The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 245

The CEO Above My Desk

Chapter 245

Violet

Two Weeks Later

I had officially decided something.

Unpacking after vacation was awful.

Somehow when we’d packed for Hawaii, everything had fit perfectly into a few suitcases like normal people. A few clothes,, a few shoes, toiletries, and somehow we’d convinced ourselves that was all we’d need.

Apparently Hawaii had disagreed.

Now Rowan’s penthouse looked like a small retail store had exploded across the living room.

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Open suitcases covered half the floor while shopping bags had somehow multiplied overnight. Tiny baby clothes sat folded into little piles around us and random Hawaiian souvenirs had appeared in places that honestly made no sense. One of Rowan’s kitchen chairs had become completely buried beneath tissue paper and bags.

I wasn’t entirely sure there was even still a chair under there.

Camille sat cross–legged beside me on the rug while holding up a tiny yellow onesie covered in little pineapples.

She stared at it thoughtfully. Then looked at me. “…Why do I own six pineapple outfits?”

I slowly looked up from folding tiny socks. “Because you said they were essential.”

Camille looked back down at it. Then nodded seriously. “They were.”

I stared at her.

Then she suddenly gasped and dug through another bag beside her.

“Oh my God.” She pulled out another tiny outfit. “Oh my God I forgot about this one.”

I narrowed my eyes. “…Camille.”

What?

pointed. That’s seven.

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Camille froze and slowly looked down.

Both of us completely lost it. Laughter filled the penthouse while I practically folded forward and Camille wiped tears from her eyes.

The penthouse felt different now that we were back. Quieter. Lighter. Safer.

Maybe because for the first time in forever there weren’t police officers walking through the front doors. No FBI agents standing around discussing evidence. No security updates every five minutes. No threats hanging over our heads.

Just us. Just family.

Somewhere upstairs I could hear Rowan and Theo arguing over measurements because Denise had apparently sent updated house plans earlier this morning and of them had disappeared into Rowan’s office almost immediately afterward.

I wasn’t asking questions. I didn’t need to get into the middle of that. Rowan will figure it out, I’m sure.

Devin had finally gone back home yesterday too after doctors cleared him and assured him that he wasn’t actively dying

anymore.

Apparently his exact words had been, “Good news everybody. I’m only partially broken now.”

Once more, Leah Franks voice caught my attention, “…coming to you live from the courthouse steps…”

We turned toward the television.

“Oh no,” Camille whispered.

The television showed crowds gathered outside the courthouse while reporters stood behind barricades and cameras

pointed toward the front steps. Police officers moved through the crowds while federal vehicles lined the street nearby.

Standing beside Leah was someone I immediately recognized.

Emily Mulche.

Leah looked toward the camera and adjusted her microphone.

This morning several major developments occurred in what has become one of the largest corruption and federal

conspiracy cases in recent city history.”

Images shifted across the screen. Hargrove. Marcus. Asher. Then Avery.

My stomach tightened immediately.

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Leah continued. “Former Councilwoman Evelyn Hargrove entered guilty pleas this morning involving charges related to

corruption, conspiracy, abuse of public office, and solicitation of murder for hire.”

The footage shifted again. Marcus appeared next. Even through a television screen he looked furious.

“Former FBI Agent Marcus Hale also entered guilty pleas related to domestic terrorism, bombing charges, conspiracy, and attempted murder.”

Holy shit.

I slowly sat back.

Because hearing it spoken out loud somehow made everything feel more real.

Leah continued. “Asher West entered into a plea agreement and will continue cooperating with federal investigators.”

Then the screen shifted again.

Avery.

“There was also an update involving Avery Quinneth.” Leah turned slightly toward Emily. “Ms. Mulche?”

Emily adjusted the microphone. “Ms. Quinneth cooperated extensively throughout the course of the investigation.”

My eyes stayed fixed on the television.

“Her cooperation helped establish timelines and assisted in preventing additional violence.”

Camille slowly turned toward me. I turned toward her.

Emily continued. “Considering mitigating circumstances and her cooperation agreement, Ms. Quinneth received reduced charges and will serve two years probation along with counseling requirements and community service obligations.”

Silence settled over the room.

Camille blinked. “…Wait.”

I looked toward her. “…Avery isn’t going to prison?”

Movement behind me caught my attention. I turned to find Rowan and Theo stopped in the doorway.

Quietly, without looking away, he finally said, “No.”

I looked up at him.

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His expression didn’t change.

“People manipulated her.” I said.

The room stayed quiet.

Then his jaw tightened slightly. “But she still made choices.”

His eyes stayed on Avery.

I replied then, “…She isn’t Marcus.”

Rowan’s eyes shifted away from the television then and finally toward me.

He didn’t say anything immediately.

I pushed myself up from the floor and brushed my hands against my leggings.

“Rowan…”

His jaw tightened. “I don’t agree with it.” There wasn’t anger in his voice, but there was coldness.

I stared at him for a second. “There’s nothing we can do. It’s done now.”

Absolute silence.

The television continued playing softly in the background while Leah moved onto some other part of the report, but

nobody at this point was listening anymore.

Because suddenly all of the attention in the room sat on Rowan.

I slowly walked toward him. “Rowan.”

His eyes shifted back toward the television again where Avery’s picture still sat on the screen.

“She fed information to Hargrove.” His voice stayed quiet. “She gave information from inside my company. She knew Calder

was around.” His jaw flexed. “People died.”

The room stayed still. Camille wasn’t smiling anymore. Theo had gone quiet. Even I didn’t immediately know what to say.

Because he wasn’t wrong. Avery had helped them. She had crossed lines. She had betrayed us.

But then Rowan looked back at me and quietly said, ‘I don’t like people near you who have already proven they can lie,

that they can’t be trusted.

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My chest tightened immediately.

Oh.

This wasn’t really about Avery. Not completely. This was about fear. About almost losing everything. About almost losing

1. me.

He still saw her as a threat.

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