A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 383

Once again, Elissa was reminded of what a true capitalist he was. At two percent, the monthly interest on three billion would be sixty million. An installment plan was a joke; she'd be paying off the interest for the rest of her life.

Rowan nodded without a hint of shame, stating it as a simple fact. "It's not even loan-sharking. It's within the legal limits." He was even giving her a lesson in finance.

Elissa was speechless for a moment. "When does the interest start accruing?"

The man's palm kneaded the soft flesh at her waist, his touch casual yet possessive. He tossed the question back to her. "When do you plan on breaching the contract?"

"…"

She had walked right into his trap.

Taking a deep breath, Elissa pushed aside everything else. "Well, then… let's just wait a bit longer." At the very least, she needed to wait until her new drug launched and she had a substantial sum of money in hand. Only then could she even begin to think about paying him off.

Rowan watched her with a self-satisfied air. "So… Frank?"

"We just had a meal, and Tanya was there too." The contract only stipulated no intimate contact with Frank. She hadn't actually breached it.

It had been a while since Rowan had seen her this compliant. A flicker of something warm stirred in him, and he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips. "What did you eat?"

Whether it was the pregnancy hormones, she wasn't sure, but that simple, light kiss sent a wave of weakness through her body.

"Dinner," she mumbled, pushing against his chest to evade another kiss. "Max is waiting for me. I have to walk him."

For once, the man was agreeable. He released her without protest. "Then I'll go with you."

"…"

Elissa had no idea where he found the time for such things, but she didn't argue.

They got out of the car, one after the other. As she took the leash back from Ian, she caught a glimpse of his expression—it was the look of a man whose prized pig had finally figured out how to root for the best cabbage.

Elissa shot him a sideways glance, her attention suddenly captured by two children eating ice cream bars in the playground. She had been craving cold treats lately, and the sight of the ice cream made her mouth water.

As they neared the main gate of the complex, she spoke up. "Wait here a minute. I'm going to buy an ice cream."

"Ice cream?" Rowan's brow creased. "Isn't it that time of the month for you?" Her cycle was usually like clockwork, off by a day or two at most.

Elissa was stunned that he remembered something so specific. A jolt went through her. "It's late," she said quickly. "Probably from all the cold things I've been eating."

Rowan's frown deepened. "And you're still going to eat more?" He'd always known she had a sweet tooth, but he hadn't realized it was this bad.

Elissa rubbed her nose. "Just one. Besides, I checked myself over. It's coming soon."

"Are you sure?"