The CEO Above My Desk Chapter 205

Rowan

Watching Violet pack for Hawaii was honestly one of the more stressful experiences of my life.

And considering the last month involved corrupt politicians, federal investigations, attempted framing, and a missing FBI agent…

That was saying something.

“I don’t think any of this is going to fit me.”

I looked up from my suitcase slowly.

Violet stood in the middle of our bedroom holding up two sundresses dramatically while staring down at her stomach like she expected it to suddenly inflate overnight.

“You are aware babies don’t grow at supernatural speed, correct?”

Her eyes narrowed immediately. “You don’t know that.”

“I’m fairly confident.”

“That sounds like something a man would say.”

Meanwhile across the penthouse, Camille had fully entered pregnancy nesting mode apparently because Theo texted me three separate times asking how many swimsuits a single human being reasonably needed for one vacation.

My answer:

I have absolutely no fucking idea.

But when Camille walked out of the guest room carrying another suitcase and Theo looked one inconvenience away from collapsing…

I finally understood his concern.

Because Camille was showing. Not dramatically. But enough.

Enough that the softer summer dress she wore curved slightly over her stomach now. Enough that strangers would probably assume she was farther along than she technically should’ve been.

And unfortunately… Violet noticed too.

Of course she did.

I caught her staring twice while we packed. Not judgmental. Worried. Her brain was already spiraling again.

Something told me she wasn’t going to relax nearly as much as I hoped during this trip. Especially now.

Still though, by some miracle we eventually made it onto the plane.

Private security handled most of the airport chaos thankfully, which meant we avoided crowded terminals and paparazzi questions after the Hargrove news broke publicly earlier that day.

By the time we boarded the direct flight to Honolulu, everybody looked exhausted.

Devin especially. The pain medication clearly hit him hard because the man looked one soft blanket away from hibernation.

Theo got him settled across the aisle while Camille immediately stole approximately six first-class pillows and announced she was “building emotional support lumbar protection.”

Nobody stopped her.

Meanwhile Violet sat beside me near the window looking completely fascinated by everything around her.

Every single thing.

The overhead lights.

The controls.

The tiny bottled waters.

The fact the seats reclined.

I watched her quietly while she looked out the window with wide eyes.

“You’ve seriously never flown before?”

She glanced back toward me immediately. “We couldn’t exactly afford random vacations growing up, Rowan.”

That answer settled heavily in my chest.

Sometimes I forgot how different our lives were before this. Before us.

Violet turned back toward the window again just as the plane slowly started moving and immediately her entire expression changed.

Oh no.

Her face went pale so fast it genuinely concerned me.

“You okay?”

She swallowed hard. “…Maybe.”

Not reassuring.

Camille noticed instantly from across the aisle. “Oh.” That single word told me she understood immediately.

Before I could even ask what was happening, Camille was already digging through the seat pocket in front of her before triumphantly yanking out one of the airplane sickness bags.

“Violet.”

Violet looked over just in time to barely grab it before immediately throwing up.

Oh.

Oh no.

The sound alone made Theo visibly flinch while Devin slowly pulled his blanket higher over his face like he wanted absolutely no involvement in this situation.

Poor Violet looked horrified. Actually horrified. Her entire face turned bright red almost instantly while she kept her head lowered like she physically couldn’t look at anyone now.

And suddenly I understood. She was embarrassed. Not because of me. Because of them.

Theo.

Camille.

Devin.

People she’d known for years. People she trusted.

Didn’t matter. She still looked mortified.

So I did the only thing that made sense. I stood immediately and stepped in front of her seat before opening my suit coat wide enough to block most of the view from the aisle and the others entirely.

Not dramatic. Just enough. Just enough privacy.

Violet froze slightly when she realized what I was doing.

Then slowly… Some of the tension left her shoulders.

“There,” I murmured quietly while one hand rubbed slowly against her back. “Better?”

She nodded once weakly without looking up.

Across from us, Camille immediately pointed at Theo proudly. “See? That’s husband behavior.”

Theo looked offended. “I would also defend your dignity during vomiting.”

“You looked disgusted three seconds ago.”

“I was emotionally startled.”

Devin’s muffled voice came quietly from beneath his blanket. “I hate all of you.”

“Sir, I need you to sit down.”

I looked up immediately.

The flight attendant stood near the aisle with that tight professional smile people used right before becoming deeply irritating.

Meanwhile Violet was still hunched slightly forward in her seat clutching the sickness bag with watery embarrassed eyes while my hand rubbed steadily up and down her back beneath the shield of my coat.

Absolutely not.

“She’s sick,” I answered flatly.

“I understand,” the flight attendant replied professionally, “but during takeoff all passengers need to remain seated.”

The plane tilted slightly upward again and Violet immediately gagged harder.

My jaw tightened instantly. “She’s actively throwing up.”

“I understand that, sir, but FAA regulations—”

I physically did not care about FAA regulations right now.

“She needs privacy.”

The attendant’s smile strained slightly now. “And you standing in the aisle during ascent creates a safety issue.”

My pregnant wife was vomiting into a paper bag while visibly trying not to cry from embarrassment and THIS woman was worried about aisle clearance?

Behind me, Camille looked deeply offended on Violet’s behalf already while Theo slowly sank lower in his seat like he wanted absolutely no part of this conversation.

Smart man honestly.

“Sir—”

“She’s pregnant.”

That shut the flight attendant up for approximately two seconds. Unfortunately only two seconds. “I understand, but I still need you seated.”

I opened my mouth immediately.

Then Violet’s fingers suddenly wrapped weakly around my wrist.

I looked down instantly.

Her face was still flushed bright red but she finally lifted her eyes toward mine slightly. “Rowan,” she whispered quietly. “I’m okay now.”

No she wasn’t. She looked miserable. But I could also see the exhaustion creeping into her expression now.

Not just nausea. Stress. Attention. Embarrassment.

And suddenly I realized arguing with a flight attendant in first class while half the cabin watched probably was not helping.

I exhaled slowly through my nose before finally lowering my coat.

The flight attendant immediately relaxed.

Annoying.

I sat back down beside Violet carefully while keeping one hand against her lower back.

“There,” the attendant said professionally. “Thank you, sir.”

I looked up just long enough to read her nametag.

*Melissa.*

I immediately made a silent mental note to file a complaint the second we landed in Honolulu.

Not dramatic enough to get her fired. But definitely enough to deeply inconvenience her work week.

Beside me, Violet slowly leaned back into the seat while still clutching the sickness bag in humiliation.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

My entire expression softened immediately. “For what?”

She looked absolutely mortified now. “That was disgusting.”

“No,” I answered instantly. “It was pregnancy.”