The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 191

***Violet***

Rowan helped me up from the bathroom floor slowly like I might break apart if he moved too fast.

The nausea had mostly settled now, leaving behind that weird shaky exhaustion that made my whole body feel heavy.

Rowan kept one hand firmly against my lower back as we walked back into the bedroom together.

Still hovering. Still ridiculously protective. Still acting like I was carrying the crown jewels instead of a baby currently the size of a blueberry.

Rowan pulled the blankets back before helping me climb into bed first. Then immediately tucked the blankets around me like I was entering hibernation for the winter.

“You’re overdoing it,” I muttered sleepily.

“You threw up.”

“That’s apparently normal now.”

“I hate that.”

He climbed into bed beside me a second later before immediately pulling me back against his chest again. Warm. Safe. Comforting.

My eyes drifted closed briefly before his hand settled lightly against my stomach again. Still careful. Still almost hesitant.

Like he couldn’t fully believe this was real yet. Neither could I.

Silence settled softly between us for a few minutes. Not awkward. Just peaceful.

Then suddenly Rowan spoke quietly against my hair. “We should probably discuss names eventually.”

My eyes immediately opened again. “Oh my God.”

“What?”

“We’re really doing this.”

“Yes.”

I shifted slightly so I could look back at him better.

His hair was still messy from sleep and stress while exhaustion shadowed heavily beneath his eyes.

But somehow… He looked softer tonight. Less cold. Less controlled.

Like the walls around him had cracked open just enough for me to finally see everything underneath.

I smiled weakly. “Okay then.”

Rowan raised one eyebrow slightly. “Okay what?”

“Names.” I pointed weakly toward him. “You go first.”

Rowan looked deeply betrayed by that immediately. “No.”

“Yes.”

“I need preparation time.”

“You’re a billionaire CEO.”

“That’s entirely different.”

I thought quietly for a second before mumbling, “…I’ve always liked Oliver.”

Rowan nodded slowly beside me. “Oliver Ashcroft.”

I blinked once. “You said that really fast.”

“I’m testing the name professionally.”

“That’s not how babies work.”

“It should be.”

I laughed softly despite myself before thinking again. “What about Evelyn?”

Rowan looked horrified instantly. Absolutely horrified.

I stared at him for half a second before bursting into laughter. “Oh my God your FACE.”

“That woman emotionally ruined the name forever.” I laughed harder while Rowan looked deeply offended. “You did that on purpose.”

“Yes.”

“You’re evil.”

“I’m hormonal.”

“That’s becoming your excuse for everything.”

“And it’s working.”

Rowan sighed dramatically before thinking quietly for another second. “What about Charlotte?”

Oh. I actually loved that.

“That’s pretty.”

“It sounds intelligent.”

“You’re naming a future child, not hiring a lawyer.”

“You say that like there’s a difference in this family.”

I smiled softly while tracing lazy circles against the blanket. “What horrible names do you think Theo would suggest?”

Rowan immediately answered, “Optimus.”

I lost it laughing instantly. “Oh my God.”

“And Camille would absolutely support it.”

“She’d spell it weird too.”

“Optymus.”

I physically wheezed laughing into the pillow. Then suddenly, “Wait.” I looked up at him immediately. “Theo would absolutely suggest naming a boy after himself.”

Rowan looked exhausted just imagining it. “God help us.”

“Theodore Ashcroft the Second.”

“That sounds like a yacht owner.”

“That sounds like a tax evader.”

We both laughed quietly for another minute before the room slowly softened again.

The teasing faded. The exhaustion settled back in.

And somewhere in the middle of the silence… Rowan’s hand slowly tightened slightly against mine.

Then quietly, “If it’s a boy…”

Something in his voice made me look up immediately.

He wasn’t joking anymore. Wasn’t teasing. Just watching me softly in the dim light.

And then, “Andrew.”

My entire chest tightened instantly.

Oh.

Oh God.

Silence filled the room immediately afterward. Heavy. Emotional. Painfully soft.

Rowan swallowed slightly before continuing quieter now. “After your brother.”

That did it. Tears burned instantly behind my eyes so hard it physically hurt.

Because Drew should’ve been here for this. He should’ve teased me endlessly. Threatened Rowan dramatically. Bought stupid baby gifts.

He should’ve been here.

A shaky breath escaped me before I could stop it.

And immediately Rowan pulled me closer against him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered softly.

I shook my head quickly. “No,” I whispered back through the tears. “No, it’s okay.”

Because somehow… Somehow hearing Rowan say my brother’s name like that didn’t hurt in the awful way anymore.

It hurt gently. Like remembering someone you loved instead of just mourning them.

Rowan brushed one soft kiss against my forehead before whispering quietly against my skin, “I think he would’ve loved this baby.”

And God. That one completely broke me.

I swallowed hard before whispering shakily, “If it’s a boy…” My voice cracked immediately again.

God. I was a mess.

Rowan just watched me quietly though. Patient. Soft. Like he’d wait forever for me to get the words out.

I took another shaky breath. “Andrew Michael Ashcroft.”

The second I said it out loud… Something settled in my chest. Like the name belonged there already.

Rowan’s expression softened instantly. Not just emotional. Certain.

Like he could already picture it too.

“Andrew Michael,” he repeated quietly.

I shifted slightly closer toward him beneath the blankets before whispering:

“And if it’s a girl…”

Rowan’s hand tightened gently around mine.

“Charlotte Grace Ashcroft.”

The second the middle name left my mouth, Rowan went very still beside me.

Not upset. Just… quiet.

I frowned slightly through the dim lighting. “What?”

His eyes lowered briefly before lifting back toward mine. “Grace was my mother’s name.”

Oh. Oh no.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered immediately. “I didn’t know.”

Rowan shook his head softly. “No.” His expression gentled slightly. “You couldn’t have.”

Silence settled softly between us again.

Then after a second, the tiniest smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “She would’ve loved you though.”

That one hit me directly in the chest. “Really?”

“Yes.” The answer came too easily. Too honestly.

And somehow that made it hurt worse in the best possible way.

I looked down at our joined hands quietly while thinking again. Then finally, “What about Charlotte River Ashcroft?”

Rowan blinked once. “River?”

I nodded slightly. “It sounds peaceful.”

After everything we’d been through lately… Peace sounded nice.

Rowan thought quietly for a second before nodding once. “Charlotte River.” He tested the name softly like he did with Oliver earlier. Then smiled faintly against my hair. “I like that.”

Warmth spread slowly through my chest. Because suddenly this didn’t feel terrifying anymore.

Not completely. It felt real. Like somewhere in the middle of all the corruption and fear and chaos…

We accidentally started building a family.

I curled closer against Rowan instinctively while exhaustion finally started dragging heavily at my body again.

The last thing I felt before drifting off completely was Rowan pressing one soft kiss against the back of my head.

And quietly… Almost too soft to hear, “I love you.”