The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 201

The CEO Above My Desk

Chapter 201

Cold anger settled heavily into my chest. “What kind of stalking?”

Avery hesitated too long.

“Avery.”

“He followed them.” Her voice shook slightly now. “Watched them. Took photos.” She swallowed hard. “I know for a fact he

broke into Camille’s house once.”

Jesus Christ.

“He was also behind the threatening phone calls to Violet.”

Outside the conference room, Violet suddenly rubbed tiredly at her forehead before leaning back slightly in her chair. That

poor girl looked like she was barely holding herself together. Meanwhile local law enforcement had spent months failing

her repeatedly.

Wonderful.

I looked back toward Avery. “What was the long–term objective?”

Avery’s eyes looked glassy now. “Hargrove thought Violet would quit if things escalated enough.” Her voice dropped lower. “Threats. Stalking. Fear.”

“And if that didn’t work?”

Avery visibly stopped breathing for a second. “She wanted Camille next.”

I stayed perfectly still. “What does that mean exactly?”

Awery’s voice cracked. “She thought threatening Camille would break Violet emotionally.”

Jesus Christ. Because of course it would. Violet clearly adored her. And Hargrove knew it.

“She wanted Violet isolated.” Avery whispered “Alone, Scared. Unstable.”

Cold Jury crawled steadily up my spine.

Outside the conference room, Rowan suddenly looked toward the glass wall directly at me. Like he somehow sensed the shift in my expression-

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Chapter 201

Interesting instincts.

I looked away first. “What changed?” I asked Avery calmly.

“What?”

“You said Hargrove stopped sharing information with you.”

Avery nodded immediately. “About a week ago.”

“Why?”

Avery laughed weakly again, tears gathering in her eyes now. “Because she knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That I didn’t want to do this anymore.”

The room went quiet.

Avery wiped quickly at her face. “She knew I hated what Calder was becoming.” Her voice shook harder now. “And she

knew I didn’t agree with the plan involving Violet and Camille.”

Interesting.

“She stopped trusting you.”

Avery nodded miserably.

“And then Calder came after you.”

That made her physically flinch. “He was following me,” she whispered.

“For how long?”

“About a week”

Jesus Christ.

I kept sering him.” Her voice shook harder now. “Outside my apartment. Across parking lots. Sitting in his car.” Avery swallowed visibly. “He wanted me scared.”

Avera tubbed hey honds together anxiously “He knew I was pulling away from Hargrove,” she admitted quietly. “And he

ght if he pushed hard enough, a fall back in line.”

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Chapter 201

My expression hardened slightly. “What exactly was he doing?”

“Watching me constantly.” Her voice cracked. “Showing up to places without warning.” She laughed weakly at herself. “Sometimes he’d just stand there staring at me like…” Her breathing hitched slightly. “Like he wanted me to remember

what happened to my ex.”

Psychological intimidation. Classic coercive

I’d seen it before. Too many times.

control tactic.

“And eventually,” I said carefully, “you decided you were done being afraid.”

Avery’s eyes slowly filled with tears. “Yes.”

I stayed completely still while she unraveled.

“He followed me the night he died,” she whispered.

Outside the conference room, I could see Rowan speaking quietly to Violet while Theo argued with someone from legal

near the elevators.

None of them had any idea what was about to come out of Avery’s mouth.

Good. I wanted the full statement first.

“You arranged the meeting intentionally,” I said calmly.

Avery nodded once shakily. “I made it look like I was meeting someone.” Her voice dropped lower. “I knew he’d follow me.”

My jaw tightened slightly. “And the warehouse?”

“There were multiple exits.” Avery wiped quickly at her face now. “Old loading routes. Side doors.” She swallowed hard.

“You planned this.”

Avery immediately shook her head hard. “No.”

Lie. Not fully premeditated maybe. But not impulsive either.

She saw it on my face instantly. “I just…” Her voice cracked sharply now. “I couldn’t do it anymore.”

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Chapter 201

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