The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 44

The day is tiring, and my hair has endlessly stuck to my face in this humidity. Vegas is hot and dusty and I’m still grumpy and tired. We flew out here right after Sophie was taken away by the care worker and Jake’s mother, Sylvana Carrero. The beautiful, kind goddess, who looks so alarmingly like her son, but in a very feminine way. I love her in every way; anytime I meet her, she has this easy charm and stunning green eyes and the ability to put you at ease, much like he does.

I fought tears when hugging Sophie goodbye; our time together so short, yet she has come to mean so much to me. Jake bought her a new cell and pre-set both of our numbers and emails into it as a parting gift, that way we can always stay in touch and she knows we will be there if she needs us. We are to be her eternal guardians in life, and I know that from this day on, I will always be in Sophie’s story. We have a bond like no other. We understand each other.

“Want to try the casinos, tiny?” his voice comes up behind me as I empty out my suitcase onto my bed, looking for a change of clothes, anything to relieve the stickiness of my suit. We arrived in such a rush that neither of us have unpacked yet, normally housekeeping do such things in our absence but this time they haven’t. I hate incompetence in one’s job.

“I’m still tired, I think I’ll have a bubble bath and go to bed.” I sigh.

“First time in Vegas, and you want to go to bed? Bambino, No! You gotta live a little.” He sounds frustrated with me; it’s been a hell of a long week by normal standards and I’ve been free falling for days. I can’t keep up the pace like he can. Jake has no sense of exhaustion—Ever!

“Would you rather I stay out late with you, then pout for the entire morning like I did on the plane?” I was probably the most irritated, grumpy person I have ever been on that flight, reeling with emotions about Sophie, my mother, Ray Vanquis. Trying to ignore memories of kissing my boss and going pie-eyed over him on that brief trip. Thankfully, I seem to have normalized a little in his presence again. The kiss not such a bright burning memory as it has been and allowing me to detach a little from it.

“I’m sure I can have the hotel bring me a bag for your head, so I don’t have to see it.” He grins, raising a cheeky eyebrow. Everyone back to normal.

“Nice … Charming. As understanding as always Jacob!” I pout again, sighing.

“Less of the Jacob or I’ll put you over my knee. Come out with me.” He’s in boyish pleading mode now. Tugging at my hair in a bid to annoy me into a yes.

Bored, Jake, darling?

I don’t know where he gets his boundless energy; it’s after nine at night and we’ve had a day of grueling appointments, boring meetings, a late business dinner, and now he wants to go play. Has he no clue of how much of an emotional roller coaster I have been on lately.

“Don’t you have any Vegas hotties lined up yet?” I sass him demurely; of the vast number of women he has tucked at every port, I often wonder in awe that he manages to find half of them with extraordinarily little effort. I guess being drop dead gorgeous, built like an underwear model, and rich, has its own perks.

My own suggestion for him to find a date grates on my nerves, rattling me inside. A little jealousy raising its head and I bite it back down. I have no idea why I even suggested it.

“I don’t want a Vegas hottie tonight. I want my pouty PA to let her hair down and come kick back with me.” He moves in closer, so his warmth radiates along the back of my neck and it makes my skin tingle. His familiar aftershave surrounding me in a very disturbing way.

“I was under the impression I already did.” I ruffle my loose hair to make the point; lately I’ve been too tired to tie it up at all. Its length has been annoying me too and I keep thinking I may get it cut shorter, maybe shoulder length.