第19部分(第3/7 頁)

l　him　for　the　overage。　If　we　work　less；　we　keep　the

retainer。　It　couldn't　be　better。〃

That　didn't　surprise　Chloe。　Ross　might　be　a　rat；　a　snake；　and　a　fox；　but

he　wasn't　a　thief。

〃The　work　is　right　up　our　alley；〃　Lee　was　saying。　〃The　Hansen

Corporation　is　involved　in　dozens　of　different　projects　at　any　given

time。　There'd　be　variety　and　involvement　in　important　issues…〃

〃You're　right；　Lee；〃　she　cut　in。　〃I　can't　argue。　The　logic　of　this　is

perfect。　By　all　means；　accept　his　proposal；　as　long　as　you　work　with

him。〃　She　said　the　last　with　a　touch　of　venom。　She　was　being　pushed　into

a　corner；　and　was　striking　out　at　the　only　person　in　sight。

〃He'd　be　hiring　the　firm；　Chloe。　I　might　be　working　on　one　project；　you

might　be　called　for　the　next。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　can　do　that　on　a　continuing　basis。　It'd　be　too　painful。

You　can　work　for　him。　I　won't。〃

〃But　your　area　of　expertise　is　different　from　mine。〃

〃My　mind　is　made　up。〃

Surprisingly；　there　was　little　tension　in　the　silence　that　followed。

Chloe　wanted　to　think　that　her　outburst　had　cleared　the　air。　At　least；

she'd　been　honest。　Lee　knew　how　she　felt。

〃You　know；　Chloe；〃　he　said；　sitting　straighter。　〃You　were　right　the

other　day　when　we　talked。　I　don't　know　everything　about　you…all　those

little　secrets　you　keep　bottled　up　inside。　I　didn't　even　know　so　many

existed　until　this　business　with　Ross。〃　He　grew　beseechful。　〃But　you

have　to　work　out　whatever　it　is　that's　bothering　you。　Hell；　you　should

be　with　him；　Chloe。　He　loves　you；　you　love　him。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how

many　marriages　are　based　on　much　less？〃　Lee　had　been　married。　He　knew

this　firsth