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

“Physical pain goes away, Jake … Don’t focus on injuries that healed in weeks.” I flop back down, the irritation rising to strangle out my mellow drunkenness. Dismissing it. I don’t need this right now. My insides start to clench with anxiety.

“What do you mean?” I sense his shift in position, so he’s looking at me.

Does he really have no clue?

The physical side means nothing in the grand scheme of things; it’s the emotional mess left inside of me that I don’t want Jake to see.

“He broke my arm and ribs; he almost broke my nose and he gave me a concussion that had me in hospital for days. But it all healed in time.” I don’t even remember how that felt.

Why am I telling him this? Alcohol is like a lubricant for my goddamn mouth.

I’m drunk and somehow it doesn’t feel as bad saying it out loud when I am this detached from normal Emma. It’s like I’m talking about someone else; sad little Emma back home in Chicago, so far away. He needs to understand that none of it means anything anymore. I’m not her.

Jake makes an odd noise; I think it’s a grunt, a snort—maybe a moan. I don’t know, but it’s not a good noise, it’s a reaction to what I have said, and I talk fast to cover it.

“I mean, I don’t remember the physical pain. You should forget it too,” I say it so matter of fact, yet softly, trying to fix the point I was making. It makes me sick in reality and tears sting my eyes despite my shrugging it off.

“How can I forget it?” he looks at me as though I have two heads and it pushes me into over-sensitive and defensively emotional Anytime we broach this subject, we fight. I don’t want that right now. I can’t handle this tonight.

“Same way I do; push it out of your head. Ignore it. Lock it away deep down and don’t talk about what he did to me.” I try for a shrug, but at this angle it’s more of a squirm because it IS upsetting me on some level.

guess he

A lump forms in my throat and threatens to choke

of the car, listening to another version of Emma, talking out loud, detached from the secrets she’s telling and trying

breathy, talking as he exhales, he sounds relieved, but also sad for me, and I don’t like it. I pull myself up and glare at him angrily. That spitfire ignited with his pity. I can’t take sympathy or

down suddenly jumping out. He spins his head to

what?”

who is too fragile for life.” My feet have been in his lap this whole time and I pull them away fast. Struggling up, I sway, and realize I’ve got a seatbelt clipped over my waist. Safety Jake!

you tell me that asshole beat the shit out of you and tried to rape you?” he’s angry and it’s unexpected. I wasn’t prepared for pissed Jake, but maybe that’s better than sad,

for it, but you know what? He didn’t manage to rape me; he didn’t do what he wanted … I won!” I yell out loudly, not

in Chicago and he had come back?” he retorts. I don’t even know why he’s angry, I’m the one

He wasn’t the first of her creep boyfriends to try.” My face is wet, I ignore it, barely noticing the tears running down my cheeks, oblivious until this second. I’m furious and I’m yelling, but I don’t even know why I’m yelling at Jake. He’s not the one who did it. Sleazy Ray is the one who did it, my mom’s creepy ass

he breaths sharply. Jake hauls me toward him, trying to wrap his arms around me, but I don’t like it. I’m in memory mode and men’s unwelcome touch firing through my brain. I don’t want him to see

it …” I’m resisting him, but he’s stronger and faster and I’m still drunk with slow

head against his cheek, even though I’m still fighting, but I’m losing. I don’t like the noises coming from deep within me, like I’m spiraling out of control. I hate this. I’m not weak. I’m not vulnerable. The

tight arms and firm hands, trying

the first to try and touch me inappropriately, there had been many hands and each one had met my sheer fire and fury. Ray hadn’t been the first man to hit me either yet despite all of it, I never allowed

against the myriad of perverted fucks she brought home, refused to acknowledge it instead. Why she couldn’t be stronger and protect me?

voice is sincere, but I’m confused, I don’t know what he means, I’m too distraught to think straight. The tears still rolling down my