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

I smooth my hands down my ivory wedding dress. It’s classy elegance and understated top is lined with a simple sleeveless fitted bodice and tiny pearl detailing. It has a full wispy floating skirt, and layers and layers of chiffon puffing out to a full-length cloud of loveliness. It’s a fairy-tale princess dress and matches beautifully with the elegant engagement ring twinkling on my hand, sparkling in all its shining glory.

I admire my flawless natural make-up in the mirror, touching up my nude lipstick. My tawny hair is wild and curled in its loose romantic style, tiny tendrils hang around my face and I appraise my reflection with pride.

I look beautiful! I feel beautiful and serene. There is no fear whatsoever.

I look like a woman hopelessly in love, about to marry the man of her dreams.

I am that woman.

I slide on my satin ivory stilettos that almost mirror the shoes I used to adore so much. It feels weird to be back in heels after so long and I turn around, hearing movement from the room behind me, alerting me to tropical blue

eyes catching mine in the reflection as I straighten up.

“Oh, my God, Ems … God, you look stunning,” Sarah holds back a tear, touching her eyes with a tissue and waving her hands to save her mascara from running, as I watch

her in the mirror behind me. She’s wearing her fitted

messy blonde short hair is pinned up in a loose half up style like mine and I’m overcome with a huge surge of love. Her bright

to mush. I spin around lifting my delicate veil and let my eyes skim that flawless silhouette in the mirror, flat stomach once more and a body that looks like it never changed. I’ hit with that familiar tug of

in so many ways. This is my happy day; no tears unless they are ones of joy. I remind myself that I’m not going to cloud this day with running make-up and emotional breakdowns unless they’re related to

God, Emma.” Leila bursts into tears when she sees me, sliding into the room behind Sarah. They only left me for a few minutes, so I could step into my dress, yet they’re acting like this is the first time they’ve seen it too, even though they’re the ones who helped

just had to litter over Instagram. I banned Jake from using any social media the entire time we were planning the big day, for fear of trending posts giving away ideas of which shops I was heading into and people snapping sneaky photos of me

her head and smiles back through a wave

sniffs, and Sarah starts fussing with the hankies, cleaning Leila’s face up in a desperate attempt to salvage her perfected make-up. Leila is so hopelessly cute when she cries, and I agree with her on the Daniel point. The boy clucks around her like a mother hen

I watch as Leila runs a hand over her bulging bump. I am hit with another hint of rising tears and a small tug of envy. Her growing bump is

stomach automatically with an internal sharp pain to my heart, the familiar wave of emotion I get every time I realize there’s nothing there anymore. I was warned that it would take a long time for the feeling of emptiness to go away, and maybe not until I try for another child, but even the thought of having another baby brings fresh tears to my eyes. The hormones are still messing with me even now. There is gut-wrenching

I’ll have to marry him now

the time. Why would he want this?” Leila sighs back her tears again and tries to limit the damage to her face with a compact, squinting at it disapprovingly then dabbing manically over the streaky areas in a bid to fix it. I predict

me?” I look at her with a knowing expression; one that says you do remember the crazy mess I’ve

to deal with my past as well as the emotional aftereffects of what Vanquis did to me. Recovery involved rehabilitation to get past some of the brain damage I incurred from the incident, such as impaired balance, bouts of severe low mood, and

become a counselor for abused children within Sylvana’s charity. I want to be a beacon of hope and a hand to guide children to a better life. I want to do for the Sophies” of the world what Jake did for me. It was hard to study and go to classes, still seeing my therapist weekly to keep on

instead hands her a wet wipe. It’s a safe bet to say Leila has looked better but it’s no surprise

Sarah’s flawless happy face and smile at the radiance I see reflected at me. Marcus surprised everyone by proposing to Sarah, rather publicly, at her birthday bash which Jake organized for me, as a thank you to Sarah for being my friend. The proposal was beautiful, and I admit that Marcus really is right for her. Sarah was bowled over, not only by my public appreciation of ‘the girl who loved me when no one else did and persevered