Lorraine had no idea what that even meant.


    But the tension in the elevator was suddenly so thick you could practically


    see it.


    Elissa caught the flicker of difort on Frank’s face and almost wanted tough, but when she nced up, she found Rowan staring straight at


    her.


    ‘Ms. Drummond, is your project not busy? No overtime for you tonight?”


    He wasn’t just targeting her–he was firing shots at everyone.


    Every word oozed with that ssic corporate overlord attitude.


    If Rowan had his way, everyone would be working themselves to the bone, night and day.


    Elissa’s smile faded. She answered, businesslike, “I can finish the rest at


    home.”


    ‘Oh?” Rowan nodded, feigning deep thought. “You’re in love, but you still have the energy to work after hours?”


    Elissa rarely felt awkward, but right now, she wished she could just vanish


    into the elevator shaft.


    Everyone probably thought she’d been desperate to marry Frank because she was head–over–heels in love.


    Frank, oblivious to her difort, actually looked pleased and chuckled, “Don’t tease her. She’s got thin skin.”


    As soon as he finished, the elevator came to a smooth stop at the basement level.


    They all stepped out. Just then, the neighboring elevator opened and a department director burst out, panting, and rushed up to Rowan. “Mr.


    19.07


    Murphy, I have an urgent contract that needs your signature.”


    Rowan’s expression turned serious. He took the document and reached into his suit pocket for a fountain pen, signing his name with practiced


    ease.


    Elissa knew his handwriting well–strong, bold strokes.


    He’d even helped her practice once, and a bit of his style had crept into


    her own.


    She was about to look away when her eyes caught on the pen. She hesitated. “Mr. Murphy, why do you have that fountain pen?”


    It was the birthday gift she’d given Bradley.


    A custom design–one of a kind. There shouldn’t be another like it.


    ‘He gave it to me,” Rowan replied, arching an eyebrow, utterly unfazed as he capped the pen and slid it back into his pocket. “He kept insisting it suited me. So you’re the one who gave it to him?”


    Elissa had nothing to say to that.


    But she couldn’t stop thinking about the tiny superhero icon she’d had engraved on the cap. However she tried to picture it, she couldn’t understand why Bradley thought it fit Rowan.


    Rowan<i>, </i>of all people–he didn’t exactly strike her as someone who ‘believed in heroes.”


    Once Elissa and Frank had walked off, Lorraine nced at the pen sticking out of Rowan’s pocket and felt a weight lift from her chest.


    Lately, Rowan had suddenly swapped out the fountain pen he’d used for


    years.


    And he seemed unusually protective of this new one, even though its style waspletely out of character for him.


    He wouldn’t even let anyone else clean it.


    19.07


    For days Lorraine had felt uneasy, half–convinced Rowan must be


    interested in some woman. She’d never have guessed it was a gift from


    Elissa.


    Cherishing something from his sister–well, that made sense.


    Frank took Elissa to an upscale restaurant.


    He’d even booked out the entire ce.


    If he was trying to show he was sorry, he was certainly going all out.


    “I really did misunderstand you about the hickey thing,” Frank said earnestly from across the table, after cing their order. “Let’s just forget all those angry words fromst time–can we?”


    With the whole ce empty, all they could hear was the lilting piano music in the background.


    It felt like something straight out of a romantic drama.


    By the script, this was the moment the heroine should ept the apology and let the matter drop.


    But Elissa just smiled and asked, “What about Marcia? She used me of something I didn’t do. You made me apologize to her–shouldn’t she apologize <i>to </i>me now?”