Chapter 4 - Playing with Fire
"Get down!" Aaron roared, lunging forward to shield Iris as the room quickly began to fill with thick, acrid black smoke.
Elena screamed, rushing toward them as the fire alarm began to wail overhead. The heat was instantaneous, a roaring beast tearing through the old building's dry drywall. Aaron scooped Iris up into his arms, her small hands instantly gripping his neck with a desperate, terrifying strength.
"The fire escape is blocked by the kitchen!" Elena shouted through her coughing fits, her eyes wide with panic. "The smoke is too thick!"
"The front door, now!" Aaron ordered. He grabbed Elena’s hand, pulling her out into the hallway just as the kitchen cabinets erupted into flames. The hallway was a chaotic nightmare of shouting neighbors and blinding smoke. Aaron led them down the stairs, his lungs burning, his only focus the small, trembling weight of the little girl crying into his shoulder.
When they finally burst out into the cool, rain-slicked street, paramedics and fire trucks were already arriving. Aaron collapsed onto the pavement, coughing violently, but he refused to let go of Iris until Elena sank down beside them, wrapping her arms around both of them.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Aaron asked, checking Iris for burns. The little girl was sobbing but physically unharmed, clutching her mother tightly.
A dark sedan pulled up to the curb just past the fire trucks. The door opened, and Richard Hale stepped out, holding a large umbrella. He walked over to the shivering family, his expression perfectly neutral, almost sympathetic—but Aaron saw the calculation in his eyes.
"My God, Aaron, thank heaven you're safe," Richard said, his voice loud enough for the gathering crowd to hear. "I heard about the fire and came as fast as I could. We need to get you and your guests to a safe location immediately. The press is already on their way."
Aaron stood up, transferring Iris to Elena’s arms. He walked up to Richard, his voice vibrating with a lethal energy. "You did this."
Richard’s expression didn't change. "Don't be ridiculous, Aaron. It’s an old building. Bad wiring, most likely. Come, let’s get into the car."
"You targeted my family to scare them into signing," Aaron whispered, his fist clenching so hard his knuckles turned white. "You thought you could eliminate the threat to the IPO by burning down her life."
"I protect the firm, Aaron. Always," Richard whispered back, leaning in close. "But you’re letting emotions cloud your judgment. Look around. The media is coming. If you don't get in this car and control the narrative, everything we built dies tonight."
Aaron looked back at Elena and Iris. Iris was watching him, her big brown eyes terrified, looking for the man who wasn't mean. Aaron made his choice.
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"Call a taxi," Aaron told Elena, turning his back on Richard. "We are going to my penthouse. And Richard? You're fired."
Richard let out a soft, dangerous laugh. "You can't fire me, Aaron. I own forty percent of the shares. And tomorrow morning, I’m calling an emergency board meeting to strip you of your chairmanship. You're unhinged."
