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'