第5部分(第6/7 頁)

d　to　feel　it　had　merit。〃

〃And　you　don't？〃　Considering　the　force　of　his　presentation　that　evening；

she　was　startled。

〃I　do；　with　reservations。〃

〃Why　did　you　e　up　tonight　then；　rather　than　the　VP　who　feels　more

strongly　about　it？〃

Ross　shrugged。　〃He's　no　longer　with　the　corporation。〃　He　didn't　look

sorry。　It　struck　Chloe　that　he　might　have　fired　the　man；　himself　She

sensed　his　power。　A　free　spirit；　he　had　called　himself　Now　he　ruled　a

prominent　corporation。　With　an　iron　hand？　Maybe。　But　he　would　use　subtle

methods　to　reach　his　goals。

〃What　do　you　plan　to　do　about　it？〃　she　asked　carefully。

〃About　what？〃

〃The　plex。　You　mentioned　some　doubts。　Tonight's　meeting　must　have

raised　others。　Will　you　change　your　proposal？〃

〃No。〃

〃No？　Building　the　plex　as　planned　now　would　be　environmentally　dumb。〃

〃〃Dumb'？〃　he　mocked　with　a　grin。

She　felt　put　down　with　that　one　echoed　word。　Exasperated；　she　threw　her

hands　in　the　air。　〃I　gave　all　the　reasons　in　that　auditorium。　I　won't

repeat　them　now。　You're　being　bullheaded。　Do　you　go　about　all　your

building　projects　this　way？〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　my　building　projects？〃　he　asked　with　a　trace　of

lingering　amusement。

〃Nothing。　I　had　only　heard　of　the　Hansen　Corporation　before　tonight。　But

if　it's　like　most　other　businesses；　it　puts　the　dollar　bill　before　every

other　consideration。〃

〃Not　always。〃　His　voice　carried　a　warning　now；　but　she　sat　straighter

and　barreled　on。

〃Then　you　acknowledge　that　profit　is　your　raison　d'etre？〃

To　her　chagrin；　Ross　laughed。　〃I　would　never　be　where　I　am　today　if　I

didn't　have　an　eye　out　for　profit！〃