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

“To prove a point.” He snarls and turns away coldly.

“What point?” I almost cry at him. I’m so overwrought with emotion. So confused. He scrubs his hands through his ruffled hair and blows out; for a moment I think he’s going to jump out of the car again and walk off, but he just sits and sighs, grasping the wheel, pulling himself to sit properly.

“What does it matter?” his voice is deflated, and he avoids looking at me. His aggression evaporating.

So? What? He’s decided, screw it, we’re not talking anymore? How can he assault me with a kiss then just say forget it? What the hell?

I’m angry, I’m really goddamn, seething, angry.

How dare he!

“Fuck you!” It’s out of my mouth before I even really contemplate screaming at my boss, and I’m out of the car too. I’m raging. My eyes are stinging and blurry. I hate that he makes me fall apart like this. He knows how to rip my head open and I hate him for it, hate the way he strips me of the control I’ve built up over the years.

He pulls me into him and spins me around as he’s fast out after me. I try to fight, but he envelopes me and buries his face in my hair, holding me in a vice like grip so that I can’t struggle free. A bear hug to stop me from escaping.

“I’m sorry … Emma, stop … Emma. I’m sorry.” His voice is raw and strained. I’m fighting but losing as he knows how to hold me so that I can’t move, my body wrapped in his, almost suffocating me. He hugs me in tighter and I slump, anger dissipating when pinned to him this way. In so much emotional pain. He’s breathing into my hair, the warmth of it on my scalp; overwhelmed, tears running down my cheek as he slowly breaks me.

“I don’t want to fight with you.” His voice is somber now, close to my ear, his crazy mood taking a new direction again. I relax into his hold, no longer struggling, unable to hate him when he’s this way with me, sounding this sorry and I am this upset.

“I don’t want to fight either.” I swallow a sob. Slumping into him in a bid to let him heal my heart.

“Maybe we should go back to the boat?” he sounds tired. I don’t know how to navigate this version of Jake; more moods than I’m used to. It’s exhausting but I put it down to the scene with Hunter and the aftereffects of too much alcohol, lack of sleep, stress. This isn’t him.

“Maybe,” I whisper; at least there I can go to my room and get some distance, some perspective. Let him alone to get a grip of his roller coaster mood swings.

“No,” he snaps, surprising me again with a U-turn in attitude. The way he says it causes me to bristle and look up. Mood shift suddenly … again?

is

and stalks back to the car, stops at the hood, leaning down to tense his

of the low sleek car. For a moment,

think Jake has been invaded by a body snatcher. He’s all over the place and I just can’t keep up. Wiping my tears

waves his hand in an exasperated motion and I’m dumbfounded; I blink at him. I don’t actually know what else to do. There’s no us! He glares

a good way.” He snorts,

voice is tiny and unsure, like I’m walking on eggshells with him right now, yet he’s accusing me of driving him

Well, it’s goddamn mutual.

again and his

He carries on, although he’s

Likewise.

Rolling my eyes at his back while trying to simmer everything I

I can do

fingers evasively. He’s sighing again, I can hear him kicking the wheel of the car, funneling some of

childhood?” his tone changes again; a new tactic or a new mood? My head’s dizzy with this swing

my face swept with icy cold and my hand’s pause. Nerves fluttering from low down at a topic I do not

have knowledge of the highlights.” I respond drily, the urge to clamp down and stop this direction

bits and pieces, Emma, mostly from getting you drunk.” He glares at me and

Jesus!

have this type

obsessed over this? Freaking Jekyll Jake and his neck

rest on me, his face endearing and open. All anger gone, but it only makes me want to cry,

and it should stay there.” There’s a strong sting in my eyes but he won’t make me cry again. My heart aching with everything he is trying to pull out of

with him? Is this what