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.”

point a finger

between them. Close. Too

virus on Kingston. It’s not the same person as last time. The signature was different.” Sutton moved to step

said, low. “I promise

if it

it.” His voice was quiet, but there was weight

skin started to feel

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

was.

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

a virus, they could be dangerous enough to hurt you

heat of his body pressed into hers. It took her a moment to get her thoughts together. “I’m hiding behind your firewall and it’s a Cyber 10 station. There’s no way of

twitching into a crooked grin.

Luca’s nostrils flared. “Cocky.”

I know it.” She tipped her head, gaze sharpening. “The only one we need

right, that could create an

frowned down at her, like the weight of everything was finally catching up. “I know it makes sense. I just… how sure are you it’s

percent sure? I can’t be one hundred percent, no one can without hard proof. But it’s the only thing that makes sense. The only three people who

long and

knew she was

looked disappointed, not just in Nicole, but in himself. How long would he have ignored the change in Nicole had he not been involved with Sutton? But he trusted

second,” he said after a beat. “She’s

anything. She didn’t

neither did he. Not for a

jaw tight, his breath shallow like he

either. Didn’t say anything…

if she did, something would snap. Something already frayed to the point

he said, finally. Quiet. Almost like he didn’t

Sutton replied, her voice