Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled out her phone, scrolling to Jake’s number. This was more exciting than getting her degree.

The baby kicked, a sharp jab that made her press a hand to her side. “I know,” she murmured. “Everything’s changing again.”

Jake answered on the second ring. “Hey, Sutton, what’s up?”

“It’s happening,” she said, keeping her voice level despite the storm inside her. “I’m being transferred to development. Luca just told me to call you.”

A beat of silence, then Jake’s voice, bright with excitement: “Finally! Someone with actual sense around here. Come find me as soon as you’re packed up.”

The elevator reached the lobby floor. Sutton stepped out, still processing everything. She couldn’t still believe Luca was her new boss. After months of believing he wanted nothing to do with her or their baby, he’d apparently been searching for her all along.

And now he wanted to get married.

Her chest tightened. Too much. It was all too much. She didn’t know if she could do that. His family hadn’t thought her good enough. Now she didn’t know if they were good enough for her and her baby.

“I’ll be there in twenty,” she told Jake, ending the call as she approached reception.

Stacey looked up, eyes widening at whatever expression Sutton was wearing. “What happened? Did he fire you?”

Sutton shook her head, setting her phone down as she lowered herself carefully into her chair. “No. The opposite, actually.” She let out a disbelieving laugh. “I’ve been transferred to development. Effective immediately.”

“No way!” Stacey’s mouth fell open. “After they rejected you three times? That’s… wow. Did you blackmail the new boss or something? What do you have on him? Maybe I need it for a pay raise?”

Sutton couldn’t help the bitter smile that crossed her lips. Not secrets she would share with anyone. She didn’t want anyone here to know about their past. Not yet, maybe not ever. “Let’s just say he recognized my qualifications.”

“Well, it’s about damn time,” Stacey said, standing to give Sutton an awkward side–hug. “I’m happy for you. Really.” She pulled back, studying Sutton’s face. “But you look freaked out. Are you okay?”

Sutton reached for the empty box she’d been keeping under her desk for weeks, just in case she got fired or finally found something better. “I’m fine. Just… processing.”

She wasn’t fine. Her hands still trembled as she began gathering her meager belongings. Her plant was gone, thanks to Nicole. But she had a few personal items which included a framed photo of her sisters, a ceramic mug Keira had painted for her when she had been fourteen, a small stack of programming books she’d kept hidden in her drawer.

The notebook where she’d sketched out her Al virus detection system was already tucked safely in her bag. That was coming with her, no matter what She would show everyone at Cybe10 what she was made of with that program.

nobody transfers out of reception. Especially not…” she trailed off, eyes

pregnant women?” Sutton finished

exactly welcome estrogen into their

rejections she’d received. Each one was

that your qualifications do

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Chapter 107

we appreciate your interest, we are seeking candidates with more specialized

filled with a candidate whose skills

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their precious development team. She knew she would show them up. Thank god. She wasn’t just good. She

to be true… was this a genuine recognition of her skills, or just Luca’s way of keeping her close?

alone?” Sutton asked,

hand. “I’ll survive. They can

approached, his tall frame moving with purposeful strides,

big leagues,

his familiar presence. Jake and Stacey had been the only ones who’d treated her like a human

her half–filled

to lodge

“Uh–huh. Sure you do.” He reached for the box, anyway. “Let me take this. I may be gay, but I’m still a man and I’m not letting a pregnant woman take

argue. Her back had been aching all morning, and the confrontation with

tablet she used

goes,” she whispered. “And if those dev jerks give you trouble, I’ll come up and accidentally

circuits.”

a rush of affection for the younger woman. “I’ll keep that

to the elevator. Once inside, Jake glanced down at her. “You

sighed. “It’s been

up bitch Nicole is not happy,

know Nicole?”

She’s been with Luca for years. His right hand for all the wrong reasons, if you ask me. She is very good at hiding her bitchy side from

development floor. Sutton took a

Whiteboards covered the walls, filled with diagrams and code snippets. The only noise was keyboard clicks and

heads turned. Conversations died. Eyes tracked their movement, lingering first