Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 115

“Nicole,” Sutton said, steady, staring him down like she was daring him to deny i

its

Luca blinked. “Nicole?”

“She was the only one with high enough access. She’s the only one who’s been gunning for me since the very second she walked into the building. And let’s not pretend she didn’t know what she was doing when she turned off my software protecting the Kingstons‘ server.”

He stepped back like the accusation had physically hit him.

“You think Nicole… Jesus, Sutton, she’s been with me for

ears.

“Exactly. She knows your systems. She thinks you won’t suspect her. And she knew that my program would protect Kingston. She wanted it gone. She blamed me as soon as I walked in… This has her written all over it.”

“She’s my second,” he said, quieter this time. “Nicole has handled entire acquisitions. She’s been loyal.”

“To you,” Sutton shot back. “Not to me. Not to Cyber10. She hates me, Luca. She looks at me like I’m gum stuck to her fucking shoes. I don’t know what the problem is with me… but she has been a bitch to me since day one. Ask Jake if you don’t believe me. Or Stacey.”

He exhaled hard, jaw clenched. “I’ve seen… glimpses of that. Her attitude. The looks. But Sutton, a shitty attitude–yes, okay–is still a long way from coordinated sabotage.”

Sutton’s voice cracked a little, fury fraying into something sharper. “Do you honestly think I’d bring this up just to start drama? You think I’m imagining it? That I’m just a hormonal pregnant woman with a grudge?”

“No,” he said quickly. “That’s not what I meant. Or even said.”

“She’s been trying to push me out of the business from day one,” Sutton said, stepping into his space. “And I swear to God, if you let her get away with this, I swear…”

His hand came up, resting against his forehead. “Sutton-”

“No,” she snapped. “No one else would do this, Luca. It’s not even that complicated. It’s just… obvious.”

then, fast. “I can’t point a finger at anyone until I

crackled between

Kingston. It’s not the same person as last time. The signature was different.” Sutton moved to step out of his space, but he caught her elbow, stopping her from moving anywhere. The feel of his touch made her breath stop for

into it,” he said, low.

if it is

His voice was quiet, but there was weight behind

The silence stretched until her skin started to feel tight;

him. Everything she had been through would be so easy to forget if he

was.

said finally. “I’ve sand–boxed the virus. I can trace it back and

want you in danger. If someone was willing to get paid to create a virus, they could be dangerous enough to hurt you to stop it from coming out

to get her thoughts together. “I’m hiding behind your firewall and it’s a Cyber 10 station. There’s no way of knowing

grin. “Plus, I’m too

Luca’s nostrils flared. “Cocky.”

know it.” She tipped her head, gaze sharpening. “The only one we need to worry about is Nicole. Can

you’re right, that could create an even bigger problem. She might panic. Start covering tracks. Or

of everything was finally catching up. “I know it makes sense. I just…

only thing that makes sense. The only

sighed, long and

she was

would he have ignored the change in Nicole had he not been involved with Sutton? But

just my second,” he said after

anything. She didn’t have

long moment, neither did he. Not for a long

her, jaw tight, his breath shallow like he was bracing for a punch that

either. Didn’t say anything… shocked partly

snap. Something

trusted her,” he said, finally. Quiet. Almost like he didn’t mean to say it

voice soft now.