The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 256

Chapter 256

Life moved forward. For all of us.

A movement beside me pulled my attention away.

Agent Bennett appeared or maybe just Bennett now. She wasn’t technically working today, but the way she carried herself, I wasn’t convinced she knew how to stop being an FBI agent.

She smiled slightly. “Congratulations.”

I raised my glass. “Thanks.”

Her expression shifted just enough that I felt the familiar chill of impending bad news.

“What

Bennett smirked. “Relax.”

“I don’t like that smile.”

“Neither does anyone else.”

I sighed. “What’s going on?”

She glanced around the yard, then leaned in slightly closer. “I have some good news and some bad news.”

Of course she did.

I took a slow sip of champagne. “Start with the bad.”

“Hargrove.”

The name alone twisted my gut.

Bennett’s smile widened, and that was never a good sign. “Hargrove was assaulted at the correctional facility this morning.”

I stared at her, waiting.

She shrugged. “Multiple stab wounds.”

My eyebrow lifted. “Is she alive?”.

“For now.” The answer was cold, clinical, final. “Doctors don’t expect her to survive the week.”

Silence settled between us.

Then Bennett lifted her glass. “Take that information however you’d like.”

I stared at her, incredulous. “That’s your baby gift to me?”

Chapter 256

Her grin grew–wider. “You’re welcome.”

Before I could answer, she simply turned and walked away.

Typical.

I watched her cross the yard then pause. She stopped beside Devin, said something low, touched his shoulder, and leaned in closer than necessary.

Devin smiled… a real, genuine smile I hadn’t seen before.

I looked away quickly before they noticed me watching. Some things were better left alone.

A few feet away, Agent Locke flirted openly with one of my legal assistants. Poor woman had no idea what she was getting herself into.

I laughed quietly to myself.

Maybe everyone deserved a happy ending.

Eventually, Violet appeared at my side and slipped her hand into mine.

The contact instantly pulled my attention back where it belonged.

Her. Always her.

“You ready?”

I looked down at her.

She smiled, excited, nervous, beautiful.

“Not even remotely.”

She laughed softly. “Good.”

The crowd slowly gathered around the reveal board positioned near the center of the yard

Nine balloons. Three rows. Three columns. Eight filled with white powder, one bolding the answer.

Green darts rested in a basket beside me. Purple darts beside Violet.

Theo wrapped an arm around Camille while everyone found their places. Phones, cameras, video recorders all ready for the moment.

Violet squeezed my hand once before stepping forward.

I stepped beside her, heart hammering wildly. Ridiculous. I wasn’t afraid of anything except maybe finding out whether I was having a son or daughter.

Someone started counting.

Immediately, everyone joined. “Five!”

Chapter 256

Cheers erupted.

“Four!”

Camille started crying. Again.

“Three!”

Theo looked exhausted.

“Two!”

Violet laughed.

“One!”

I threw first. The dart sailed across the yard.

Pop.

White powder exploded… nothing.

The crowd groaned dramatically.

Violet stepped forward next.

Her first dart hit another balloon. More white powder. More groans.

My second throw missed completely.

The crowd immediately began teasing me.

I ignored most of it.

Violet rolled her eyes, grabbed another dart. “Move over.”

I laughed. “Bossy.”

She smiled and threw.

The dart struck the upper corner balloon.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then… A cloud of brilliant purple powder burst into the air.

The crowd erupted, screaming, cheering, clapping.

Camille sobbed openly

Chapter 256

Theo looked confused, emotional, then confused again.

And I just stood there, stunned.

Purple.

A girl.

My daughter.

I looked at Violet. She was crying. Of course she was.

I was about two seconds from joining her.

Xo

A daughter.

The realization settled deep in my chest, warm, overwhelming, perfect.

Three months ago, I thought my life had ended. My company collapsed. My enemies closing in. Everything I’d built was crumbling.

Now?

Now I stood in the backyard of our home, surrounded by family and friends, watching my wife laugh through tears as purple powder drifted in the afternoon

light.

For the first time in my life, I realized I wasn’t building a company anymore.

I was building a family.

And somehow, that felt infinitely more important.

Comments

R Visitor

Awwwww, I was hoping for a boy for Violet and Rowan or surprise twins – 1 of each

1 days ago

✩ 4

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