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

I don’t know how to feel. Fear and panic are consuming me, and I can’t process anything beyond the next thirty seconds. I can barely breathe … again. Jake catches my hands and brings them to his chest, pulling me to look at him, slowing my erratic breathing as it matches his. I’ve never had a full-blown panic attack before, but I know instinctively that’s what this is. I let him bring me back from the verge again.

“We are in this together, I won’t sit back and let you deal with all of this alone, bambino. I’ll take care of you every step of the way. I’ll be the guy who gets up and feeds the baby while you sleep, and I’ll change the nappies and take care of mom the best I can. Trust me with this. Trust that I would never leave you to do this alone even if you decide you don’t want me back.” He kisses me on the nose and my heart melts at the way he always grounds me; a thought creeps, and I instantly go cold.

“But this won’t be your first child, Jake. Marissa will give birth before I do and ruin another thing in my life. Your time will be split … between us, between the children so you can’t promise me anything.” Tears run down my cheeks and I pull away from him, anger rising again at the thought of him and her, that horrible stomach-churning vision of his mouth on hers, lingering to always make me ache physically. I slide away from him and cross my arms across my chest, glaring at him, daring him to try to come near me because right now his touch is abhorrent and I’m spring loaded for attack. Having that bitch in my head makes sure of it and this feeling, here, right now is as close to hate as I could ever feel for him.

He watches intensely for a moment before sliding back against the tub, resting himself against it. He knows when to choose his battles, he’s annoyingly good at reading me sometimes, and yet other times as brain dead an idiot as you could possibly get to what I’m thinking.

“I need to say this, Emma. You can look at me like that the whole time if you want but I’m still saying it.” He looks down at my abdomen between us and then back up at my face, his expression serious. I scowl at him more hatefully.

“Marissa may have got in there first, but it doesn’t mean shit. Difference is, this one I want more than anything and hers, I never did … I guess that makes me an absolute shithead for saying it.” He sighs and runs a hand through

his hair, flexing his shoulders, resting both palms on the

back of his head. His expression is that of fatigue more

than anything. “You will always be my priority, despite having two kids, I already know which baby will hold

my heart more.” He glances across at me, apologetically, as though he really does realize how horrible a person that might make him.

lowering my glare to the floor, a new wave of tears hits hard. I can’t begin to think about this now, or I’ll just fall to bits.

did it even come to this

I flounder in emotional turmoil. I have no clue what to do with all

feel sick every time I think about it, even after weeks of knowing it’s happening. But this … US …” He slides up onto his knees shimmying across the floor

desire to shout it out from the rooftops and instant love … I love you so much and I won’t let you down.” He grazes his mouth against mine, but I only stiffen at the touch. Marissa is too close to the forefront of my mind

process this right now.” I pull away from him, leaning out, telling him clearly to give me space. He sighs and moves back but doesn’t go far. I think he’s starting to realize the turmoil I’m in

A command, and there’s an edge to his

even willing to take you back and you’re issuing orders to me?” I slam my hands on the cold tile floor angrily shoving myself to stand. He knows how to ignite my

when you’re this fragile then you can forget it. This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s my baby too. You get no say in this.” He has his stubborn face plastered on, a mild amount of aggression radiating from him, I know when a huge fight is about to erupt, and I have no energy for this. I lift my chin defiantly

feet apart, stubborn meeting stubborn. There’s a change in his expression as he tries to figure out the best way to handle me, but I will not back down to him. He lost the right to cajole me the second he kissed that bitch; having

and throat

Manipulative asshole.

small chance of getting you back. That I have something to hope for. This isn’t about trying to trap you here with me, Emma; it’s about protecting who I love and there’s two of you now. I need to be able to take care of you and not go out of my mind worrying when you’re in Queens. I wouldn’t be able to function knowing that I’m not protecting you and caring for you in the way that

it like

and despite wanting to fight him on this, I know I want him to take care of me. I don’t want to be a strong capable mess back in Queens, who fights herself to get up and eat, or fights to get up to do something to distract herself from the pain. Being here with him and having him close to me has

any long-term plans to be here.” I stick my chin up defiantly and turn on my heel. I catch the slight smirk on his face out of the corner of my eye and storm