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

Jake walked to the minibar and found himself mixing up one of Leila’s cocktails as he looked down at what he was doing, stupefied for a moment. Literally no idea how getting her a glass of water had turned to this in his head. The only thing he could think was that he was subconsciously trying to impress her, or on some deeper level had decided she simply wasn’t a girl you gave water to. She was somehow much classier than ice water. Maybe it had been that heady, fruity, slightly sweet perfume clinging around her that had made him move to start fixing one of Leila’s girly combos for her. He literally had no idea what he was doing anymore.

Downing a quick gin to get his head straight, he took back the drink to the awaiting distraction. Margo was regarding him with a really odd expression, probably wondering why the hell he was trying to get his new PA drunk if the clinking of bottles was anything to go by.

Be damned if he had a fucking clue. He was acting all kinds of crazy.

“Here you go.” She looked completely lost in thought, and he felt completely out of his depth. He was a guy who had no problems with being in the company of the fairer sex, yet he was acting like an idiot. He decided to perch on his desk, put some distance between them and put all of this down to still being half drunk and crazily horny from last night. He dated women twice her height; confident, boring models, and women with their own money. Women who knew what causal sex and having a good time was all about and he knew how to read women effortlessly—until this one.

She was tightly closed and completely unreadable, no hint of anything at all. No signs of interest, in fact, the complete opposite and her mannerisms and movements were so precisely graceful and swan-like, he felt he was the one being scrutinized for a job. He figured this was the problem right here. She made him uncomfortable because he had no way of knowing how to play her at all. And playing woman in all sorts of games was pretty much his forte.

“Thank you, Mr. … Jake.” She looked at him for a second and again he got that stomach jerk reaction he was seriously starting to dislike. He needed to distract himself, maybe stop acting like a complete moron and remember he was her boss. He was versed in the art of conversation, and he just needed to get some sort of professional relationship set in his mind and push this nonsense out. She sipped her drink, and he caught the slight hint of confusion about the fact it was loaded with alcohol. He could only look at the floor, completely nonplussed about that too.

He had nothing.

“So, Emma? Margot tells me you’ve worked here for just over five years?” His mind gazed back to her file, coming completely clear in his head. He could focus on what he had read and quiz her a little. His photographic memory served some purpose anyway. It was better than undressing her mentally.

She placed her glass on the table and Jake immediately wondered if she disliked it, if maybe he should

in which you need to please her … She’s

to

meant to be doing, business head being screwed on firmly and the calming

Mr. Dawson.” He watched her forced smile and got the strong impression she hated Dawson but was too polite to say it. He wondered what the guy had done to deserve that kind of dislike and hoped to hell he avoided doing the same thing. Maybe leering at her and thinking about bending her over his desk wasn’t exactly going about warming her to him in the right way. If Dawson, the creep, had been

raping her gave him. Girls like Emma were classier than the intentions of some sleazy fuck who thought he had a given right to heavy

He was obviously grouchy from lack of sleep and should wrap this up, let her

lot.” Jake felt the inability to breathe hit him hard when she smiled unexpectedly, a genuine warmth at the mention of Kay. He had been watching her and waiting without even realizing he was doing it, and it had been worth it. Her whole face lit up, and he had the urge to smile back. He had been wrong about her smile being pretty, it was goddamn mesmerizing. He could watch her

being incredibly fucking female right now … Next, you’ll be spouting goddamn

to make an internal recommendation for a position like this.” Good comeback, he almost patted himself on

couldn’t tear his eyes off the

Efficient and capable with a good understanding of the business. Don’t think it will take long to get her up to speed with her requirements,” Margo