Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 106

Sutton pressed her hands to her face, trying to steady herself. This was too much. Too fast. “I don’t know, but I need time to think.”

“Of course.” Luca nodded quickly. “Take all the time you need. But please, don’t shut me out. I know I don’t deserve to ask.”

Sutton lowered her hands, meeting his gaze. “If you remember, I didn’t shut you out. You pushed me away. So I came home. There’s a difference.”

Before he could respond, a sharp knock came at the door. It opened without waiting for an answer, and Nicole stepped in, her face a mask of professional concern.

“Luca, I’m sorry to interrupt, but you have that conference call in five minutes.” She glanced at Sutton with barely disguised contempt. “I’m sure whatever this is can wait.”

Luca’s expression hardened. “Nicole, the call can wait. We’re in the middle of something important.”

Nicole looked taken aback. Her eyes flicked between them, clearly trying to figure out what was happening. “But they specifically requested… well, you.”

“Either handle it or it can wait.” Luca’s voice was firm. “Reschedule it.”

Nicole’s smile tightened. “Of course. Right away.” She shot Sutton a look of pure venom that Luca missed before backing out of the office and closing the

door.

When she was gone, Luca sighed. “I’m sorry about that.”

“About what? Your guard dog?” Sutton couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice.

“I didn’t realize she’d been giving you a hard time,” he said. “She can be… aggressive in her professional approach. I haven’t had any issues with her before. In regards to work anyway.”

Had he had issues in other ways? It wasn’t her business. “That’s one way to put it, but are you sure? Because she hasn’t been pleasant.”

Luca moved back to his desk, leaning against it, facing her. “Look, I know this is sudden. And I know you have every reason to hate me. But we need to figure this out. For the baby.” He nodded toward her belly.

Sutton rested a hand protectively on her stomach. “I’ve been figuring it out just fine on my own.”

“I want to be involved and I know you want time to think, but…” Luca said. “I want to support you both. Financially, emotionally, however, you’ll let me.”

“I don’t need your money.”

the baby deserves to

last time she had spoken to him, he was

said…” she

know what I said, and I’m sorry. I made a promise to my father, and I thought it was better to be cruel and have a clean break. So I hurt

“I never cheated, ever.”

words were

“How?”

I should have trusted you on both counts when you told me. But

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16:06 Sat, 28 Jun

Chapter 106

Sutton nodded.

said finally,

be upfront with you, Sutton. I want us

made

had asked her before, before everything, she would have said yes. She had loved him. But now she…

us to get married and before the baby is

him shocked, before saying. “Why? Because you found out I’m not a nobody model now? That I come from a wealthy family with

looked stunned. “No, that has nothing to do

thin on the ground right now.” Sutton wasn’t in the mood to fall at his feet in gratitude.

looked like he wanted to object but then nodded. “Okay. But we’re not done talking

now. I

added as she turned to leave. “You shouldn’t be answering phones and not with your

Sutton frowned. “What?”

said you’re a talented coder. You should be in development,

three times,”

on it, and handed it to her. “This is Jake’s office number. He’s my head of operations here. Tell

giving me a job in development? Just like that?” She

corrected. “The

pregnant

paused, searching for words. “The baby is personal. This conversation would have happened regardless once I reviewed

to argue, but a coding job was what she’d wanted since she started at Cyber10. And if it got her away from Nicole’s

the paper. “I’ll

Luca looked relieved, like he’d expected more resistance. “We can talk