The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 101

I swallow hard, a wave of fear creeps up from my toes and envelopes my body.

“You and I need to talk … Now!” He slams the door, latching it so no one else can enter. I’m sure the entire floor heard the bang. My body stiffens, this is the last thing I need. Being in here and feeling the way I do; I have no defensive play for him this way.

How can he just sweep in like a tornado and ruin me? All the control I mustered, all that inner calm, gone, with just his voice and a look.

I turn away, sure he’ll see the emotion filling my eyes as I pull the file from the copier, throwing it among the piles I’ve laid out. It’s a good excuse to keep my head turned away, using the task to stop tears from spilling over while I scramble to hold on to any control I have left.

The only thing I manage to say is, “Go away,” my voice, small and fragile. His strong hand grabs my arm, yanking me round to face him, setting me off balance so I flail my arms out and plant my palms on his chest to steady myself. I recoil my hands at the heated touch as searing tingles race through me from the contact.

“You’re not going to Europe!” His eyes bore into mine, his jaw tense. He looks dangerous and wired, I think he’s lost his mind. This is the first time I’ve ever truly been afraid of him physically hurting me, he looks ready to hurt someone and as I’m the only one locked in here with him, I’m nervous. The blood drains from my face, my body sending another surge of coldness through me in response.

“It’s not even a possibility yet … I’ve only just seen the job … I haven’t applied.” I sound timid and afraid; his face softens realizing my fear, so he releases some of the grip he has on my arm.

This has nothing to do with him … He can’t control your life. Stand up to him, Emma, don’t let him stamp all over you.

“You belong here … In New York … In the Carrero Corporation.” He looks away, his rage sizzling into something else, something unreadable. He lets go of me and I move away, fast, putting distance between us, standing against a table at the far corner. He sees me move and frowns, as though he doesn’t understand why I would be nervous of him.

Really, Jake?

“Please, Jake … This isn’t your concern anymore.” I turn away, confusion and heartbreak fighting one another. He’s standing straight and tense, every pore sending me mixed signals in the small, windowless room.

Why couldn’t this have been different? Him coming to see me and treating me like this only serves to drive a wedge even further between us.

“You’re always going to be my concern, Emma … Whether you know it or not.” His voice is lower and softer now. I turn back to face him and find him looking at the wall to the right. His eyes are transfixed on nothing, as he sighs heavily, it seems his fiery burst of anger has fast burned out.

“You make it sound like a burden, like you have no choice?” I almost laugh as I say it, feeling anything but joyous, just broken. He looks at me, eyes slowly move over my face, his expression guarded. He says nothing, just frowns, infuriatingly, giving nothing away.

Someone bangs on the door, causing him to jump. From my corner, I can see he’s lost his angry glare, his temper fully dissipating making his body slump a little. Burned out from being the giant fire ball of fury that barged in here, he seems to have lost all his fight and I realize he’s not acting like the Jake Carrero I thought I knew.

“Open the door, Jake, before the office temps start a rumor that we’re making out in the copy room.” I sigh, overwhelmed, heavy and tired. I think I’m probably on the verge of fainting. Internally rattled but mostly just fed up with being an emotional wreck. I need a drink. All of this, today, with Jake, has been too much for me; from no contact at all to seeping into my entire day. Jake is like an all-consuming black hole.

“Maybe we should give them something to gossip about?” he smirks at me and I recognize a hint of my Jake … My cheeky Mr. Carrero, he hasn’t changed one bit underneath the ‘bear with a sore head’ demeanor and it makes me sad. Despite myself, a smile tugs my lips and I shake my head at him.

“I could still sue you for sexual harassment you know … since I still work in the same company.” I look away, shyly, as he unlocks the door, letting in an irate receptionist. She looks from him to me and back again before turning cherry red and making excuses to disappear. Jake watches her go but leaves the door standing ajar. It seems neither of us have the energy for this anymore and he puts his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunching like he’s been deflated. Instead of making him look more vulnerable all it does is make him look so much more male and stronger. A pang in my chest, hits hard, almost winding me.

“I’d probably deserve it.” He shrugs, looking me up and down. I can’t read anything in his face, only that he’s no longer angry. “Don’t go, Emma … Please.” He sounds so sincere. It’s so unexpected, it causes a lump to catch in my throat.

“I haven’t decided on anything, Jake … I need space to think … Not you, charging in here yelling at me and ordering me around. I need time to figure things out.” I respond, firmly, watching him. Aching bodily for him.

He sighs, heavily, looking me over slowly, more deliberately and I goosebump under his gaze.

“I don’t want you to go … I need you to understand that.” There’s a hint of that boyish Jake I love so much, and it rips through my chest like a chainsaw. He pulls out his hands and walks toward me, closing the gap between us, forcing the air around me to thin so I can barely inhale.

“You wanted me out of your life a month ago. Nothing’s changed between us. New York is my home, Jake, but maybe it’s not where I’ll find my happy ever after. If you’re still my friend, then let me make my own choices.” I step toward him slowly, impulsively, itching to reach out and touch him but stop a foot from his tall, powerful frame as I realize what I’m doing; we’re standing face -to- face.