The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 186

***Rowan***

The second Violet quietly excused herself to the bathroom again, my entire body immediately tensed.

Of course it did.

She noticed instantly too because before I could even stand up, she pointed directly at me from across the desk.

“Do not follow me.”

I frowned immediately. “You threw up twice today.”

“And I’m still capable of peeing independently.”

Theo immediately snorted into his now cold pasta.

I ignored him completely while watching Violet grab her coat tighter around herself before disappearing down the hallway.

The second she vanished from sight, my chest tightened uncomfortably.

Theo watched me carefully for a second before slowly setting his fork down. “…You’re spiraling.”

“No I’m not.”

“You literally watched her walk to the bathroom like she was being deployed overseas.”

Devin quietly stood from the far desk while grabbing several legal folders under one arm. “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear any of this.”

The second Devin disappeared toward legal, the executive floor suddenly felt quieter.

The rain outside hammered steadily against the massive windows while Camille’s muffled voice occasionally drifted through the conference room walls as Agent Bennett questioned her.

Theo leaned back in his chair slowly before rubbing both hands over his face.

“Well,” he muttered tiredly. “This is horrifying.”

I looked toward him flatly. “Which part?”

“All of it.”

Theo stared down at his pasta for another long moment before finally laughing weakly under his breath.

“We’re gonna be dads.”

The words landed strangely hard in my chest.

Because somehow hearing somebody else say it out loud made everything feel even more real.

I leaned back slowly in my chair while staring out toward the rain soaked city below.

“We’re gonna be dads,” Theo repeated quieter this time like he still couldn’t fully process it either.

Neither could I honestly.

Because suddenly my mind kept violently jumping between bombings, federal investigations, and threats against Violet. And then somehow... tiny shoes.

Theo finally looked over toward me carefully.

“You okay?”

No. Absolutely not.

But I still answered automatically anyway. “Fine.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Yes.”

Theo snorted softly before leaning back further into the couch.

For a long moment neither of us spoke. Then finally, “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

That one caught me off guard enough I looked over at him immediately.

Theo laughed weakly at himself. “Seriously. I have no idea how to be somebody’s father.”

The vulnerability in his voice hit harder than expected.

I rubbed a hand slowly over my jaw while exhaling heavily.

“I don’t either.”

Theo blinked once like he genuinely hadn’t expected me to admit that.

“I mean…” He gestured vaguely toward me. “You seem more prepared.”

“I’m buying panic rooms.”

“Okay fair.”

I stared toward the conference room quietly for another second before finally speaking again.

“I almost lost her today.”

Theo’s expression softened instantly.

“She’s okay.”

“For now.”

The words came out sharper than intended.

Because that was the problem.

For now.

That wasn’t good enough anymore.

Not after the threats.

Not after Calder.

Not after finding out somebody had intentionally stalked Violet for months trying to psychologically destroy her.

And now?

Now she was pregnant.

Theo stayed quiet while I gathered my thoughts.

Then finally I looked toward him fully.

“I meant what I said earlier.”

Theo frowned slightly. “About what?”

“You and Camille.”

Realization slowly crossed his face. “Oh.”

I leaned forward slightly now, lowering my voice despite nobody being nearby enough to overhear us. “I don’t want you far away.”

Theo went still.

“I want you both safe.” My jaw tightened harder. “Close enough that I know where you are at all times.”

Theo stared at me carefully now. Not joking anymore. Not teasing. Just listening.

“That’s why I told you to make up your minds,” I continued quietly. “Either you’re living with us or you’re buying the property next door.”

Theo blinked slowly. “Rowan…”

“No.”

I shook my head immediately. “I’m serious.”

And I was. Completely serious. Because suddenly this wasn’t just about me and Violet anymore.

This was family. Real family. The kind I never thought I’d actually have.

I rubbed tiredly at my forehead before continuing quieter this time. “Violet already agreed to homeschooling.”

Theo looked genuinely surprised. “She did?”

I nodded once. “There’s a mother-in-law suite on the property. She was talking about turning it into a little school building for the children.” My brain was already ten steps ahead again. “We can expand it if needed. Add another kitchen. Separate living areas. More security.”

Theo stared at me in disbelief. “You really thought this through in like twenty minutes.”

“No.” I looked toward the hallway Violet disappeared down. “I thought it through the second I saw that pregnancy test.”

Silence settled heavily between us again.

Then finally Theo laughed softly under his breath. “You’re terrified.”

“Yes.”

“And obsessed.”

“Yes.”

“And already planning their entire lives.”

“Yes.”

Theo shook his head slowly while smiling despite himself. Then quieter, “You really love her, huh?”

That one didn’t even require thought. “Yes.” Immediate. Absolute. No hesitation whatsoever.

Theo’s smile softened at that. Then after a second, “You know Camille’s gonna turn the kids into tiny chaos goblins, right?”

I huffed out the smallest laugh before leaning back again. “Good.”

Theo looked toward the conference room doors where Camille still sat inside with Bennett. Then back toward the hallway Violet disappeared down. “We’re really doing this.”

The elevator doors finally opened again a few minutes later and Devin stepped out holding several rolled blueprints underneath one arm along with his tablet.

The second he walked toward us, I already knew.

“They accepted the bid,” he said calmly.

Good.

Something inside my chest loosened immediately.

Devin set the blueprints across the desk before unrolling them carefully.

The property layout spread across the polished wood surface instantly.

Theo leaned forward beside me while rubbing tiredly at his jaw.

“Well,” he muttered quietly. “That escalated quickly.”

I barely heard him.

Because suddenly my brain was already reconstructing the entire property in real time.

Security routes.

Camera placement.

Safe entry points.

Children running through the backyard.

Jesus Christ.

Children.

Devin pointed toward the eastern side of the property. “The guest suite is already detached enough for privacy if Theo and Camille want separate living space.”

Theo stared down at the layout for a long moment. Then finally sighed heavily. “Fine.”

I looked toward him immediately.

Theo pointed dramatically at the blueprint. “But add another living room onto our side of the house.”

I blinked once. “You’re agreeing?”

Theo rubbed both hands down his face tiredly. “I’ll talk Camille into it.”

Good.

Because the thought of them being somewhere else right now physically made my chest tighten.

I immediately looked toward Devin again.

“Add two extra bedrooms.”

Devin nodded while typing notes into his tablet immediately.

“Another living area on the opposite side of the property too.”

“Done.”

“I want the entire property fenced.”

Theo snorted softly beside me. “You’re building a compound.”

“Yes. Add in top tier security system,” I continued calmly. “Motion detection. Gate surveillance. Internal panic alerts. Private backup power.”

Devin’s eyebrows slowly lifted higher the longer I talked.

“And three safe rooms.”