Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 114

Chapter 114

The Cyber10 office was in an uproar barely controlled panic.

When

they arrived. Jake met them at the elevator on the development floor, his usually calm demeanor replaced by

“It’s worse than I thought,” he said, falling into step beside them. “The virus bypassed all our security protocols. It’s like it knew exactly where the vulnerabilities were.”

“Because it did,” Sutton said grimly, moving as quickly as her pregnant body would allow. “I have a feeling the first attack was reconnaissance. This is the real assault.”

Luca’s hand remained at the small of her back, steadying and protective as they hurried to her station. “What data has been compromised?”

“Everything,” Jake replied. “Kingston’s client databases, project files, even our backup systems. It’s spreading faster than we can track it.”

The development room was crowded with bleary–eyed staff called in from their homes. Elliott sat hunched over his keyboard, face pale with exhaustion. Nicole stood nearby, arms crossed tightly, watching the activity with barely concealed fury.

“About time,” she snapped when she spotted them. “This is all your fault, Sutton.”

Luca’s expression darkened. “That’s enough, Nicole.”

Sutton ignored them both, moving straight to her workstation. She sat down and began typing immediately.

“I need access to the kernel logs,” she said to Elliott. “And someone get me the network traffic data from when the attack started.”

For the next hour, Sutton worked in complete focus, barely speaking except to request information or issue instructions. Luca stayed close, filtering questions, bringing her water, creating a buffer between her and the increasing tension in the room.

“It’s definitely targeted,” she said finally, looking up from her screen. “Someone uninstalled my Ai virus detection program from the Kingston system.”

“Who would do that?” Elliott asked.

Sutton glanced at Luca, a silent communication passing between them. “I have an idea, but first we need to contain the virus.”

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, building digital walls, creating countermeasures. Luca watched her work, amazed at her skill and intensity. Who would have guessed six months ago she had been a model… This was so different from her life with him before.

“I need everyone out of the system,” she announced. “Log out of everything. Now.”

The team complied, confusion evident on their faces.

“What are you going to do?” Jake asked.

A

“I’m going to set a trap,” Sutton replied, not looking up. “The virus is smart, but it has a signature. If I can isolate it, I can reverse–engineer it.”

“That could take days,” Nicole objected.

“Not with the framework I built last time,” Sutton said. “Luca, I need your authorization codes.”

He provided them without hesitation, trusting her completely.

Three more hours passed, the night deepening outside the windows. Gradually, as the immediate crisis stabilized, Luca sent the staff home in shifts. By 3 AM, only he, Sutton, Jake, Elliott, and Nicole remained.

leaning back in her chair. “The containment protocol is working. I’ve isolated the virus

damaged

going to take

at the progress indicators on his screen.

rest,” Luca said, his tone making it clear it wasn’t a suggestion. “Let the team know they are not needed for the rest

night.”

Jake nodded.

stay to monitor the

stay,” Sutton said

he countered immediately. “I’ll

mouth tightened. “I don’t

you. You’ve done enough tonight. We’ll handle it from

Sutton’s shoulder as he passed. “That was incredible. I don’t

out and before setting the lock on the

her workstation, but her posture had changed. Her shoulders slumped, one hand

without looking up. “I

chance.” Luca pulled a chair beside her. “You

Keira to let

live…”

“Let me help with your back. Turn

presenting her back to him. Gently, Luca placed his hands on her shoulders, beginning a careful massage. She stiffened initially,

good,” she murmured,

used to get terrible tension headaches at university,” he said, working his way down her spine.

lower back, where the baby’s weight created

said. “That’s where it

careful but firm, conscious of every small reaction from her body. The office was silent except for the hum of computers and

she asked

want to every time I’m around

turned in her chair to face him, their knees touching. “And why

met her eyes, knowing he owed her complete

damaged files?”

to take time, but Kingston’s won’t

on

his tone making it clear it wasn’t a

night.”

Jake nodded.

stay to monitor

said before Luca

immediately. “I’ll stay

mouth tightened. “I don’t

you. You’ve done

as he passed.

walk everyone out and before setting the lock on the lift,” Luca

returned to the development room a few minutes later, he found Sutton still at her workstation, but her posture had changed. Her shoulders slumped, one hand rubbing her lower back, exhaustion

she said without

a chance.” Luca pulled a chair beside her. “You look dead on your

smiled faintly, hand moving to her belly. “I’m ok.” She had messaged Keira to let her know what was going on. “I’m tired. My back hurts.

live…”

help with your back.

on her shoulders, beginning a careful massage. She

good,” she murmured, her