Price of Surrender by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

mercenary?
    „In a variety of schools,“ he drawled slowly. Some of the directness disappeared from his gaze as he eyed her. It
    was as if her question had triggered a hidden shutter.
    „Tell me,“ she urged quietly, knowing she shouldn’t be pushing the point yet suddenly unable to resist doing
    exactly that.
    He sipped his sherry, regarding her silently for a moment „I guess you could say I learned it in places like the small
    farming town where I grew up. The only ticket out was an education or the army. I chose the army because on the
    surface it seemed less expensive. I was wrong, of course. The army got me out of town, all right; it took me all the way
    to Southeast Asia where I learned that anything and everything could be bought and sold, including human lives. But
    I survived mentally and physically, which was a victory of sorts….“
    „Go on,“ she urged softly when he allowed the sentence to trail off.
    „When I got back I bought the education I should have had the sense to buy earlier. I also made another,
    somewhat unwise, purchase. I bought a wife.“
    „A wife!“
    „Ummm.“ Holt nodded with a wry twist of his mouth.
    „But at the time I didn’t fully comprehend the fact that a wife is an installment plan purchase, and a man has to keep
    up the payments through good times and bad. During one of the downturns in the aerospace industry she found
    someone who could make the payments in a much grander style than I was managing to do.“
    „She left you?“
    „Like a shot,“ Holt said with a wry cheerfulness that made Adena wince. „And I can’t say that I blame her. In the
    long run, however, it was all for the best. During the extended layoff I decided I didn’t like being at the mercy of a
    corporate body of strangers. The independence and control over my own life that I wanted could never be achieved
    working for someone else. So I went into business for myself.“
    „And the rest,“ Adena murmured dryly, „is history. You are now able to afford just about anything you desire,
    right?“
    „Just about,“ he agreed meaningfully.
    „I take it you don’t see yourself as overly cynical, merely practical?“
    „Do you think I’m too cynical?“ he returned musingly, as if the notion were a new one.
    „Very definitely!“
    „That’s because you view life through a romantic haze. Like that impressionist painting on your wall. You prefer
    the light and the cheerful colors.“
    „Perhaps,“ she agreed quietly, thinking there might be an element of truth in what he said. She had wanted the man
    in her life to be shocked at the discovery in Carrigan Labs’ accounts. She had wanted Jeff to measure up to some ideal
    she had in her head about how a man should conduct his business and his life. Perhaps that was impractical.
    „It’s all right, Adena,“ Holt growled huskily, setting down his sherry glass. „I can afford your illusions. Tell me
    what you want and I’ll give it to you.“
    „You think it’s all so simple, don’t you?“ she whispered.
    „Try me. Name something you want and I’ll tell you whether or not I can give it to you,“ he challenged gently.
    „How about a little business integrity?“ she goaded. „How about conducting your business affairs without making
    payoffs and without industrial espionage?“
    He smiled with grim satisfaction and leaned back against the white cushion of the sofa. His gray eyes gleamed at
    her from under slightly lowered lids.
    „I have never,“ he declared calmly, „made a payoff or taken a kickback in my entire career.“
    „I don’t believe you!“ she snapped. „You weren’t at all surprised to find out someone on your staff was being paid
    off! You acted as though it were a routine matter engaged in by all companies!“
    „It’s not particularly uncommon but that doesn’t mean I resort to it. I’m practical enough not to be shocked by it
    when it occurs, however.“
    „And you certainly didn’t hesitate to offer me