Sutton looked up to find Tyler standing over her, arms crossed, expression amused.

“I wasb,/b” she corrected, keeping her voice even. “Now I’m a developer.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Just like that, huh? Must be nice. What did you do sleep with someone?”

The implication wasn’t subtle. Heat rose in Sutton’s cheeks, but she kept her expression neutral. “I have a degree inputer science. I’ve applied for a

transfer three timesb./bb” /b

“Right.” His eyes flicked to her stomach. “And I’m sure your… condition… had nothing to do with the sudden promotion. Whose is bit/bb?/bb” /b

Before Sutton could respond, another developer, Kevin, she remembered, rolled his chair over. “What are iyou /iworking on, anyway? Something simple, I hope? We’re in the middle of a major system overhaul.”

His arrogant know it all tone made her jaw clench. “Al–driven virus detection self thinking,” she said, turning her screen slightly so they could see. “bIt /badapts to new threats in real–time by analyzing behavior patterns rather than relying on signature updates.”

Both men squinted at her code.

“That’s pretty ambitious for someone who was answering phones for months,” Tyler said, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice now.

“I’ve been working on it for monthsi,” /iSutton replied. “In between transferring your calls and ordering your lunch. As you lot walk past my desk like I bdon’t /b

exist.”

Kevin leaned closer, studying the screen. “Your istion protocols look oveplicated.”

“They’re not,i” /iSutton said firmly. “They’re thorough. There’s a difference.”

“And what’s the difference between polymorphic and metamorphic code structures?” Tyler asked suddenly, like he was quizzing ba /bfreshman.

Sutton didn’t even blink. “Polymorphic changes its appearance but keeps the same functions. Metamorphic rewrites bits /bactual engine with each iteration. If you’re trying to catch both, you need behavioral analysis, not just signature detection.”

Several other developers had wandered over now, drawn by the impromptu interrogation. She could feel their eyes on her, judging. Wellb, /bscrew them. She knew she was good.

“And how would you handle fragmented payloads across distributedworks?” Elliott asked, headphones now hanging around his neck.

“Containment first, then trace execution paths bto /bfindmon instruction sets,” Sutton replied. “You don’t chase fragments; you iste the behavior and work backwardb./bb” /b

The questions kepting. Each one was more technical than thest. She answered every one without hesitation. Let them test her.

She was in the middle of exining her approach to zero–day vulnerabilities when the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. bThe /bdevelopers straightened. Conversations died. Eyes shifted toward the entrance.

Luca had arrived.

bHe /bstood in the doorway, tall and imposing, dark eyes scanning the room. His bgaze /bfound her immediately lingering for ba /bbmoment /bbbefore /bbtaking /bbin /bbthe /bcluster of developers surrounding her desk.

Nicole stood beside himb, /btablet in hand, her smile tight and professional. But Sutton didn’t miss bthe /bsh bof resentment /bbin /bbher /bbeyes /bbwhen /bbshe /bbsaw /bbSutton /b

bat /bbthe /bbcenter /bof attention.

Luca moved into bthe /broom, his presence and bthe /bbfact /bNicole was bwith /bhim told those in the room bexactly /bwho bhe /bbwas/bb. /bbThere /bbwas /bbno /bneed bfor /bbanyone /bbto /bquestion bthat/b. The other developers bmoved /bbout /bbiof /i/bbhis /bbway/bb. /bbUntil /bhe bwas standing close /bbto /bher.

b1/3 /b

b“/bI see you’re settling in,” he said, his voice carrying easily in the now–silent room.

Sutton noddedb, /bacutely aware of everyone watching them. “Just getting acquainted with the team. They have been so weing bYeah /bbright/b. bBut /bbLuca /bwould tell she was lying by her tone. She didn’t need to spell it out.

Luca’s eyes moved to the screen disying her code, then to the developers still hovering nearby. His expression cooled. “bIs /bbthis /bthe new software Jake bjust /bcalled me about? How’s that going?”

Something in his tone made the men exchange nces.

“We were just asking some technical questions,” Tyler said, his earlier confidence notably diminished.

“To ensure she’s… qualified,” Kevin added.

Luca’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “I see. But I own thispany. It’s not you that needs to be worried about her qualifications? bOr /bbshould /bbwe /barrange a formal examination? Perhaps a written test? Or would you prefer to continue this public inquisition?”

The sarcasm in his voice was razor–sharp. The developers had the grace to look ufortable.

“I understand skepticism,” Luca continued, his voice quieter but no less intense. “What I don’t understand is disrespect. Ms. Warner was hired for her skills. Skills thispany desperately needs, given the subpar output I’ve seen from this department over thest quarter. If this program works bas /bbwell /bas Jake has just been telling me, half your jobs could be in jeopardy, so I would make sure your work is up to scratch.”

The tension in the room thickened as ba /bsilent shock moved through the development team.

