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

Chapter 38

“One week?” she asks softly, and I hate the desperation in her eyes; her affection for my mother is strong. I close my own and steady the internal war. I need to relinquish a little over this. I don’t want to push her away, but this is hard.

“Okay … But you come to me in one week and we go from there. You call me every night, Sophie, so I know you’re okay. And no lies!” I am stern.

She snaps up to look at me and we see each other, deeply. She knows that I know she lied for my mother. She forgets I used to do it too. She nods and bites her lip; another teen Emma trait and I wonder if that’s why she keeps her hair tied up away from fidgeting fingers. I sigh at the girl, the shadow of my past, only this one has a chance at being saved.

“Okay.” She finally pouts, and I nod not fully happy. She makes me think of everything I was when I first arrived in New York. She has a fire inside of her just like I did, a determination to rise from the ashes. She’ll be okay, she’s a fighter and she is no longer alone.

Jake sits up suddenly and fishes his cell from his pocket putting it to his ear, he says a few words then looks across at me with a glance and it catches my interest.

“When then?” he moves to sit properly and plants his feet on the floor, sounding annoyed.

“Okay, well yeah … Sure … First thing … Keep me updated.” He presses the cell and casts me an apologetic grimace.

“No flight home tonight, Emma … Jets grounded; there’s a storm brewing outside Chicago and heading this way. New York is already in a full-blown blizzard.” He shrugs as if to emphasize that there’s nothing he can do, and I curse inwardly. The drop of weight in my stomach at the disappointment is painful.

“When’s the soonest we can leave?” I ask, certain he can hear the edge to my voice.

a loose

“Need any help?”

his mother taught both her sons at a very young age and

Inside

check there are no snooping assholes. I’ll call you in the morning to let

of Ray still in the back of my mind. Still shaken from earlier, despite pushing it to the depths of my brain. He clocks the hesitation on my face and

urge to lean forward and rest my face against his grasps

a way asking without having to say the words. I don’t know why it’s so hard for me

is hardly a punishment. It’s not that much different to sleeping beside him on a plane, or the time he fell asleep on my lap when our flight was delayed for two hours and we had to couch share in a waiting room. I shrug as if to say, “fine by me” and ignore the shiver of anticipation running up inside my stomach. Truth be told, the thought of being alone with only Sophie tonight after what happened with Ray is the last thing I want. Having Jake in my bed may actually

for good. I’m never coming

she’s mobile. She’ll try and guilt me about leaving and taking Sophie away, and I don’t want to hear it. She’s betrayed me for the last time. This one is a huge deal. She let the

* * *

me. His arm is bent so his

a cuddler in bed? More like a squeezer; suffocates all life

at the dark ceiling for a moment listening to the heaviness of his deep breathing. He seems so peaceful and being held this way is comforting. I feel cherished and safe. I have never slept with a man; even my ex-boyfriends

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