The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 179

***Violet***

I looked toward Rowan automatically. His expression stayed unreadable for a second before he nodded once toward me.

And there it was again. That trust. That unspoken understanding.

He was putting the building in my hands.

I immediately turned toward the security desk line and grabbed the phone. “This is Violet Ashcroft,” I said calmly. “Initiate executive lockdown protocol immediately.”

The room shifted instantly after that. Doors locking electronically throughout the building. Elevators restricting access. Security personnel moving downstairs. Phones ringing harder again.

Chaos. But controlled chaos this time.

Agent Bennett watched all of it carefully before finally leaning slightly closer toward me. “Good.” Then her eyes flicked briefly toward the television still replaying Leah Frank’s report. “She just forced half this city into panic mode,” Bennett murmured.

Camille pointed toward the screen proudly. “Honestly? Kinda iconic.”

For the first time since stepping onto the executive floor, Agent Bennett actually smiled a little.

Then just like that, the smile vanished. Professional again. Controlled.

Her eyes shifted across the executive floor before finally landing on Avery standing near the conference room looking like she was about two seconds away from collapsing.

Agent Bennett pointed toward her calmly. “You’re first.”

Avery visibly stiffened.

Theo muttered quietly, “Well that sounds terrifying.”

Agent Bennett didn’t react to him at all. Her attention shifted toward Rowan instead. “Mr. Ashcroft,” she said professionally, “may we use your conference room?”

Rowan nodded once immediately. “Of course.”

Agent Bennett motioned for Avery to move. Avery hesitated briefly before slowly walking toward the conference room like she was approaching her own execution.

The second the conference room doors shut behind them, the atmosphere on the executive floor shifted again.

Not calmer. Worse. Because now everybody was left alone with their own thoughts.

And apparently Rowan’s thoughts were violent judging by the expression on his face as he crossed the executive floor directly toward me.

Oh boy. That look never meant anything good.

Camille noticed it too immediately. “Oh,” she muttered while backing away slowly with her coffee. “That’s a husband walk.”

Theo snorted loudly from somewhere. “She’s about to get CEO’d.”

“I hate that phrase.”

“You should. I just made it up.”

I barely heard either of them because Rowan stopped directly in front of my desk a second later.

And wow. He looked irritated. Not angry exactly. His jaw tight. Eyes sharp. Suit jacket still slightly wrinkled from the absolute hellfire of a day we’d had.

“What?” I asked cautiously.

Rowan stared at me for a long second before speaking quietly enough only I could hear. “You locked down the building without asking a single question.”

I blinked once. “…Was I supposed to?”

“That’s not the point.”

Now I was confused. “Then what is the point?”

His eyes searched mine carefully. “You trusted her immediately.”

Oh this wasn’t about the lockdown. This was about me... Again.

I leaned back slightly in my chair. “She’s FBI.”

“She’s federal,” Rowan corrected calmly. “That doesn’t automatically make her trustworthy.”

I stared at him for a second. Then realization hit me. Oh my God.

I narrowed my eyes slowly. “Are you jealous of the FBI agent?”

Theo immediately choked somewhere behind us. Camille actually slapped a hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.

Rowan looked deeply unimpressed. “I’m serious, Violet.”

“And so am I.”

His expression tightened slightly. “She walked in here already emotionally attached to your situation.”

That surprised me enough I paused. “What?”

“She read your file before coming here,” Rowan continued quietly. “She knows what happened to you.” His eyes narrowed slightly toward the conference room. “And now she’s emotionally invested.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You sound insane right now.”

“Probably.” That answer came way too fast.

Camille muttered under her breath, “At least he’s self-aware.”

His expression shifted slightly again as his eyes moved over my face carefully. “You look tired.”

My stomach flipped slightly. “I am tired.”

His jaw tightened more. “Have you eaten anything today?”

Oh no. Absolutely not. I narrowed my eyes immediately. “Don’t start.”

“Violet.”

“I’m serious. Don’t start acting weird.”

Theo immediately whispered loudly toward Camille, “He’s hovering again.”

“I know. It’s getting worse.”

“I can hear both of you.”

“Good.” Both of them said at the same time.

Rowan rubbed a hand slowly over his face like we were all collectively shortening his lifespan. He glanced toward Camille. “Can you have someone bring food up?”

Camille immediately pointed at herself dramatically. “Excuse you. I’m pregnant. I don’t delegate food responsibilities. I participate in them.”

Theo snorted loudly from behind her.

Rowan ignored both of them completely. “Violet hasn’t eaten enough today.”

I narrowed my eyes immediately. “You *are* being weird again.”

“You haven’t answered the question.”

“That’s because I know where this conversation is going.”

His expression stayed completely serious. “Do you want soup? Sandwiches? Something light?”

Camille gasped softly beside me. “Oh my God. He’s nesting.”

Theo immediately lost it laughing.

“I hate this office,” Rowan muttered flatly.

I sighed tiredly before rubbing at my forehead. “I’m fine, Rowan.”

That did absolutely nothing for him. Not even a little. I could physically see it in his face.

The concern still sitting there. Heavy. Persistent. Like he was one minor inconvenience away from wrapping me in bubble wrap and assigning federal protection to my desk chair.

“I’m serious,” I said softer this time. “I’m just tired.”

His jaw flexed slightly.

“And emotionally drained,” I admitted quietly. “I really just want to go home.”

The second the words leave my mouth, Rowan’s entire expression changes. Suddenly he’s moving.

Before I can even react, he walks around my desk and pulls me straight into his arms. Firm.

Like he physically couldn’t stop himself.

I inhale sharply in surprise before my hands automatically grab the front of his suit jacket to steady myself.

And unlike earlier… I’m not crying this time. Not falling apart. Not breaking down.

I’m just… tired. So unbelievably tired.

Rowan’s arms tighten around me slightly while one of his hands settles against the back of my head.

And suddenly something inside me softens painfully. Because God. He feels like home. Warm. Safe. Solid.

Like the second he wraps his arms around me, the rest of the world quiets down a little.

I rest my forehead lightly against his chest and close my eyes for just a second.

His heartbeat is steady beneath my ear.

That might be the first thing today that’s made me feel remotely okay.