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.

I’ll take you. And pick you up tonight for

C

Chapter 127

roll

just make people talk. Especially now that you’ve offered me a new

you’re taking

That made her hesitate.

don’t know yet. But just in case I do… I don’t

car I’ve arranged for you.

stared at the screen,

I told you I’d

to think about

know if I’d

think I would get an answer for that one, so I made up your mind for

Sutton: Luca…

my peace

screen. She sighed, knowing this was one

Fine. I’ll leave in twenty minutes. Give me time to

thumbs–up emoji followed by a

I have news about

lightning straight down

kind

when I

Her fingers hovered again.

with Keira. We’ll meet you at Blair

tuca:

laugh out loud, drawing

she needs to threaten you with a meat cleaver before letting you hold

Luca: Can’t wait.

At least we’ll save

sure I don’t need to wear a protective

could just wear your guilt. I heard

247%

Chapter 127

I tell you what I found out about Miles. I can

didn’t respond to

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

minutes later, she 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 rear door. “Ms. Warner?” he inquired politely, opening the door for

she confirmed.

the car 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

would be interesting, to say the least. Blair and Roman, newly returned from their honeymoon. Keira, with her razor sharp tonque and protective instincts. And Luca, trying to navigate this complex family dynamic while also dealing with everything else that had happened. Plus, apparently, news about Miles. That was concerning. Had he escaped? Been released?

out.

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 she’d