The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 81

“She called … she needs to speak to you.” I cover, hiding the tremor in my voice. He looks both instantly annoyed and something else… wary.

“When?” The dark look is back, I hope that means he’s not happy about her call and not that I forgot to tell him. Not that I could be blamed. I was unconscious after all.

“Before I … dramatically met the floor.” I try a small smile, but he doesn’t look pleased, he’s glowering, at me.

No … Too soon?

I think he’s displeased in general. He frowns and picks his cell up from the table, slides it open with one hand. I have a moment of panic, wondering if I exited his text box but he doesn’t react, so I guess I did.

That was close! Stupid, Emma, really stupid.

He’s still holding me, keeping me upright and quickly sits me down in the seat nearby, before he presses his cell screen.

He’s going to call her right now! … Right here, with me sitting beside him?

I squirm, sure I don’t want to witness this at all.

“Marissa … You called?” he doesn’t sound friendly. There’s a long pause as he listens, and I don’t want to be here. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. He may think we’re back to just PA and boss, but my heart says differently. “I told you,” he snarls.

He sounds different. I’ve never heard him in lover mode and he actually sounds annoyed, and in asshole Carrero mode, but hey ho.

“No … Don’t bother. I’ll call you,” he snaps at her.

Well, I’m glad I’ve never met him in lover mode, because he’s being quite pissy with her.

If this is what his dates get, then why the hell do they still date him?

He sighs dramatically, tense as he paces back and forth listening. Like a caged animal who is desperate for freedom.

“Okay, okay … Don’t fucking cry … I’ll call you back when I’m done.”

Now that made me shut up and take note. Confusion all over my face and brain whirring at the attitude. I try to feign ignorance and seem like I’m engrossed in the edge of the table, picking at it. His voice was hushed, but not enough, so maybe he doesn’t know how much I heard. He casts a look at me warily and comes over to help me up when he hangs up on her.

“We’re going … Now.” He’s back in pissed and grumpy mode. Boss Carrero calling the shots. I don’t even react, just allow him to guide me and stay quiet. My head whirling with the little snippet of conversation between Marissa and him. Completely clueless as to how to feel.

***

At the hotel, he dumps me graciously in my room. He ordered me to lay down and there’s a tray of half eaten food by the bed. He has a doctor coming, despite my protests and has left me to stare at the quiet TV to “recuperate”.

He’s being distant and as soon as I was settled, he pulled his cell out and stalked off, closing himself in his own room. I know he’s calling her and despite his manner with her earlier, it still makes my heart constrict painfully. I hate the fact he’s calling her. I don’t know why, but from the moment I met her, I had this weird, gutsy inkling that I really didn’t like her at all. Far more potently than any of his other bimbos and I can’t explain it. It’s some female thing going off inside of me, that makes me hate her more than the others.