The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 158

“What? He knew you would be here though?” I’m beyond perplexed, seems I have given him more due than he deserves.

“Exactly! Fuck him. Fuck men.” She slides up as Jake approaches with two pink cocktails oozing with sparkly decorations. Leila reaches up and kisses him on the cheek as he slides one into her hand and then dips down and puts mine on the table. He slides in beside me and drapes an arm around the back of my chair as Leila stands, watching us and downing half the drink in one go. I think she’s deliberately turning her back on the scene of Hunter and his date dancing nearby. It’s pretty obvious they are hooking up tonight.

I could literally kick him in the face right now.

“I’ll be back in a bit.” She smiles and takes off toward the far side of the club with drink in hand and I sense Jake frowning at me.

“Is she okay?” I can tell by the look in his eye he really means, “How much has Daniel hurt her this time?”

“She will be, she’s a tough cookie who knows she’s worth far more.” I stick up for her gallantly. It’s all true. Leila is a feisty one and a fighter, it will take more than Daniel Hunter to break her. Jake gazes after her departing figure for a moment, lost in thought then seems to shrug it off. Whatever thoughts transpired; the alcohol obviously pushes aside. I can tell he’s pretty mellow right now.

“Want to make out? I’ve been missing you over there.” He smiles at me and I can’t help the tug toward his mouth as soon as he even hints at kissing. It doesn’t take long for us to end up wrapped in a clinch with mouths engaged in our second favorite physical pursuit. His tongue caressing mine softly and lips moving in perfect unison. His arms around me with one hand in the back of my hair keeping me held close. I could kiss him for an eternity.

“Will you two come up for air?” Daniel’s voice breaks in, the sharp shove transfers through Jake, obviously at Daniel’s hands. “Seriously man, I’ve been standing over there for like twenty minutes waiting for you to stop.”

“This jealousy thing, man, it’s killing me. I just don’t fancy you, Danny!” Jake smirks up at him, arms still draped around me, holding me close.

“Funny! … Look, I need to talk to you … Alone.” Daniel is serious and some sort of secret look passes between them.

“Okay, keep your wig on.” Jake turns to me with a kiss and a smile. “I’ll not be long; I can see Leila coming anyway.” We both glance up and see her heading for us, her eyes deliberately zoned in on me and avoiding Hunter.

“Seriously, dude?” Daniel looks completely panicked and hurries Jake with him just as she approaches. Neither acknowledge one another and even though I catch Jake throw him a glare, they both walk off.

“Asshole,” Leila mumbles under her breath and moves back in beside me to grab my hand. “Was powdering my nose and having some girly bathroom bonding and now we’re dancing, sexy Ems. Come on.”

She hauls me up to a clearing where some of the other women from our party are already gyrating in time to music and pulls me to the inner circle. I get the distinct impression she doesn’t want to talk about this at all.

A couple of the girls pull me over in sheer delight, asking me loudly over the thump thump of music, how I bagged the Jake Carrero as an actual boyfriend, and they make me feel about twenty feet tall. I try to give the briefest and vaguest of replies, saying Jake just couldn’t resist me and sense Leila start to unfurl back to that happy go lucky girl I’m used to. Seems I’m the envy of most of the women in the group.

By the fifth cocktail, I’m decidedly drunk, completely accepted into the group of giggling women and stumbling on my own shoes frequently. I’m glad when familiar strong arms come around my waist from behind, his husky voice in my hair as he searches out my neck with his mouth.