A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 407

After having some time to cool down, Elissa had already thought it through. She looked at Tanya and shook her head. “It has nothing to do with the other Murphys.” Twenty years ago, Paige had been in charge. No one else could have influenced her decisions, least of all a ten-year-old Rowan. He couldn’t have done anything.

Besides, when Paige had been tormenting her, it was Rowan who had personally taken her away, saving her from years of abuse. Without him, she likely would have died long ago.

Tanya breathed a sigh of relief, glad to see she hadn’t fallen into someone else’s trap. “This guy is clearly trying to drive a wedge between you and Rowan. He must be after something.”

“Maybe it’s about the project?” Tanya mused. “If you started hating Rowan, you’d stop collaborating with Murphy Group. Then DK Pharmaceuticals could swoop in and become one of your options.”

Elissa hesitated before shaking her head. “I don’t think so.” He had come far too prepared for it to be just about a single project.

Just then, her phone, which was resting on the center console, buzzed. She picked it up. It was a text from her bank notifying her of a deposit. The payment and bonus for the Murphy Group project had arrived.

“What is it?” Tanya asked, noticing her focus.

“The project bonus came through.”

The light turned red, and Tanya hit the brakes. She leaned over to look at the screen and her eyes went wide. “One, ten, a hundred, a thousand… ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million… Oh. My. God.”

It was an astronomical sum. Tanya swallowed hard, then rationalized, “Well, Murphy Group can afford it. Their stock value skyrocketed right after the press conference.” Still, she had to admit, Rowan was incredibly generous.

Even Tanya was convinced. “I mean, look at the way he’s looking at you…”

“He looks at a lamppost with that much feeling,” Elissa cut in, shattering the illusion. Back in high school, when Tanya lived in the dorms, Elissa would walk out of school with her deskmate. Rowan picked her up every day, and after a few times, her deskmate started blushing every time they neared the gate. She was convinced Rowan was staring at her with that same lovesick expression and had developed a secret crush. Finally, when he failed to make a move, she asked Elissa to pass him a love letter. Rowan hadn’t even glanced at it. After that, he stopped getting out of the car and just waited for her inside.

But a shipper never gives up. Tanya settled onto the sofa, handing Elissa a slice of watermelon. “But it’s the number one trending topic, and he hasn’t said a word to deny it. He clearly doesn’t want to let you go.”

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