The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129

The house feels different the second they’re out. Cleaner. Sharper. Like something rotten has finally been cut out.

“Get something to tie him.”

Theo disappears and returns with restraints. Not professional, but effective. The guard doesn’t fight. He doesn’t have the energy left. His shoulders shake as Theo binds his wrists and secures him to one of the heavy kitchen chairs.

“I’ll cooperate,” he keeps repeating. “I’ll tell you everything-I swear-please don’t-please don’t ruin my life-”

“You already did that yourself,” Theo mutters under his breath.

“Enough,” I say.

Theo steps back immediately.

The guard looks at me again, desperate. “Please-Mr. Ashcroft-I’ll give you everything-just don’t-don’t fire me I need

this job-my kids-”

I step closer again. Slow. Measured. Cold.

“You lost that the moment you took their money.”

His face crumples. “I needed it-” he whispers. “I was behind on my mortgage-I didn’t know it would turn into this-”

“You didn’t need ten thousand dollars,” I say quietly. His eyes squeeze shut. “You wanted it.”

Silence. Heavy. Final.

I turn away before I do something I can’t take back. And reach for my phone. There’s only one call that matters now.

I don’t hesitate.

He answers on the second ring.

“Vale.” Direct. Always.

“Marcus.”

A pause. Recognition.

“Rowan.” His tone shifts slightly. Not softer. Just alert. “You don’t call unless something’s wrong.”

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11:48 Sat, May 9 M

Chapter 129

“I call when something’s broken.”

That earns me silence. Then- “What happened?”

I don’t pace. I don’t soften it.

“Security breach. Internal compromise. Local police are already contaminated. I have a witness tied directly to

Councilwoman Hargrove and evidence of bribery and obstruction.”

Silence.

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“Say that again.”

“Hargrove is involved,” I repeat. “She used an intermediary to buy access to my security system. Paid to have my perimeter disabled.” I glance briefly at the guard. “He’s sitting in my kitchen right now.”

Marcus exhales slowly. “If this is real-”

“It is.”

Another pause.

“Send me everything.”

“It’s already being compiled.” Devin is already moving, pulling files, organizing communications, extracting what we need.

Marcus’s voice drops slightly. “You understand what happens if I step into this.”

“Yes.”

“This doesn’t stay quiet.”

“It’s not supposed to.”

Silence once more.

“I’m on my way.”

The line goes dead. I lower the phone slowly.

For the first time since the alarm went off, something settles. Not calm. Not relief. Control.

Theo studies me carefully. “You just escalated this to federal.”

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11:48 Sat, May 9 M

Chapter 129

“No,” I correct flatly. “They did.”

Devin glances up. “Once this goes federal, there’s no pulling it back.”

“I’m not interested in pulling it back.”

I finally look at Violet. Really look at her. She’s watching me like she’s trying to understand something. Something new.

Something she didn’t expect to see.

I hold her gaze for a second longer than I should. Then I break it. Because now is not the time for that.

I turn back to Devin. “I want the other house prepped. Immediately.”

He nods once. “Already calling it in.”

“Full sweep,” I continue. “Security reset. New team. I want that kitchen cleared, sanitized, and stocked within the hour. All rooms and bathrooms cleaned and stocked as well.”

“This one?” he asks.

I glance around the room. At the chair. At the man tied to it. At the space that was supposed to be untouchable.

“This house is compromised.” The words taste like failure. “I’m not risking anyone here again.”

Devin nods. “Understood.”

I shift my attention to Theo. “Make a note.”

He straightens slightly. “Yeah?”

“Every future security hire gets vetted under new protocols. Financial audits. Background deep dives. No exceptions.”

Theo nods immediately. “Done.”

Behind us, the guard lets out a broken sob. “I’ll tell him everything,” he says quickly. “This Marcus guy-I’ll tell him everything-please-”

I don’t look at him. Not anymore. Because he’s not the problem now. He’s the solution.

And solutions don’t get sympathy. They get used.

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