Jake headed up on deck looking for Emma half an hour later, changed into a black fitted shirt and
jeans, his usual ready to party look. With shades on and a grim expression on his face and a mood to
match. He saw her lounging with Leila and called her over, pushing down the ache inside at the sight of
her.
“Emma, I need you a second.” His tone was emotionless and borderline pissed, guilt trying to push into
his mood, but he stuffed it back down knowing he had to stay in this frame of mind to do this. He
gestured her to follow him as he turned and headed away from prying eyes, she followed obediently,
and he tried to ignore every part of his heart trying to soften at her mere presence.
No more of this wimpy shit, Carrero.
They walked down to the lower floor of the boat, he could feel Emma behind him, tense, quiet and
uncertain, but he had to do this for his own sanity. He had to maintain this anger and mood and leave.
Leave her and this stupid infatuation behind so he could go back to just working with her.
“I’m leaving for a couple of days; I’ve left you a credit card in your room in case you want to go out,
there’s a car on shore that will take you anywhere you want to go.” His voice was flat, devoid of
emotion and trying so hard to avoid looking at those wounded baby blues that could unravel him in
seconds. From the corner of his eye he saw her head snap up and eyes search his face, he got a
punch in the gut feeling of regret, but he clenched his fists in defiance and gritted his teeth against it.
“Where are you going? We cleared your schedule for two weeks, so you wouldn’t need to go
anywhere.” She sounded shocked, her voice slightly higher and faster than normal. He could feel the
tension and fear coming from her that he was leaving her alone with these people, but he knew Leila
would take care of her and Hunter was back tonight and had sworn with his life to watch over her. To
make sure no one else tried anything, and that she had a relaxing end to the trip. He felt like an
asshole to be leaving her though, he had promised he would take care of her, and he was being a
dickhead by not doing that. She had to know this was the best for both of them though.
“Change of plan … try to relax and have fun, if you can,” he said it angrily, at himself, not her. She was
looking at him more and more like she was about to cry, and he just felt like punching himself in the
face. Anger ripping through him at a hundred miles an hour and worsening his mood.
I’m sorry, bambino.
“Do you need me to come?” she replied coolly in her PA tone. It wasn’t what he wanted, but it made
this easier on him, closing her out. Taking the feeling out of the conversation and it just reminded him of
the fact that this would always be her. She would never love him.
“No, I don’t,” he replied coldly, fully resigned that what he was doing was right.
“Jake, you pay me to be at your beck and call and go with you at a moment’s notice,” she retorted
haughtily, mannerisms back and the tight lift of that defiant chin. He took a moment to look at that face
as a reminder that he would never cross this line again. Every part of him hurting to the point he just felt
desolation again.
“I don’t pay you to watch me fuck other women, Emma,” he snarled at her nastily, frustration making
him react. Regretting it as soon as it was out of his mouth but not willing to apologize over this and
show any weakness. If he wanted professionalism back, then he had to make her hate him a little bit,
even if it killed him.
Emma looked shocked and a little hurt and the urge to take it all back hit him harder, only giving him
more resolve to be harsher to kill this friendship the coldest way and be done with it. He looked away
from those endless sea eyes that ripped his heart from his chest and hardened his face.
“I’m redefining the boundaries of our relationship—uncrossing the line. That’s what you called it, right?”
He tossed back casually, avoiding looking at that beautiful face, he couldn’t keep this up with her so
close.
Don’t hate me, miele, just understand this is for the best.
“You think going off to screw someone will uncross that line?” Her words sounded pained, quiet and for
a moment Jake doubted all of it. Doubted her feelings and doubted his whole stupid plan. The urge to
tell her he didn’t mean any of it, to turn and wrap his arms around her and beg forgiveness for being a
prick was strong. He would call Brianne in a second and cancel if he thought for one moment Emma
would love him back. He turned and saw only cool PA facing him, hands clasped at her waist and a
raised brow that contradicted everything.
“It’s a start.” He turned away in disappointment, heart hitting the floor once again as he led her into his
room and pulled a case from the cupboard. He had packed a flight bag already and needed only a few
clothes.
“Got over your little break, I see.” She sounded cold, reminding him of admitting to a lack of sex at that
charity dance.
“I think that’s probably the reason for the latest tension; I need to go let off steam.” He smirked icily,
glad to have an excuse to cool things between them if he was being honest. He couldn’t, in all honesty,
keep doing this to himself anymore. His body wasn’t built for long periods of celibacy, and his shitty
moods and fuzzy head might actually improve. She was watching him with a cool expression, poised
and motionless as though observing a naughty child carrying out a punishment, that whole school Miss
thing going on. He tried not to look at her, he didn’t want to remember her this way anymore. Soft hair
and pretty dresses, tanned and beautiful. He would see her back at work, back in tight tailoring and her
no-nonsense mask on and take it from there.
“Enjoy yourself.” She turned on her heel, a slightly pinched expression that only riled him more, but
didn’t leave.
“Don’t miss me while I’m gone, tesoro mio.” Jake smiled in full Casanova charm, he all but winked at
her. Laying it on thick. “I’m sure you’ll find something exciting to do.” He was back to focusing on
packing, but his voice was flat and emotionless, the cruel and harsh words had been deliberate. He
was severing more than unrequited love, he was severing friendship and placing Emma back on the
employee list with everyone else at Carrero Corp. He was done.
“When shall I expect you back, Mr. Carrero?” She seemed to get with the program, returning to her
business-like manner and tone. His insides bristling with the change in her but accepting what he had
chosen finally. This was the future for Jake and Emma. He should never have ventured down this path
to feelings and emotions.
“When I’m done … hard to say … it’s been a while,” he sneered without looking up. Twisting the knife
to make sure that he had sealed the fate of their relationship. In turn, he was twisting it in his own chest
and repulsed at how he was treating her, how he was being with her. If any other guy had dared be this
way to her, he would have broken their neck.
He could see Emma smile his way in her fake office face, the one she used to greet business
acquaintances and was distracted by his phone vibrating in his pocket. Swiping it out he saw Brianne’s
name on the screen and hesitated.
Old Jake had openly dated in front of Emma, had openly had women in the same hotel suites, and if he
wanted to go back to that, then he had to ignore how sick to his stomach answering this call in front of
her was making him feel and get back to being that guy. He hesitated as his conscience tried to get the
better of him, quickly making a decision that he hated. He swiped it and pressed the screen.
“Hi,” he answered without looking her way, ignoring the nerves ripping through him or the way his hand
started trembling with the effort. He lacked his cocky confidence in answering because right now he felt
anything but.
“Hi, baby, it’s me again. Just checking if you had left yet as I might meet you at the airport instead.”
Brianne was trying for sexy and soft and only irritated him, Emma’s eyes were boring into him and
making him feel about a foot tall. He cursed her internally and wished he had ignored the phone.
“I’ll be leaving soon.” Jake didn’t want to have a conversation right now, and he hoped his tone
conveyed that to Brianne.
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