Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Sutton woke to the soft buzz of her phone against her nightstand. “Oof,” she mumbled, pressing her palm against the spot where the baby had kicked. “Take it easy in there, would you? Mama’s ribs aren’t punching bags.”

She squinted at her phone screen through bleary eyes. 6:30 AM. A text from Luca.

Luca: Good morning. About the appointment this afternoon, we can go together from the office.

She groaned, flopping her head back against the pillow. The doctor’s appointment. Today she’d officially hit the seven–month mark, and her body hadn’t let her forget it. Her back ached constantly. Her ankles disappeared by mid–afternoon. And sleep? That was becoming a distant memory, thanks to a baby who thought nighttime was the perfect opportunity for gymnastics practice.

Sutton typed a quick reply with clumsy morning fingers before attempting to haul herself out of bed. What used to be a simple sit–up motion had transformed into an ungraceful roll–to–the–edge–and–slide maneuver that made her feel about as elegant as a beached whale.

Sutton: I’ll meet you there. Don’t want to make a scene at the office.

His response came immediately. Luca: There’s nothing wrong with me taking you.

Sutton sighed, rubbing her lower back as she waddled to the bathroom.

Sutton: I don’t want people gossiping about us. I’ll take the car service you insisted on.

Three dots appeared, disappeared, then reappeared as she peered blearily at her reflection. Her hair was a mess, dark circles under her eyes, and was that… yes, a spot of drool on her cheek. Lovely.

Luca: Fine. See you there. Text me when you arrive.

The terseness of his reply told her he wasn’t happy. Well too bad. She still wasn’t sure where they stood, and the last thing she needed was the entire company speculating about her and the boss while she was still trying to establish herself in her role. If she took the promotion, that is. Which she still hadn’t decided about, despite his not–so–subtle daily hints.

She messaged her driver, a quiet, professional man named David whose card she’d stuck to the refrigerator with a magnet. She told him she’d be ready in thirty minutes.

པ་ཐག་ག ང་ ་ན་ དང ་ དག་

Twenty–eight minutes later, she was stepping out of the apartment, hair still damp from her shower, wearing one of the three maternity dresses that still fit comfortably. The car was already waiting, David standing by the rear door with a smile.

“Morning, Ms. Warner,” he said pleasantly. “Office?”

“Yes, please,” she confirmed, accepting his help into the backseat. “Then I’ll need to go to Dr. Matthews‘ office at 1:30. I’ll text you the address.”

“No problem. I’ll be waiting when you’re ready to leave.”

the cool

you eaten

her eyes,

Sutton: Yes. Stop worrying.

worry about

him. Would it have his eyes? His stubborn

to help her out. His steadying hand was welcome; her

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Chapter 130

seemed.

take you to

David. See you

careful distance, here she was greeted with genuine nods and casual hellos. She hadn’t officially accepted the head of cybersecurity position yet, but everyone was already treating

Sutton,” Elliott called from

making her way

had placed a small potted succulent beside her keyboard. A

one of the small fleshy

of code and system checks. Sutton lost herself in work, the familiar rhythm of programming soothing her in a way little else could. This was where she belonged, not answering phones or fetching coffee. Here, creating something useful. The virus detection system that had saved Kingston’s data was

11:30, her stomach growled loudly enough for Elliott to

mama bear,” he announced, spinning in his

think I’ll go grab something from the break room.” Her

her lunch of a ham and salad sandwich long gone. She’d hit a flow state, the kind where time disappeared. It wasn’t until her phone buzzed

and she needed

The alarm had only been her backup. She locked her computer, said goodbye to everyone, she was out the

helped her in, his steadying

running a bit late,” she

problem, Ms. Warner. We’ll get you there on

was surprisingly light. As they approached the

Sutton: Almost there.

Waiting

had wanted to

the entrance and came around to help her out. “I’ll be waiting right here when you’re finished,” he

“Thank you, David.”

the area were openly staring, and Sutton couldn’t really blame them.

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