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

“Emma? Mr. Carrero wants to see you.” A small childish voice comes up behind me, causing me to flinch and drop my duster. My heart hits a sudden stop as I inhale heavily pushing back my hair which is stuck to my face from the exertion of my enthusiastic cleaning, my eyes widening in disbelief.

What? Jake? He’s here?

My brain reels a moment with a lurch of possibility before sense smacks me in the chest sharply, kickstarting rapid heartbeats.

No. Giovanni! Of course!

I feel like an idiot. I throw a tight smile her way before turning smoothly to acknowledge the girl, pushing down signs of my overreaction and trying to calm my crazy thudding pulse rate. It’s one of the small receptionists, all blonde hair, and big boobs—like most of Senior’s staff. He’s sickeningly singular about the women in his employ, finding those whose looks are less like the woman he’s married to and more like the “bunnies” of the Hugh Heffner world.

“Okay, where is he?” My voice is even, despite my irritation and internal mental breakdown and a familiar wave of control moves across me unexpectedly.

“In his office, you’d better go right away, he’s in a bad mood.” The tone in her voice betrays her fear of Senior Carrero, but I ignore it. He doesn’t scare me in the slightest. His attitude toward his employee’s grates on my nerves at the best of times; I’m used to that familial Carrero glare and its wily ways. Jake hadn’t been against using that glare when bad moods struck, impossible scenarios or general mess ups. I think, somehow, coming here, I’ve lost all unease around Giovanni Carrero. My heart being ripped out by a man who shares his name has made me immune to the effects any Carrero could’ve tried to pull on me.

I push memories of Jake aside harshly swallowing that lump in my throat that hits me whenever my brain focuses on him. I can’t think about him right now.

Ever!

If I do, I’ll just dwell on how much I miss him and how much I think about the night we had sex … repeatedly. I’ll torture myself into insanity, and I can’t afford to do that. Mentally, I am only just starting to see glimpses of the old me and don’t want to scare her back into submission already.

girl silently from the room and head toward the long hall leading to King Carrero’s domain with my chin in the air once more, showing pride and defiance that I don’t feel. I am not going to be intimidated by this man. No matter how badly he thinks I am

his office, for once he’s alone, and sat in his leather throne behind his oversized, polished walnut desk. The sun is blazing in from the wall of glass behind him and the breath-taking New York scenery pulls my eyes to the city for a second. He looks like a formidable billionaire framed

my every movement as I stroll nearer his desk, knowing that he

my body rigid under his scrutiny. My nerves swirling uncontrollably low down in my belly despite my demeanor. There is no love between us, I am merely another irritation to his

Miss. Anderson, I did … My son sent you to me as a PA, yet I’ve no need for more assistance. Your performance has left me with a sour taste in my mouth and I think we need to have a little chat.” He

him blankly, unsurprised. I’ve expected this moment for a while, amazed it’s taken three weeks

yet … In fact, he insisted you stay in this company, indefinitely.” His unexpected confession causes a sharp knife-like pain in my chest, a slight confused expression warms my face. When he glances up, his uninterested gaze

matter what? Despite

large ball wedged mercilessly but I push it down harshly,

on small talk. I know he’s not embellishing. If he thinks I am a drain on company

done with me?” I respond drily, less confident at the turn of this conversation. Grasping my hands together as they start to tremble, I lay them across my waist to

me to

…” he waves his hand around, uninterested “… Jacob told me you excel at planning and juggling a high workload,

back to that building surges through me like fire, igniting my fear manically, but I remain impassive under his scrutiny while my blood freezes in my veins and my lungs

on this, and as you know, my relationship with Jacob is somewhat strained; so this …” he waves his hand to me then back to himself dismissively, “… is the compromise I made to keep him happy. If I hadn’t made such promises to Jacob, I would’ve fired you in under a week.” He visually releases his grip on me as an end to our discussion and he goes back to tapping away

and swallow, involuntarily, face hot with shame and body weakening with cold anxiety. I suppose I should be grateful for