The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 58

58

I pull back just enough to look at her, my vision still swimming. “What?” I whisper. “What else?”

She inhales slowly. “Earlier today, a detective arrived at the facility. He identified himself as Detective Calder.”

My blood runs cold.

Several nurses glance toward us from the far end of the hall, their expressions tight, uncomfortable.

“The detective requested to speak with your mother,” the administrator continues. “Against our better judgment, and under the impression that he was involved in an ongoing investigation related to your brother, he was allowed brief

access.”

Rowan’s jaw clenches.

75

“What did he say to her?” he asks.

The administrator hesitates. “Multiple staff members overheard the conversation. Detective Calder informed your mother that her son had passed away.”

The words don’t make sense at first.

Then they do.

My breath catches violently. “He–he told her?”

“Yes,” she says. “Shortly after that interaction, your mother became visibly distressed. Her blood pressure spiked. She collapsed. The stroke followed almost immediately.”

Something inside me snaps.

A sound tears out of my throat, half sob, half scream.

I feel Rowan’s arms tighten around me as I shake, rage flooding in so fast it burns through the grief like gasoline on fire.

“I’m going to kill him,” I choke. “I’ll kill him for this. I swear to God-”

“Violet,” Rowan says urgently, but his voice is tight now too. Controlled anger vibrating just beneath the surface.

“Breathe.”

I can’t.

00

9

KIKA G

O

1/3

10:32 Sat, May 9 MN

Chapter 58

I won’t.

“He did this,” I sob. “He killed her. He knew. He knew what state she was in.”

75

Rowan looks up at the administrator, his face a mask of lethal calm. “You have security footage.”

“Yes,” she says immediately. “We have hallway cameras and audio from the nurse’s station. I’ll have a copy prepared right

away.”

“Now,” Rowan says.

She nods and turns briskly, heels clicking as she moves down the hall.

I cling to Rowan, my entire body trembling, tears soaking into his coat. He doesn’t move away. He doesn’t tell me to calm down or be quiet.

He just holds me.

When the administrator returns, she hands Rowan a CD in a clear evidence sleeve. “This contains all relevant footage,” she says. “Time–stamped and unedited.”

“Thank you,” he replies.

She turns back to me. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Ms. Pierce. We’ll need you to sign some paperwork regarding your mother’s personal effects and the return of prepaid funds.”

I nod numbly.

I don’t remember sitting down, but suddenly I’m in one of the plastic chairs, pen shaking in my hand as I sign where she points. She explains things in a calm, professional cadence. Where my mother’s belongings will be sent. How the refund will be processed. Condolences offered and repeated.

It all feels unreal.

When it’s done, Rowan gently takes the pen from my hand and helps me stand.

He guides me out, one hand steady at my back, shielding me from the looks and the whispers and the unbearable finality

of it all.

We get into the car.

The door shuts.

Silence.

# 00 9

KIKA G

111

O

2/3

10:32 Sat, May 9 M M

Chapter 58

For a long moment, neither of us moves.

Then something inside me locks down.

I wipe my face with the back of my hand, swallowing hard, forcing the tears back where they belong. I straighten my shoulders, pulling myself together piece by piece.

I can’t fall apart.

Not now.

I turn to Rowan, my voice steady despite the wreckage inside me.

“Let’s go back to the office.”

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Violet-”

“I said let’s go back,” I repeat, firmer now. “I can’t do this here. I can’t… not yet.”

He searches my face, clearly torn, then exhales slowly.

“…Alright.”

He starts the car.

And we drive.

Comments

5

Write Comments

009

KIKA

G

SHARE

O