The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 181

***Violet***

By the time Rowan finally forced me to sit down and eat something, the executive floor had somehow crossed the line from “corporate disaster” into “barely functioning emotional support group.”

Legal was still arguing quietly near the elevators. Theo had stolen somebody’s expensive pen and was clicking it nonstop like a psychopath. Camille had somehow ordered a second coffee despite already vibrating at concerning frequencies.

And Rowan?

Rowan was hovering so badly it was honestly becoming impressive. The man had apparently decided I was no longer capable of basic human survival functions without supervision.

Not that I was complaining. I liked it. More than I probably should have.

It made me feel… seen. Important. Like somebody was actually paying attention to whether I was okay for once instead of just expecting me to keep functioning no matter what happened.

The sandwich sitting in front of me was proof of that.

I stared down at it suspiciously. Then back up at Rowan standing beside my desk. “…Did you make this?”

Rowan looked mildly offended. “I know how to make sandwiches.”

Theo immediately looked up from his chair. “That is absolutely not the point here.”

Camille pointed dramatically toward the sandwich. “He cut it diagonally.”

Theo gasped. “Oh he’s in LOVE love.”

“I hate all of you,” Rowan muttered flatly.

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me. And the second I did, Rowan visibly relaxed slightly. Like hearing me laugh physically lowered his blood pressure.

I took another bite of the sandwich quietly while Rowan remained standing near my desk like a six foot four emotionally constipated guard dog.

The executive floor had finally calmed slightly by the time the conference room doors opened almost two hours later.

Every head immediately turned.

Agent Bennett stepped out first. Calm. Collected. Professional.

And Avery stepped out behind her in handcuffs.

The entire floor froze.

“What the hell?” Theo blurted immediately.

My stomach dropped.

Avery looked destroyed. Completely emotionally hollowed out.

Before I even fully processed what I was doing, I shoved my chair back and stood up fast enough it screeched loudly across the floor.

“No.”

Agent Bennett looked toward me immediately.

I moved directly into her path before she could even make it halfway toward the elevators.

“You cannot take her to that police station.” The words came out sharper than intended.

Agent Bennett’s expression stayed calm. “Mrs. Ashcroft—”

“No.” I shook my head hard. “Absolutely not.”

The entire executive floor had gone silent again.

I pointed directly toward Avery. “I don’t know what she told you in there and honestly right now I don’t care.” My voice cracked slightly from exhaustion and frustration. “But if this has anything to do with Calder or Hargrove and you put her in that station, she’ll either disappear or end up dead within twenty-four hours.”

Agent Bennett studied me carefully.

Behind me, Rowan immediately stepped forward. “She’s right.”

Theo nodded once sharply. “That department is compromised.”

Even Devin finally spoke from near the legal team. “Half the station either worked with Calder or benefited from Hargrove’s funding.” His expression darkened slightly. “And they’re furious Calder’s dead.”

Avery visibly looked sicker hearing that out loud.

Agent Bennett stayed perfectly calm through all of it. Then finally she nodded once. “She’s not going to the police station.”

The tension in my chest loosened slightly.

Agent Bennett continued professionally, “She’s being transferred directly into Internal Affairs custody for further questioning.”

Avery stared blankly toward the floor.

“And after that,” Bennett added carefully, “most likely federal witness protection due to the nature of her testimony against Councilwoman Hargrove.”

Witness protection.

Jesus Christ.

This was really happening.

I slowly stepped out of Bennett’s way finally. “Okay.”

Agent Bennett gave me one last look before guiding Avery toward the elevators.

Right before the doors opened, though, Bennett paused. Then looked back toward us. “I’ll be back in five minutes.” Her eyes shifted briefly toward Rowan. “Please stay here until then.”

The elevator doors shut behind them a second later.

And somehow the second they disappeared, my body immediately decided it was done functioning again.

Oh no. I froze. That awful little flip hit my stomach again suddenly. Then the tingling started along my jawline.

Oh God. No no no.

I knew that feeling. I slapped a hand over my mouth instantly before bolting toward the hallway bathroom.

“Jesus Christ,” Theo muttered behind me.

I could hear Rowan calling after me as I hurried down the hallway as fast as my heels would let me. “Violet!”

I barely made it into the bathroom stall before getting violently sick again. Everything came back up. The sandwich. The expensive coffee I had attempted to drink again. Even the chocolates Devin gave me earlier to help stop my hands from shaking thinking it was low blood sugar.

My entire body trembled afterward while I leaned exhausted against the side of the stall trying not to cry from frustration.

What the hell was wrong with me today?

A knock sounded softly against the stall door.Then Camille’s voice. “Move over, dramatic ass.”

I groaned weakly. “Please leave me here to die.”

“No.”

The stall door opened a second later and Camille immediately crouched beside me while digging frantically through her giant purse.

“Hold on,” she muttered while tossing random items aside. “Hold on hold on hold on…”

I wiped weakly at my mouth. “What are you doing?”

Camille suddenly froze. Then slowly looked up at me.

And in her hand… A pregnancy test.

Absolutely not.

I stared at it in disbelief. Then at her. Then back at the test. “…Camille.”

She handed it toward me anyway. “Take it.”

I immediately shook my head. “I don’t need that.”

“Yes you do.”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes. You absolutely do.”

I stared at her like she’d lost her damn mind. “It’s stress,” I argued immediately. “Obviously.”

Camille just kept staring at me.

“Tons of stress,” I continued. “Like murder-conspiracy-level stress.”

Still staring.

“And it would literally be way too early anyway,” I added quickly. “My period isn’t even due for another week.”