The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 34

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 34: Whispers in the Dark


The moment Charles York stepped out of the room to take his mysterious phone call, Lucas’s jaw clenched so tightly Emelly feared he might crack a tooth. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the weight of their gamble pressing down like a storm cloud. Emelly nudged his arm. “You’re going to break something if you keep glaring at the door like that.” Lucas exhaled sharply. “I don’t trust him.” “Neither do I,” she admitted, “but we don’t have a choice right now.” His fingers flexed, restless. “There’s always a choice.” Before she could argue, Charles returned, his expression unreadable. “We have a problem,” he announced. Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Define ‘problem.’” “Richard Brown isn’t just after York Group,” Charles said, lowering his voice. “He’s been buying up shares through shell companies. By tomorrow, he’ll have enough to force a hostile takeover vote.”


Emelly’s stomach dropped. “That’s impossible. The board would never—” “The board is scared,” Charles interrupted. “And scared people make stupid decisions.” Lucas swore under his breath. “We need to move faster.” Charles smirked, a ghost of his old arrogance flickering. “Good thing I still have friends in high places.” He tossed a file onto the table. “Blackmail material. Enough to make Richard back off—if we play it right.” Emelly reached for the file, but Lucas snatched it first, flipping through the pages.


His expression darkened with each line. “This could ruin him.” “Exactly.” Charles leaned back, smug. “But we need leverage to ensure he doesn’t retaliate.” Emelly crossed her arms. “What aren’t you telling us?” Charles’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Let’s just say Richard isn’t the only one with skeletons. If we’re doing this, we’re all in.” Lucas’s grip on the file tightened. “Fine. But if you double-cross us—” “You’ll what?” Charles chuckled. “Disown me again?” The tension between father and son crackled like live wires. Emelly stepped between them before things escalated. “Enough. We have work to do.”


The next few hours were a blur of strategy, phone calls, and whispered arguments. By midnight, they had a plan—risky, but possible. Emelly’s photographic memory proved invaluable as she cross-referenced financial records, spotting discrepancies Lucas had missed. At one point, Lucas paused, watching her scribble notes with a furrowed brow. “How do you do that?” She didn’t look up. “Do what?” “Remember everything.” She smirked. “Magic.” He rolled his eyes, but there was something softer in his gaze. “Annoying.” “You love it.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. Lucas froze, and for a heartbeat, the room felt too small. Then Charles cleared his throat, shattering the moment. “Focus, children.”


By dawn, they were ready. Charles left to meet his contacts, leaving Lucas and Emelly alone in the office. The silence stretched, heavy with exhaustion and something else—something neither dared name. Lucas rubbed his temples, a telltale sign of his migraine returning. Emelly sighed and grabbed his hand without thinking. The tension in his shoulders eased instantly. He stared at their intertwined fingers. “You’re still infuriating.” She grinned. “And you’re still a grumpy CEO.” A reluctant smile tugged at his lips. “We’re going to regret this, aren’t we?” “Probably.” The moment was shattered by a sharp knock. David burst in, breathless. “Boss—we have a problem. Linda just leaked internal files to the press. York Group’s stock is plummeting.” Lucas’s face went cold. “What?” Emelly’s blood ran icy. Linda had betrayed them—right when they were vulnerable. David swallowed hard. “And Richard Brown just called an emergency shareholder meeting. It’s happening today.” Lucas shot to his feet. “Get the car. Now.” As they raced out, Emelly’s mind whirled. They were out of time. Out of options. And with Linda’s betrayal, they might already be too late. The chapter ended with one terrifying question: Had they just lost everything?