第1部分(第6/7 頁)

elix　drawled　with　an　air　of　self…importance；

〃Mr。　Stephenson　has　been　behind　the　building　of　two　successful　mall

plexes　here　in　the　Granite　State。　His　pany　has　left　its　mark　from

coast　to　coast　in　factories；　libraries；　educational　facilities；　and

office　buildings。　The　reputation　of　the　Hansen　Corporation　precedes　him

here。　It　is　with　great　honor　that　I　present　to　you；　for　an　explanation

of　his　plans　and　hopes　for　the　Rye　Beach　plex；　Mr。　Ross　Stephenson。〃

Chloe's　heart　was　hammering　again。　When　it　was　momentarily　drowned　out

by　the　applause　of　the　crowd；　she　dared　another　glance　at　Ross。　Again；

he　was　looking　at　her。　She　held　her　breath；　barraged　by　memories　that

gathered　and　surged。　A　slow　pallor　spread　beneath　her　ivory　skin。　She

was　thinking　that　she　had　to　get　out　of　there　fast；　when　he　finally

faced　forward；　pushed　himself　from　his　chair；　and　approached　the　dais。

〃Whew；〃　came　a　whisper　by　her　ear。　〃That　was　some　greeting。〃

Chloe　felt　the　color　rush　back　to　her　face。　She　realized　her

misunderstanding　when　Howard　went　on。　〃Felix　introduced　him　like　he　was

a　visiting　dignitary　instead　of　the　man　whose　blueprints　we　plan　to　tear

apart。〃

〃Please　keep　reminding　me；〃　Chloe　murmured；　to　which　the　senator

chuckled。　Then　they　both　settled　back　to　listen　to　Ross　Stephenson's

presentation。

For　Chloe；　listening　was　an　awesome　challenge。　The　sight　of　him　standing

straight　and　tall　before　the　microphone　was　a　distraction　in　and　of　it

self。　She　couldn't　help　but　admire　the　breadth　of　his　shoulders　and　the

slow　tapering　of　his　frame　toward　narrow　hips　and　long；　lean　legs。　To

her　chagrin；　she　couldn't　help　but　r