The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 29

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 29: The Memory Gambit


The grand ballroom of the Lasmington Grand Hotel was a sea of stunned silence. Every eye was fixed on Leo Brown’s smug grin as he held up the forged emails, his voice dripping with false sympathy. “Such a shame, Lucas. Who knew York Group’s success was built on fraud?” Lucas’s jaw tightened, his migraine throbbing behind his temples like a drum. He could feel the weight of the room’s judgment pressing down on him—until a warm hand slipped into his. Emelly’s fingers curled around his, and instantly, the pain dissolved. He glanced down at her, and for the first time that night, her usual mischief was gone, replaced by steely determination. “You’re bluffing, Leo,” Emelly said, her voice clear and unwavering. Leo scoffed. “And who are you again? The country bumpkin Lucas dragged in to clean his mess?” Lucas’s grip on her hand tightened, but Emelly only smirked. “The bumpkin who’s about to prove you’re a liar.” She turned to the crowd, her photographic memory already replaying the exact moment Leo had slipped up earlier. “Those emails are fake.


The timestamps are off by three minutes—York Group’s server updates at :00 and :30 on the dot, but these show :03 and :33. And the font in the signature block? It’s Verdana, not Arial, which York’s IT department standardized six months ago.” A murmur rippled through the room. Leo’s smirk faltered. “That’s—that’s ridiculous!” he snapped. “You expect anyone to believe you memorized server update times?” Emelly tilted her head. “Want me to recite the entire York Group employee handbook next? Page 42, subsection D: ‘All external correspondence must—’” “Enough.” Lucas cut her off, but his lips twitched. He turned to the security team lingering near the doors. “Escort Mr. Brown out. And someone call legal—we’ll be pressing charges for defamation.” Leo’s face twisted in fury as he was led away, but not before shooting Emelly a venomous glare. “This isn’t over.” The moment the doors closed behind him, the room erupted into chatter. Reporters swarmed Lucas, but he ignored them, pulling Emelly aside. “You just saved my company.” She shrugged, her playful grin returning. “What are fake boyfriends for?” His thumb brushed over her knuckles. “Is that all we are?”


Emelly’s breath hitched, but before she could answer, David appeared at Lucas’s shoulder, his expression grim. “Sir, we have a problem. Brown Group just leaked footage of you and Emelly arguing outside the office last week. The press is spinning it as ‘York CEO abuses staff.’” Lucas cursed under his breath. Emelly, however, only rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. That was the day I replaced your coffee with decaf and you threatened to make me reorganize the entire supply closet.” “You what?” Lucas stared at her.


She grinned. “Relax, Grumpy. I’ve got an idea”.