Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 92

mma knew it–unless this was all an elaborate setup, none of it made any sense.

She didn’t even have time to dwell on who orchestrated this or what their endgame was. It hit her with a cold chill: there was no way her visa application would go through now; she was out of time.

She scanned the conference room, high up on the company’s top floor. There was no way she could jump–not unless she wanted to end it all.

Her phone still had a few numbers from Theodore’s company. She dialed them one by

one.

She started with the front desk. The call connected, and she shouted, “Help! I’m trapped in the top–floor conference room! Please, someone come get me out!”

The same girl as always picked up. Her voice dripped with contempt. “Let me guess, you tried–and failed–to seduce Mr. Whitman, and now security’s locked you up? Serves you right.” There was a derisive laugh, and then the call went dead.

Emma’s contact list still had Jared and Hanley’s numbers–her perpetual adversaries. Back when they’d first met, Theodore had made them exchange contacts, a gesture of forced civility among feuding brothers.

Unsurprisingly, neither picked up.

They’d never been her allies. She hadn’t expected otherwise.

Her hands shaking, Emma sat down and unlocked her phone. She quickly typed out an email to cancel her visa appointment.

Then she reached for the glass of “passionfruit lemonade” on the table and downed it in one gulp.

Almost immediately, her skin began to itch.

There was no passionfruit in that drink at all.

She checked the time. Ten more minutes had passed. Assistant Laurent still hadn’t returned; nobody else even knew she was up here.

All around the building, people went about their day, the hum of work uninterrupted. Suddenly, the sharp blare of the smoke alarm shattered the calm. The sirens screamed throughout the entire skyscraper.

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“What’s going on?”

People poured out of their offices, exchanging anxious questions.

“Smoke! There’s a fire!” someone shouted. “Call the fire department!”

Theodore heard the commotion and rushed out of his office. He spotted smoke snaking out from the small conference room.

“It’s the conference room! Good thing there wasn’t a meeting scheduled in there today,” an assistant blurted out, already dialing emergency services. “The fire department’s on their way!”

“How did this happen? Where’s security?” Theodore’s nerves were frayed; he’d had a bad feeling all day.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

It sounded like someone was slamming against a door.

“What’s that noise?” Theodore strode toward the conference room, heart pounding.

The banging was louder now–definitely coming from inside.

“Who’s in there?” he shouted, kicking at the door.

Suddenly, Cecilia appeared out of nowhere, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. “Theo, don’t go in! It’s dangerous in there! Please, Theo, don’t—”

“There’s someone inside!” Theodore’s voice rose in panic.

From within, a faint, broken cry echoed out: “Theodore… Theodore… help me… Theodore…”

Shock slammed into him. “Emma! Emma, is that you? Emma!”

He tore free from Cecilia’s grasp and charged the door, kicking it again and again. “Somebody help! Get this door open!”

With a deafening crash, the door burst open under his assault.

The conference room was a haze of heat and smoke. Flames had already devoured half the table, licking up the company posters on the wall, eating their way forward. Emma lay collapsed by the door, barely conscious.

“Emma! Emma!” Theodore scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. “Call an ambulance–now!”

His voice thundered across the entire floor.

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It jolted Emma awake. She opened her eyes, dazed and weak, her gaze fixing on the familiar, yet strangely distant face before her. She tried to lift her hand to touch him, but it fell uselessly to her side. She managed a small, fragile smile.

“Theodore… if I die… you won’t owe me anything anymore. You’ll finally be free… Theodore… goodbye…”

Chapter 93

Chapter 93