The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 189

***Rowan***

I knew I fucked up.

The second Violet went silent in the SUV, I knew.

Not the normal tired silence either.

Not the emotionally drained silence we’d all been drowning in since the FBI showed up.

No. This was angry silence.

The dangerous kind.

The kind where she wouldn’t look at me no matter how many times I glanced toward her.

The fact she kept staring out the rain-covered window instead of yelling somehow made it worse.

Because Violet yelling at me I could handle.

Violet going quiet?

Absolutely terrifying.

Especially after I informed everyone there would be no work tomorrow.

That conversation alone nearly started another argument in the SUV.

“The garage still needs repairs,” Violet had immediately snapped.

“Yes,” I answered calmly. “And it will still need repairs after you sleep.”

“The front office—”

“Will survive.”

“The reservation systems—”

“Will survive.”

“The guests—”

“Will survive.”

Violet had narrowed her eyes at me so hard I genuinely thought she might bite me.

Devin thankfully backed me up for once.

Which honestly felt like divine intervention.

“The garage reconstruction can start tomorrow afternoon,” he’d explained tiredly while rubbing at his eyes. “Legal already approved emergency contractors.” Then he looked directly at Violet. “You need sleep.”

That still hadn’t fixed the situation though.

Because Violet stayed stubbornly quiet the entire rest of the drive home.

Even after we reached the penthouse.

Even after Theo practically carried a half-asleep Camille toward the guest rooms.

Even after Devin finally announced he was going home to his actual apartment “before rich people stress killed him.”

Smart man honestly.

Camille paused briefly beside Violet near the elevators once we were inside. “I can talk to her if you want.”

I looked toward the couch where Violet already sat curled tightly beneath one of the blankets from the backrest.

Facing away from me. Still refusing to look at me. Still angry.

I shook my head quietly toward Camille.

“Go to bed.”

Camille hesitated.

Then sighed softly before nodding.

“Don’t make her cry.”

Theo immediately pointed toward me while half asleep.

“That’s actually solid advice.”

Then thankfully they disappeared down the hallway too.

And suddenly… It was just me and Miss Cranky.

The penthouse had gone completely quiet now except for rain hitting the windows.

Violet stayed curled beneath the blanket on the couch without moving.

I stared at her for a long moment.

Then looked at the clock.

Ten minutes.

I gave her exactly ten minutes to continue her silent protest before finally walking toward the couch.

The second I leaned down, Violet immediately tightened the blanket around herself.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Rowan.”

“Violet.”

“You’re annoying.”

“You’re sleeping in bed.”

“I’m sleeping here.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Yes I am.”

Honestly?

Watching my tiny pregnant wife attempt to aggressively claim the couch while wrapped like an angry burrito should not have been as adorable as it was.

But unfortunately for me?

It absolutely was.

I slid one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back before lifting her straight off the couch.

Violet immediately gasped in outrage. “Rowan Ashcroft!”

“You’re dramatic.”

“You're kidnapping me!”

“I'm carrying you twelve feet.”

“Against my will!”

Theo’s muffled voice suddenly echoed from somewhere down the hallway, “I CAN STILL HEAR YOU GUYS.”

I ignored him completely while carrying Violet toward our bedroom.

She crossed both arms tightly over her chest while glaring up at me the entire way there.

If looks could kill, I would’ve died near the kitchen island.

I shut the bedroom door behind us with my foot before finally setting her carefully onto the edge of the bed.

The second her feet touched the floor, she tried standing immediately.

Absolutely not.

I caught her gently by the waist before she could escape. “Stop running away from me.”

“I’m not running away from you.”

“You literally cocooned yourself on the couch.”

“I was making a statement.”

“You were being stubborn.”

“You hired my replacement!”

“I hired support staff.”

“You hired another woman to stare at you professionally.”

I blinked once.

Then despite myself… I almost laughed.

Wrong choice.

Violet narrowed her eyes immediately. “Don’t.”

I exhaled slowly before crouching down in front of her.

And for the first time since we got home…

I softened my voice. “Baby.”

That immediately weakened her glare slightly.

Good.

I carefully slipped her heels off one at a time before setting them neatly beside the closet.

Then gently helped her out of the cream-colored dress she’d worn all day.

Careful. Slow. Not sexual.

Just taking care of her.

I grabbed one of my oversized shirts from the dresser before helping her pull it on.

The fabric nearly swallowed her whole which made me smirk.

I hung her dress carefully inside the closet before turning back toward the bed.

Violet was already half laying down now with her eyes barely open.

Still angry.

But losing the battle against exhaustion rapidly.

Good.

I pulled the blankets over her carefully before tucking them around her shoulders.

Then finally stripped down to my boxers before climbing into bed beside her.

The second I settled against the mattress, Violet immediately shifted away from me slightly in protest.

Still stubborn.

Still angry.

Still my wife.

I wrapped one arm carefully around her waist anyway before pulling her gently back against my chest.

She huffed dramatically.

“I’m still mad at you.”

“I know.”

“You don’t get to replace me.”

“We’ll discuss it later.”

“There is no discussion.”

“Tired people don’t get executive decision-making privileges.”

“That sounds fake.”

“It should.”

Violet grumbled something else angrily under her breath before trying to wiggle away again.

I tightened my hold slightly.

“No.”

“You’re clingy.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

To me it absolutely was.

I rested my forehead quietly against the back of her head while listening to the storm outside.

And slowly… Very slowly… Her body finally relaxed against mine.

The tension left her shoulders first. Then her breathing softened.

Then about five minutes later… Tiny little snores.

I smiled instantly.

Because despite everything, she was here. Safe. In my arms.

I brushed one soft kiss against her hair before closing my eyes.

Hopefully…

She’d forgive me tomorrow.