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.”

can’t point a

between them. Close.

pay someone to release the virus on 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

said, low. “I promise you

it is

was quiet, but there

him. He stared back. The silence stretched until her skin started to feel tight; the blood was rushing in her ears, too

through would be so easy to forget

was.

need my help,” she said finally. “I’ve sand–boxed the virus. I can trace it back and

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

moment to get her thoughts together. “I’m hiding behind your firewall and it’s

lips twitching into a crooked grin. “Plus, I’m too good to be

Luca’s nostrils flared. “Cocky.”

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

her back to Europe,” he said slowly, his tone careful, calculating. “But if you’re right, that could create an even bigger problem. She might

up. “I

one can without hard proof. But it’s the only thing that makes sense. The only three people

long

she was

but in himself. How long would he have ignored the change in Nicole had

just my second,” he said after

didn’t say anything. She didn’t

moment, neither did

inches from her, jaw tight, his breath shallow like he was bracing for

anything… shocked

felt like if she did, something would snap. Something already frayed

finally. Quiet. Almost

voice soft now. Less