第19部分(第4/9 頁)

o　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　firsthand。

〃But　a　man　like　Ross　deserves　more　than　I　can　give　him。〃

Lee　tossed　a　hand　in　the　air。　〃That's　a　bunch　of　crap；　and　you　know　it。

If　you　want　him；　you　can　work　out　the　kinks　that　hang　you　up。〃　He　rose

and　went　to　the　window；　stared　out；　turned　back。　〃Damn　it；　Chloe；　you

have　so　much　going　for　you。　Are　you　going　to　sit　back　and　let　some　great

mystery　from　the　past　ruin　your　future？　I　thought　you　were　a　doer！　You

wouldn't　be　where　you　are　today　if　you　didn't　believe　in　working　for

what　you　believe　in。〃

Chloe　couldn't　say　a　thing。