Read Online At Any Price (Gaming The System) by Brenna Aubrey - Free Book Online

believe I’m required to supply that answer, but out of the goodness of my heart I will say that Heath is the one who chose you, not me. I’m changing Heath’s decision, not mine. I’m still going through with this. Just with a different person.”
    His expression remained completely neutral but there was a speculative look in his eyes. “Because of our conversation last Thursday?”
    I blinked. “No. I wasn’t terribly impressed by that conversation, but that’s not the reason.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Don’t I deserve to know why, then?”
    I shifted my weight from one leg to the other and looked down. “Because of who you are.”
    He nodded as if expecting that answer. “Yes, I wondered when that would come up. I was surprised there was no discussion of it at the meeting and didn’t surmise that Bowman hadn’t told you until after it was over. It wasn’t by my choice that you didn’t know.”
    I cleared my throat, suddenly uncomfortable. “Heath Bowman is my closest friend. I don’t believe he meant any harm. He just thinks of this gaming thing as something that you and I have in common. But it’s a conflict of interest.”
    He nodded but didn’t say anything and for a long moment there was silence. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten yet.
    He smiled. “Can we grab something to eat? I’m feeling pretty hungry myself.”
    We walked to the sandwich shop at the end of the street. It was a little diner with tables on the front patio under a slatted wooden cover. On a breezy spring day in early May, it was the perfect place to sit. Drake and I ordered our sandwiches and sat while waiting for them to be brought out.
    My heart was doing its weird offbeat fibrillation again and when I swallowed, there was a cold excitement in my throat. Christ…just from sitting at a table with him? This guy was pure danger to my senses. What was it about him that set me on edge like this?
    I cleared my throat and began. “I don’t think you’re aware of this, but my blog is my livelihood.”
    “I’m aware of your blog, Emilia. I have been for quite some time.”
    This caused me to sit back against the chair. The cold of the metal back seeped through my T-shirt. “Is that so?”
    He smiled. “Why does that surprise you? Considering the industry I’m in and yours is one of the best blogs out there reviewing gaming material.”
    I glanced at him skeptically. “Thank you for the compliment, but that’s just not true. GameShopper. GeekWorld. All of those other multiauthor platforms far outproduce me in content and hits.”
    “But they reference you often enough.”
    I shook my head. “I can’t wrap my head around the idea that you even read the blogs.”
    He laughed. “I’m a normal person, just like everyone else.”
    “But you’re busy CEOing and designing and stuff.”
    “I was an architect on the game once and take an active interest in my product. I’m always looking for ways to make it better. What’s been on my mind a lot lately is appealing to a certain demographic that we seem to have trouble with.”
    I knew how he’d answer before I asked the question, but I had to ask it anyway. “What demographic?”
    “Female, sixteen to twenty-four.”
    It was my turn to crack that sarcastic smile. “Ah, I get it. So I’m research for you, am I?”
    He laughed. “No, but your blog is.”
    I nodded. “It’s comforting to know that all my snarking is being noticed by those who count. Maybe someday you might take a comment or two of mine to heart.”
    His tilted his head, studying me. “I think you have a lot of valuable insights to provide to the gaming community from a young woman’s point of view. We need more female gamers speaking out about what they want.”
    “Great. So then you understand why I’m stopping this.”
    He shook his head. “It’s an unfounded worry.”
    “But if I’m reviewing your game and you and I are—how could you not see that as a