The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 6

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower


Chater 6: The Devil’s Bargain


The first thing Emelly registered was the sterile scent of antiseptic. The second was the dull, throbbing pain in her side. She groaned, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital room. “Finally awake?” The deep, gravelly voice sent a jolt through her. She turned her head—slowly, because moving too fast made her ribs protest—and found Lucas York sitting in the chair beside her bed, his suit rumpled, his usually immaculate hair disheveled. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his jaw was clenched so tightly she could see the muscle twitching. “You look terrible,” she croaked. His lips thinned. “You got stabbed protecting me. I think I’m allowed to look terrible.” Stabbed. Right.


The parking garage.


Leo’s men. The pain flared again as the memories rushed back—Lucas fighting, the glint of a knife, her throwing herself in front of him without thinking. She swallowed. “How long was I out?” “Eighteen hours.” His voice was clipped, but there was something beneath it—something raw. She frowned.


“You stayed here the whole time?” His fingers flexed against his knee. “I had to make sure you weren’t secretly working for Brown Group.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, because bleeding out in a parking garage is the perfect cover.”


A flicker of something passed over his face—guilt?—before he schooled it back into his usual icy mask. “You’re impossible.” “And yet, here you are.” She shifted, wincing. “So, did I at least get a raise for nearly dying?” He exhaled sharply, almost a laugh. Almost. “You’re fired.” She gasped dramatically. “After I took a knife for you? That’s cold, even for you.”


His gaze dropped to her bandaged side, and for the first time, she saw something vulnerable in his expression. “Why did you do it?” The question caught her off guard. She opened her mouth, then closed it. The truth was, she didn’t know. One second, she’d seen the knife, and the next, she was shoving him out of the way. Before she could answer, the door burst open. “Emelly!” Jane rushed in, eyes wide with panic, followed closely by Tony. Lucas stood abruptly, his presence suddenly dominating the room.


“She’s fine,” he said, though his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced himself. Jane ignored him, grabbing Emelly’s hand.


“You scared me to death! What were you thinking?” “That our CEO’s face is too pretty to get slashed?” Emelly joked weakly. Lucas’s jaw tightened further. Tony cleared his throat. “Uh, boss, we have a problem.” He hesitated, glancing at Emelly. “Spit it out,” Lucas snapped. Tony handed over a tablet.


“Leo Brown just leaked confidential York Group files to the press. And—” He swallowed. “He’s framing Emelly as the mole.” Silence. Emelly’s blood ran cold. “What?” Lucas’s expression darkened as he scanned the screen.


Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze to hers. She saw it—the doubt. Her stomach twisted. “You can’t possibly believe that.” He didn’t answer. Jane bristled. “Oh, come on! She almost died for you!” Tony shifted uncomfortably. “The evidence is pretty convincing. Fake emails, doctored security footage…” Lucas finally spoke, his voice dangerously quiet. “Prove it’s fake.” Emelly stared at him. After everything, he was going to doubt her now? Fine. If he wanted proof, she’d give it to him. She pushed herself up, ignoring the pain. “Get me my laptop.” Lucas didn’t move. “You’re in no condition—”


“Get. Me. My. Laptop.” She met his gaze, unflinching. “Or are you afraid of what I’ll find?” A tense beat passed. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Lucas nodded at Tony, who hurried out. Jane squeezed her hand.


“You’re insane.” Emelly smirked. “And yet, this is the sanest I’ve ever been.” When Tony returned, she got to work, fingers flying over the keys despite the ache in her side. Within minutes, she uncovered the digital trail—the files had been planted, the timestamps altered. She turned the screen toward Lucas.


“See? The real mole is still out there.” His eyes locked onto hers, something unreadable in their depths. Then, quietly, he said, “I know.” She blinked. “You—what?” “I never believed it was you.” She gaped. “Then why—” “Because I needed to see if you could prove it.” A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “And you did.”


She wanted to strangle him. “You’re the worst.” “And yet, here you are,” he echoed her earlier words, the ghost of amusement in his voice. Before she could retort, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and his expression hardened.


“Leo’s making his move. He’s calling a press conference in two hours to ‘expose’ York Group’s corruption.” Tony cursed. “If he spins this right, the board will panic. They might force you out.” Lucas’s grip on the phone tightened. “Not happening.” Emelly studied him—the tension in his shoulders, the way his free hand pressed against his temple. His migraine was back. An idea sparked. “I have a plan,” she said.


Everyone turned to her. Lucas raised a brow. “Do I want to hear it?” “No. But you’re going to.” She grinned. “Because it involves me walking right into Leo’s trap.” Lucas’s face went deadly serious. “Absolutely not.” “Hear me out. If Leo thinks I’m the mole, he’ll trust me. I can get close, plant evidence that exposes him instead.” “Too dangerous.” “More dangerous than letting him ruin York Group?” She held his gaze.


“This is the only way.” Silence stretched between them. Then, finally, Lucas exhaled. “Fine. But I’m coming with you.” She snorted. “In what world would Leo believe you’d turn on your own company?” “Not me.” His eyes gleamed. “We’ll make it look like you’re blackmailing me. That you’ve forced me to cooperate.” Jane whistled. “That’s… actually not terrible.” Tony nodded. “If we leak fake tension between you two, Leo might buy it.” Emelly chewed her lip. It was risky. If Leo suspected a double-cross, things could go south fast. But it was their best shot. She met Lucas’s gaze. “You’re really okay with this?” Something flickered in his eyes—something that made her breath catch. “Just don’t get stabbed again.” She smirked.


“No promises.” As they finalized the plan, Emelly couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into something far bigger than they realized. And when Lucas’s hand brushed hers as he helped her stand—just for a second—his migraine vanished again. His sharp inhale told her he’d noticed. But neither of them said a word.


Because the real danger was just beginning.


--- To Be Continued… Will Emelly’s plan work, or is Leo already one step ahead? What happens when Lucas realizes the truth about his migraines? And with the board breathing down his neck, how far will he go to protect her? Find out in Chapter 7: The Double Cross.