The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 108

“Rosalie.” I smile, graciously, as I arrive. I don’t wait for her to announce my presence to Jake, his door is sitting half open, so I walk straight in. He’s typing on his laptop, eyes narrowed in concentration. The sight of him jars me as he’s sat in a pale blue shirt, open, as usual at the collar, sleeves rolled up. He looks too divine for words and I can almost forget how pissed at him I am for a second. His dark hair is freshly trimmed and styled. He looks like a model for businessman of the year and I still my beating heart and clear my throat to catch his attention.

“Sit. Emma.” He thrusts a thumb to the chair which always sits at the side of his desk, without looking up.

Hmmm. Like father like son!

“You’d better shut the door too.” He adds as I go to move forward. I sigh loudly, then turn and shut the door. I should be acting grateful instead of irritated because I know he’s calling me here to talk about Dan Gabrielle but what happened between me and him last night, has left me feeling raw and irritated. I’m hurt.

The look on his face doesn’t bode well, maybe he wasn’t able to fire him after all. I walk around his desk and slide into the seat closest to him. It reminds me of the many times I’ve sat here before, wasting time, chatting to my ex-boss, and laughing until my sides ached, and now here we are, like strangers. I miss “Funny Jake”. I miss all those moments.

As I sit, I catch his eyes running over my exposed legs under my skirt, then he shifts in his chair as though he’s suddenly extremely uncomfortable. He shuts his laptop and swivels his seat to face me. His expression grim.

“So, this morning I sat in a board room with half of legal, three from HR and Margo, negotiating Gabriel’s early retirement … He accepted the severance … He’s gone.” His tone is almost nasty, his fire filled green eyes are narrowed and he doesn’t sound happy at all.

“You’re mad about that?” I feel instantly guilty, wary of his unusual mood and fully aware this is my fault.

Has he changed his mind about sacking Gabriel after all? Maybe he thinks I overreacted last night?

“No, Emma. I’m mad that the son of a bitch got paid off to leave. That I couldn’t just outright fire him… Legal was all over my ass and brokered a deal because they didn’t want a messy sexual harassment case… Bad for business.” He snarls through gritted teeth, turning back to his desk and clenching fists on either side of his laptop.

“I see.” I sound small and childlike. I should’ve known this could happen seeing as Sexual harassment is still taboo in this crazy world of high-profile business and men in suits.

“I did some digging, his last four assistants left quickly. I managed to contact three of them and they’ve agreed to come forward about his advances on them too … He’s a snake … You weren’t the only one.” Jake growls at his fists and the air thins around us.

“If he’s going then why are you pursuing it?” agitation lifts to my shoulders, making me tense and I sigh. He has no idea how hard it is for me to sit here with him, clearly avoiding all talk of last night and acting like nothing happened.

“Because making him take an early retirement and a huge sum of money is not dealing with it … I’m pissed … I want his ass raked over coals and I’ll make sure he gets what he deserves and what he deserves isn’t my money!” He slams his palms on the table so that I flinch with the thwap sound.

“Why are you taking this so personally? You just saved a lot of future assistants from being groped, regardless.” I snap, nervy with his aggression and not in the mood for his Carrero temper today. I’m uneasy as hell and this is not where I want to be.

“Because it is fucking personal!” He snaps back, rising to stand and stalking past me to his drink cabinet. “He laid his hands on you!” He clatters decanters, indicating just how angry he is, and I take a steadying breath. My heart aching but this time not in pain.

Why does he always have to say things like this? Making me hope that there’s more to us than this weird toing and froing thing we do.

He comes over and thrusts a glass in my hand, returning to his seat with his own and I look down at the amber liquid. I can smell it from here, the strong stench of brandy. I hesitate but take a sip of the burning liquid, coughing and placing it on his desk instead. His temper seems to dissipate slightly as he slugs it back and slides his glass next to mine.

“What happens now?” I eye him warily as he turns to gaze out on the skyline, every muscle in his body taut while emitting fierce energy.

“I told you … He’s gone … As far as you’re concerned, it’s done. No one knows anything about you … I made sure of that.” It’s low and snappy.