A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 399

Her words planted a seed of doubt in the room. This drug was a holy grail that countless pharmaceutical giants had poured fortunes into developing, without success. And yet, a young woman had done it. The cost was high, but the results were undeniable. Whichever company owned this drug would dominate the market for decades to come.

Elissa met the skeptical gazes without flinching. "What kind of foul play are you suggesting?" She had a clear conscience about this project and had nothing to fear.

Marcia's eyes, burning with jealousy, darted from Elissa to the man beside her. "You should be the one answering that! Tell us, what is your relationship with Mr. Murphy?"

A gasp went through the crowd. The reporters' eyes lit up, their expressions turning from professional inquiry to salacious curiosity. They had come for a drug launch and stumbled upon a massive scoop. Rowan Murphy, famously aloof and seemingly immune to women, had been a journalistic dead end for years. And now, the serious news reporters had unearthed the scandal the tabloids had only dreamed of. And to be fair, they did make a handsome couple.

Faced with such a direct question, the man remained cool and detached, a single brow raised as he watched the woman beside him. The reporters, however, read something else in his gaze: a hint of indulgence, the look of a man waiting for his claim to be staked.

The woman, however, was a picture of composure. "Mr. Murphy and I have a simple, professional partnership."

"Is it genuine respect," a new voice cut in, "or are you just too afraid of Rowan's authority to speak up?"

Matriarch Paige Murphy entered the hall, followed by her butler. She fixed her gaze on the team members, her voice loud and clear. "Whoever tells the truth today and exposes this farce will be the next director of the research department!"

She was determined to pin this on Elissa. When the accusations of data fraud had failed, she simply shifted to plagiarism.