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

“Oh, my God! Leila get down!” I’m laughing so hard my sides hurt as Leila dances along the bar top shimmying and singing full pelt into the wireless mic of the karaoke machine. She’s in full rock star mode, strutting her stuff like a coyote ugly wannabe. Sarah is so drunk she’s sprawled over the bar; laughing at my poor attempts to control the wild petite blonde.

“Leave her alone honey, she looks mighty fine up there.” Some sleazy fat man grabs my wrist tugging my arm from Leila’s leg and I recoil in disgust at his touch. His eyes travel up under the dress she borrowed from me to wear and my repulsion grows into something more empowering; seething anger. I elbow him hard in the ribs and stand back with a feisty glare when he comes around at me. “What the hell is wrong with you? Crazy bitch!” He moves in angrily, but my inner anger and psycho switch clicks on, pulling my height up to its full length in readiness, too drunk to care about what I’m doing or any subsequent consequences.

Bring it on asshole!

“That’s enough. Do you need me to escort you out, Tom?” The bartender cuts in, sliding the empty glass away from the man, with a warning glare. The man snaps his attention to the burly tender, with his bulging muscles and no-nonsense expression, and sneers my way.

“Fucking bitch … No. I’m going anyway.” The chubby older man turns on his heel and stalks off, leaving me feeling a little smug. I’m trying to ignore the deep welt of pain growing inside of me, managing to convince myself that it has nothing to do with the anger inside of my broken heart. Anger is a good emotion for me right now. It’s pushing away the melancholy from the last few hours. I’ve been thinking about Jake almost every second, despite the alcohol fueled party mood that Leila has inflicted on me, and I’m trying my hardest not to let it show for fear of Leila’s wrath.

“Try not to get yourself into a fight honey. Some of the regulars can be prissy as shit.” The tender winks at me and moves off to tend to the crowded bar. I glare after him, drink bringing out this alarming inner rage from inside of me, rather than my merry carefree drunken Emma.

What would Jake think of drunk Emma like this? Wouldn’t like her very much, would he? This is more like Drunk Teen Emma.

Leila is still singing her heart out but the song switches to something slower and now she’s swaying around up there. I’ve given up trying to reach her now she’s moved further along the bar, which spans the whole room and turns in a U shape along the other side. I have no idea how she’s still upright considering we’ve been here for hours and drunk enough alcohol to render the three of us unconscious.

My legs ache from our dancing attempts and I have the head of a drunk girl, wandering around the crowded room aimlessly. I have a fuzzy almost dream-like haze going on with my consciousness and I just want to lie down. I am suffering the effects of my drink and the room is spinning and swaying around me. I hold onto the bar for support, and stand slumped, watching the room, a little detached from reality.

She starts belting out a love song rather tunefully, a little flat in places, but she’s giving it her all and enjoying herself, so I sit down to listen. It takes only a moment to realize it’s a song Jake has sent me in the past.

Pink, ‘Give me a Reason’

It hits me like a punch in the stomach, winding me, bringing the huge weight of agony back to the forefront of my mind. Emotion heavy in my chest, I let out a long heavy breath to hold back the new onslaught of tears prickling behind my eyes.

damned much. I wish he was here right now. Why

suddenly, I don’t like being drunk anymore. I only ever drank with Jake because I knew he would take care of me, and my little bubble of bravado well and truly pops. I hate being in a bar, without my protector, surrounded by

depressed feelings I can’t seem to switch it off. I watch Leila for a moment and see, almost with new eyes, the way the men around the bar are looking up her dress, checking out

in this moment, I’ve never wanted Jake beside me more than right now, to take

and wiping it with surprise, unaware tears had even been falling. The phone sways in my vision, my focus shot, and I try to make the screen less blurry by holding it

recoil as his warm breath hits

in full defensive Emma mode and feel like I’m hemmed in by

the next one. That knot of anxiety stays well and truly tightened

Charming. Dickhead.

manically, unsure if I’m managing to call anyone at all, suddenly desperate for him to be here. I can hear ringing,

hitting me right in my center. Trembling rivulets of warmth run through my body at just hearing his voice. His low sexy, soothing tone, and the way he says my name, yet with

God, I miss

I’ve never felt such relief at hearing his voice, my heart constricting in pain and longing, now I’ve finally broken the silence. It feels

then get angry at myself for being this weak and calling him at all. Even now I’m unable to stop the stupid onslaught of tears pouring down my face. I’m aware that my mind is still in a deep pit of confusion, but my itchy hands and aching heart must’ve overridden my brain with

I love you. God,

can decipher the concern in his beautiful voice and it only makes me want

calling me baby, his

of me.” I burst into half gasp half sobs trying desperately to right myself on my own shoes, stumbling and recoiling rapidly when my arm scuffs a warm arm. “Don’t

you’re fucking going.”