The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Violet

The second the news report ended, Rowan changed.

I felt it immediately. One second his arms were around me. The next, his entire body went still.

Not normal still either. Dangerous still.

I slowly looked up at him and my chest tightened instantly.

His jaw had locked so tightly I could see the muscle moving beneath his skin. His eyes hadn’t left the television. Not once. Not blinking. Not

moving.

Just staring. Staring at what was left of Ashcroft Industries. Staring at years of work buried beneath concrete and steel. Staring at ambulances.

At rescue workers. At flashing lights. At chaos.

I reached for his hand carefully. “Rowan…”

Nothing. Not even a glance.

Theo stepped closer slowly. “Rowan…”

Big mistake. Huge mistake.

Rowan turned his head.

That was it. No yelling. No snapping. No anger. Just a look.

But whatever expression crossed his face made Theo immediately stop walking. Actually stop.

Theo’s mouth closed.

Camille slowly reached over and grabbed his arm.

…Never mind,” Theo muttered quietly.

Then Rowan moved. Fast.

He walked toward the exit without saying a single word.

I stared after him for half a second before hurrying after him. “Rowan!”

No response.

10:30 am P PPPP

Chapter 238

The automatic doors slid open and warm Hawaiian air immediately wrapped around us. Palm trees swayed softly around the parking lot while

sunlight reflected off cars and glass windows.

It should have felt beautiful. Peaceful. Instead I felt sick.

Because Rowan wasn’t seeing any of it. He already had his phone out before we even reached the curb.

“Get me legal.” His voice was cold. Sharp. Controlled. CEO Rowan. Not husband Rowan. “Immediately.”

He started pacing before the person on the other end could probably even answer. His hand moved through his hair while his eyes shifted

constantly.

Thinking. Calculating. Planning.

“Start insurance claims now. No delays.” He paused. “I don’t care if people are on vacation.”

His free hand pushed through his hair while his eyes shifted constantly, thinking and calculating faster than I could probably keep up with.

“Medical compensation fund immediately.” He added, nodding into the phone. “No cap.”

I blinked. Oh.

Oh wow.

“Anyone injured from the collapse gets covered. I don’t care if they worked for me or not.”

Behind me I heard Theo, Camille, and Devin slowly stepping outside, but nobody interrupted him.

Honestly, I didn’t think anybody wanted to.

“Replace vehicles.” He paused again, “Temporary housing if needed. I want every name of all the people who were injuried.

He ended the call then without another word and turned, looking at Devin now. “Company–wide email.”

Devin straightened immediately. “Rowan?”

“Everyone is laid off with pay until another headquarters is located.”

Silence. Even Devin looked surprised.

“Full salary. No reductions.” Rowan’s jaw tightened again. No one loses anything because of this.”

Devin stared at him for a moment before nodding slowly. “Okay” He stepped away immediately and started making calls of his own.

I looked back at Rowan. He wasn’t pacing anymore. He was just standing there looking out toward the ocean visible in the distance beyond the

Foad.

And suddenly… I understood.

10:30 am Pppp.

Chapter 238

This wasn’t anger. Not really. This was guilt.

I walked toward him slowly. “Rowan.”

Nothing. I moved directly in front of him until he finally looked down at me.

And God… That almost broke me.

Because his eyes looked absolutely wrecked. Not angry. Not cold. Wrecked.

I reached for his hands and squeezed them. “Talk to me.”

He stared at me for several long seconds before finally exhaling. “If I hadn’t listened to Devin…” His voice sounded rough now. “If I hadn’t listened to Bennett…”

My chest tightened immediately.

“If I hadn’t given everyone time off…” He swallowed. “If I hadn’t decided to bring everyone here…”

For the first time since I met Rowan Ashcroft… He looked scared. Actually scared. “I would’ve killed them.”

I immediately shook my head. “No.”

“I would’ve been responsible for over four hundred deaths, Violet.” His voice cracked slightly and I felt my own eyes burning instantly. “People with families. People with children. Innocent people that didn’t deserve any of this.” He looked away. “They would’ve all been inside.” His eyes slowly found mine again. “I would’ve put them there.”

No. Absolutely not.

I wrapped my arms around him immediately and held him as tightly as I could.

I felt his arms come around me instantly. Tight. Almost desperate.

“This isn’t your fault,” I whispered.

I felt his chin rest against the top of my head. “But those people that got hurt because of my building…” he said quietly, “that becomes my responsibility now.”

I closed my eyes because I knew that voice. Knew that tone.

Once Rowan made up his mind, there was no changing it.

Rowan stayed quiet after that. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. Didn’t even look at me.

He just stood there with his arms still wrapped around me while the Hawaiian breeze moved around us, warm and soft against my skin. Somewhere nearby I could hear traffic moving and people laughing in the distance. Palm trees rustled gently overhead and waves crashed somewhere beyond the parking lot.

10:30 am P ppp·

Chapter 238

It felt wrong. Completely wrong. Like the world didn’t understand that something horrible had just happened.

I slowly pulled back enough to look up at him. “Rowan.”

His eyes dropped toward mine.

I reached up and touched his face gently, brushing my thumb across his cheek. “None of this is your

His jaw tightened immediately. I could practically see the argument forming in his head. “Violet-”

“No.” I shook my head. “The person responsible for this is the person who planted those bombs.”

His eyes shifted away from mine.

fault.”

Of course they did. Because Rowan had never been good at letting himself off the hook. Ever.

I moved closer and slid both of my hands around his wrists, keeping him there with me. “I know you feel responsible because it’s your company,” I said softly. “I know you want to fix things and make things right because that’s who you are.”

My eyes started burning again. “But don’t take this one as your own.”

He looked at me then. Really looked at me. And suddenly he looked exhausted.

I swallowed hard before asking quietly: “Do you want to go home?”

The answer came immediately. “No.” Not hesitation. Not thinking. Immediate. His voice had gone firm again.

I blinked. “Rowan-

“We’re safer here.” His eyes shifted toward Theo and Camille standing farther back near Devin. “I refuse to put my family in danger.”

Because that’s what they were now. Family. We are family.

He looked back at me slowly. “If Marcus and Asher are still out there, I am not bringing the people I care about back into that city.

Comments

Julia Carvin

this story is so good. I can’t wait to read more. Thank you for the updates🙂

12 hours ago

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