The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 232

“So, when do you move in?” Leila lounges across the bed in Jake’s old bedroom and takes a grape from the platter of food between us; snacks and sandwiches including lots of fruit, courtesy of Mamma Carrero and her constant care.

Sylvana is the perfect host and she’s been doting over me when the house is empty during the week, when the men are at work or doing whatever the Carrero men do when not glued to their women folk. She enjoys my company and Leila has flown to see me when I finally drummed up the courage to tell her about the baby.

To say she was ecstatic is an understatement and the five-foot teddy bear suspended on helium balloons, in the middle of the bedroom floor over the massive hamper of baby products, was her arriving gift, humped in by two very good-looking men.

It’s been four days since the house viewing and Jake had to go into the city to oversee some business details and deal with the house sale. He’s been gone two days and already it feels like an eternity without him here. Still not able to fly and still getting car sick means Jake has put me on a travel ban for the time being and now I’m stuck here living in his old bedroom in the Carrero family home and twiddling my thumbs in boredom.

“I think Jake’s pushing for a quick sale. He has his lawyers tying things up already and I know the Wilsons were ecstatic about him being interested in the house.” I imagine that Giovanni is applying pressure to his golfing partner to ensure his son seals the deal and according to Arrick, Sylvana having us next door will make her year.

I have given up on contemplating my job and career for the time being but it’s not something I am going to give up on completely just to live the life of a kept woman. I intend to figure that out in time, but for now being pregnant and just enjoying being pampered no longer makes me feel guilty at all. Finally resigning myself to the fact that this lifestyle is a part

of being with him. My phone lights up across the bed and I reach over, grabbing it to me impulsively.

Jake Carrero has sent you an iTunes gift.

I start grinning and Leila shakes her head at me. She knows the face that implies Jake has texted me, obvious glee because I miss him so much and have been acting like a teen girl with a mega crush the last few days. His back to back meetings means he has only been able to text through the day and not call me much at all.

I flick it open, and smile again, unable to conceal my joy and the way my heart gets all warm and gooey and tingly.

Jake Carrero has sent you–Avril Lavigne “I Miss You”.

I chew on my lip as I waiver over whether I should reply with a song which once broke my heart or scroll for a new one. Maybe it’s time to make that song mean something else to us now; take away the pain I feel anytime I hear it on the radio or in passing. I push down the doubt with a slow inhale and send it on its way to him.

You have sent Jake Carrero–Avril Lavigne “When You’re Gone”

Attached message – Erasing the past. Remember? E xx

I stare at the screen of my phone as my ‘gift’ slips away across the inter web to my awaiting love, hoping he remembers it. The special song I once sent in hopes of him figuring out how I felt and instead rejected me, and the words attached are his words at a new beginning so long ago.

Leila is completely immersed in a magazine, while I’m focused on the love of my life, amusing herself while

I’m distracted. Surprisingly patient for such a little firebomb of energy.

My phone flashes with a text and this time it’s a message instead of a song and again I can’t stop that heart fluttering gooey response in me.

I’ll never let you go baby. I’ll never let you walk away either. I would never be stupid enough to ever go down that route again. The past doesn’t matter, only what the future holds. I love you xxx. J

My heart aches with his response and a tear catches in my throat. My Jake with his fast words that always sing to me, so in tune with everything I need to hear. I reply with a text and a song, a twinkling little smile stuck clearly on my face.

Avril Lavigne “Keep Holding On” … I love you more xxx”

“You two are sickeningly cute you know?” Leila is watching the obvious happiness spread on my face, thanks to Jake’s messages, and seems a little forlorn where love is concerned. I feel guilty for ignoring her and pull myself up to move closer to her, putting my phone face down on the bed so it won’t distract me if he replies. “Jake and his pushy one hundred mile an hour self.” Leila giggles, bringing us back to the conversation about the house and a quick sale now she has my full attention, she pops another grape into her mouth. I beam as I think of him. I wouldn’t change him anymore; not even that part of him now I know where it stems from. Jake is always going to be pushy, bossy, and sometimes domineering but I’m sure I have traits that are equally bad and I’m learning how to counteract him in my own way. I love him regardless and sometimes I even love those things about him.