Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Sutton looked up to find Tyler standing over her, arms crossed, expression amused.

“I was,” she corrected, keeping her voice even. “Now I’m a developer.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Just like that, huh? Must be nice. What did you do sleep with someone?”

The implication wasn’t subtle. Heat rose in Sutton’s cheeks, but she kept her expression neutral. “I have a degree in computer science. I’ve applied for a

transfer three times.”

“Right.” His eyes flicked to her stomach. “And I’m sure your… condition… had nothing to do with the sudden promotion. Whose is it?”

Before Sutton could respond, another developer, Kevin, she remembered, rolled his chair over. “What are you working on, anyway? Something simple, I hope? We’re in the middle of a major system overhaul.”

His arrogant know it all tone made her jaw clench. “Al–driven virus detection self thinking,” she said, turning her screen slightly so they could see. “It adapts to new threats in real–time by analyzing behavior patterns rather than relying on signature updates.”

Both men squinted at her code.

“That’s pretty ambitious for someone who was answering phones for months,” Tyler said, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice now.

“I’ve been working on it for months,” Sutton replied. “In between transferring your calls and ordering your lunch. As you lot walk past my desk like I don’t

exist.”

Kevin leaned closer, studying the screen. “Your isolation protocols look overcomplicated.”

“They’re not,” Sutton said firmly. “They’re thorough. There’s a difference.”

“And what’s the difference between polymorphic and metamorphic code structures?” Tyler asked suddenly, like he was quizzing a freshman.

Sutton didn’t even blink. “Polymorphic changes its appearance but keeps the same functions. Metamorphic rewrites its actual engine with each iteration. If you’re trying to catch both, you need behavioral analysis, not just signature detection.”

Several other developers had wandered over now, drawn by the impromptu interrogation. She could feel their eyes on her, judging. Well, screw them. She knew she was good.

“And how would you handle fragmented payloads across distributed networks?” Elliott asked, headphones now hanging around his neck.

“Containment first, then trace execution paths to find common instruction sets,” Sutton replied. “You don’t chase fragments; you isolate the behavior and work backward.”

The questions kept coming. Each one was more technical than the last. She answered every one without hesitation. Let them test her.

was in the middle of explaining her approach to zero–day vulnerabilities when the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. The developers straightened. Conversations died. Eyes shifted toward

Luca had arrived.

His gaze found her immediately lingering for

her smile tight and professional. But Sutton didn’t miss the flash of resentment in her

center of

and the fact Nicole was with him told those in the room exactly who he was. There was no need for anyone to question that. The other developers

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Chapter 108

said, his voice

of everyone watching them. “Just getting acquainted with the team. They have been so welcoming Yeah right. But Luca would

still hovering nearby. His expression cooled. “Is this the new software Jake just called me

made

just asking some technical questions,” Tyler said,

ensure she’s… qualified,”

about her qualifications? Or should we arrange a formal examination? Perhaps a written test?

in his voice was razor–sharp. The

voice quieter but no less intense. “What I don’t understand is disrespect. Ms. Warner was hired for her skills. Skills this company desperately needs, given the subpar output I’ve seen from this department over the

room thickened as a silent

is open,” Luca said, addressing the entire room now. “If you’d prefer to seek opportunities elsewhere, I’ll personally write your references. What

spoke. No one

a demo of your virus detection system when you have a working prototype. Jake mentioned it’s not at

nodded, caught off guard by his public support. “Of course. I should have something ready in

moment longer than necessary, and Sutton felt a familiar heat rise in her

your approach

not for her benefit. This was for

track instruction flow to identify payload convergence points, and then train the Al on behavior signatures pulled from real–time

exactly who we

returned to the scene, gave her a

caught the venomous look the woman shot her way.

developers dispersed, returning to their desks with considerably less swagger than before. Sutton let out a slow breath, turning back to her code trying

never seen him so interested in someone

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MONT, SU