rekindled(英文版)- 第19部分

She　frowned。　〃Howard　called　you？〃

〃Ross　called　me。　I　think　his　offer　is　good。〃

〃Offer？　Ross？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃

It　was　Lee's　turn　to　frown。　〃I'm　talking　about　the　phone　call　I　received
from　Ross　Stephenson　no　more　than　a　half　hour　ago。　He　wants　to　retain
our　services。　What　are　you　talking　about？〃

A　furious　Chloe　leaned　on　Lee's　desk。　〃I　already　refused　him！　I'm
talking　about　the　phone　call　from　Howard　Wolschinski　saying　that　Ross　is
ready　to　revise　the　Rye　Beach　proposal。〃

〃That's　great！〃

〃It's　not！　He　wants　me　to　work　with　him　and　that's　the　last　thing　I　want
to　do！〃

Lee　was　suddenly　very　gentle　and　very　serious。　He　pointed　her　into　a
chair　and　rounded　the　desk　to　make　sure　that　she　sat。　Perching　nearby；
he　said；　〃Okay；　pretty　lady。　Tell　me　about　it。〃

She　felt　utterly　helpless。　〃Ross　is　willing　to　make　the　changes；　but　he
refuses　to　go　by　my　report。　He　wants　me　to　work　with　his　people；　in
person；　in　New　York。〃

〃gather；〃　he　said；　stroking　his　beard；　〃that　you　aren't　bothered　by　New
York；　per　se。〃

〃You　gather　correctly。〃

〃Chloe；　what's　wrong？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃The　man　seems　intelligent　and
honest。　You　shouldn't　have　any　problem。　You　can　be　in　and　out　of　the
city　in　no　time。〃　At　wit's　end；　she　said；　〃He　thinks　he's　in　love　with
me；　that's　the　problem。　If　it　were　only　a　matter　of　business；　I　wouldn't
worry。　But　Ross　says　he　wants　to　marry　me。〃

〃So　what's　the　problem？〃

〃can't　marry　him。〃　She　pleaded　for　his　understanding。　〃And　I'm　not　sure
I　can　take　his　constant　pressure。〃

〃Are　you　afraid　you　might　give　in？〃　He　erased　the　question　with　a　wave。
〃Backtrack。　Why　can't　you　marry　him？　You're　free。〃

〃Not　quite。〃

〃You're　not　making　sense；　pretty　lady。　From　what　I　can　see；　there's
nothing　in　the　world　to　keep　you　from　marrying　Ross。〃

〃What　if　I　don't　love　him？〃　she　blurted　out。

〃If　you　don't　love　him；　then　you're　right　to　hold　out。　And　if　you　don't
love　him；　you'll　have　no　trouble　putting　him　off。　He'll　get　tired　after
a　while。〃　Lee　was　watching　her　face　very；　very　closely。　〃That's　not　the
real　problem；　is　it？　You　do　love　him。〃

She　blew　out　a　breath；　turning　it　into　a　sigh；　and　looked　at　the
ceiling。　〃I　suppose。　But　I　can't　marry　him。　Being　with　him　can　only　be
painful　for　both　of　us。〃

〃If　he　believed　that；　he　wouldn't　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　it's　what　we　need；　Chloe。　You　mentioned　trying　to　get　corporate
work　when　we　talked　on　Saturday。　The　timing　couldn't　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　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　too　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。　Lee　had　never　talked　to　her　this　way　before。
If　another　man　had　said　what　he　had；　she　would　have　ignored　him。　But　she
couldn't　ignore　Lee。　She　respected　his　opinion　too　much。

The　horrified　look　on　his　face　said　that　he　hadn't　planned　the　outburst。
He　softened。　〃Hey；　I'm　sorry。　I　came　across　a　little　too　strong。〃　He
paused。　〃But　I　meant　what　I　said。　Either　you　can　let　it　continue　to　get
you　down　or　you　can　fight　it。〃　He　thrust　the　long　fingers　of　one　hand
through　his　hair。　〃rich；　I　don't　even　know　what　it　is。　But　I　believe
that　you　can　overe　whatever。　I　don't　know　what　you　were　before；
Chloe；　but　you're　a　strong　woman　now。　Don't　let　a　good　thing　escape。〃

She　smiled　sadly。　〃You　don't　understand。〃

〃No。　I　don't。〃　He　sighed。　〃What　say　we　drop　it　for　a　while？〃　At　her　nod；
he　added　a　final　thought。　〃But　promise　me　that　if　you　want　to　talk；
you'll　e　to　me？　I　have　broad　shoulders。〃

She　stood　and　gave　him　a　hug。　〃Thanks；　Lee。　I　appreciate　that。〃

Stepping　back；　she　looked　up　at　him。　Funny；　he　was　warm　and　strong　and
in　his　way　as　good…looking　as　Ross；　but　she　felt　no　desire；　no　great
inner　spark。

Lee　held　out　a　hand。　〃Friends？〃

She　met　his　hand。　〃Friends。〃

〃And　we'll　accept　the　offer　from　Stephenson？〃

She　yanked　her　hand　back。　〃No。　Yes。　I　don't　know。〃　She　strode　toward　the
door。　〃Do　what　you　want！〃

How　to　go　from　high　to　low　in　seconds；　she　mused；　as　she　returned　to　her
office　and　settled　in　at　the　desk。　Ross　was　forcing　her　hand；　totally
determined。　What　was　it　he　had　said　about　love　being　wanting　and　wanting
until　one　would　do　nearly　anything？

