The Intern, Book 1 (Alpha Billionaire Romance Series) (3 page)

“How long have you lived
here?” I asked.

“I’ve owned this place for
around four years,” he replied. “I’d really like to spend more time
here, but work takes me away a lot.”

“Mrs. Samuels said you
were about to leave for a couple of weeks.”

He nodded his head before
enjoying another sip of wine then putting his glass
down.

“I have meetings set up
with clients and will be visiting some of our other offices. That’s
why I wanted to meet you first, especially when I saw the photo you
sent. So, what course are you taking at college.”

His comment about wanting
to meet me when he saw my picture flashed through my mind, but I
didn’t really get the chance to think about what it meant as I
concentrated on speaking.

“Business studies,” I
answered. “It’s a four year course and I’m just about at the end of
my third.”

“And how are you getting
on with the work?”

“Fine,” I replied. “I’ve
maintained a position in the top five percent of my class and I’m
not planning on that changing. We’ve done plenty of case studies
this year and Reed Commerce is one of them, so I know a little
about the company. It’s one I would definitely like to work
for.”

“You sound impressed,” he
said and laughed.

“It’s an amazing story the
way you’ve built it up to be one of the most profitable and
successful media companies around.”

“Hard work,” Conrad said.
“And some good fortune as well, I have to admit, to be in the right
place at the right time to pick up influential clients.”

“I think the hard work has
been more of a factor,” I told him.

“I expect it from all my
employees,” he replied.

“You’ll definitely get it
from me.”

“Yes,” he said as he
stared at me and paused before going on. “I do believe I would get
what I want from you.”

His intense gaze was
unnerving and as I held it my pulse quickened. The implications of
his comment seemed to be about more than just work, but I shrugged
it off as a silly idea. That a wealthy, successful businessman
would be interested in a twenty year old chubby college girl seemed
absurd. Conrad Reed could probably have his pick of the most
beautiful women around, but it didn’t stop me wondering just what
was going through his mind as we stared at each other. The moment
was broken by the sound of another voice.

“There’s a call for you
Mr. Reed.”

I looked to see the man
that met me on my arrival standing just inside the French
doors.

“Excuse me,” Conrad
said.

He got up to walk inside
and I picked up the wine to take a drink as I stared out over the
grounds. I certainly wasn’t being interviewed in the way I
expected, but I already knew that I really wanted to work for Reed
Commerce or, more to the point, for Conrad Reed. It was crazy to
think that anything might happen between us, but I couldn’t stop
that very thought popping in my head.

His comments about wanting
to meet me when he saw my picture and that I would give him what he
wanted were enticing, but there was no way of knowing if he was
talking solely about work…, or something on a more personal basis.
I remembered my recent break up and swearing off men to concentrate
on my studies. I knew that I would go back on that when it came to
Conrad Reed. He certainly enjoyed looking at my legs as I was
trying to pull the hem of my dress down and the other glances I
noticed him casting in my direction seemed to show that he liked
what he was looking at.

“I’m afraid business has
intruded,” he said with a rueful smile when he returned. “I have
some urgent work that needs to be completed for a client
tonight.”

“Oh…,” I let out and my
disappointment welled up that the evening was being cut short. It
disappeared quickly when he went on speaking.

“Perhaps we could meet
tomorrow,” Conrad said.

“Sure,” I said a bit too
eagerly and saw the smile on his face. It didn’t stop me going on.
“I could come here tomorrow.”

He shook his
head.

“I have a dinner meeting
with a client in the Lindsay Hotel,” he said. “Do you know
it?”

“No,” I said. “But I can
find it.”

“Great,” he said. “The
meeting should be over by nine, so if you wait for me in the lobby
bar we can carry on with your interview.”

“Sure, I’ll be there,” I
said as I got to my feet.

We walked inside and the
tingle of anticipation was there when we shook hands then parted
company. The sense that I was about to embark on a new adventure
was in my head when I followed the elderly man to the front
door.

“The gate is unlocked,” he
told me when I walked out. “Please ensure it is closed properly
when you leave.”

“I will,” I said and
walked down the driveway to leave.

Chapter 4

Getting to sleep that
evening wasn’t easy, with images of Conrad Reed constantly playing
on my mind. I tried to drive away the idea that he was interested
in me, but it clung on nevertheless and was still there when I
finished my classes the following day. Time dragged as I tried to
fill in the hours until nine. There was no doubt in my mind what I
was going to wear and I heard Bella’s comment when I put the black
dress on.

“Another interview?” she
asked.

“Same one,” I told her.
“It got cut short last night and I need to go again
tonight.”

“Are you sure the guy
didn’t just like you in that dress and wanted to see more,” Bella
teased.

I made a face at her as I
walked to the bathroom, but was hoping she’d hit on a truth.
Getting the brush out of the cabinet, I ran it through my hair and
on this occasion decided to put on some makeup. It didn’t go
unnoticed and Bella’s cheeky whistle was loud.

“Looking even sexier
tonight,” she said. “Are you sure this isn’t a date.”

“Shut up,” I scolded her
good naturedly. “I’ll see you later.”

Walking out of the dorm
building, I made my way in the direction of the bus stop to catch a
ride. My gaze remained on the passing cityscape during the journey
to try and keep my mind off the upcoming meeting, but the nearer I
got to the hotel the more my nerves began to jangle. It was fifteen
minutes before nine when I walked through the door and looked
around. Arriving early was deliberate on my part to get myself
settled and ready, but I wasn’t given the chance to do that. I saw
Conrad sitting on a stool at the long serving counter the second I
walked in the lobby bar.

