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

“Might be a sexy fresh look for you, Ems. You’re cute enough to pull it off.” He smiles at me and I sigh, pulling myself back together and dry my face on my sleeve. I take the gadgets he hands me from my desk and put them in the base of the suitcase, gently wrapping them in the protective sleeves I leave in there. My mind is blocking out any thoughts about my mother lying in a hospital bed right now and I don’t even want to process this anymore.

“I can’t let you come Jake … I don’t want you to see her like she is.” I glance at him nervously. Stomach churning.

“Why, Emma? You haven’t told me what happened.” He moves behind me, taking a strand of my loose hair and tucks it behind my ear; a normal Jake gesture which serves to make me feel fully calm. Safe. His presence and touch like a balm.

“I don’t want you to know … It’s too … There are things about my life before here, that should stay in the past.” I glance back at him pleadingly seeing his frown soften into a gentle smile as he hides his disappointment well.

“Okay, Emma … I promised I wouldn’t push.” He inhales heavily, defeated in a way.

“But you better call me every night and keep me updated … If you need me, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. Can’t leave my number one girl coping alone when she’s upset.” He brushes another strand of my hair behind my ear gently, his fingers lingering, brushing softly over my cheek bone. His green eyes locked on mine steadily.

“Promise me?”

“I promise.” I nod, basking in the caress and turn away to continue packing. Poor Jefferson has been sitting down in the car for long enough already, and I have a two-hour flight to take, minimum. Then after that I must face a sight, I already know will be unbearable in so many ways.

When I’m done packing, I go into Sarah’s room to leave her a note. I don’t want to call her and say the actual words in front of Jake. Her bed is a riot of covers and clothes and I can only guess they’ve gone for a night out on the town, not that it bothers me. We lead separate lives nowadays.

exit. In a way I’m glad she’s not here; not having to explain with Jake so close by about what’s happened to my mother for the second time in my life. Not having to deal with that knowing look on

Will she ever change?

me goodbye, he makes me promise that I’ll call when I land in Chicago and every night that I’m gone. I am torn in two at leaving him and not wanting him to see who I used to

waves from the tarmac and I head to my seat, shutting out every thought and emotion, holding myself in to focus on the long

***

the hired driver takes me to West Englewood. The streets are badly lit, but don’t conceal the grubbiness or derelict area from view. The streets, although busy with traffic, seem almost deserted. The aura of poverty and hardship reflected in the brown buildings and scruffy

my old home, the apartment that my mother has lived in since the day she brought me home from the hospital. My mother is stable in St Bernard Hospital, but I won’t be able to

a tinge of anger even thinking about her. I know this isn’t natural—she’s my mother. I should feel concern, devastation, worry even, but I don’t. I’m cold and empty and upset. Enraged at her, that she just keeps following the same path in life, over and over. She’s my mother, yet all she ever

and never let anyone get close enough to damage you irreversibly. She taught me that men will only look to overpower you

me. I’ll never be like

ugly. The apartments above are brown and grubby. The windows appear dark and dirty from down here, an icy shiver coursing through

Home sweet home.

shrubs, into the main foyer of the building before he leaves. It’s narrow and stinks of rotten food and urine causing me

hair and vibrant blue eyes. She looks exactly as I did at the same age, even the pouting lips and innocent,

a good Samaritan. Yet she failed her own child in ways she has no way to fathom. Still, to this day, completely oblivious to