The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 4

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower


Chapter 4:


Sparks and Sabotage


Emelly Clus had never been one to back down from a challenge, but Lucas York was testing her limits. After their narrow escape from Leo Brown’s ambush at the gala, Lucas had dragged her into his office, his grip tight around her wrist—only to freeze when his migraine vanished the second their skin touched. His sharp inhale made her pulse jump, but she yanked her hand away before he could comment. "What was that?" he demanded, his dark eyes narrowing. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," Emelly lied smoothly, though her traitorous heartbeat betrayed her. Lucas didn’t buy it. Instead, he smirked—a rare, dangerous expression—and tossed a file onto his desk. "Prove you’re not working for Brown Group. Find the mole in my company before the Sterling deal collapses." Emelly gaped. "You want me to play detective now?" "Consider it job security." His tone was ice, but his gaze burned. "Unless you’d rather admit you can’t handle it?" Oh, that man was infuriating.


Three days later, Emelly had turned York Group’s records upside down, memorizing every suspicious transaction, every odd email. Her photographic memory was her greatest weapon, and she wielded it mercilessly—much to Lucas’s reluctant admiration. Their arguments had become a daily spectacle. "You’re following the wrong lead," Lucas snapped as she pinned another document to the investigation board. "Says the man who didn’t notice his own CFO was skimming funds," Emelly shot back. A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Careful, Clus. I could fire you." "You won’t," she said sweetly. "Because I’m the only one who can fix this mess." The tension between them crackled, a mix of frustration and something else—something that made Emelly’s breath hitch when their fingers brushed accidentally. Then, disaster struck. --- Linda Crow had been watching. Emelly didn’t realize it until she found her meticulously gathered evidence shredded in the office printer. Worse, Tony Bright—her only ally—was suddenly reassigned to a remote branch, leaving her isolated. "You’re losing, country girl," Linda purred, leaning against Emelly’s desk. "The CEO might be intrigued now, but he’ll discard you like everyone else." Emelly forced a smirk. "Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Linda. Try a facial." But the damage was done.


That night, as Emelly poured over backup files in her apartment, Jane groaned. "You’re obsessed. Admit it—you like him." "I’d rather lick a cactus," Emelly muttered. Yet when Lucas called at midnight, his voice rough with exhaustion, her heart did a traitorous flip. "Meet me at the docks," he ordered. "We’ve got a problem."


The docks were deserted, the air thick with salt and danger. Lucas stood in the shadows, his coat whipping in the wind. "Brown Group’s smuggling counterfeit parts through our shipments," he said without preamble. "If they reach our clients, York Group is finished." Emelly’s blood ran cold. "How do we stop it?" "We don’t." His gaze locked onto hers. "You do. I need you to board that ship and disable the cargo." Her stomach dropped. "You’re insane."


"You’re the only one who can." His hand caught hers, sending that same inexplicable warmth through her veins. "Unless you’re scared?" Emelly jerked away, but the challenge in his eyes was undeniable. "Fine. But if I die, I’m haunting you first.


" Lucas smirked. "I’d expect nothing less." As she crept toward the ship, one thought consumed her: What the hell have I gotten myself into?


To Be Continued… Will Emelly survive the dangerous mission? Who is the real traitor in York Group? And why does Lucas’s touch send fire through her veins? Find out in Chapter 5: Blood and Betrayal.