She　did　have　options。　She　could　stand　firm　and　refuse　to　have　anything
to　do　with　Ross；　send　someone　to　New　York　in　her　place　for　the　Rye　Beach
negotiations；　systematically　shuttle　retainer　work　to　another　member　of
the　firm。

Another　option　was　more　dangerous。　She　could　go　to　New　York　and　do　his
work；　remaining　neutral。　Did　she　have　a　chance　in　hell　of　doing　that？

Lee's　words　returned　with　frightening　clarity。　Did　she　love　Ross　enough
to　fight　herself…and　her　past…for　him？　Could　she　go　back　to　New　Orleans
and　face　the　ghosts；　finally　put　them　to　rest？

She　hit　emotional　overload　with　that　last　thought。　Too　much　had　happened
too　fast。　She　couldn't　think　about　it　anymore。　There　was　work　to　be
done…if　she　was　to　be　enroute　to　New　York　by　Wednesday。

With　a　long　steadying　breath；　she　sorted　through　the　papers　before　her。
There　were　people　to　call；　meetings　to　set　up；　reports　to　plan　out
before　she　left；　and　the　rush　was　for　the　best。　Her　mind　would　be
filled。　Worrying　was　useless。　Only　time　would　give　her　the　answers　she
needed。

Unfortunately；　Ross　wasn't　as　patient；　but　he　received　a　different　Chloe
on　the　phone　that　afternoon；　a　more　subdued　one。　She　recognized　his
voice　immediately；　had　been　half　expecting　to　hear　it。　Its　sound　sent　a
ripple　through　her；　but　it　died　quickly。　She　was　exhausted。

〃How　are　you？〃　he　asked。

〃I'm　fine。〃

〃It's　good　to　hear　your　voice。　I　miss　you。〃

〃You've　been　gone　barely　twenty…four　hours。〃

〃You've　been　counting；　have　you？〃

She　hadn't。　Well；　maybe　she　had。　But　she　wasn't　about　to　admit　it。　〃I'm
counting　now。　I　have　five　different　reports　to　go　through　this
afternoon；　not　to　mention　phone　calls；　proposals；　and　what…have…you。　It
seems　I　have　a　rush　job　in　New　York。　Some　snotty　executive　thinks　his
work　is　the　only　thing　that　counts。〃

〃I　can　see　you　got　up　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　bed。　Bad　morning？〃

〃Busy。〃

〃Anything　interesting？〃

〃Uh…huh。〃

He　sighed。　〃Ah。　We're　pulling　teeth　again。〃

〃No。　There's　just　nothing　I　feel　like　discussing。〃　With　you；　she　might
have　added。　He　had　intruded　on　her　life　far　too　much。

〃You　sound　down。〃　He　sounded　concerned。　〃Is　something　wrong？〃

〃I'll　be　fine。〃　But　she　wondered。　Much　as　she　fought　it；　the　sound　of
Ross's　voice　affected　her。

〃What　is　it；　Chloe？　Please　tell　me。　Something's　bothering　you。　I　can
hear　it　in　your　voice。　Your　spirit's　gone。〃　He　paused。　When　she　said
nothing；　he　said；　〃I'm　driving　up。〃

〃No！　I'm　okay。　Really。　I'm　tired。　That's　all。〃

：〃You　have　no　idea　what　I　feel　when　I　hear　that　pain　in　your　voice。〃

〃Then　why　did　you　do　it？〃　she　blurted　out。

The　silence　was　long　and　heavy。　Then　he　sighed。　〃You've；　ah；　figured　out
my　messages？〃

〃You　could　say　that。　What　I'd　like　to　know　is　why　you　had　to　go　behind
my　back　to　box　me　in。　Why　didn't　you　call　me　directly？〃

〃I　mentioned　it　to　you　last　weekend。　You　refused。　I　may　be　many　things；
but　I'm　not　a　glutton　for　punishment。　That's　your　specially。〃　Chloe
gasped；　but　he　went　on。　〃I　had　no　intention　of　calling　you　this　morning
to　rehash　what　I　said　yesterday。　There　seemed　to　be　more　effective　ways
of　convincing　you…〃

〃…forcing　me　。。。〃

　。。。　　convincing　you　to　work　with　me。　It　makes　good　sense。　You're　the
one　familiar　with　the　Rye　Beach　proposal　and　its　problems。　To　bring　in
someone　else　would　be　a　waste　of　time。　As　for　the　other…〃

〃The　other　is　Lee's　affair；〃　she　cut　in。　〃He's　handling　any　account　with
the　Hansen　Corporation。　If　you　want　to　work　with　him；　be　my　guest。　I　can
vouch　for　his　credentials　and　his　skill；　but　I　won't　be　involved。〃

〃Then　why　are　you　upset？〃　he　asked　a　little　too　calmly。　〃If　Lee　will　be
doing　the　dealing；　it　won't　affect　you。〃

〃Fat　chance；〃　she　murmured　not　quite　softly　enough。

Ah；　ah；　princess。　Let's　have　none　of　that。　If　you're　into　soft
murmurings；　use　them　to　talk　about　love。〃

〃Ross。〃

〃I　love　you。〃

〃So　you've　said。〃　She　tried　to　sound　indifferent；　but　her　tone　was　more
of　a　plea。

F　〃I　mean　it。　That's　why　I'm　doing　all　this。〃

〃What？〃　she　cried　in　a　facetious　show　of　emotion。　〃Don't　you　value　my
brilliance；　my　experience；　or　my　expertise　in　the　field！〃

〃Depends　on　what　field　you're　referrin