The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 19

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower


Chapter 19: The Trap Unraveled


The tension in Lucas York’s penthouse was suffocating. Emelly Clus paced the length of the marble floor, her fingers twisting the hem of her sweater as she replayed the warehouse confrontation in her mind. Leo Brown had played them perfectly—planting falsified documents that implicated York Group in corporate espionage. The police were already circling, and the board was demanding Lucas’s resignation.


Lucas stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his jaw clenched, the city lights casting sharp shadows across his face. His migraine had returned with a vengeance the moment Emelly had stepped out of his reach, a cruel reminder of how much he needed her near. “We have to find the original files,” Emelly said, breaking the silence. “Leo wouldn’t have destroyed them. He’d keep them as leverage.” Lucas turned, his cold gaze locking onto hers. “And how do you propose we do that? Break into Brown Group’s headquarters?” Emelly smirked, despite the gravity of the situation. “Well, I did hack into their system once before.” Lucas exhaled sharply, torn between irritation and reluctant admiration.


“That was before they upgraded their security. You’d be caught in seconds.” “Not if we create a distraction.” She crossed her arms. “You’re the CEO. You could arrange a sudden, very public business meeting with Leo. While he’s busy defending himself in front of the press, I’ll slip in.” Lucas’s fingers twitched at his side, the urge to pull her close warring with his frustration. “Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.


” Emelly rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You’re not my boss right now, Lucas. We’re partners in crime—literally.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “If you get caught—” “I won’t.” She stepped closer, her voice softening. “Trust me.” The word hung between them. Lucas had spent years trusting no one, relying only on his own instincts. But Emelly had a way of dismantling his walls, one stubborn remark at a time. Finally, he gave a curt nod. “Fine. But I’m coming with you.” Emelly grinned. “Aw, worried about me, Mr. CEO?”


Lucas ignored the teasing glint in her eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched. “I’m worried about my company.” She laughed, the sound lightening the weight in the room. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”


--- The plan was set in motion the next morning. Lucas called an emergency press conference, accusing Brown Group of sabotage. As predicted, Leo scrambled to respond, drawing media attention away from his headquarters. Meanwhile, Emelly, dressed in a borrowed maintenance uniform, slipped into the building with Tony Bright’s help—his connections in IT proving invaluable. Her photographic memory guided her through the maze of corridors, straight to Leo’s private server room. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, bypassing firewalls with practiced ease. Just as she located the original files, the door creaked open. Linda Crow stood in the doorway, her eyes widening in recognition. “You.” Emelly’s pulse spiked, but she forced a smile. “Miss me?” Linda’s lips curled into a sneer. “You’re finished.” She reached for her phone, but Emelly lunged, knocking it from her hand. The two women grappled, Emelly using every trick Jane had taught her in their late-night self-defense sessions. A well-placed elbow to Linda’s ribs sent her stumbling back. Emelly didn’t wait—she yanked the hard drive free and bolted for the door.


--- Lucas was waiting at the rendezvous point, his expression darkening when he saw her disheveled state. “What happened?” Emelly waved the hard drive triumphantly. “Got it. Also, Linda might need a new manicure.” Lucas exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re impossible.” She grinned. “But you love it.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. A beat of silence passed, the air between them charged. Lucas’s gaze dropped to her lips. “Maybe I do.” Before she could react, his phone buzzed—David, warning them that Leo had discovered the breach. They had minutes before all hell broke loose. Lucas grabbed her hand, his migraine vanishing instantly as their fingers intertwined. “Time to go.”


As they raced through the back alleys, dodging security cameras, Emelly couldn’t help but laugh. “This is insane.” Lucas shot her a rare, genuine smile. “You started it.” The chapter ended with the two of them disappearing into the city’s chaos, the hard drive clutched tightly in Emelly’s hand—but Leo’s retaliation was already in motion.