The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 49

I spend the meeting the next day wearing Jake’s sunglasses and nursing a hangover. My eyes are puffy and sore and my head’s banging.

He put me to bed last night and left me alone until our first meeting this morning; he didn’t even push at me to eat breakfast or jog with him for a change. I know he’s walking on eggshells waiting to see how I am. He’s giving me distance, or maybe he’s just looking at me and thinking I’m probably mentally broken and could fall apart any day now so he should handle with care.

I’m in cool and grumpy mode and I’m really excelling at it. Covering my inner turmoil and regrets; so far, I think I’ve snapped at every person I’ve met in triplicate and Jake’s met my PMS face with a vengeance. He’s said nothing about it, no funny comments or sarcastic telling off’s, just frowned at me. He’s tugged my hand out of my hair repeatedly, which is down because I couldn’t bear to stand doing it this morning and I’ve finally decided it’s going to get cut short. So, done with all the fussing and styling it.

He’s being unusually patient and steady, despite the endless raised eyebrows and cool glares. I think he’s allowing me to behave badly because he feels responsible for getting me drunk and urging some shocking truths from me. Guilty that I’m suffering a headache at his request and alcohol fueling.

I’m angry at him today, angry at everyone. I’m not sure if it’s because I feel rough or that I had some sort of emotional breakdown which dredged it all up to the surface for me. Either way, a bear with a sore head hasn’t anything on my mood and the day is dragging endlessly.

The flight back to New York isn’t as bad, I sleep a lot and feel better for it. I sit in one of the rear seats, away from Jake, amazed that for the first time in my life I manage to pass out on a flight. I guess a hangover really is a cure for fear of flying.

Maybe, I’m finally learning to trust his pilot. I have my own space to just get a grip on myself. I thought things would be awkward with him after I let all that horrendous crap slip out in the car, but he seems the same; if anything, he seems more normal than normal. Effortlessly Jake.

Finally, I wake and move to a seat beside him. Sliding in easily and meeting his charming smile with my own. Within moments I’m staring out onto the clouds in the beautiful blue sky while Jake has papers in front of him with his cell on top.

“Emma, for the love of god.” I flit back up confused and frown as he tugs my fingers out of my hair. I roll my eyes, both at him and myself. I’ve literally given up trying to counteract this annoying habit when it surfaces, half the time I am oblivious to it.

“I swear, I’m going to insist on tying that back up.” He seems narky now. Whatever has transpired while I slept has him in a grumpy mood.

“So, first you get on at me to wear it down all the time, and now you want it tied back up?” I pout, a little annoyed at his new mood.

“I didn’t think you would pull and twirl your hair like a child every time you got stressed.” He tenses his shoulder and moves in his seat a little. He looks agitated, hands raking over the paper he’s dropped in his lap. A quick glance shows it’s a contract that has been causing problems lately.

“Maybe it’s endearing to your clients … I’m not stressed.” I lie. Lately my head never stops obsessing over how Sophie is getting on. Whether my mother is home yet, and whether Ray has crawled back into a dark hole after Jake’s beating. Stressed would be an understatement and probably the cause of the hair twirling. He gives me a strange look and frowns.

“I don’t care if my PA is endearing to my clients, I just want her to do the job I ask of her,” he sighs; he’s on edge too, he seems distracted. Moody Carrero on full show.

“Which I do … Hair twisting and all. Grumpy!” I huff too and he looks at me for a moment, a brief flicker across his face as he gives up this pointless bickering. We’re both so touchy today it seems. No idea where all this came from. Possibly his delayed hangover if he even got one.