第19部分(第3/9 頁)

m　while　he　was　here？

Did　you　tell　him　we　were　looking　for　new　business？〃　She　didn't　want

Ross's　pity；　or　his　charity。

〃I　did　not！　For　one　thing；　I　didn't　have　a　minute　alone　with　the　man

from　the　time　I　left　here　Friday　night。　You　monopolized　him。〃

She　snorted　and　looked　away。　〃He's　as　sneaky　as　they　e。〃

〃That's　no　way　to　talk　about　the　man　who　loves　you。〃

〃Lee；　puleeze。〃

He　held　up　a　hand。　〃Okay。　I　won't　tease。　This　isn't　teasing　stuff。　He'll

pay　a　monthly　retainer　as　an　advance　on　services　rendered。　If　we　work

more；　we　bill　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　to