The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 27

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 27: The Calm Before the Storm


The victory at the courthouse should have felt like a triumph, but Lucas York couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at him. Leo Brown’s parting glare had been venomous, and Linda’s cryptic message—This isn’t over—lingered in his mind like a bad omen. Still, for now, he allowed himself a rare moment of relief, watching Emelly Clus laugh with Jane and Tony in the office breakroom, her wildflower energy infectious even in the sterile corporate setting. Emelly, for her part, was trying to ignore the way her pulse fluttered every time Lucas glanced her way. The way he’d squeezed her hand in the courthouse—just for a second—had sent an electric current up her arm, and she hated how much she’d liked it. Stupid, handsome, migraine-prone CEO. She distracted herself by stealing a bite of Tony’s sandwich, earning a playful glare. “You’re a menace,”


Tony sighed, but he slid the plate toward her. “And yet you keep feeding me,” she grinned. Jane nudged her. “So, are we just going to ignore the fact that you and Lucas basically saved the company together? Or the way he looks at you?” Emelly nearly choked. “He looks at me like I’m a bug he wants to squash.” “Or like you’re the only thing that makes his migraines disappear,” Jane countered with a smirk. Before Emelly could retort, David appeared in the doorway, his usual calm demeanor replaced with urgency. “Mr. York needs everyone in the conference room. Now.” The mood shifted instantly. Lucas stood at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. “Brown Group just filed an injunction to freeze our overseas assets,” he said without preamble. “They’re claiming we violated trade agreements in the Singapore deal.” Emelly’s mind raced. “That’s impossible. We triple-checked compliance.” “They’ve fabricated paperwork,”


Lucas said tightly. “And they’ve leaked it to the press.” He tapped a button, and the screen behind him lit up with headlines: York Group Under Investigation for Fraud. Tony cursed under his breath. “This is Leo’s revenge.” Lucas nodded. “We have forty-eight hours to prove the documents are forged before the freeze takes effect. If we fail, we lose liquidity. Projects collapse. Employees don’t get paid.” His gaze locked onto Emelly. “You’re the only one who can memorize and cross-reference the original contracts fast enough to find the discrepancies.” She swallowed. The weight of the company—of his trust—settled on her shoulders. “I’ll need access to every file, every email chain.” “Done.”


As the team scrambled into action, Lucas pulled her aside. “Emelly.” His voice was low, rough. “I know I’ve been… difficult.” She arched a brow. “Understatement.” A ghost of a smile touched his lips before vanishing. “But I need you to know—I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this.” Her chest tightened. Damn him. “Flattery won’t make me work faster, York.” “Then what will?” She pretended to think. “A raise. And maybe your coffee machine.” He actually laughed—a rare, rich sound that made her stomach flip. “Deal.” For the next thirty-six hours, Emelly barely slept, her photographic memory dissecting every clause, every signature. Lucas stayed by her side, his presence oddly steadying. At one point, she dozed off at her desk, only to wake with his jacket draped over her shoulders, the scent of his cologne clinging to the fabric. Then, at 3:17 AM, she found it. “Lucas!” She shot upright, pointing at the screen. “This clause—it’s altered. The original had a grace period for delivery. Brown’s version removes it, making us look like we breached contract.”


Lucas’s eyes blazed with triumph. “Send it to legal. Now.” By dawn, York Group’s lawyers had forced Brown Group to retract the injunction, the press scrambling to correct their stories. The office erupted in cheers, but Lucas only had eyes for Emelly, who was slumped in her chair, exhausted but victorious. He crouched beside her. “You did it.” She smirked weakly. “Told you I was brilliant.” Something flickered in his gaze—something warm and dangerous. Before she could react, he brushed a stray curl from her forehead, his fingers lingering just a second too long. “Rest. We’re not done yet.” And as he walked away, Emelly realized with dawning horror that she was in trouble. Because the more time she spent with Lucas York, the less she could pretend she hated him. And that was a problem.