He seemed to sense my
approach and turned before I got to him. My heart flipped when he
smiled and I knew I was in trouble. I really did want to get the
internship to give me a chance to work for Reed Commerce, but I
wanted to get to know Conrad Reed even more. The way his gaze
roamed over my ample figure revealed that he might have more in
mind for me than just an internship.

“I thought your meeting
wasn’t over until nine,” I said when I got to him.

“I got my business
finished,” he said. “What would you like to drink?”

“Just a glass of wine
please,” I answered.

He motioned to the stool
next to him and I got up on it as he ordered the drinks. I made no
attempt to ease the hem of my dress down when it hitched up and
there was no mistaking the appreciative look that Conrad threw at
my legs. It was him that started the conversation when the drinks
were served.

“So…, what’s your
background?”

“My parents own a farm,” I
answered. “I grew up helping them out on that and went to the local
school.”

“Will you return there
after college?” Conrad asked.

I smiled as I shook my
head.

“My older brother is more
the farmer than me,” I replied. “He’ll likely take the place over
when my parents give it up. My plan was always to go to college and
my results were good enough at school to let me do that. I’ll try
to get a job in the city when I finish my studies. I like visiting
my family on the farm, but have no ambition to work
there.”

“You sound like you have
it planned out,” Conrad said with a smile.

“I have ideas of the way
I’d like to go,” I replied. “Whether they work out is another thing
altogether.”

“Not that I mean to get
personal,” he went on. “But do they include a
boyfriend?”

The question caught me
slightly off guard and I was quiet for a second before
answering.

“Not really,” I told him.
“I just had a bad breakup with someone and have no plans to get
involved, so I won’t let men interfere with work.”

“He must be a fool,”
Conrad went on. “To let you go I mean.”

“Yeah, well tell him
that,” I replied. “He decided that cheating with a thinner girl was
a good idea.”

“He’s definitely a massive
fool then,” Conrad said. “You have a gorgeous figure.”

The breath stuck in my
throat as I glanced at him. The comment was a definite sign that
his preference was for bigger girls.

“Thanks,” I said. “I’m not
sure my ex-boyfriend shared your opinion.”

“It’s his loss,” he
replied. “I wouldn’t have let you go.”

There was a rising tension
between us that I couldn’t ignore. Our eyes met and there was no
stopping my heartbeat racing faster. The question came out before I
could stop it.

“Do you like bigger
girls?”

“Let’s just say that their
curves are far nicer than skinny model-type girls,” he
replied.

Another question popped in
my head and I hesitated to ask it. I knew that I would be putting
myself in trouble if I did, but in the end the lure of knowing the
answer was too much to resist.

“Is that why you invited
me to the hotel tonight?”

“Do I have to answer that
honestly?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes,” I
replied.

“Then…, yes, it was part
of the reason I asked you here,” he admitted. “I liked the photo
you sent to Mrs. Samuels and was certainly impressed when you
turned up at my home last night.”

“Impressed with what?” I
asked.

“You seemed switched on
and bright…, and you really do have a gorgeous figure.”

The compliment brought a
warmth to my face as my cheeks flushed red, but it was nice to hear
and I wanted more. I was with a man that liked me for what I was
and I wanted that in my life. The thought came in my head that it
might just be a line, but I brushed it aside quickly. I’d spent the
evening before dreaming about what it would be like to be with
Conrad Reed and was getting the distinct impression that the
opportunity to find out was there if I wanted it.

“Are you staying here
tonight?” I asked.

“Yes, I have a room for
the night,” Conrad answered. “We could have a drink up there if you
want?”

It was the moment of truth
and I needed to make up my mind. I was sure he booked a room with
the intention of inviting me up to it, but the thought of that just
excited me. It turned out that making a decision wasn’t difficult
for me to do and I hesitated for no more than a brief second before
answering.

“Sure,” I said in a hushed
voice. “I’d like that.”

We left our half finished
drinks on the bar and got up straight away. I couldn’t stop
trembling when we walked out of the bar and stepped across to the
elevators. We waited in silence and my nerves spiked when the doors
of the one that arrived opened to show it was empty. I held my
breath as we walked in and the tension rose as the door
closed.

Chapter 5

The soft touch of a hand
brushing my hair behind my ear made me look up. I was wide eyed and
felt almost innocent in the presence of such a confident, older
man. The moment stretched out as our eyes met and I shuddered as a
gentle kiss pressed on my lips. It seemed that Conrad Reed wasn’t
about to waste any time in going after what he wanted and I was
like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

“You really are gorgeous,”
he said.

It was me that tucked my
hair nervously behind my ear now. His hand caressed on my cheek,
but the ping of the elevator made him take it away. I could still
almost feel his touch on my skin and knew that when I walked
through the door of his room I was going to give him whatever he
wanted. If it helped get me an internship then so be it, but that
wasn’t why I was doing it.

The doors of the elevator
opened to an empty hallway and we stepped out to it. Conrad led the
way along to a door and used a keycard to open it. I walked inside
to the largest hotel room I’d ever seen in my life. It was more
like a small apartment and I looked around with an amazed
expression on my face. It disappeared in an instant when I heard
the sound of the door closing.

I turned to see I was
being watched and I instinctively backed away as Conrad approached.
His gaze roamed over my large figure and it was all too obvious now
that it was something he wanted. The flicker of excitement and
trepidation lit up in my mind and I let out a soft gasp when I was
stopped from going any further by a wall behind me.