The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 69

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 69: The Art of War and Whispered Promises


The York Group’s war room buzzed with tension, the air thick with the scent of coffee and desperation. Lucas stood at the head of the table, his jaw clenched, fingers drumming against the polished mahogany. Across from him, Emelly leaned over a spreadsheet, her brows furrowed in concentration. The numbers didn’t lie—Leo Brown’s financial sabotage had left deep gouges in their defenses, but she was determined to stitch them back together. “We have less than two hours before Leo’s press conference,” Tony said, adjusting his glasses. “If we don’t act now, the market will turn against us.”


Lucas’s migraine pulsed behind his temples, a relentless drumbeat of pain. His gaze flicked to Emelly, who, without looking up, reached across the table and squeezed his hand. The pain dissolved instantly, replaced by a warmth that spread through his chest. He exhaled, his grip tightening around hers for just a second before letting go. “We’re not playing defense anymore,” Emelly declared, flipping her laptop around to face the room. “Leo’s been siphoning funds through shell companies, but he left a trail. If we expose him first, his press conference becomes a confession.” Bruno, lounging in his chair with Serritary perched on the armrest, whistled low. “That’s bold. And risky.” Serritary smirked, twirling a lock of her dark hair around her finger. “Since when has ‘risky’ ever stopped us?” Lucas studied Emelly’s plan, his lips quirking despite himself. “You realize if this backfires, we’re all ruined.” She met his gaze, unflinching. “Then I guess we’ll have to make sure it doesn’t.”


The next hour was a blur of frantic phone calls, encrypted emails, and last-minute legal maneuvers. Emelly’s photographic memory proved invaluable as she recited obscure financial regulations, countering every loophole Leo had exploited. Tony and Jane worked in tandem, digging up dirt on Brown Group’s shady dealings, while Linda—much to her chagrin—was relegated to fetching coffee after her latest sabotage attempt had spectacularly imploded. Meanwhile, Bruno and Serritary had their own battle to fight. Their arranged marriage had started as a business transaction, but the tension between them had shifted into something far more volatile. “You’re staring,” Serritary muttered as she typed furiously on her tablet. Bruno didn’t deny it. “You’re distracting.” She rolled her eyes. “Focus, Halthorn. We have a corporate war to win.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And after?” She hesitated, then shot him a sideways glance. “After, we’ll see.”


Back in the war room, Lucas and Emelly stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the live feed of Leo’s press conference. The moment Leo stepped onto the stage, York Group’s counterattack went live—a meticulously timed leak to every major financial outlet, exposing Brown Group’s fraud. Leo’s confident smirk faltered as reporters’ phones began buzzing. The room erupted into chaos. Emelly exhaled sharply. “It’s working.” Lucas didn’t answer. Instead, he turned to her, his expression unreadable. “You could’ve walked away. Why didn’t you?” She shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Someone’s got to keep you out of trouble.” Before he could retort, David burst in, breathless. “Leo’s team is scrambling, but he’s not done yet. He’s calling an emergency board meeting—he’s going after York Group’s shares.” Lucas’s eyes darkened. “Then we move now.” As the team dispersed for the next phase of their plan, Emelly lingered, catching Lucas’s sleeve. “We’re going to win this.” He studied her for a long moment, then did something he’d never done before—he cupped her face in his hands and pressed a firm, fleeting kiss to her forehead. “We will.” And then he was gone, leaving Emelly standing there, her cheeks burning, her heart racing.