Chapter 175

Emerging twenty minutes later, the stains replaced with a sheer gloss instead, I make my way to the huge, opulent dining room and slide in beside him at the table amid the arrival of some of the others. He’s using his phone and completely ignores me. I bristle, knowing this isn’t a normal Jake move but I’m not going to let it get to me, I’m going to act like I don’t care at all and just sit down. I stop myself from looking at him, even though it’s almost impulsive to eye up how gorgeous he always looks.

As soon as everyone is seated, he puts his phone away, leans back on his chair and places an arm across the back of mine while throwing me a triumphant look. I note that his father watches us from a distance at the head of the huge dark wood table and physically still. I have managed to avoid him until now, but dinner will be interesting. I get the distinct impression Giovanni is not all that enamored with his son hooking up with an employee from his own office. Especially a nobody with no fortune and a troubled past.

“You can still back out now, bambino, and we can just enjoy dinner and a lot of fun after.” Jake nudges me quietly, commanding my attention, his eyes steady on my face. He drops his gaze to my mouth and smirks some more at the lack of red lipstick. It only ignites that inner stubbornness.

“Why would I? You’re obviously struggling, Jake, I’m sure if it’s too hard you can just admit defeat.” I smile salaciously and turn my attention to my champagne glass, running my finger around the rim teasingly. He watches me with interest for a moment then gets up with a smile.

“I told Cara I would sit beside her tonight.” He smirks cruelly at me then saunters off to the seat beside the girl, receiving an award-winning smile from her. I almost inwardly curl up and tremble. Nausea and anxiety equally consuming my stomach and a tight gut-wrenching throb. Jealousy punching its way into my gut.

What is he doing? Surely Jake would not do this to me for the sake of a stupid challenge?

Arrick appears in the doorway and immediately sits next to me, greeting me with a warm hello and no sense of surprise at all. I try to smile but it doesn’t come naturally.

“Don’t worry about Cara.” He leans into me conspiringly. “She wouldn’t know what to do with someone like Jake and he only has eyes for you, mia cara.” He nudges me with his shoulder and this time I smile genuinely, at his niceness and at the family trait of mixing English and Italian. Something they all seem to do.

“You’re not worried if your girlfriend tries to run off with your brother?” I pout keeping my eyes away from Jake who’s engrossed in his deep conversation with a devoted fan. Cara is almost salivating over him.

Slut!

“Nah, Jake would never do that to me or you, besides Cara isn’t my girlfriend, she’s just a passing interest.” He studies my shocked face. “I’m more like my brother than you realize and, yes, he told me you two have some sort of bet going … Abstaining from sex until one of you breaks.” He winks and picks up his glass. “I suggest you play him at his own game, Jake hates to lose but he does love the thrill of the challenge.”

“What do you mean?” I glance over, seeing Jake effortlessly sprawled in his seat commanding not only Cara’s attention but the quiet brunette that came with his other cousin too, both fluttering lashes and smiling at him coquettishly. He’s in full flirt mode, demanding adoration effortlessly.

For god’s sakes!

“You’ve a table of virile young men to charm, and a face pretty enough to do it.” He pats my hand and sits back as his starter is laid before him. I lean back as my plate of asparagus spears, boiled egg, and hollandaise sauce piled delicately on top is placed before me by one of the uniformed maids. I smile warmly at her and get one in return, catching Jake from the corner of my eye and seeing him thanking the girl who gave him his food. Stupidly, I smile internally and push it back down.

“I’m not, Jake. Commanding the attention of men isn’t my style.” I turn back to my dinner mate. Arrick is unaware that despite how I am with Jake, most men still make me feel uncomfortable. Arrick seems to be an exception and sitting with him now, I couldn’t feel more at ease. I guess it’s because he is enough like Jake to feel relaxed around, something about him, much like his brother, makes you feel safe.

“You know Jake better than most, Emma … You know how to push his buttons and throw him off his game. Use what you know. It’s obvious that you have an influence over him that no one can even come close to.” He smiles and tucks into his food while I sit and look at the plate, pondering his words. Arrick is a wise one, he has that quick Carrero mind and that flawless confidence. He is one to watch in coming years as he comes into his own and manhood. Jake may have a competitor within the family business with this one.

It's true though; I knew Jake well enough to know a few things about him. One, that he can get insanely jealous and it’s never a good route to take. I have already proven that more than once. Two, he’s better than most people at games, seems to get a kick out of winning and can read people and situations with deathly speed. Three, when it comes to me, he always takes care of me obsessively, that even when he’s mad, he still can’t help but be protective. I glance at him for a second, catching his eye as he eats and look away. A small plan formulating in my head.

This has gone beyond a battle of sex, this has become a game of the upper hand, and if I have to play a low card like he’s done with his ‘sexpertize’ already, then I will. My strong point isn’t sex, it’s Jake’s inability to see me hurt or cry. His never-ending need to fix things for me. It’s Jake’s love for me that is his ultimate weakness. I soar with internal smugness at figuring this out, purring to myself confidently. I can’t beat him at sex with my inexperience, but I can bend him with emotions. My emotions. Tucking into my food slowly I remain impassive and stare at my plate as I mull it over.

I know how to play this. PA Emma’s cool emotionless outer shell always drove him crazy.

I stay quiet through dinner, never looking at him, even though I can hear him flirting and trying his hardest to affect me, but I don’t react. I don’t want him to see that it’s bothering me a lot because it brings him amusement to see my fiery green-eyed reaction, but I want him to feel it, feeling my emotions hits him differently. It brings out that need to fix it. So, my plan to appear somber and un-chatty is put into place. Jake will agonize over what I’m thinking, I know him well enough to know that my obvious closed mood will worry him.

It comes easily the longer it carries on and I start to feel tearful at his over-interest in the women around him, it’s not hard to picture him as Casanova Carrero when I can hear it. Jealousy growing inside of me. With upset comes the ability to remain cool and devoid of any outward emotion at all. At first, he tries to up his game when I seem quiet but as the dinner wades on, I can feel his change in mood. The listless way he fidgets with his glass and cutlery, the small glances at me. He’s tapping his fingers on the table and I listen to the almost uninterested tone in his voice as his dinner mates lose all interest to him. He’s pre-occupied. So in tune with me that my mood is seriously affecting him. I wonder if he’s thinking of calling it quits and have to quell the surge of smugness from affecting my expression.

I occasionally converse with Arrick on my right and avoid all looks to my left, luckily the seat next to me is filled with a rather drunk elderly man who sits the entire night playing with his phone, a hand of black jack on some online gambling site. He’s some uncle or relative that never seems to converse with anyone but is making a great barrier from Giovanni. I have a feeling he may be Jake’s uncle, there is a slight resemblance to Giovanni. His body is blocking me from his view and letting me get through dinner without his interest swaying my way. Jake has spoken to him only in Italian and there seems to be a constant coolness between them. There are enough family between my seat and his, further up the table, that there is no need to converse with him at all. The whole table has been noisy throughout the meal, people throwing conversation at all angles and I only have to sit and listen.

I sense Jake’s eyes on me several times, but I resist all urges to even catch it. Twirling my hair, chewing my lip. I can’t tell if it’s getting to him or not in the way I want it to, unable to read anything from the corner of my eye. As dessert is handed out, I become completely silent, gazing at his mother as she tells a story or listening quietly to those around me and never really engaging. I hope no one else is as attuned to me as him or else they all might think I’m the most ignorant dinner guest of all time. I hope they just assume I am reserved and listening.