Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 127

Sutton had barely taken three steps into the development room when someone let out a long, theatrical whistle.

Then there was clapping. Not sarcastic slow clapping, but actual clapping. A solid round of applause. Everyone was watching her.

Sutton paused in the doorway, blinking at the strange yet enthusiastic reception. “Did I win an award I don’t know about? Is someone behind me holding a pizza box? What’s going on?”

“Way to go, Warner!” Kevin called out, grinning. The same Kevin who’d grilled her on isolation protocols just days ago. “Head of cybersecurity!” Tyler added, giving her an approving nod. “It’s about damn time this place recognized actual talent.”

Great, Extra great. Sutton blinked, taken aback by the unexpected show of support. She’d anticipated jealousy, resentment, or at the very least, suspicion about how she’d landed the promotion. “Thanks,” she managed, attempting to smile through her bewilderment. “But I, uh… haven’t officially accepted yet.”

Sutton’s eyes scanned the faces around the room. There were about ten people there, and not one looked irritated. Or threatened. There were no side- eyes, no tight jaws, no passive–aggressive mouse clicks.

Elliott raised a can of soda. “Congrats, Sutton. You deserve it.”

“You’d be crazy not to,” Drew said, approaching with a cup of coffee that he handed to her. “The way you handled that virus attack was impressive. I couldn’t have tracked the source like that.”

She smiled, a little stunned at the lack of bitterness in the air. “Thanks,” she said softly. “Really. That… means a lot.”

Jake appeared at her side, leaning in to whisper, “See? Told you they’d come around once they saw what you could do.”

“I didn’t expect it to be quite so… enthusiastic,” she murmured back.

Jake grinned. “Nothing earns a coder’s respect faster than elite hacking skills. You basically achieved legend status.”

Sutton blinked a few times and cleared her throat. “Don’t make me emotional before lunch. I forgot to wear waterproof mascara.”

“Lunch is emotional when you’re this pregnant,” Jake replied, tongue in cheek.

She turned away, grinning. “You’re a menace,” she said with a smirk.

Jake grinned at her. “Well, I have work to do.” He air kissed her before he left the floor.

As she sat down at her workstation, she tapped open a secure diagnostics window, running a series of sweeps through the backend system, thorouh traces to ensure Miles or Nicole hadn’t tampered with anything she hadn’t known about.

No glitches. No unauthorized logins. Everything was stable.

She exhaled. Finally. One normal day.

Around 3:27 PM, Sutton leaned back and stretched. Her lower back ached, and her ankles felt like she’d walked ten miles uphill carrying a watermelon. She rubbed her belly and glanced at the clock again. She should head out in a little while.

She picked up her phone and sent luca a quick text.

Sutton: Done for today. Systems are clean and calm. I’m heading home, though. Legs are toast.

The reply came fast. As in barely a ten–second delay fast.

And pick you up tonight for

C

Chapter 127

screen. She was too tired to roll her eyes. Instead, she angled a slow sigh

just make people talk. Especially now that you’ve

So… you’re taking

That made her hesitate.

just in case

take the car I’ve arranged

stared at the screen, eyebrows

When did you do that?! I told you I’d think

I’m still waiting for you to think about a lot of

even know if I’d take

about a lot of things. I didn’t think I would get an answer for

Sutton: Luca…

for my

paused, fingers hovering above her screen. She sighed, knowing this

Fine. I’ll leave in twenty minutes. Give me time to tie up a few loose ends and pack my

thumbs–up emoji

have news

lightning straight

What kind of

when I

Her fingers hovered again.

going with Keira. We’ll meet

tuca:

out loud, drawing curious glances

calming her down, okay? She’s still convinced she needs to threaten you with a meat cleaver before letting

Luca: Can’t wait.

least we’ll save the cost of

need to wear a

your guilt. I heard it makes a

247%

Chapter 127

Tonight, I tell you what I found out about

didn’t respond to

to finish documenting her work. As she typed, she found herself

shut down her computer and gathered her things. As she stepped outside, a sleek town car was waiting for her outside, the driver standing at attention beside the

confirmed.

pulled away from the curb, Sutton messaged Keira to let her know she was on her way home, then closed her eyes for a moment, finally letting the fatigue of the past twenty–four hours catch up with her. She

her razor sharp tonque and protective instincts. And Luca, trying to navigate this complex family dynamic while also dealing with everything else

out.

was tempting… very tempting. But she couldn’t help wondering if accepting it would complicate things further with Luca. Work and personal life entangling even more than they already were. And then there was his other proposal, the one