father?” he sounds surprised.

You and me both.

“Yep.” I look around quickly for a distraction, so I don’t need to turn and look at him. I spot his personal tablet on the table nearby and lift it to scroll iTunes, to turn on music. It’s the best I can muster when he’s moved so close.

“You’ve never mentioned a father.” His tone is serious and gentle, body a little too close for comfort.

“I don’t have need to. There’s nothing to mention … I don’t know him.”

“So, why is he calling? It didn’t sound like nothing, Emma. You definitely didn’t sound happy.” He’s moved closer to me, invaded by his body heat emanating against my spine. So close he is touching me.

I’ve met him once in my life and it was brief.

fourteen when he thought my mother had struck gold. A simple picture in the paper about the “feed the homeless” charity she runs but he’d been disappointed to find that she was as penniless as the charity itself. Sadly sure, that she would be swathed

He thinks I’m loaded and

me that I’m tickled by his breath against my hair. I

much-needed distance, and

to think better of it and the frown on his brow lets up as though the thoughts have floated away

winks and there it is, back in full swing, that cheeky

pretty sure I could sue you for such suggestions, boss!” I

moves close to me again, fingers twitching at me as though making threats. I swat him away, he’s not against threats of tickle torture

just need them to leave. I hate feeling vulnerable in front of anyone,

is never

doesn’t answer, just steps forward quickly and shoves me into my room so that I almost lose my balance and he laughs at my angry

a wave before walking across the suite to his own room and I’m relieved. I fooled him well enough; they’ll

talk about this, not with him, not with anyone. I want to

with Felicity before I shut my door quickly. Leaning back against it for a moment to steady my nerves

he was, calling me after all

throat and shake it off. I won’t succumb to tears

* * *

shower is hot, steamy, and satisfying. I come out flushed and breathless and figure I maybe should have

for dinner. It feels good to be able to chill out and have some alone time though. I mulled over the call enough in the shower and I’m tired of thinking about it. I’ll have

a sucker for a goddamn sob story. She needs to

goldmine and wants to see what he can get out of me. I push the bile down in my throat bitterly as I think about the fact that all I am to him is a meal ticket. Heart aching with the reality

prick. A