“If anyone has concerns about the changes I’m implementing, my door is open,” Luca said, addressing the entire room now. “bIf /byou’d prefer to seek opportunities elsewhere, I’ll personally write your references. What I won’t tolerate is undermining new team members or wastingpany time with territorial disys.”

No one spoke. No one moved.

Luca turned back to Sutton, his expression softening slightly. “Ms. Warner, I’d like to see a demo of your virus detection system when you have a working prototype. Jake mentioned it’s not at that stage yet.”

Sutton nodded, caught off guard by his public support. “Of course. I should have something ready in a few weeks.”

“Excellent.” Luca’s gaze held hers for a moment longer than necessary, and Sutton felt a familiar heat rise in her chest. Even bnow/bb, /bafter everything, her body still responded to him.

He turned to leave, then paused. “One more thing. Ms. Warner, what’s your approach to adaptive Al when dealing with fragmented malware inyered infrastructures?”

The question was clearly a testb, /bbut not for her benefit. This was for the watching developers.

Sutton straightened. “I’d create a zero–trust sandbox environment to iste the fragments, track instruction flow to identify payload bconvergence /bbpoints/b, and then train the Al on behavior signatures pulled from real–time threat analysis. The goal isn’t just to catch the current threat bbut /bbto /bpredict bmutations /bbefore they execute.”

A ghost of a smile touched Luca’s lips. “She’s exactly who we need,” he said, not to her but to everyone listening.

Jake, who had returned to the scene, gave her a subtle thumbs–up behind bLuca’s /bback.

As Luca turned to leaveb, /bNicole bat /bhis side, Sutton caught the venomous look bthe /bwoman shot her way. It was brief, but unmistakable.

The bdevelopers /bdispersed, returning bto /btheir desks with considerably less swagger than before. Sutton let bout /bba /bbslow /bbbreath/bb, /bbturning /bbback /bto her bcode /btrying to ignore the racing bof /bher heart.

Nicole walked beside Luca down bthe /bbhallway/bb, /bbrage /bsimmering beneath her bcarefully /bposed bexpression/bb. /bbShe’d /bbnever /bbseen /bbhim /bbso /bbinterested /bbin /bsomeone bat /bwork so fast before. Certainly bnot /bsome pregnant bnobody /bwho’d bappeared /bbout /bbof /bbnowhere/b.

b2/3 /b

07430

bMONT, /bSU

b92/bb% /b

“That was quite the show of support,” she said carefully, testing the waters.

Luca didn’t look at her. “It wasn’t a show. It was necessary.”

“Still, it’s unusual for you to get personally involved in department dynamics. Especially for a junior hire.”

Luca stopped walking, turning to face her. “Sutton isn’t just a junior hire, Nicole. She’s an asset thispany needs.”

Nicole noted the use of her first name. The way his expression softened when he said it. “I see. And this has nothing to do with her… personal situation?”

Luca’s eyes narrowed. “What are you implying?”

“Nothing at all,” Nicole said smoothly. “I’m just concerned about the message it sends when we prioritize certain employees over others. Especially when those employees have obvious… limitations.” She nced meaningfully in the direction of the development floor.

“Her pregnancy, you mean.” Luca’s voice was dangerously quiet.

Nicole shrugged delicately. “It’s a business consideration. Maternity leave, reduced hours, divided attention–these things impact productivity. I’m just thinking of thepany’s best interests.”

“And I suppose these concerns prompted you to tell Ms. Warner that I wouldn’t want a ‘human incubator with swollen ankles‘ to be the first thing I see when I arrive?” Luca’s expression had hardened. “Or to remove personal items from her workspace?”

Nicole froze. Shit. The receptionist had told him. That little bitch.

“I was simply maintaining professional standards,” she said, recovering quickly. “First impressions matter in business.”

“They do,” Luca agreed, his tone icy. “Which is why I’m giving you this one warning, Nicole. Whatever personal issue you have with Sutton Warner ends now. She’s a valuable member of this team, and she will be treated with respect. Is that clear?”

Nicole swallowed her anger, forcing a neutral expression. “Perfectly clear.”

office.” “Good.” Luca checked his watch. “I have a call in ten minutes. I’ll be in my

He walked away, leaving Nicole standing alone in the hallway, fury burning through her veins.

That woman was a threat. Nicole had known it from the moment she saw her. She was too pretty. Nicole didn’t likepetition. Even if thatpetition was pregnant. It was a worry the way Luca looked at her… it wasn’t just professional interest.

Something personal. There was ino /iway she was going to let another woman stand in the way of what she wanted… which was Luca in her bed. Something she had been working toward for years. She’d invested too much time, too much effort, in positioning herself as the most important woman in Luca’s life.

Sutton Warner might have won this battle, ibut /iNicole would make damn sure she lost the war.