The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

I stare at the glass wall of my office.

“The cartel may come to her,” he continues. “For answers. Or because they think she has them.”

Theo swears viciously. “This isn’t a wrong-place-wrong-time murder.”

“No,” the Pl agrees. “This is bigger.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “Anything else.”

“I’m still digging into Calder,” he says. “And others.”

Theo frowns. “Others?”

“Internal,” the PI replies. “And-just so you know-I’m being followed.”

The room goes quiet.

“For how long?” I ask.

“Couple days.”

“If you disappear-”

“It’s because I’m laying low,” he cuts in. “Or dead.”

Theo sits up straight. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking,” the PI says calmly. “Don’t come looking if something happens. People don’t like snoopers.”

“And you?” I ask.

“I’ve dealt with worse,” he replies. “But you should assume I’m a target now.”

I glance through the glass.

Violet sits at her desk, headset on, fingers flying, voice calm, composed-holding the entire floor together without

breaking.

I feel something dark and dangerous settle in my chest.

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Chapter 40

“Keep digging.” I say quietly.

“I am.”

The line clicks dead.

Theo looks at me. “This just got real.”

I don’t answer.

Because I’m already thinking about contingencies.

Security.

Extraction.

And what I’ll do if anyone decides Violet Pierce is expendable.

Because they’d be wrong.

Theo doesn’t speak right away.

He watches me take another bite of the sandwich like he’s waiting for it to argue back.

“So,” he says finally, leaning forward, forearms on his knees. “What are you going to do now?”

I chew slowly. Deliberately. Let the answer settle in my mouth before I say it.

“I’m done sitting on the sidelines.”

Theo’s eyes narrow slightly. “Meaning?”

I swallow. Set the sandwich down with care. “I’m taking charge.”

That gets his attention.

“Camille and Violet,” I continue, voice level, controlled, “will no longer be driving themselves to work.”

Theo blinks. “They what?”

“They will have a personal driver,” I say. “Vetted. Armed. Trained.”

His eyebrows lift.

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Chapter 40

“They will have bodyguards,” I add. “Not obvious. Not theatrical. But present. At all times.”

Theo exhales sharply. “Rowan-”

“The house will get a full security system,” I continue, cutting him off. “Cameras. Motion sensors. Alarms. The perimeter

will be checked before they arrive home every night. Someone will be watching the property while they sleep.”

The words come easily now. Too easily.

Theo stares at me like I just announced I’m building a bunker.

“You’ve already thought this through,” he says slowly.

“Yes.”

“How long?” he asks.

I don’t answer that.

Instead, I pick up the sandwich again and take another bite. Perfect. Still warm. Still exactly what I wanted.

Theo shakes his head. “How exactly are we planning to tell them all this without sounding completely unhinged?”

I wipe my fingers on a napkin. “We don’t tell them everything.

“That’s reassuring,” he mutters.

“The councilwoman made a threat,” I say. “In the building. In front of witnesses.”

Theo nods reluctantly. “She did.”

“I’m upping security because of that,” I continue. “Political exposure. Reputation management. Safety protocol.”

“That’s not the whole truth,” Theo points out.

“No,” I agree calmly, “But it’s believable.”

Theo studies me for a long moment.

Then he leans back in his chair and sighs. “You’ve crossed a line.”

“Which one?” I ask.

“The one where you stop pretending this is just business.”

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Chapter 40

I don’t look at him.

He tilts his head, watching me like he’s piecing something together that’s been obvious for weeks. “So tell me-have you

accepted the fact that you need Violet?”

Silence.

“And if that’s too generous,” he adds, “have you at least accepted that you’re obsessed with her?”

I stare straight ahead.

Take another bite.

Chew.

I don’t answer.

Because answering would mean admitting something I don’t yet have a plan for.

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