The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 20

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower


Chapter 20: The Aftermath and the Storm


The adrenaline still thrummed through Emelly’s veins as she clutched the stolen files against her chest, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. Beside her, Lucas gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, his jaw set in a hard line as he navigated the winding roads away from Brown Group’s headquarters. The silence between them was thick, charged with the weight of what they had just done—and the danger still nipping at their heels. “Did anyone follow us?” Emelly finally asked, twisting in her seat to peer out the back window. The city lights blurred behind them, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Leo’s men were closing in. Lucas’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.


“Not yet. But we’re not out of the woods.” His voice was low, controlled, but she didn’t miss the tension beneath it. She swallowed hard. “What now?” “Now,” he said grimly, “we make sure these files are worth the risk.”


--- Back at York Group’s private office, Emelly spread the documents across the conference table, her fingers trembling slightly as she sorted through them. Lucas stood beside her, his presence both grounding and unnerving. The dim lighting cast sharp shadows across his face, making him look even more imposing than usual. “This is it,” she murmured, tracing a line of text with her fingertip. “The forged contracts, the falsified emails—everything Leo used to frame York Group.” She glanced up at Lucas. “We can clear your name.” His expression was unreadable. “It’s not that simple.” She frowned. “What do you mean?” Lucas exhaled sharply, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “Leo won’t let this go. He’ll retaliate. And if he finds out you were the one who stole these—”


“He won’t,” Emelly interrupted, lifting her chin. “I was careful.” A humorless smirk tugged at his lips. “Careful? You nearly got caught by Linda.” “But I didn’t,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “And I got the job done, didn’t I?” For a moment, they just stared at each other—two stubborn forces clashing yet inexplicably drawn together. Then, to her surprise, Lucas let out a quiet chuckle. “You’re impossible,” he muttered, shaking his head. The tension between them shifted, softening into something warmer. Emelly felt her cheeks heat and quickly looked away, focusing on the files again.


“We should get these to legal. The sooner we expose Leo, the better.” Lucas nodded, but before he could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening instantly. “What is it?” Emelly asked, her stomach tightening with dread. “Leo just called an emergency press conference,” Lucas said, his voice dangerously calm. “He’s accusing York Group of corporate espionage.” Emelly’s breath caught. “He’s turning this around on us.” “Exactly.” Lucas pocketed his phone, his gaze locking onto hers. “We need to move fast. If we don’t counter this now, everything we just risked will be for nothing.”


--- The next few hours were a whirlwind. Legal teams were summoned, press statements drafted, and evidence meticulously prepared. Emelly worked alongside Lucas, her mind racing as they pieced together their defense. But beneath the urgency, she couldn’t ignore the way his hand brushed against hers whenever they reached for the same document, or how his migraine—usually a constant shadow—hadn’t resurfaced since their escape. It was as if her presence alone kept the pain at bay. As dawn approached, exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders. She slumped into a chair, rubbing her temples. Lucas, ever the workaholic, was still standing, his focus unwavering. “You should rest,” he said suddenly, his voice softer than she expected. She blinked up at him. “So should you.” “I don’t have that luxury.” Emelly sighed, pushing herself up. “Neither do I. Not until this is over.” Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the chaos around them faded. Then, with a reluctant nod, Lucas turned back to the files. “Then let’s finish this.”


--- The press conference was a battlefield. Cameras flashed as reporters shouted questions, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of suspicion. Leo Brown stood at the podium, his smirk triumphant as he spun his lies with practiced ease. Then Lucas stepped forward, his presence commanding silence. “York Group does not engage in espionage,” he stated, his voice cutting through the noise like steel. “But we do have evidence of fraud—committed by Brown Group.” Gasps rippled through the crowd. Emelly, standing just offstage, held her breath as Lucas revealed the files, exposing Leo’s scheme in damning detail. The room erupted into chaos. Leo’s face twisted in fury. “This is a setup!” “The documents speak for themselves,” Lucas countered coolly. For a moment, it seemed they had won. Then Leo’s gaze landed on Emelly, and his eyes narrowed in recognition. A chill ran down her spine. “You,” he hissed, just loud enough for her to hear. “This isn’t over.” Before she could react, security intervened, ushering Leo away. But his threat lingered in the air, heavy and ominous. As the crowd dispersed, Lucas found her side. “You okay?” She forced a nod, though her hands were shaking. “Just peachy.” He studied her for a long moment, then surprised her by taking her hand. His grip was firm, steadying. “We’ll handle whatever comes next.


Together.” Emelly’s heart skipped. Together. The word felt like a promise—one she wasn’t sure she was ready to trust. But as his thumb brushed over her knuckles, she realized something terrifyingly wonderful. She didn’t want to let go.