The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 35

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 35: The Fallout


The emergency shareholder meeting loomed like a storm cloud over York Group, and Lucas York could feel the weight of every ticking second. The leaked files had sent the company’s stock into freefall, and Richard Brown’s smug grin in the press conference replay made Lucas’s migraine throb violently—except this time, even Emelly’s presence beside him didn’t ease the pain. She noticed. Of course she did.


Emelly Clus had a habit of seeing things others missed, and right now, the tension in Lucas’s jaw was impossible to ignore. “You’re not invincible, you know,” she muttered under her breath, nudging his arm with hers. “Even CEOs are allowed to breathe.” Lucas shot her a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. Not when her stupidly perceptive eyes were the only thing keeping him from snapping entirely. “Focus, Clus. We have fifteen minutes before the meeting starts, and we still don’t have a countermove.”


Emelly rolled her eyes, but her fingers flew across her tablet, pulling up files with terrifying speed. “You mean you don’t have a countermove. I, on the other hand, have a photographic memory and a grudge against Linda Crow.” Tony Bright, who had been silently pacing behind them, let out a nervous chuckle. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Em.” Jane, perched on the edge of the conference table, smirked. “Too late for that. She still hasn’t forgiven you for eating her leftover pizza last month.” Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can we please focus on the corporate sabotage happening right now?” Emelly’s grin was sharp. “Oh, we are. But first—David, how fast can you get me into Linda’s office without anyone noticing?” The ever-loyal driver raised an eyebrow. “Depends. Are we talking legal speeds or movie speeds?” Lucas groaned. “I don’t want to know.”


Ten minutes later, Emelly slipped back into the boardroom, her cheeks flushed and a flash drive clutched in her hand. “Got it.” Lucas didn’t ask how. He didn’t want to know how. But the triumphant glint in her eyes made something in his chest tighten. “What’s on it?” “Proof that Linda’s been cozying up to Brown Group for months. Emails, transaction records, even a few very incriminating selfies.”


Emelly wrinkled her nose. “I did not need to see that.” Jane snatched the drive. “I’ll handle the tech. Tony, distract security.” Tony saluted. “On it. But if I die, tell my mom I loved her.” Lucas exhaled, turning to Emelly. “You realize if this backfires, we’re both unemployed by sundown.” She shrugged. “Then I’ll go back to Birbinghums and sell handmade soaps. You?” “I’ll buy the entire damn province just to fire you again.” Their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, the chaos around them faded.


Then the doors burst open, and Richard Brown strode in, flanked by shareholders. “Ah, Lucas,” Richard purred. “Ready to hand over the keys?” Lucas straightened, his CEO mask sliding into place. “Actually, we were just about to show everyone why you’re the one leaving today.” Emelly hit ‘play’ on the projector. The room erupted.