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

“My son was in pain and hiding from what he wanted most,” he says so factually, looking down at me, “I put you back in his path, so he would stop being a coward.” Giovanni grins and all words leave my brain in an open-mouthed silent gawp; realization dawning on me so suddenly that I am literally rendered speechless.

He sent me back to Carrero House? Making me believe that he was going to fire me if I didn’t … an ultimatum that led us to where we are now.

Giovanni is admitting to maneuvering me back into Jake’s building, so we would end up back in each other’s arms, crafty jerk that he is. He giggles like a schoolboy at my obviously shocked expression and pats my hand tenderly over his inner elbow. That self-confident effortless look on a man who always sees all and knows everything.

“No need to thank me, Emma.” He raises his brows in an almost smug manner and I clear my throat, finding my voice, still shocked that if he hadn’t done that one simple thing, then I wouldn’t be here today, with him, getting ready to do this.

“You sent me back to him, so he would? So, we would? How did you even know?” I am completely blown away by his confession, emotions brimming to the surface and a deep aching pain in my heart, so touched by a man who always seemed indifferent toward me. We’re still standing in the hall as the two girls mess about nearby with their dresses and hair while we wait for the rest of our party. They haven’t heard any of Giovanni’s confession, since they’re further back and neither are paying attention to my almost tearful expression.

“He’s my son, I see everything. I know him even if he doesn’t like to admit it. You were actually a very competent assistant.” That wily look and lift of a satisfied smile have me shaking my head at him again in complete disbelief. Giovanni is a sneaky man, but I absolutely love him for it, for every sneaky underhanded card he has ever played in the final happiness of his son. I squeeze his arm and throw caution to the wind by throwing my arms around him instead, giving him my best version of a Jake hug that I can muster. He tenses for a second awkwardly, Giovanni is not a man who does public displays of affection, and then hugs me back, a solid sort of fatherly hug for just a moment, but it means the world to me. He lets me go and straightens his jacket, returning the mask of effortless grace and poise I know only too well.

“Move down the hall a bit, we’ll wait for Sophie nearer the door … She better hurry up.” Leila huffs impatiently, pushing us gently, bossy pants back on and face flawless once more. She’s checking the time on her wristwatch and frowning at Sarah who is looking up and down the hall for any sign of our missing bridesmaid. I don’t expect anything else from Sophie nowadays, the girl is a fifteen-year-old ball of fun, but we all adore her mercilessly.

Giovanni begins to lead me out of the hallway toward the larger area outside the main hall doors, a brighter and airier half circle room with ceiling windows letting the sun stream in. I lift my chin a little with each step, my heart expanding more with the realization that this really is it and it’s really happening. The Carreros are making me one of their own and I am getting my Jake for an eternity, never to be parted again.

This crazy man is taking me as a daughter with his terrifying family and secrets I’d never like to guess at or even know.

did with Ray

family and the less I know the more I can pretend it never happened at all. Jake never speaks of Vanquis either, and as much as I know that Jake would’ve never been involved in anything like that, I also know he’s probably relieved that his father swooped in. I don’t want to know if Vanquis is dead or alive, all we got was a promise

problem that is over Jake’s head. Jake couldn’t exactly take a moral high ground with his father’s dealings when he told his father to do whatever it was that

changing with every passing month and I’m happy to see some sort of genuine bond building

two of them have some sort of mutual bond because

family.

the double doors that hold my life inside and pause to wait. My heart and my happiness await me; and very soon I’m about to take that step inside and finalize it all. Just a few more minutes of waiting and we will be going in there, to end one chapter of my life and start a new one with the person I adore more than anything in

won’t be among the sea of friends and faces in that room to watch me marry my soul mate. I am long healed over the absence of her in my life. I just feel a sense of freedom, much like the day,

after my exit from the private care hospital and back home. My mother never graced me with a phone call or even a text or email in that

both my girls and nod, honestly, smiling happily. I am worth far more than any effort she ever put into my life

down the hall, looking a little flustered. Her dress is barely zipped up and her hair already working loose. She’s rushing down the hall with Mrs. Huntsberger in tow looking every bit like the wild teen

fast taking Leila’s place of ‘wild child’ and is excelling at being more than a handful lately. Sometimes she’s

Teenage girls!

back at him, taking another steadying deep breath. Nerves overtaking