Taken by You (Taken by You Book One) Read Online Free Page B

you’d like,” he said.
    “ It’s a little bright, but I’m okay,” I said.
    “ Nonsense,” he said, picking up a remote.
    He clicked a button and the clear, streak-free windows dimmed, and a black film seemed to appear out of nowhere. The sun, while still there, was now a little less bright.
    “ How’s that? Better?” he asked.
    “ Yes, thank you,” I replied graciously.
    Blake walked over in front of his desk, right in front of me, and sat on the edge, his arms crossed, and looked down at me. I looked up at him, the perspiration along my hairline feeling more and more pronounced. I could swear the heat was on and blasting in the room.
    “ You have really beautiful eyes, you know that?” he asked.
    “ Oh, thank you,” I replied, nodding and smiling.
    “ You know, there are a lot of other people who applied for this internship,” he said, as he walked back around behind his desk.
    “ Sharon told me there were a few. It’s a great opportunity,” I said.
    “ What we’re looking for, though, is something that not a lot of people who have applied can do. It’s quite disappointing, actually,” he said, turning a pen on his desk straight.
    “ I’m not sure Sharon mentioned anything about that. What is it you’re looking for, exactly?” I asked.
    “ Well, I’m looking for somebody who can take orders. Somebody who will be directly under me and only answer to me and nobody else. I need somebody who will want to explore and not be intimidated by things that aren’t ordinary or mundane,” Blake said.
    “ Well, I can assure you that I’m willing to do anything it takes to get this internship. I know that probably sounds a little desperate, but I really love coding and I want to make a change with my work,” I said.
    “ That’s interesting,” Blake said.
    “ Well, I think most people should want to make a change with the work they do,” I said.
    “ No, not that, the other thing. The fact that you’re willing to do anything it takes to get this internship,” Blake said.
    “ Oh, yeah,” I said, laughing a little.
    “ I like that enthusiasm and necessity to do well. Tell me, Penelope, are you a woman who can take orders?” Blake asked.
    “ Yes, I’d say so. It doesn’t bother me,” I said.
    “ So, if I told you to do something, you’d do it? No questions asked?” Blake asked.
    “ Well,” I said, as my heart started racing faster. “Yeah, you’d be my boss.”
    He looked at me once again as I curled my toes inside my shoes and tried to keep my breathing steady. I knew he was just talking about work, why wouldn’t he be, but I had to admit that sitting in front of a man as powerful, and let’s face it, as attractive as him, was a tad bit intimidating. It was no wonder he was the CEO of this company and that it was doing so well. He was like a shark.
    “ Do you know what’s customary in the corporate world when they find a candidate they feel is special and could potentially make a great addition to the team?” Blake asked.
    “ No, I’m afraid I don’t,” I said.
    “ They’re taken out to a meal. It’s a great chance to get to know somebody on a deeper level. You get to see them outside of a stuffy office where they’re a little more relaxed. I think you have what it takes, so with all that said, I would like to invite you out to discuss this further. Usually somebody like Sharon would do this, but I feel it is important to take you personally,” Blake said.
    “ Yeah, that sounds nice. I could meet you somewhere for lunch or something?” I asked.
    “ I was thinking of something a little more intimate. Possibly dinner? Tonight?” Blake asked.
    Was this really happening? Did the CEO of RandomMeetX, a billionaire, ask me , Penelope Wells, to dinner? No, Penny, get your head in the game. It was just a business dinner to discuss employment at a job I really, really needed. He might be a little seductive, but this was all professional.
    “ That sounds fine. I don’t have