Chapter 405
After all, the years of humiliation she had endured were real. Elissa had never had an outlet for her anger. Today, when she finally had the chance, it was snatched away from her.
Rowan toyed with a lighter, the metal cap clicking open and shut several times before he finally snapped it closed for good. “Today wasn’t the right time for her to declare war on Paige,” he said, his voice low.
“What do you mean p>
“They’re already targeting her,” Rowan said.
Rex was confused. “Orion Stone? You have a lead on him p>
Rowan glanced toward the banquet hall, his eyes hardening. “DK
Pharmaceuticals. Finn didn’t just come for me today.” At the press conference, the question Finn had prompted Marcia to ask was clearly aimed at Elissa.
Rex pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. “You’re sure Orion Stone is behind DK Pharmaceuticals p>
“Finn has a foster father you might have heard of,” Rowan said coolly. “And for the last twenty years, Finn has returned to the country twice a year. Shortly after each of his visits, someone goes to visit Orion Stone in prison p>
It was a perfect correlation. All signs pointed to Orion Stone being the true power behind DK Pharmaceuticals. Finn’s appearance today confirmed that they were targeting not only Rowan, but Elissa as well.
No wonder Rowan hadn’t denied his relationship with Elissa when Marcia had questioned him. It wouldn’t have made a difference. It was better to own it and hope it gave them pause. But Paige was obsessed with her reputation; if pushed into a corner, she could become dangerously unpredictable.
Rex pulled out a cigarette, but Rowan plucked it from his fingers before he could light it. “What gives? If you’re not smoking, you won’t let me either p>
“Secondhand smoke lingers,” Rowan said matter-of-factly.
So fussy. Rex shot him a sideways glance. “She’s not even talking to you. You could be pickled in secondhand smoke and she wouldn’t notice p>
After all, they were already targeting her. And a visible threat was easier to defend against than a hidden one.
Rex saw right through him. “You couldn’t hold out any longer, could you p>
Rowan straightened his suit jacket, his expression serious. “It has nothing to do with holding out. I’m going to protect her p>
Protecting Elissa, or protecting his own precarious love life? This time, Rex saw through him but kept his mouth shut. Rowan was a better fighter if he pushed him too far, he’d lose. But it was also true that when it came to Elissa, no matter how angry Rowan tot he always managed to talk himself down. One minute he was giving her the cold shoulder, the next he was ready to swallow his pride and chase after her again.
By the time the reception ended, it was nearly two in the afternoon. Tanya Foster’s car had broken down and was at the shop, so she hitched a ride home with Elissa, taking the driver’s seat.
She had noticed Elissa seemed distracted at the party. Once they were on the road, she asked, “What’s wrong with you? The conference was a success, but you don’t seem happy at all p>
Elissa let out a long breath and told her about Finn. “What do you think his motive is?” A complete stranger had appeared, knowing everything about her. It couldn’t be as simple as wanting to help her get revenge. But she couldn’t guess at any deeper reason.
Tanya listened, her brow furrowed.
After a moment, she said, “It’s
obvious.
He wants to use your
grudge against the Murphys to
achieve some goal of fils, own what that goat was, she couldn’t say. She paused, then added, “But that’s not what’s really bothering you, is it p>
“It’s what he said. It’s made you question whether you should hate just Paige
Jensen, or the entire Murphy family p>
And the entire Murphy family included Rowan.