The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Rowan

I wasn’t entirely sure how Camille had convinced Violet to buy a swimsuit.

Actually, scratch that.

I knew exactly how she did it.

Camille had this terrifying ability to wear people down with enthusiasm alone. The woman could probably convince a fish to buy water if she talked long enough.

And now I was sitting beneath a large beach umbrella wondering when exactly everyone around me had decided to gang up on me.

Not that I was complaining.

Not really.

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The beach stretched endlessly in front of us, white sand melting into water so blue it almost looked edited. The sunlight reflected off the waves in shimmering ribbons of gold while palm trees swayed lazily behind us in the warm breeze. Families walked the shoreline collecting shells while kids screamed and laughed as they chased each other through the surf.

Everything looked peaceful.

Actually peaceful.

Which was probably why my brain refused to participate.

My eyes drifted back toward Violet immediately.

Because apparently that had become a problem too.

Camille had somehow dragged Violet into buying a tankini after rejecting what I assumed was half the store inventory.

Something about being “cute but comfortable.”

Whatever that meant.

I just knew Violet looked beautiful.

She was standing ankle deep in the water while Camille splashed her again, causing Violet to shriek and jump back dramatically.

Oh my God, Camille!

Camille doubled over laughing. “Nope. No. Pregnant women need enrichment activities.”

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Violet stared at her. “What does that even mean?!”

“I don’t know,” Camille admitted immediately. “But it sounded right.”

Violet bent down and threw an entire handful of water directly at her.

Camille screamed. “You little bitch!”

Violet immediately started laughing so hard she had to grab her stomach.

Then Camille said something quieter. Something I couldn’t hear.

Whatever it was made Violet choke on air before covering her mouth. “Oh my God!”

Camille looked deeply pleased with herself. “No seriously,” she continued loudly enough this time for us to hear, “I’m just saying if Theo keeps looking at me the way he has been lately, I don’t think he understands how babies are made.”

Violet’s face immediately turned bright red. “CAMILLE!”

Theo slowly looked over. “…Do I even want to know?”

“No,” I answered immediately.

Camille looked proud.

Theo stared at her for several seconds. Then sighed. “I’ve made terrible decisions.”

Camille blew him a kiss. “I love you too.”

I shook my head while trying not to laugh.

Theo dropped down into the chair beside me and stretched his legs into the sand.

For a while neither of us said anything. We just watched them. Watched them laughing. Watched Violet smiling. Watched Camille nearly trip while trying to splash Violet again. Watched life continue.

Then quietly Theo asked, “You still thinking about it?”

I didn’t look at him. Didn’t have to. “…Yeah.”

Theo was quiet for a minute. Then he leaned back further. “I called Denise.”

My head turned slowly. “…You did what?”

He looked at me. “What?”

“What do you mean what?”

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He stared back. “We have two babies coming. He pointed toward the water. “Look at them.”

I looked. Violet had somehow ended up on Camille’s back while Camille dramatically stumbled through the water pretending she was dying, I could hear Violet laughing all the way over here.

Theo looked back at me. “We need that house finished.”

He wasn’t wrong. “I don’t want the penthouse anymore.” The words left quietly.

Theo looked over immediately.

I rubbed my hand over my jaw while staring ahead, “I don’t want cameras and elevators and glass walls.” I swallowed slowly. “I want a damn front porch.”

Theo stayed quiet.

“I want Violet sitting outside drinking coffee in the mornings.” My eyes stayed on her. “I want kids running around the yard.” I laughed quietly. “I want normal.”

Theo stared at me. Then finally he asked quietly: “What about headquarters?”

that

I was silent for several seconds.

enough that I felt him looking at me.

Then finally I said, “…I don’t know if I’m rebuilding.”

Theo blinked. “What?”

I kept staring out toward the water. Toward Violet. Toward the waves rolling onto the shore. Because I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to look at Theo when I said it.

“The building’s gone.” The words came out quieter than I intended. I rubbed my hand slowly across my jaw before leaning forward, resting my elbows against my knees. “The housing project is on hold.” I exhaled slowly, staring down at the sand near my feet before looking back toward the water again. “Headquarters is gone. Everything is gone.”

The ocean breeze moved around us, carrying the sounds of laughter from farther down

the

beach.

Violet had somehow convinced Camille to spin around in circles through the shallow water and now both of them were laughing so hard they

could barely stand upright.

I watched them for a second. Then swallowed. “And now…” My voice dropped slightly. “Now I have to start all over again.*

Theo didn’t answer immediately. Which honestly worried me more than if he had. Because Theo always had something to say. Always.

I could actually feel him staring at me from beside me. Then finally, “Rowan.”

1 kept my eyes forward.

“Rowan!”

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Still nothing. Because I already knew I wasn’t going to like whatever was coming next.

Several more seconds passed before he let out a long breath.

Then suddenly, “Are you out of your damn mind?”

I slowly turned my head toward him. Theo wasn’t joking. Wasn’t smiling. Wasn’t giving me one of his usual smartass expressions.

He looked genuinely horrified. “No seriously.” He sat forward now, staring at me like I’d personally offended him. “Tell me you aren’t saying what I think you’re saying.”

I frowned slightly. “Theo-”

“No.” He pointed directly at me. “Nope. Absolutely not.”

I stared at him.

He stared right back. “You don’t get to do that.”

His voice had lost the humor now. Completely.

“You don’t get to spend years building everything you have, helping people, creating jobs, putting money and time and damn near your entire life into trying to make things better and then suddenly decide you’re done because some psychopath decided to blow up your building.”

I looked away from him again. Because somehow hearing it out loud felt worse.

Theo shook his head beside me. “Do you know what I think?”

I didn’t answer. Didn’t need to. Because he was going to tell me anyway.

“I think you’re tired.”

Silence.

“I think you’re scared.”

More silence.

“And I think you’re feeling guilty over things that aren’t your fault.”

Theo leaned back slightly then, his voice softer now. “You know what I think happened?”

I looked over at him.

“I think somebody tried to take away something you love.” His eyes shifted toward Violet and Camille. “And I think you’re sitting here wondering if it’s worth building again because you’re afraid they’ll come after the next thing you love too.”

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