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.”

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

between them. Close.

moved to step out of his space, but he caught her elbow, stopping her from moving anywhere. The

said, low. “I promise you

it is

deal with it.” His voice was quiet, but

her skin started to feel

feel the pull toward him. Everything she had been through would be so easy to forget if

was.

help,” she said finally. “I’ve sand–boxed the virus.

dangerous enough to hurt you to stop it from coming out Luca’s voice hardened as he

heat of his body pressed into hers. It took her a moment to get her thoughts together. “I’m hiding behind your

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

Luca’s nostrils flared. “Cocky.”

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

send her back to Europe,” he said slowly, his tone careful, calculating. “But if you’re right, that could create

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

without hard proof. But it’s the only thing that makes sense. The only three people who could have disabled

sighed, long

she

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

my second,” he said after

didn’t say anything.

long moment, neither did

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

either. Didn’t say anything… shocked partly that he

she did, something would snap. Something

said, finally. Quiet. Almost

know,” Sutton replied, her voice soft now. Less