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

I swallow hard, a wave of fear creeps up from my toes and envelopes my body.

“You and I need to talk … Now!” He slams the door, latching it so no one else can enter. I’m sure the entire floor heard the bang. My body stiffens, this is the last thing I need. Being in here and feeling the way I do; I have no defensive play for him this way.

How can he just sweep in like a tornado and ruin me? All the control I mustered, all that inner calm, gone, with just his voice and a look.

I turn away, sure he’ll see the emotion filling my eyes as I pull the file from the copier, throwing it among the piles I’ve laid out. It’s a good excuse to keep my head turned away, using the task to stop tears from spilling over while I scramble to hold on to any control I have left.

The only thing I manage to say is, “Go away,” my voice, small and fragile. His strong hand grabs my arm, yanking me round to face him, setting me off balance so I flail my arms out and plant my palms on his chest to steady myself. I recoil my hands at the heated touch as searing tingles race through me from the contact.

“You’re not going to Europe!” His eyes bore into mine, his jaw tense. He looks dangerous and wired, I think he’s lost his mind. This is the first time I’ve ever truly been afraid of him physically hurting me, he looks ready to hurt someone and as I’m the only one locked in here with him, I’m nervous. The blood drains from my face, my body sending another surge of coldness through me in response.

“It’s not even a possibility yet … I’ve only just seen the job … I haven’t applied.” I sound timid and afraid; his face softens realizing my fear, so he releases some of the grip he has on my arm.

This has nothing to do with him … He can’t control your life. Stand up to him, Emma, don’t let him stamp all over you.

“You belong here … In New York … In the Carrero Corporation.” He looks away, his rage sizzling into something else, something unreadable. He lets go of me and I move away, fast, putting distance between us, standing against a table at the far corner. He sees me move and frowns, as though he doesn’t understand why I would be nervous of him.

Really, Jake?

“Please, Jake … This isn’t your concern anymore.” I turn away, confusion and heartbreak fighting one another. He’s standing straight and tense, every pore sending me mixed signals in the small, windowless room.

Why couldn’t this have been different? Him coming to see me and treating me like this only serves to drive a wedge even further between us.

softer now. I turn back to face him and find him looking at the wall to the right. His eyes are transfixed on nothing, as he sighs heavily, it

no choice?” I almost laugh as I say it, feeling anything but joyous, just broken. He looks at me, eyes slowly move over my face, his expression guarded. He says

a little. Burned out from being the giant fire ball of fury that barged in here, he seems to have lost all his fight and I realize he’s not acting like the Jake Carrero I thought I

on the verge of fainting. Internally rattled but mostly just fed up with being an emotional wreck. I need a drink. All of this, today, with Jake, has been too much for me; from no contact at

Carrero, he hasn’t changed one bit underneath the ‘bear with a sore head’ demeanor and it makes me sad. Despite myself, a smile tugs

I still work in the same company.” I look away, shyly, as he unlocks the door, letting in an irate receptionist. She looks from him to me and back again before turning cherry red and making excuses to disappear. Jake watches her go but leaves the door standing ajar. It seems neither of us have the energy for this anymore and he puts his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunching like he’s been deflated. Instead of making him look more vulnerable all it does is make him look so much more male and stronger. A pang in my

longer angry. “Don’t go, Emma … Please.” He sounds so sincere. It’s

yelling at me and ordering me around. I need time to figure

me over slowly, more deliberately and I goosebump under his gaze.

my chest like a chainsaw. He

If you’re still my friend, then let me make my own choices.” I step toward him slowly, impulsively, itching to reach out and

it to be in a place that I’ll never see you again.” He frowns down at me, his green eyes darkening to almost hazel and the intensity of his frown furrows

to fall against his body, and feel his arms close around me, pushes me to move a step away. I’m not stupid enough to believe we could ever go back.

when it comes to you. I don’t know when to leave it alone.” His hand comes to push a stray hair from my face, something he’s done a thousand times before, but it never felt as unbearable as it is now.

get on with my life.” I swallow down the tears, so close

both inhale, slowly, acknowledging what we know is for the best. As heartbreaking as it is, for me

elevator?” It’s such an odd request, one that leaves him looking so young and unsure. There’s a vibration in the air between us, a heaviness full of tension. I hesitate, then nod and move forward. He takes my movement

a stalker?” I throw him a shy smile, unsure how

his eyes. At least we’re no longer yelling. Now we’re

side, trying to act normal yet nervously filling the silence. The change between how we used to act around one another is highlighted more so. We’re just pretending now, the awkwardness of this walk, cracking the air.

just going through the motions of how we used to joke