The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 168

The CEO Above My Desk

Chapter 168

Rowan

The world stops for half a second.

Not long.

Just enough for the warmth of her against my shoulder to disappear beneath something colder.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

I slowly lower Violet back onto her feet, but

my hand

pressing firmly into her side like if I let go, even forever leaves her. It stays locked around her waist, fingers

“Say that again,” I say quietly.

a second, something will take her from me.

Devin’s face is tight. Controlled. But I know him well enough to see the tension underneath it.

“Ashcroft Industries just reported an explosion,” he says. “Emergency services are already responding.”

My jaw tightens. “Casualties?”

“Unknown.”

The word hits wrong. Unknown means chaos. Unknown means they don’t have control of the scene yet. Unknown means someone moved faster than we did.

My mind immediately starts shifting pieces into place. Security systems. Building access. Employees still working late. Night crews. Cleaning staff. Executive floors.

Every possible variable at once.

“What floor?” I ask.

“Lower levels,” Devin says quickly. “Parking structure and east–side entrance from what’s being reported.”

That makes my stomach twist harder.

1/6

2:04 pm Pppp.

Chapter 168

Parking structure. Access point. Message. Not random. Not accidental.

I pull my phone from my pocket immediately.

Three missed calls.

Seven texts.

Twenty–two emails.

Fuck! I’m so stupid!

My expression hardens. “Fuck.”

Violet looks up at me instantly. “Rowan-”

I’m already moving. “Lock the penthouse down,” I snap at Devin. “Nobody in or out unless I authorize it personally.”

He nods immediately, already typing something into his phone.

I’m dialing security before he even finishes.

The line picks up instantly. “Mr. Ashcroft-

“What happened?”

助

The man on the other end sounds panicked. “Sir, there was an explosion in the lower garage structure. Fire suppression activated immediately. We evacuated the first three floors.”

“Who was inside?”

“We’re still accounting for everyone.”

Not good enough.

My grip tightens around the phone hard enough my knuckles ache. “How the fuck do you not know who’s inside your own building?”

Silence.

“Sir, we’re trying-”

2/6

2:04 pm P PPP.

Chapter 168

“No,” I cut in coldly. “You’re failing.”

Violet’s hand touches my arm lightly. Grounding. Trying to calm me before I snap completely.

It almost works. Almost.

“Get me every camera feed from the last four hours,” I continue. “Every access log. Every employee badge scan. I want names before I arrive.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And if a single executive leaves that building before I get there, fire them.”

The man stumbles over himself trying to answer. “Understood.”

I hang up immediately.

Violet is staring at me now. Not scared. Observing. Learning.

Good girl.

Because this is what my world actually looks like when it bleeds.

Controlled chaos. Power held together by force.

Devin’s phone rings again. He answers instantly, pacing now. “Yes. No, freeze all outgoing statements until legal approves it. I don’t care what the media is saying.”

Theo comes upstairs at that moment with Camille right behind him, both looking alarmed.

“What happened?” Theo asks immediately.

“Ashcroft Industries,” Devin answers. “Explosion.”

Camille’s eyes widen. “Jesus Christ.”

Theo looks at me. “Was this targeted?”

“Yes.” The answer comes out instantly.

Because I know. I feel it.

3/6

2:04 pm Pppp.

Chapter 168

This isn’t coincidence anymore. First Violet. Then Calder. Then the investigation. Now my company.

Someone is escalating… And they’re doing it deliberately.

Violet shifts beside me. “Rowan…”

1 look down at her.

And suddenly the reality of what almost happened slams into me.

Five minutes earlier and I would’ve been upstairs distracted by her instead of paying attention to Devin.

Five minutes earlier and if this attack had happened here…

My hand moves automatically, sliding to the back of her neck, pulling her closer against me.

Ming. Safe. Breathing.

I exhale slowly through my nose, forcing the rage back down where it belongs.

Controlled. Always controlled.

“You’re staying here,” I say firmly.

Her brows pull together instantly. “What?”

“You’re not coming with me.”

“Yes, I am.”

“No.”

The word comes out sharp enough to cut glass.

Her eyes flash immediately. “Rowan-”

“No,” I repeat, quieter this time but somehow worse. “Absolutely not.”

“I’m your wife.”

“And that is exactly why you’re staying here.”

4/6

2:04 pm P PPP.

Chapter 168

Silence crashes into the room. Theo looks between us carefully, already sensing where this is going.

Violet folds her arms. “You don’t get to lock me away every time something happens.”

“Yes,” I say coldly. “I do.”

Her jaw drops slightly.

Good… Because I mean it.

“This is escalating,” I continue. “Someone is getting bold enough to attack my company directly. I am not walking you into that.”

“You think I’m weak?”

My expression darkens instantly. “That’s not what I said.”

“Then what are you saying?”

I step closer. Close enough that she has to tilt her head back slightly to look at me.

测

“I’m saying,” I say quietly, “that I just stood here listening to you talk about our future.”

Her breath catches.

“Our house,” I continue. “Our children.”

The room goes silent again.

“And now someone just bombed my company.”

Her expression softens slightly, But I’m not done.

“You do not leave my side tonight,” I say, my voice dropping lower. Rougher. “Do you understand me?”

Something flashes across her face then. Not fear. Realization. Because she finally hears it.

What’s underneath all the control. What’s underneath the orders. Fear. Not for me. For her.

My jaw tightens hard enough to ache.

Because the thought of someone touching her after everything today… No!

5/6

2:04 pm Pppp.

Chapter 168

Absolutely fucking not.

Violet studies me for a long second. Then, softer now, “You’re scared.”

“I’m angry.”

“Rowan.”

My hand tightens slightly at the back of her neck. “Yes,” I admit quietly.

The word barely leaves my mouth… But it’s there. Real. Raw enough that the entire room feels it.

Theo immediately looks away. Camille goes strangely quiet. Even Devin pauses mid–conversation on his phone.

Because I don’t admit fear. Ever.

But this? This is different.

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