She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 679

Melanie Royce was heading to Stellaris PharmaTech headquarters that day to finalize the details of a new diabetes drug project with the R&D Department.

"Wait a second, Ms. Royce!"

Before her hand could even graze the car door, Philip shouted, startling her so badly she practically jumped out of her skin.

"I need to run a sweep first."

Without another word, Philip dropped to the asphalt, inspecting the car's undercarriage with a flashlight. He circled the vehicle multiple times, scrutinizing every inch as if he were ready to dismantle it bolt by bolt.

"All clear. There are no issues. You may get in, Ms. Royce."

Philip’s face was deadpan, his posture rigidly respectful.

Melanie was speechless.

Lately, Philip had been acting completely paranoid.

No matter where she went, he was practically glued to her side. It didn’t stop there; he insisted on pre-screening all her food, her personal items, and every mode of transportation she used.

She knew Preston Whitmore had hired Philip to protect her, but this level of security felt absurd.

He hadn't been this extreme before. Now, his hyper-vigilance made her feel like a highly targeted head of state. Even royalty didn't get this kind of treatment, did they?

Melanie’s eye twitched.

"Look, Philip... I really don't think you need to be this tense—"

"Absolutely not," Philip cut in, refusing to yield.

"What if someone planted a bomb under your car, Ms. Royce?"

Melanie stared at him in disbelief.

What would anyone gain from blowing her up? A minor reduction in global population?

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She genuinely didn't believe she was as important as Philip made her out to be.

Melanie meant everything to Preston. She was far more important to him than Philip had ever realized.

Because of that, he couldn't allow a single hair on her head to be harmed, even if she found his methods overbearing.

After a smooth drive, the car pulled up to the curb outside Stellaris PharmaTech.

Melanie stepped out, surprised to see that Philip made no move to follow her inside.

"You aren't coming in with me?" she asked. This definitely didn't align with his recent shadowing routine.

"No, Ms. Royce. I’ll wait for you out here."

Melanie tilted her head. This was incredibly out of character for him. Just yesterday, he had looked ready to sweep every inch of a building she entered, stopping short only at the women's restroom.

"Stellaris is a massive corporation. Their internal security is top-tier," Philip explained, sensing her confusion.

"Right..." Melanie nodded slowly. That was true, but big corporations also meant more foot traffic and a higher chance of someone slipping through the cracks.