Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1306

Emmy stared at the parachute packs by her feet, her face drained of all color. Her heart felt like it might beat right out of her chest, wild and impossible to control. She had wanted excitement, sure. She really thought something extreme might jar her memories loose. But she never expected James would just up and take her four thousand meters into the sky for actual skydiving. This was on a whole new level.

The helicopter was already high above the clouds when Emmy finally risked a look down. One glance and her stomach did a flip. Emerald Island, which usually seemed huge, was now nothing more than a dark green shard sitting in a sea of endless blue. The dizzying drop made her knees feel like jelly.

She swallowed, her voice shaking as she called out to James. “James, can’t we jump from a little lower? This is way too high.”

James nuzzled her neck for a second before looking up, his voice booming over the noise. “Where’s the fun if we go any lower?”

Then he looked right at her, amusement and challenge in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Chicken? You acted all tough back on the cliffs.”

Emmy stiffened, ready to argue back, but one look at the clouds outside and her courage fizzled. The idea of just falling, trusting her life to a bunch of straps, made her want to curl up in a ball. Still, something inside her was restless, a stubborn urge pushing her to press forward, even if she was terrified. She kept thinking maybe, just maybe, the adrenaline would bring her memories back.

While she battled herself, brow knotted, James was already moving. He grabbed a harness and spoke in a way that offered no room for debate. “Arms up.”

She raised her hands instinctively. “Wait, hold on...”

James didn’t wait. His hands were quick, fastening the harness around her in a flurry of motion. Buckles clicked. Everything was snug and secure in a heartbeat. Then, just as fast, he geared up and clipped himself to her with a metal latch. Suddenly, she was stuck to his front, completely trapped.

Panic hit her and she gripped the edge of the door so hard her knuckles turned white. “Wait. I’m not ready yet.”

James wrapped his arms around her waist and edged her closer to the open door. The wind blasted into them, whipping at their clothes. He leaned in, his voice low and smooth in her ear. “I’ve got you. All you need to do is enjoy the ride.”

“I can’t. I really can’t...” Emmy stared at the stretch of sky beneath her, her voice barely holding together. “Just slow down, okay? Let me breathe…”

James rested his chin against her helmet, seeming way too calm about everything. “So you don’t think I’m wasting your time again… I’ll give you one minute to get it together. The countdown starts now.”

But right then James tightened his grip on the door, slipped his other hand over her head, and his voice turned sharp and commanding. “Get ready.”

He suddenly feinted forward, like he was about to launch them both out. His whole body lurched and for a split second Emmy thought she was gone.

She screamed, eyes squeezed shut, hands clenched in white-knuckled fists around her straps. For a second, it felt like her heart had quit beating altogether.

But nothing happened. She waited. Two long seconds ticked by. Emmy cracked open one eye and realized they hadn’t moved at all… they were still standing in the doorway.

Behind her, James tried— and failed— to stifle his laughter. His chest shook with the effort. Emmy couldn’t see him, but he was grinning so wide his shoulders shook, watching her tremble like a scared baby bird.

She sucked in deep breaths, her cheeks burning as it finally dawned on her that he’d just pulled one over on her, and she’d fallen for it completely.