Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 100

Sutton shifted uncomfortably in her chair, trying to find a position that didn’t make her back ache. Over six months pregnant, and the reception desk at Cyber 10 had become her own personal torture chamber.

The hard chair. The hours of sitting. The condescending smiles from executives who didn’t know she’d been accepted into MIT but had turned it down to support her younger sisters. Instead, she’d gone into modeling–a job she’d hated with a fiery passion. But it had paid their tuition. Got them through university.

She still earned her computer science degree, even if she had to do it part time. And she could run circles around half the company’s coding team with

one hand tied behind her back.

She rubbed her lower back, wincing as the baby landed a solid kick to her ribs. The doctor had warned her about desk jobs while pregnant, but warnings didn’t pay rent or build a safety net. She was doing this alone. Luca hadn’t wanted her or the baby.

At least she had her sisters. Keira and Blair had been there through everything.

It was Blair she felt for right now. Yeah, Luca had married his baby bride, but Sutton hadn’t walked in on him mid–betrayal like Blair had–with their cousin Laura, no less. And to top it all off, Laura was pregnant, too. Like it had been going on for months.

This weekend, they had to attend the engagement party. Family unity and all that crap. What a load of bullshit. It was all about saving face. Sutton was ninety–nine percent sure no one would even mention the pregnancy. That wouldn’t fly with Auntie Viv’s pristine standards. It was bad enough Sutton had come home single and pregnant. Oh, the horror.

“Could you make copies of these for the morning meeting?”

Brad Morris, VP of operations and certified jackass, dropped a thick stack of papers on her desk without even making eye contact. His gaze hovered somewhere around her stomach, like pregnancy was contagious.

“Sure,” Sutton muttered, forcing a brittle smile.

Her third application for an internal transfer to the programming department had been rejected just yesterday. No explanation. Not that she needed one. No one wanted to invest in a pregnant employee who’d be going on leave soon. And let’s be real–she didn’t have a penis. That was strike two. This place was a boys‘ club in business casual. Women were for answering phones, pouring coffee, and smiling politely at people who treated them like furniture.

Sutton hauled herself up with effort, her balance a daily challenge as her center of gravity shifted. She made her way to the copy room, where two third- floor developers were hunched by the machine.

“…new ownership. European company. Heard they’re ruthless with cuts,” one said under his breath.

“Great timing with that baby of yours, huh?” The other glanced at her with a smirk as she entered. “Better hope they don’t decide new moms are dispensable.”

She ignored them. She’d survived worse. Being knocked up and alone wasn’t new territory–it was just quieter. She hadn’t even Googled Luca once. Cutting him out completely was the only way forward. Sure, she’d fantasized about hacking his accounts and donating every dollar to women’s shelters -but she’d restrained herself. Barely.

Back at her desk, she opened her hidden code project. She’d been working on it in the background for months–an Al–driven virus detection system that could track the dark web in real time and rewrite its own code to counter new threats as they developed. Being more proactive than reactive.

than half the crap their actual

dinged. Sutton sat up straighter

high heels, hair yanked back in a knot so tight it might’ve given her a facelift. Like the kind of woman Sutton had modeled next to and secretly

and landed on Sutton’s bump

Bruno. I have an appointment with Greg

his schedule, Ms. Bruno.” Conner was a glorified

He’ll see

pure power play. Sutton dialed

a Nicole Bruno here to see you.” She

hung up. “He’s sending his assistant down to

“How long have you

“A few months.”

hired

pregnancy doesn’t affect my ability to answer phones,” Sutton replied, deadpan. “It’s not exactly rocket

my experience, companies don’t need the burden of maternity leave and the unreliability

her to go screw herself with a stapler,

Bruno, please come with me. Mr. Conner is eager

straightened, her mask of professionalism sliding back into place. “We’ll continue this conversation another

until the elevator doors

Something weird happening at work.

ago. After a major coding failure let a vicious virus sneak into clients‘ systems. It

contracts.

calls, rerouted guests, tried to ignore the stabbing pain in her

hours later, the whole company got the

ALL–STAFF MEETING – CONFERENCE ROOM.

squeezed into the packed room, struggling to get comfortable. People whispered

half the

another voice chimed in.

to her belly, willing the baby to calm down. She couldn’t afford to lose this job. Not now. Blair and Keira would help, and she had savings–but it wouldn’t last

Nicole Bruno and two men in suits who looked like they ate small businesses

all for coming. I have an announcement.” He tugged at his collar, sweating, “Effective immediately, Cyber10 has