青帝小说

第19部分（第2页）

ceiling。　〃I　suppose。　But　I　cant　marry　him。　Being　with　him　can　only　be

painful　for　both　of　us。〃

〃If　he　believed　that；　he　wouldnt　be　asking　to　work　with　you。〃

She　grunted。　〃So　why　did　he　call　you？〃

〃He　wants　to　retain　us　as　consultants。　Did　you　actually　say　that　you

refused　him？〃

：；Yes。　He　brought　it　up　yesterday　morning　before　he　left。〃

〃But　its　what　we　need；　Chloe。　You　mentioned　trying　to　get　corporate

work　when　we　talked　on　Saturday。　The　timing　couldnt　be　better。〃

She　eyed　him　sharply。　〃Did　you　say　something　to　him　while　he　was　here？

Did　you　tell　him　we　were　looking　for　new　business？〃　She　didnt　want

Rosss　pity；　or　his　charity。

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

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

She　snorted　and　looked　away。　〃Hes　as　sneaky　as　they　e。〃

〃Thats　no　way　to　talk　about　the　man　who　loves　you。〃

〃Lee；　puleeze。〃

He　held　up　a　hand。　〃Okay。　I　wont　tease。　This　isnt　teasing　stuff。　Hell

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　couldnt　be　better。〃

That　didnt　surprise　Chloe。　Ross　might　be　a　rat；　a　snake；　and　a　fox；　but

he　wasnt　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。　Thered　be　variety　and　involvement　in　important　issues…〃

〃Youre　right；　Lee；〃　she　cut　in。　〃I　cant　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。

〃Hed　be　hiring　the　firm；　Chloe。　I　might　be　working　on　one　project；　you

might　be　called　for　the　next。〃

〃I　dont　think　I　can　do　that　on　a　continuing　basis。　Itd　be　too　painful。

You　can　work　for　him。　I　wont。〃

〃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；

shed　been　honest。　Lee　knew　how　she　felt。

〃You　know；　Chloe；〃　he　said；　sitting　straighter。　〃You　were　right　the