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.”
Sutton rested her head against the cool window, her phone buzzed again.
Luca: Have you eaten breakfast?
Sutton rolled her eyes, typing back one–handed.
Sutton: Yes. Stop worrying.
Luca: It’s my job to worry about you and our child.
Our child. Their child. Half her, half him. Would it have his eyes? His stubborn chin? Who knew until the baby got here.
The car pulled up outside Cyber10, and David came around to help her out. His steadying hand was welcome; her center of gravity shifted daily now, it
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seemed.
“I’ll be back at 1:30 to take you to your appointment,” he said.
“Thank you, David. See you then.”
The office 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 officially accepted the head of cybersecurity position yet, but everyone was already treating her like she had.
“Morning, Sutton,” Elliott called from his desk.
“Morning,” she replied, making her way to her workstation.
Her desk was 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 say yes. – J” with a smiley face.
She smiled, touching one of the small fleshy leaves. The plant was a sweet gift.
The morning blurred into lines 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 nearly ready for full deployment, and she felt a surge of pride every time she thought about it.
Around 11:30, her stomach growled loudly enough for Elliott to hear.
“Lunchtime for mama bear,” he announced, spinning in his chair to face her.
“I think I’ll go grab something from the break room.” Her cheeks pink.
An hour later, Sutton was still deep in code, 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 with her calendar reminder that she surfaced, blinking like someone coming out of a trance.
1:15. Her appointment was at 2pm, and she needed to get there. David would be downstairs soon.
“Shit,” she muttered, quickly saving her work and locking her computer. She’d meant to leave earlier to avoid rushing. The alarm had only been her backup. She locked her computer, said goodbye to everyone, she was out the door.
The car was already waiting when she stepped outside. David helped her in, his steadying hand on her elbow a welcome support as she lowered herself awkwardly into the backseat.
“Sorry, I’m running a bit late,” she told him..
“No problem, Ms. Warner. We’ll get you there on time.”
Traffic was surprisingly light. As they approached the medical building, Sutton texted Luca.
Sutton: Almost there.
Luca: Already here. Waiting in the lobby.
She wasn’t surprised. Luca had wanted to be here
David pulled up to the entrance and came around to help her out. “I’ll be waiting right here when you’re finished,” he assured her.
“Thank you, David.”
Luca was standing in the lobby when she entered. Hot as fu… Several women in the area were openly staring, and Sutton couldn’t really blame them. The man was unfairly attractive.
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“Hi,” he said, his eyes moving over her face before leaning in to kiss her cheek. The gesture was casual, but to her it increased her heart rate.
“Hi,” she managed, “We’re on the fifth floor.”
He followed her to the elevator, his hand coming to rest lightly on the small of her back. The touch was barely there, but she felt it like a brand through the thin fabric of her dress. When the doors closed, sealing them in the small space together, she was so aware of him as a man.
“You look beautiful today,” he said.
She was saved from having to respond by the elevator doors opening. They stepped out onto the fifth floor, where Dr. Matthews‘ office occupied the entire south wing.
The receptionist Amy smiled as they approached. “Ms. Warner, good to see you again.” Her eyes flicked to Luca with interest. Every other time Sutton had been here, she’d been manless.
“Hi,” Sutton replied.
“Dr. Matthews is running about ten minutes behind schedule,” Amy informed her apologetically. “Have a seat, and we’ll call you as soon as he’s ready.”
They found chairs in a quiet corner of the waiting room, away from the other patients. A visibly exhausted woman flipped mechanically through a magazine, while a young couple whispered excitedly to each other, the woman’s hand resting on her barely visible bump. First pregnancy, Sutton guessed. Still in the exciting phase before reality set in.
“Have you thought about names yet?” Luca asked after a moment of silence, his voice pitched low.
Sutton glanced at him. “Not really. I’ve been busy.”
“What about last names?”
She’d thought about this, actually. More than she cared to admit. “De Santis,” she said after a moment, watching his reaction. “It makes the most sense.”
Something flickered in his eyes. She thought in surprise, “You’d give the baby my last name?” he asked softly.
“It’s your child too,” she said simply. “Unless… you’d prefer Warner?”
“No,” he said quickly, almost too quickly. “De Santis is fine. More than fine. I just…” He hesitated, “I wasn’t sure what you’d want.”
She would give the baby his last name.
Before she could respond, a nurse appeared in the doorway. “Sutton Warner?”
