The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 188

*Violet*

By the time we finally left Ashcroft Industries, it was almost four in the morning and the storm outside looked genuinely apocalyptic.

Rain slammed violently against the SUV while thunder rolled so loudly it practically shook the parking garage walls.

I was exhausted.

Like physically soul-tired exhausted.

The kind where your body stops feeling real after a certain point.

Rowan kept one hand against my lower back the entire walk toward the SUV like he genuinely thought I might collapse if he let go for longer than three seconds.

Theo slid into the very back seat first while Camille immediately curled against him half-asleep already.

Devin climbed into the passenger seat looking emotionally deceased.

Meanwhile Rowan practically guided me into the middle row beside him before pulling the door shut firmly behind us.

And the second I settled into the seat?

A blanket appeared over my lap.

I blinked slowly down at it.

Then toward Rowan. “…Did you bring a blanket to work?”

Rowan looked completely serious. “Yes.”

Theo snorted loudly from the backseat. “He made security stop at the penthouse earlier.”

“You WHAT?”

Rowan ignored both of us entirely while adjusting the blanket higher over my legs.

The emotional damage this man was doing to me lately felt illegal.

The SUV slowly pulled out onto the rain soaked streets while silence settled around us for a few minutes.

Mostly because everybody looked one inconvenience away from unconsciousness.

Camille finally broke first.

“I’m never emotionally recovering from today.”

Theo rubbed tiredly at his face. “You cried because Bennett confiscated your fourth coffee.”

“She judged me.”

“She’s federal.”

“She’s anti-woman.”

I shifted slightly against the seat while resting my head back.

And almost immediately Rowan’s hand settled against my knee.

Not possessive.

Just there.

Grounding me.

Dangerous behavior honestly.

The city lights blurred across the rain covered windows while the SUV headed away from downtown.

Then suddenly… We turned the opposite direction from the penthouse.

I frowned immediately. “…Where are we going?”

Rowan glanced toward me briefly. “The house.”

My brain took a second to process that. “The house?”

“The one you liked.”

Oh.

Oh no.

My stomach flipped nervously.

The SUV continued down a long winding road lined with trees before massive black iron gates finally appeared ahead through the storm.

And then slowly…

They opened.

I sat up straighter immediately.

The property beyond them was enormous.

Long private driveway.

Towering trees.

Rain soaked gardens.

Soft exterior lights glowing warmly against dark stone walls further ahead.

And the house itself…

Oh my God.

Even in the storm it looked beautiful.

Large wraparound porch.

Massive windows.

Warm lights glowing softly inside.

Safe.

It looked safe.

My chest tightened painfully.

Rowan watched my face carefully beside me while the SUV slowly rolled farther onto the property.

“I bought it.”

I looked toward him immediately.

“What?”

“I bought it tonight.”

Oh my God.

Theo leaned forward. “And apparently we live here now too.”

Camille looked thrilled instantly. “I KNEW IT.”

I blinked slowly between all of them. “What?”

Rowan shifted slightly toward me now. “Theo and Camille agreed to move in.”

My eyes widened immediately. “What?”

Theo raised one hand weakly. “Apparently I’m being emotionally adopted.”

Camille looked deeply unbothered. “I already picked out curtains mentally.”

Rowan continued calmly like this wasn’t completely insane behavior. “The mother-in-law suite is being converted into a homeschool building.”

I stared at him. “…Excuse me?”

“You already agreed to homeschooling earlier.”

I blinked once. Then twice. “…I did say that.”

“You did.”

Oh my God.

Rowan kept going.

“I already sent the blueprints off for renovations.” He pointed vaguely toward the far side of the property. “Another living room addition for Theo and Camille’s side of the house. Expanded kitchen access if needed.”

Theo nodded immediately. “And I negotiated for a gaming room.”

“You negotiated?”

“With my suffering.”

I stared back out toward the massive house again while trying to process the fact that Rowan apparently handled life-altering decisions at the speed of light.

Then suddenly another horrifying realization hit me. “…Wait.”

Rowan looked toward me immediately. “I also put up a hiring post tonight.”

My entire body stiffened. No. Absolutely not.

“For what position?”

Silence.

Theo immediately looked deeply interested in the rain outside.

Camille suddenly fake-coughed into her hand.

Oh no.

I slowly turned toward Rowan. “What. Position.”

His expression stayed way too calm. “Front desk executive receptionist.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You replaced me?”

“No.”

“ROWAN.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“And?”

“And you were being stalked by corrupt police officers while working fourteen hour days.”

I pointed directly at him. “That does not mean you get to fire me!”

“I’m not firing you.”

“You literally hired my replacement!”

“I hired support staff.”

“That’s corporate sugar daddy language and you know it!”

Theo burst out laughing in the backseat.

Camille looked delighted.

Meanwhile I was emotionally ready to fight my husband in the middle of a rainstorm.

“I am not quitting my job,” I informed him sharply.

Rowan stayed completely calm beside me. “You’re not working front desk anymore.”

“Oh my God.”

“I’m serious.”

“And I’m serious too!” I snapped. “I like working!”

“You can still work.”

“Not if some other woman is sitting at my desk staring at you all damn day like Avery used to!”

The SUV went completely silent.

Theo slowly whispered, “…Oh this is REALLY about to become a fight.”

Camille slapped a hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.

Rowan blinked once beside me.

Then somehow... Somehow... This asshole looked amused. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m pregnant and emotionally unstable.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Oh my God.”

Theo was physically wheezing laughing now.

Meanwhile Rowan looked way too pleased with himself.

Then Theo made the mistake of speaking again. “I mean to be fair, Avery did stare at him a lot—”

“I KNOW.”

Camille suddenly sat up straighter excitedly. “Oh! Theo put up a hiring post for my position too.”

I blinked once. Then looked toward Theo slowly. “You WHAT?”

Theo immediately pointed toward Camille defensively. “She didn’t want to work anymore!”

“Because I want to be a stay-at-home wife and mother,” Camille announced proudly. “Like the universe intended.”

Camille sighed dreamily while looking out toward the massive house again. “I’m gonna wear matching pajamas and make muffins.”

Theo looked terrified. “I think pregnancy made her more powerful.”

Probably.

Meanwhile I stared back toward Rowan again. “You are not replacing me.”

His hand settled quietly over mine this time. Warm. Steady.

“You’re my wife,” he said softly. “And now you’re carrying our child.”

My chest tightened immediately.

Rowan’s thumb brushed slowly across my knuckles. “I’m going to protect you whether you like it or not.”