A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 382

Elissa was a doctor, yes, but she rarely applied her own advice to herself. She could lecture patients endlessly, yet in her own life, she ate whatever tasted good—sweet, spicy, fried, you name it. An upset stomach was hardly unusual for her.

Still, Frank felt something was off. "Are you sure it's just an upset stomach?"

"What else could it be?" Elissa said nonchalantly. "It's not like it's some major illness. I've checked myself over; I know what's going on."

"That's good, then." Frank wasn't entirely convinced.

After dinner, not wanting to overstay his welcome, he got up to leave.

As he left, Elissa called out from her doorway, "Max, let's go! Time for a walk."

"Woof!" Max leaped off the sofa, found his leash, and trotted over to Elissa, the lead dangling from his mouth.

As she clipped it onto his collar, Tanya spoke up, concerned. "Maybe I should walk him. I don't want you to fall."

Though Max was getting on in years, Rowan had kept him in prime condition. The dog was not only healthy but surprisingly strong.

"It's fine," Elissa said, knowing Tanya had a long night of work ahead of her. "You focus on your case files."

Max was a gentle dog, and since she'd become pregnant, it was as if he could sense it. Whenever she walked him, he'd amble along slowly by her side. Even when he spotted one of his canine friends, he wouldn't dash off excitedly anymore. He'd even position himself in front of her if another dog came over to play, as if to shield her from any boisterous pups that might knock into her.

With Max's leash in one hand and a bag of trash in the other, Elissa instinctively pressed the button for the basement garage. It wasn't until the elevator doors opened that she realized her mistake. The doors had already closed behind her, so she figured she might as well take out the trash.

Just as she tossed the bag into the dumpster, the door of an unfamiliar black luxury car parked nearby swung open. A large, elegant hand—one she recognized instantly—reached out.

"Once," she said honestly. "And I already told you, I'll figure out a way to pay you the penalty."

"And how will you do that?" Rowan seemed satisfied with her first answer but soured at the second. A mocking smile touched his lips. "On an installment plan? How many payments are we talking? And what about interest?"

Interest. It was something Elissa hadn't even considered. Three billion was already a staggering sum. And now he wanted to add interest?

She scowled at him. "What are your terms?"

"My standard rate is three percent a month, but for you, I can offer a discount…" Rowan watched her serious expression, a brow arching slightly. "Two percent."

"That's insane!"