第19部分(第1/7 頁)

She　frowned。　〃Howard　called　you？〃

〃Ross　called　me。　I　think　his　offer　is　good。〃

〃Offer？　Ross？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃

It　was　Lee's　turn　to　frown。　〃I'm　talking　about　the　phone　call　I　received

from　Ross　Stephenson　no　more　than　a　half　hour　ago。　He　wants　to　retain

our　services。　What　are　you　talking　about？〃

A　furious　Chloe　leaned　on　Lee's　desk。　〃I　already　refused　him！　I'm

talking　about　the　phone　call　from　Howard　Wolschinski　saying　that　Ross　is

ready　to　revise　the　Rye　Beach　proposal。〃

〃That's　great！〃

〃It's　not！　He　wants　me　to　work　with　him　and　that's　the　last　thing　I　want

to　do！〃

Lee　was　suddenly　very　gentle　and　very　serious。　He　pointed　her　into　a

chair　and　rounded　the　desk　to　make　sure　that　she　sat。　Perching　nearby；

he　said；　〃Okay；　pretty　lady。　Tell　me　about　it。〃

She　felt　utterly　helpless。　〃Ross　is　willing　to　make　the　changes；　but　he

refuses　to　go　by　my　report。　He　wants　me　to　work　with　his　people；　in

person；　in　New　York。〃

〃gather；〃　he　said；　stroking　his　beard；　〃that　you　aren't　bothered　by　New

York；　per　se。〃

〃You　gather　correctly。〃

〃Chloe；　what's　wrong？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃The　man　seems　intelligent　and

honest。　You　shouldn't　have　any　problem。　You　can　be　in　and　out　of　the

city　in　no　time。〃　At　wit's　end；　she　said；　〃He　thinks　he's　in　love　with

me；　that's　the　problem。　If　it　were　only　a　matter　of　business；　I　wouldn't

worry。　But　Ross　says　he　wants　to　marry　me。〃

〃So　what's　the　problem？〃

〃can't　marry　him。〃　She　pleaded　for　his　understanding。　〃And　I'm　not　sure

I　can　take　his　constant　pressure。〃

〃Are　you　afraid　you　might　give　in？〃　He　erased　the　question　with　a　wave。

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