Chapter 100
Sutton shifted uncomfortably in her chair, trying to find a position that didn’t make her back ache. Over six months pregnant, and the reception desk at Cyber 10 had become her own personal torture chamber.
The hard chair. The hours of sitting. The condescending smiles from executives who didn’t know she’d been accepted into MIT but had turned it down to support her younger sisters. Instead, she’d gone into modeling–a job she’d hated with a fiery passion. But it had paid their tuition. Got them through university.
She still earned her computer science degree, even if she had to do it part time. And she could run circles around half the company’s coding team with
one hand tied behind her back.
She rubbed her lower back, wincing as the baby landed a solid kick to her ribs. The doctor had warned her about desk jobs while pregnant, but warnings didn’t pay rent or build a safety net. She was doing this alone. Luca hadn’t wanted her or the baby.
At least she had her sisters. Keira and Blair had been there through everything.
It was Blair she felt for right now. Yeah, Luca had married his baby bride, but Sutton hadn’t walked in on him mid–betrayal like Blair had–with their cousin Laura, no less. And to top it all off, Laura was pregnant, too. Like it had been going on for months.
This weekend, they had to attend the engagement party. Family unity and all that crap. What a load of bullshit. It was all about saving face. Sutton was ninety–nine percent sure no one would even mention the pregnancy. That wouldn’t fly with Auntie Viv’s pristine standards. It was bad enough Sutton had come home single and pregnant. Oh, the horror.
“Could you make copies of these for the morning meeting?”
Brad Morris, VP of operations and certified jackass, dropped a thick stack of papers on her desk without even making eye contact. His gaze hovered somewhere around her stomach, like pregnancy was contagious.
“Sure,” Sutton muttered, forcing a brittle smile.
Her third application for an internal transfer to the programming department had been rejected just yesterday. No explanation. Not that she needed one. No one wanted to invest in a pregnant employee who’d be going on leave soon. And let’s be real–she didn’t have a penis. That was strike two. This place was a boys‘ club in business casual. Women were for answering phones, pouring coffee, and smiling politely at people who treated them like furniture.
Sutton hauled herself up with effort, her balance a daily challenge as her center of gravity shifted. She made her way to the copy room, where two third- floor developers were hunched by the machine.
“…new ownership. European company. Heard they’re ruthless with cuts,” one said under his breath.
“Great timing with that baby of yours, huh?” The other glanced at her with a smirk as she entered. “Better hope they don’t decide new moms are dispensable.”
She ignored them. She’d survived worse. Being knocked up and alone wasn’t new territory–it was just quieter. She hadn’t even Googled Luca once. Cutting him out completely was the only way forward. Sure, she’d fantasized about hacking his accounts and donating every dollar to women’s shelters -but she’d restrained herself. Barely.
Back at her desk, she opened her hidden code project. She’d been working on it in the background for months–an Al–driven virus detection system that could track the dark web in real time and rewrite its own code to counter new threats as they developed. Being more proactive than reactive.
More useful than half the crap their actual dev team produced.
The elevator dinged. Sutton sat up straighter automatically.
A woman stepped out–tall, sharp, and tailored within an inch of her life. Charcoal suit, high heels, hair yanked back in a knot so tight it might’ve given her a facelift. Like the kind of woman Sutton had modeled next to and secretly loathed.
Her gaze swept the lobby and landed on Sutton’s bump with obvious distaste.
“Nicole Bruno. I have an appointment with Greg Conner, your CEO.”
Sutton checked the calendar. “I don’t see you on his schedule, Ms. Bruno.” Conner was a glorified frat boy in a blazer.
“Call him. He’ll see me.”
The tone was pure power play. Sutton dialed his extension.
“Mr. Conner, there’s a Nicole Bruno here to see you.” She paused. “Yes, sir.”
She hung up. “He’s sending his assistant down to escort you up.”
Nicole’s eyes narrowed. “How long have you worked here?”
“A few months.”
“Really? They hired you pregnant?”
