The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 38

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 38: The Calm Before the Storm


The aftermath of Leo Brown’s downfall was both exhilarating and unsettling. Lucas York stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, watching the city lights flicker below as if they were mocking the chaos they had just unleashed. Beside him, Emelly Clus leaned against the desk, her fingers drumming restlessly against the polished wood. “We won,” she murmured, though her voice lacked triumph. Lucas turned, his sharp gaze softening as it landed on her. “For now.” The words hung heavy between them. Leo’s threats hadn’t been empty—they both knew that. The man had too much pride, too many connections, and a dangerous lack of restraint. Emelly sighed, rubbing her temples. “What’s next? He won’t just disappear.” Lucas stepped closer, his fingers brushing against hers. The familiar warmth spread through her, easing the tension in her shoulders. “We prepare,” he said simply. A knock at the door interrupted them.


David, Lucas’s ever-loyal driver, stepped in, his expression grim. “Sir, there’s been an incident at the warehouse. A fire.” Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Casualties?” “None, thankfully. But the damage is significant.” Emelly’s stomach twisted. “Leo’s retaliation starts already.” Lucas’s phone buzzed—a message from Tony Bright, their inside man at Brown Group. Leo’s moving funds offshore. He’s planning something big. Lucas exhaled sharply. “We need to act fast.” Emelly grabbed her bag. “Then let’s go.”


The warehouse was a smoldering ruin by the time they arrived. Firefighters still doused the last of the flames, the acrid scent of smoke thick in the air. Jane Claudias, Emelly’s best friend and roommate, was already there, snapping photos for evidence. “This wasn’t an accident,” Jane said, handing Emelly her tablet. “Look at the security footage.” The screen showed shadowy figures slipping in moments before the blaze erupted. Lucas’s eyes darkened. “He’s sending a message.” Emelly clenched her fists. “Then we send one back.” --- Back at York Group, they convened an emergency meeting. Tony joined them, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by urgency. “Leo’s got a backup plan—something involving offshore accounts and a merger with a shell company. If he pulls it off, he’ll have enough leverage to destabilize us.” Linda Crow, who had reluctantly switched sides after Leo’s betrayal, scowled. “He’s always been paranoid. He’ll have fail-safes.” Lucas leaned forward.


“Then we dismantle them. Emelly, I need you to dig into his financial trails. Tony, keep feeding us intel. Linda—” He hesitated, then nodded. “Use whatever contacts you have left.” Linda’s lips thinned, but she agreed. As the team dispersed, Lucas caught Emelly’s wrist. “Be careful,” he murmured. She smirked. “Worried about me, Mr. CEO?” His grip tightened. “Always.” The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. --- That night, Emelly pored over files in her apartment, Jane pacing beside her. “This is insane,” Jane muttered. “Leo’s like a cockroach—you can’t just stomp him once.”


Emelly rubbed her tired eyes. “We’ll stomp harder.” Her phone buzzed—a message from an unknown number. You should’ve stayed out of this, wildflower. Her blood ran cold. Before she could react, the lights flickered—then died. A shadow moved outside her window.