The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 23

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower


Chapter 23: The Trap and the Tension


The penthouse was too quiet. Emelly sat on the edge of the guest room bed, her fingers gripping the crumpled photo of her childhood home in Birbinghums. Leo Brown’s message was clear—he wasn’t just threatening her. He was threatening everything she held dear. A soft knock at the door startled her. Before she could answer, Lucas stepped inside, his usual icy demeanor softened by something she couldn’t quite place. Concern? Annoyance? She wasn’t sure. “You should sleep,” he said, his voice low. Emelly scoffed, tossing the photo onto the nightstand. “Right. Because that’s so easy after someone breaks into my apartment and then sends me a not-so-subtle reminder that they know where I grew up.” Lucas’s jaw tightened. “We’ll handle it.” “Oh, we will?” She arched a brow.


“Last I checked, you still think I’m some kind of corporate spy.” He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple—a telltale sign his migraine was creeping back. “I never said that.” “You didn’t have to.” Silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable. Then, to her surprise, Lucas sat beside her on the bed, close enough that she could smell the faint scent of his cologne—something expensive and woodsy. “I don’t think you’re working with Leo,” he admitted grudgingly. Emelly blinked. “Wow. Was that an apology?” “It was a statement.” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the tiny smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.” “And you’re infuriating.” Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the tension between them shifted—less hostile, more charged. Then Lucas’s phone buzzed, shattering the moment. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening.


“David’s downstairs. We need to move.” Emelly frowned. “Move where?” “To set the trap.” --- The York Group offices were eerily empty at midnight. Emelly followed Lucas through the dimly lit halls, her nerves on edge. The plan was simple: plant false merger documents in her old workstation, making it seem like she still had access to sensitive information. If Leo took the bait, they’d catch him red-handed. But plans never went smoothly. “You’re sure this will work?” she whispered as Lucas input the security code to the executive floor. “No.” She shot him a look. “That’s reassuring.” He smirked. “You wanted honesty.” Before she could retort, a noise from down the hall froze them both.


Footsteps. Too light to be security. Lucas grabbed her wrist, yanking her into a nearby supply closet. The space was cramped, forcing them chest-to-chest. Emelly’s breath hitched as his free hand came up to cover her mouth, his lips brushing her ear. “Not a sound.” She nodded, hyper-aware of his body pressed against hers. His warmth. His scent. The way his thumb absently stroked her wrist, as if he didn’t even realize he was doing it. Outside, the footsteps paused. Then—a muffled curse. A drawer being forced open. Leo. Lucas’s grip tightened. They had him. But then Emelly’s phone vibrated in her pocket. Both of them stiffened. Lucas’s eyes flashed a warning, but it was too late. The footsteps turned toward the closet. The doorknob rattled.