A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 271

Seeing that Elissa Drummond wasn’t in a rush to defend herself, James kept fanning the flames, pushing his point even further.

“If we check the security footage and actually find a leak in our department, that’s one thing. But if we come up empty, the rest of the company will start looking at us sideways. They’ll probably think any one of us could be the mole in R&D.”

Elissa set down the falsified report she’d been reviewing, her voice calm and even. “I know exactly what I’m doing. Once the footage is reviewed, the truth will come out.”

Raymond jumped in eagerly, eager to curry favor. “Exactly! Do you all even know who Ms. Drummond is? She studied under Dr. Aaron Blaine, just like Mr. Riley. She’d never steer us wrong.”

He sounded every bit the picture of support, nodding along as if he’d rehearsed it.

But Elissa just frowned slightly, as James smoothly picked up the thread. “And what if the footage doesn’t show anything? Does that mean the data’s clean after all? Or does it mean the real problem is Ms. Drummond’s competence? After dragging everyone through this mess and making us all look suspicious, how does she plan to take responsibility?”

The two of them volleyed back and forth like a well-practiced routine, trying to put her on the spot. They were deliberately twisting the facts: just because security found nothing didn’t mean the data itself was flawless.

They were itching for her to step into their trap.

Elissa didn’t rise to their bait. Instead, she smiled. “All right then—how about this? If we do find the leak, what do you propose we do with the traitor?”

James hesitated for a split second, then replied with feigned outrage, “Obviously, we’ll follow the company’s protocol. And whoever it is, they should never work in pharmaceutical research again.”

Elissa raised an eyebrow and turned to Raymond. “Do you agree?”

“Of course I do! Catching the mole would be the best outcome for everyone,” Raymond chirped, relieved it wasn’t him under suspicion. Besides, there was no way Elissa would actually get her hands on the footage. Sooner or later, she’d have to give up her team lead position.

Ian Murphy waited outside the study for two minutes, listening as the voices inside paused mid-meeting. Only then did he knock and step in.

Rowan Murphy glanced at him with cool, dark eyes. Ian quickly reported, “Sir, the deputy director from the R&D division just called. There’s been an incident involving Miss Drummond.”

He stepped closer and summarized the situation succinctly before asking, “Do you want to head over?”

Those middle-aged men in R&D were a tough crowd. Showing up for Miss Drummond at a moment like this might help her out—and win a few points for himself, too.

But Rowan didn’t look the least bit concerned. He rolled the silver pen Miss Drummond had given him between his fingers. “No need. She can handle it.”

If she wanted to lead the Traditional Medicine Unit, or someday rise even higher, she’d have to face these petty power plays herself. It was simply part of the path.