A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 359

The words were nasty, almost cruel.

But Tanya remained utterly unbothered. She leaned back against the hallway wall, a slight curve to her red lips. "Whatever title gets Dr. Wilkinson to willingly answer my question, that's the one I'll use."

The implication was clear: she didn't care. He could think whatever he wanted.

Rex's cold eyes bored into her as he threw the question back. "And what title do you think would make me willing?"

"Then let's go with ex-girlfriend." Tanya's smile was careless, her eyes captivating. "After all, you've never liked Asher Fielding, have you?"

She and Asher were what people called childhood sweethearts. They had grown up on the same street and probably remembered what the other looked like in diapers. They'd been inseparable from elementary school through college. When she had first started dating Rex in college, she hadn't had a chance to tell Asher yet. Before she could, he'd shown up outside her dorm, serenading her with a love song.

Even though Tanya had rejected him immediately and they had agreed to remain friends, Rex could never get over it. He saw Asher as a threat, a thorn in his side, and forbade Tanya from ever seeing him privately.

Her bringing it up now was like pouring salt on an old wound. Rex felt the air leave his lungs. "You knew I didn't like him, and you still kept in touch with him?"

"Mr. Wilkinson," Tanya said, a laugh threatening to escape, "we broke up a long time ago. Do I need to remind you how many years it's been?"

Almost six. If it weren't for Elissa and Rowan's brief reconciliation, their paths would never have crossed again.

Rex let out a cold laugh, his voice like shattered ice. "And do I need to remind you that your little thing with Asher didn't start *after* we broke up…"

*SLAP!*

Tanya's hand flew, connecting sharply with his cheek. Without giving him a moment to react, she turned on her heel and stormed toward the elevators, her heels clicking angrily on the floor.

[This information cost me a slap to the face. You're welcome.]

…

When Rowan read the messages, the air in his office suddenly felt thin. He grabbed the stress ball on his desk and hurled it at the door with a loud thud. He rarely lost his temper, and the noise startled his secretary, Lorraine Lynn, who cautiously knocked and entered. "Mr. Murphy, is everything alright?"

Rowan touched the still-tender bruise on his cheekbone. "Get Elissa up here. I need an update on the project's progress."

"Me?"

***