Free White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

noticed.”
    She followed him warily into the house.
    “Where’s Myra?” she asked.
    “There’s a meeting of the board of directors of the Arts Academy this morning. She’s the president.”
    “I see.”
    They sat opposite each other on two leather chairs facing the view of the pool and the mountains. The housekeeper brought iced tea.
    “I’ll get right to the point,” Archer said. “I know you’ve had trouble finding a new job.”
    “Something will turn up sooner or later,” she said, stirring her iced tea with the long swizzle stick.
    “Like what?”
    “Well, I hear there are a lot of opportunities selling time-shares in Las Vegas.”
    “I’m asking you a serious question, damn it.”
    She hesitated and then gave a mental shrug. “I’m thinking of opening my own business.”
    Archer frowned. “What the devil do you know about running a business?”
    “Not much.” She smiled blandly. “But it sounds like fun so I thought, what the heck, why not give it a whirl?”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Do you always have to be so damned sarcastic?”
    “No. I only get that way when I’m feeling pressured.”
    Archer settled deeper into his chair. “Look, I know that the reason you lost your job and your fiancé was probably the gossip that went around after Brad got killed.”
    “It didn’t help, that’s for sure.”
    “Figured the rumors would die down fairly quickly, to tell you the truth.”
    “So did I,” she admitted. “But it doesn’t seem to be working out that way.”
    “That’s why I want to offer you a job,” Archer said.
    She choked on her iced tea. It took a minute to catch her breath.
    “No thanks,” she said automatically.
    “Hell, I knew you were going to say that. So damned stubborn.”
    She set her half-finished iced tea on the coffee table. “Maybe I should go now.”
    “Hear me out first. It’s the least you can do.”
    She smiled a little at that. “Theleast I can do?”
    “You’re my daughter, damn it. Not my fault I didn’t know you existed until a few months ago. Your mother had no right to keep that secret from me.”
    “She thought she was doing what was best for everyone concerned.”
    “Yeah, well, she was wrong.”
    Clare exhaled slowly. “I didn’t come here to argue about a decision that was made more than three decades ago and over which I had no control.”
    Anger and frustration flashed across Archer’s face. “Why did you come, in that case?”
    “Mom insisted.”
    Archer grimaced. “Should have guessed.”
    “Maybe we should change the subject.”
    “Fine by me,” Archer said grimly. “Here’s the deal. I’m thinking of setting up a charitable foundation and I want you to take charge of it.”
    She was too flabbergasted to respond. She just sat there, staring at him.
    “Well?” Archer said, scowling. “What do you have to say about my offer?”
    “I think,” she said, spacing each word with exacting precision, “that setting up a charitable foundation is a terrific idea. You’ve got more money than any one human being needs. You could do a lot of good with it.”
    Archer seemed satisfied. “Right.”
    “I’m sure you’re aware that foundations require large endowments.”
    “I’m not stupid, Clare.”
    “Really, reallybig endowments,” she emphasized. “The kind that can have a serious impact on what is left over for your heirs.”
    For the first time he seemed amused. “Starting to worry about your inheritance, after all? I thought you told me you weren’t interested in my money.”
    “Now who’s being sarcastic?”
    He made an obvious bid for patience. “Yes, Clare, I’m aware that setting up a well-endowed foundation will cut into the inheritance I plan to leave for my heirs. Don’t worry about it. There will be plenty left over for them and for any children they might have. Matt will take the company into the future and make even more money for the next several generations. Trust me, I can afford to fire up a foundation.”
    “Have you discussed this with Myra?”
    “No. I talked it over with Owen but I asked him to keep quiet about it