Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 73

The fire truck screeched to a halt in front of the office building.

Before it had even come to a full stop, the door swung open and a tall, imposing figure jumped out. He didn’t wait or hesitate—he sprinted straight toward the entrance, charging headfirst into the thick, rolling smoke.

Behind him, a group of firefighters grabbed the heavy hoses and rushed after him, shouting with worry.

“James! James, don’t do anything crazy!”

“Wait, let the drone go in first!”

But James was already gone, swallowed up by the darkness and smoke.

The rest of the crew jumped into action immediately.

One firefighter quickly set up the barricade, guiding the crowd away from the danger. Another uncoiled the hoses and rushed inside with the water cannon. Others grabbed their gear, drilling into the building’s outer wall to vent the smoke and setting up portable exhaust fans in record time.

Everything was tense and urgent, but somehow, the team moved like they’d rehearsed it a thousand times—focused, professional, and completely in control.

No one in the crowd behind the barricade could look away. The energy coming from the rescue team was almost overwhelming; people held their breath, hearts pounding.

Dean stood frozen among them. He’d watched rescues before, but this was different—it rattled him, down to his bones.

Snapping out of it, he grabbed a shaken employee who’d just stumbled outside. “Where’s Ms. Lincoln?”

The guy looked lost, face pale with shock. “I—I don’t know. I haven’t seen her…”

At that moment, Emmy’s assistant Aidan was pushing through the crowd, panic in his voice.

“Ms. Lincoln! Ms. Lincoln, where are you?”

He checked every single face, but she was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, he broke down, bursting into tears. He ran to the barricade, practically screaming at the firefighters inside.

“Ms. Lincoln is still in there! She’s still inside! Please, you have to help her!”

“Her office is on the third floor! Please, I’m begging you—save her!”

Dean heard Aidan’s cries and his own face turned ghostly pale.

“Emmy!”

Something snapped inside him. He tried to push through the barricade, desperate.

That flash of orange raced to her side, hands moving quickly to fit a breathing mask over her face.

Cool, clean air rushed into her lungs. She gasped for it, just barely coming back to herself.

Then she heard a voice, deep and tight, but somehow full of comfort. It felt like it came from somewhere safe.

“Don’t be scared. I’ve got you. I’m getting you out of here.”

The next thing she knew, she was swept up in strong arms.

She melted into a broad, burning-hot chest that felt like the safest place in the world.

Around them, fire crackled and roared. Pieces of ceiling and debris crashed down, but the man holding her always managed to shield her, taking the brunt of every blow with his own back and shoulders.

Suddenly, a huge, flaming metal duct came crashing down from above.

“Watch out!”

Emmy heard someone shout from outside.