“My pregnancy doesn’t affect my ability to answer phones,” Sutton replied, deadpan. “It’s not exactly rocket science.”
Nicole leaned in slightly. “In my experience, companies don’t need the burden of maternity leave and the unreliability of new mothers. I’d be updating my résumé if I were you.”
Sutton’s blood ran cold. Before she could tell her to go screw herself with a stapler, the elevator pinged again and Conner’s assistant rushed out.
“Ms. Bruno, please come with me. Mr. Conner is eager to meet with you.”
Nicole straightened, her mask of professionalism sliding back into place. “We’ll continue this conversation another time.”
Sutton waited until the elevator doors closed, then grabbed her phone.
Sutton: Something weird happening at work. Tell you tonight.
She’d felt the shift in the company weeks ago. After a major coding failure let a vicious virus sneak into clients‘ systems. It had nearly tanked their biggest
contracts.
The rest of the morning crawled by. Sutton took calls, rerouted guests, tried to ignore the stabbing pain in her back. Executives zipped to the conference room one by one, faces tight. Something was definitely up.
Three hours later, the whole company got the same email.
MANDATORY ALL–STAFF MEETING – CONFERENCE ROOM. IMMEDIATELY.
Sutton squeezed into the packed room, struggling to get comfortable. People whispered all around her.
“Heard they’re cutting half the staff,” someone muttered behind her.
“They could be brutal,” another voice chimed in. “They’ll gut us for patents and bounce.”
Sutton pressed a hand to her belly, willing the baby to calm down. She couldn’t afford to lose this job. Not now. Blair and Keira would help, and she had savings–but it wouldn’t last long.
Greg Conner stepped in, flanked by Nicole Bruno and two men in suits who looked like they ate small businesses for breakfast.
“Thank you all for coming. I have an announcement.” He tugged at his collar, sweating, “Effective immediately, Cyber10 has been acquired by another tech firm.”
The room exploded with murmurs.
He raised his hands. “The new owner will be arriving next week to meet the team. In the meantime, Ms. Bruno and her team will be assessing aff departments.”
Nicole stepped forward, that same tight–lipped smile on her face. “We’ll be evaluating all operations. Some positions may be deemed… redundant.
Her gaze zeroed in on Sutton. Like a laser.
Back at the front desk, Sutton couldn’t sit still. Her heart was racing. Her job–everything felt like it was hanging by a thread.
Nicole appeared out of nowhère, lips painted in perfect disapproval.
“Let me make something clear,” she said, voice cool and sharp. “The new owner has specific expectations for this company’s image. A visibly pregnant her eyes flicked to Sutton’s bare ring finger, “unmarried receptionist doesn’t exactly fit that.”
“That’s discrimination,” Sutton replied, pulse thudding in her ears. “You can’t—”
“It’s business. And in business, only the essential survive.”
She turned on her heel. “Oh, and I’ll need a list of all client appointments for the next two weeks. And coffee. Black.”
As she strutted away, Sutton clenched her fists. She was this close to throwing something at her Botoxed head.
“She said that to your face?” Keira bellowed, nearly spilling her tea as she slammed the mug on the kitchen counter. “That’s illegal. Illegal. Like, headline- worthy, cancel–worthy illegal!”
Sutton sank into the couch with a groan, stretching her legs out and rubbing her swollen feet. “With what money am I going to sue her? What lawyer? I’ve got savings, but that’s for the baby. Formula and diapers, not legal fees.”
“I’m sure Roman knows people-”
“No.” Sutton cut her off sharply. “I’m not dragging him or anyone else into this.”
Keira raised a brow. “Right. Because God forbid anyone tries to help the heavily pregnant woman being low–key fired for daring to exist.”
Sutton sighed. “I just… I want to handle this myself.”
Keira plopped down beside her, kicking her feet up. “Okay, fine. Handle it. But if that Ice Queen comes near you again, I’m showing up with a bloody megaphone and a flamethrower.”
Sutton snorted, laughing despite herself. “You don’t own a flamethrower.”
Keira shrugged. “Give me ten minutes and internet access.”
