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.”

her head against the

you

eyes,

Sutton: Yes. Stop worrying.

job to worry about you and

her, half him. Would it have his

up outside Cyber10, and David came around to help her out. His steadying

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Chapter 130

seemed.

1:30 to take you to your

David. See you

was already humming when she stepped off the elevator onto the development floor. Where the reception area had been all polite smiles and careful distance, here she was greeted with genuine nods and casual hellos. She hadn’t

Sutton,” Elliott called from his

her

exactly as she’d left it yesterday, though someone had placed a small potted succulent beside her keyboard. A sticky note was attached: “For your new office when you finally

of the small fleshy leaves. The plant was a sweet

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

loudly enough

he announced, spinning in his chair

think I’ll go grab something from

and salad sandwich long gone. She’d hit a flow state, the kind where time disappeared. It wasn’t until her phone buzzed with her calendar reminder that she surfaced, blinking

and she needed to get there. David

quickly saving her work and locking her computer. She’d meant to leave earlier to avoid rushing. The alarm had only been her backup.

steadying hand on her elbow a welcome support as she lowered herself awkwardly into

bit late,”

Warner. We’ll get you there on

they approached the medical building, Sutton texted

Sutton: Almost there.

here. Waiting

wasn’t surprised. Luca had wanted to

her out. “I’ll be waiting right here when you’re finished,” he assured

“Thank you, David.”

standing in the lobby when she entered. Hot as fu… Several women in the area were openly staring, and

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