The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 74

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 74: Sparks and Starlight


The rooftop breeze carried the faint scent of Emelly’s vanilla perfume, mingling with the crisp night air. Lucas stood beside her, his fingers brushing against hers as if drawn by an invisible force. The moment was electric, charged with unspoken words and the weight of everything left unresolved between them. Emelly exhaled sharply, breaking the silence. "You know, if you keep staring at me like that, I might start thinking you actually like me." Lucas smirked, his usual icy demeanor thawing just for her. "Don’t flatter yourself, Clus. I’m just admiring how someone so infuriating can also be so..." His voice trailed off, his gaze dropping to her lips. "So what?" she challenged, tilting her chin up. "Distracting," he murmured. Before she could retort, his phone buzzed—again. Lucas clenched his jaw, the familiar tension of an impending migraine creeping in. Emelly noticed the subtle wince and, without thinking, reached for his hand. The moment their skin touched, the pain dissolved like mist under sunlight. Lucas blinked in surprise. "How do you do that?" "Do what?" she feigned innocence, though her fingers tightened around his. "Maybe you just need someone to keep you in line, York." He scoffed but didn’t pull away. Their moment was shattered by David’s voice crackling through the earpiece Lucas wore. "Sir, the board is demanding an emergency meeting. Brown Group just leaked falsified documents to the press." Lucas’s expression darkened. "Tell them I’ll be there in twenty." He turned to Emelly, reluctantly releasing her hand. "Duty calls." She crossed her arms. "And here I thought you were about to confess your undying love for me." "Keep dreaming," he shot back, but the corner of his mouth twitched. As he strode away, Emelly called after him, "Try not to miss me too much!" Lucas didn’t turn around, but she could’ve sworn his steps slowed just a fraction. --- Meanwhile, Bruno and Serritary were embroiled in their own battle of wills—this time over breakfast. "You can’t just put hot sauce in my coffee!" Bruno growled, wiping his tongue with a napkin. Serritary grinned, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "I can, and I did. Consider it payback for hogging the blankets." "You kicked me off the bed!" "Because you snore like a chainsaw!" Bruno glared, but there was no real heat in it. In fact, the more she teased him, the harder it was to remember why he’d ever resisted this marriage. Across town, Tony fidgeted outside Jane’s apartment, a bouquet of sunflowers clutched in his sweaty palms. When she finally opened the door, her eyes widened. "Are those... for me?" Tony swallowed hard. "Unless you know another Jane Claudias who terrifies me this much." Jane burst out laughing, the sound bright and unrestrained. "Good answer." --- Back at York Group, Lucas faced a room full of furious executives. Linda stood smugly in the corner, her lips curled in triumph. "The media is crucifying us," one board member snapped. "We need damage control, now." Lucas’s gaze flicked to Linda. "Funny how these documents surfaced right after Emelly humiliated you in court." Linda paled. "I had nothing to do with this!" "Prove it," Lucas said coldly. Then, to everyone’s shock, he pulled out his phone and dialed. "Emelly? I need you." Her voice, laced with amusement, floated through the speaker. "Aw, was that so hard to say?" "Just get here." "On one condition." Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "What?" "You admit I’m your secret weapon." The board members exchanged bewildered glances as Lucas muttered, "Fine. You’re my secret weapon." Emelly’s laughter was the last thing they heard before the line went dead. --- That night, under a sky dusted with stars, Lucas found Emelly on the rooftop again. She was leaning against the railing, her hair tousled by the wind. "You handled the board like a pro today," he admitted. She smirked. "I know." Silence settled between them, comfortable this time. Then, out of nowhere, Lucas said, "I don’t just need you for your brain, Emelly." Her breath hitched. "Oh? What else do you need me for, then?" Instead of answering, he closed the distance between them, his hand cupping her cheek. The world seemed to hold its breath as he whispered, "This." And then he kissed her. Emelly’s mind went blank, her fingers curling into his shirt as she kissed him back with equal fervor. When they finally pulled apart, Lucas rested his forehead against hers. "Took you long enough," she teased, her voice shaky. Lucas chuckled, low and rough. "Worth the wait." --- Summary of Chapter 74: Lucas and Emelly share a charged moment on the rooftop before work interrupts. Bruno and Serritary’s playful banter hints at growing affection. Tony nervously asks Jane out, and she happily accepts. At York Group, Linda’s sabotage backfires when Lucas publicly calls Emelly for help, admitting she’s his "secret weapon." The chapter ends with Lucas and Emelly sharing their first kiss under the stars, marking a turning point in their relationship.