The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 126

He pulls me tighter; his mouth coming to my temple and presses softly. Exhaling warm air across my skin soothingly.

I’m beyond not fine. I’m devastated. She’s the thorn in my happily ever after that just ruins everything.

“This is the last thing I ever wanted. I want you and I want to just have us and a clear future … This shit with Marissa complicates things but all I can do is try to do the right thing at the same time as trying to make you feel better about it.” His nose brushes the side of my face as he places a gentle kiss on my temple again, over my hair. I relax slightly, as always, his touch soothing me even when my hearts shredding.

“I hate it,” I utter softly, finally. “I hate her.” The tears fill my eyes bitterly and he turns my face to him by holding my chin, coming close enough to inhale me.

“You’ll never have anything to be worried about when it comes to her …… I choose you; I’ll always choose you … She’s my past, I’m only putting up with her for the sake of this kid. If I had a choice, she would be nothing to do with my life at all. Our life.” He soothes me huskily.

“Why did you even go back to her?” I search his face imploringly, I’ve never understood it; he told me it was a drunken mistake, but I know how safety conscious he is when it comes to sex, he always carries protection. I ordered him bulk amounts to his apartment in the past. He also had his heart broken by this woman when he was a teenager and spent years after unable to commit to any girl because of her. It makes no sense to me that he would be able to spend just one night with her.

“Honestly? I don’t even remember it … I’m not saying that to make you feel better, I’m serious. I went to a party with Daniel and some guys I know, I was already far too drunk. I don’t even remember seeing her there, but I woke up in a strange bed beside her. I left. She hounded me for days after and I told her to forget it.” He shrugs, sighing, and holds me firmly. I should have known his rich, party-wild, idiot best friend would have been involved in him getting so drunk he couldn’t see straight.

“You don’t remember any of it at all?” I question dubiously. I’ve seen Jake really drunk and he always seemed to remember most of his nights, regardless.

“Seriously, Emma. I swear … You’ve never seen me as drunk as I can get. Last thing I can actually remember is downing shots with Daniel then waking up feeling like an elephant had stomped on my head and there she was, lying beside me. I felt like an idiot and got out of there as quickly as I could. I didn’t even wake her to say see ya!” His frown deepens as he tries to keep my eyes on his.

I could imagine Casanova Carrero high tailing it without a backward glance, he hadn’t been shy about telling women he wasn’t interested.

“This was before the boat?” I ask, thinking back to her behavior and the way she kept trying to make eyes at him, some unspoken message.

“Yes … And, no. I didn’t know she would be Vincent’s date on the boat. I never invited her. When she showed up, I wanted to dump her ass over the side. I already knew I had feelings for you by then, she was the last thing I needed around, she manipulated being there because I wasn’t returning her calls.”

I stare pensively at the front of the plane aware we’re already climbing in the air so I un-click my belt and stretch out taking a deep breath.

“I didn’t like her from the second I met her.” I shrug “There’s something about her.”

“Most of that is show on her part, she can be okay sometimes. Used to be anyway, we haven’t exactly been friends for a long time.” He pushes his arm further behind me, his other scooping my legs and lifts me onto his lap with a quick effortless movement. He sits me sideways across him, cradling me close so we’re nose to nose.

“I love you. I’m not hung up on my ex … I didn’t have sex with her because of any unfinished business, closure, or feelings that still linger. It’s only you … It will always only be you. She’s only in my life now because of circumstances and she would be gone in a second if there was no baby.” He holds me close so we’re forehead to forehead, I smile despite the pain in my chest and the doubts of insecurity within me.