<b>Chapter </b><b>133 </b>


    Sutton had been wide awake since 5:17 a.m., and not from baby kicks this time.


    She just couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts had been spinning. So she hadid there until it was time to get up, thinking about Luca and the baby. His offer of marriage and the job offer. When the light spread across the room and climbed halfway up door, she got out of bed for work… it was Friday at least.


    She took a shower and got dressed, calling the car service as she finished off breakfast.


    In the car on the way to the office, she messaged Jake:


    Sutton: Do you feel like lunch today?


    Jake: Sure… Everything ok?


    Sutton: Yes, I just need to talk to someone I trust who isn’t family.


    Jake: Okay, I’m d you feel you cane to me.


    the


    By noon, they were seated at a little spot a few blocks from the office, an old–style café. It was great because it wasn’t too noisy<i>. </i>Sutton had eaten here before; the food was good, and they had the best sourdough. It was also within walking distance of the office.


    Jake ordered a Cubano and a side of fries because he believed in carbs and fat. Sutton got a BLT on their sourdough and an iced tea.


    “So,” Jake said, nudging her knee under the table. “You want to talk because I’m not family. You are looking a little worried, and you are starting to stress me. So out with it and talk.”


    She gave him a tired half–smile. “Is that your way of saying I look like I’ve been hitting the panic button?”


    “Lightly pressing it. Repeatedly. I’m here for you,


    babe.”


    Sutton looked down at the straw in her iced tea, then at Jake. He was someone she feltfortable enough with to share this information. The one person who wasn’t rted to her or trying to co–parent with her. The one friend who wouldn’t try to save her, just stand next to her. Jake had tried to stand in her corner while Nicole had been a bitch.


    So she told him.


    All of it.


    She told him about Luca. About the past. The night they’d first been together, how they had met, the fallout, the heartbreak. About her being Audrey, the carefully constructed persona she buried. He had to Google her. Then about discovering she was pregnant. About Luca telling her about his engagement and the things he had said. Her waiting a week before leaving Europe. Coming home to her sisters.


    She also told him about what had happened to her parents and the fact that her sisters and she owned Warner Industries.


    She told him about Luca’s proposal and her non–answer.


    Lastly, she told him about her concerns about taking the job and the fact that it coulde out about her past with Luca and everyone would think she got the job on her back. Instead of talent.


    Jake didn’t interrupt once.


    He just ate his lunch, and his eyes, got bigger. He nodded asionally and let her talk until her sandwich was cold. She almost felt like handing him popcorn. This really felt like some drama show.


    And when she was finally finished, he wiped his mouth and said, “Wow, I mean I guessed some of it but not all that. Just <i>holy </i>shit.”


    Sutton blinked. “You know?”


    <b>“</b>I knew something had happened. Before. You and Luca? It was all over his bodynguage since he had been at Cyber10. Before <b>that</b>, <b>for </b><b>months </b>he barely spoke. He just buried himself in work; he has been like a bear with a sore head thest few months. It was horrible <b>to </b><b>be </b>around him for a while. Then he got here, and it wasn’t.”


    Sutton shook her head. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”


    “Because it wasn’t my business,” Jake said simply. “But Sutton… this thing with him? You both think you’re hiding it well, but it’s obvious. He looks at you when you’re not watching, and the air… sort of hums when you both are in the same room.”


    Sheughed, startled. “That’s ridiculous. The air doesn’t hum.”


    Jake grinned at her. “Yes, it does, but the blood is properly rushing in your ears and you don’t hear it.”


    Sutton blushed. Because having him near did make her blood rush in her veins.


    “I think you should have a little trust in your appeal, hon… if I were straight. I’d give Luca a run for his money. I think that was Nicole’s problem. It wasn’t just your looks; there is something about you. You’re nice and smart and fucking gorgeous. It was like a triple threat to Nicole.”


    “I figured out she was in love with Luca.”


    Jakeughed. “She wasn’t in love with him; she was in love with the life he could give her. The bonus was that he was the right age and good–looking as well. Nicole is a shark. I’m d she is gone.”


    “So am I. I need to ask Luca about her. I keep forgetting. The rest of our story is taking up all my time.”


    “Yes, that plot is much more exciting,” Jake agreed.


    Sutton sighed. “I just think that right now I would be crazy to marry him.”


    “Is it?” he said, slouching back. “You’re afraid he wants the baby more than he wants you. But what if it’s both?”


    She didn’t answer that.


    He went on. “You’re a woman who could stand on her own right. He’s a man who has had blinkers on. But you have feelings for each other. That’s more than some marriages have.”


    She swallowed, rubbing her thumb over the condensation on her ss. “I want to ept the cybersecurity lead position.”


    Jake raised his eyebrows. “So do it. Cyber10 will be lucky to have you.”


    “I didn’t want people thinking I got it because of us, like I said.”


    Jake paused, then leaned in. “Screw everyone else. You built the system that just saved Kingston. But let’s be honest… Luca may love you, but he wouldn’tpromise thepany for a little tail, doesn’t matter how good it is. He asked you because you’re the best. Everyone who knows him can see that.”


    She looked at him.


    “Trust me, it’s not because you’re carrying his baby. Or your past. It’s because you’re good at it. The best… probably better than even he expected. When he put you on the development team.”


    Sutton felt something stick in her throat… maybe pride.


    “I could… be good at this<i>,</i><i>” </i>she whispered.


    Jake smiled widely. “You already are, Warner. Now stop waiting for someone to give you permission.”


    Back at the office, Sutton sat at her desk for exactly seven minutes, staring at herputer screen. Before she pulled up her email, <b>she </b>began <b>typing </b><b>an </b>email to HR, because it was better to go through channels than tell Luca <i>first</i>.


    00.33 Mon, 21


    Hi Michelle,


    I’d like to formally ept the offer for the cybersecurity division lead role, effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity.


    She signed off the email, reread it once, and hit send before she could change her mind.


    And just like that, it was done.


    45.73%


    She was thankful to Jake. It was great to have someone to talk to outside of family of Luca. She had left her modeling friends behind because she was no longer Audrey. She was Sutton Warner, aputer nerd.


    When her phone buzzed with a text from Luca an hourter:


    Luca: Congrattions on the new job. About time.


    She smiled.