第4部分(第4/7 頁)

y　reputation。〃　He　looked　at　her　sideways；

skeptical　now。　〃I'd　have　thought　that　if　environmental　concerns　were

your　focus；　the　oil　panies　would　be　your　archenemies。〃

She　blushed。　He　made　nothing　easy；　that　was　for　sure。　But　if　he　wanted

to　be　honest；　she　could　be　honest　right　back。　〃I　needed　the　money；〃　she

said　and　braced　herself　for　the　response　that　was　sure　to　e。

And　she　wasn't　let　down。　Ross's　eyes　widened；　then　narrowed。　〃You　needed

the　money？〃　He　frowned。　〃Did　I　miss　something　here？　I　was　given　to　think

James　Macdaniel　was…is…mne　of　the　wealthiest　men　in　New　Orleans。〃

〃He　is。〃

〃Then；　why　。。。　？〃

〃Among　other　things；〃　she　began　in　self…defense；　〃it　was　a　matter　of

pride。　I　wanted　to　start　my　own　consulting　firm　and　didn't　want　to　ask

my　father　for　money。〃　Ross　should　know　how　much　she　had　changed。　He

should　know　that　she　was　her　own　woman　now。

But　his　take　on　the　situation　was　different　from　hers。　〃So　you　sold　out

to　the　powers　that　be　for　the　amount　of　time　it　took　you　to　gather　the

resources　to　mount　a　systematic　campaign　against　those　same　powers？〃

Chloe　reacted　quickly　and　vehemently。　〃That's　not　true。　Not　true　at　all。

The　work　I　did　for　the　oil　panies　involved　identifying　the　most

likely　spots　for　oil　deposits。　Wherever　possible；　environmental

considerations　were　put　first。　And　you're　a　fine　one　to　talk　about

selling　out。　I　had　the　impression；　when　I　saw　you　last；　that　you　were

against　everything　the　establishment　had　to　offer。〃

Ross　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃You　drew　your　own　conclusions；　Chloe。

Appearances　can　be　misleading。〃　His　tone　was　low；　his　voice　and　eyes

steady。

C