Page 15 of Claws and Controllers

Adonis settled into the chair next to him, his expression serious. “I’ve been thinking about this situation, Zy. Are you sure getting closer to Ellie is the best move? It could backfire spectacularly.”

Zy sighed, setting the tablet aside. “I know it’s risky. But think about it, Adonis. If Ellie is knowingly using stolen code, getting closer to her is the best way to gather concrete evidence. And if she’s innocent, it gives us a chance to figure out how our tech ended up in her game without immediately resorting to legal action.”

“And the fact that you’re clearly attracted to her has nothing to do with this decision?” Adonis asked, his tone skeptical.

Zy’s jaw clenched. “I won’t deny that I find her intriguing. But I’ve been running this company for decades, Adonis. I know how to separate personal feelings from business decisions.”

Adonis held up his hands in surrender. “All right, all right. I trust your judgment. Just... be careful, okay? This whole situation feels like a powder keg waiting to explode.”

Zy nodded, his expression softening. “I appreciate your concern, old friend. I promise I’ll tread carefully.”

As Adonis moved away to oversee the booth’s closing procedures, Zy’s gaze drifted across the convention hall. He spotted Ellie at her own booth, laughing with her team as they packed up for the day. Even from a distance, her vibrant energy was palpable.

His tiger stirred restlessly within him, a low growl rumbling through his mind. The beast had been unusually agitated since their encounter with Ellie, alternating between intense interest and wary suspicion. It was a feeling Zy could relate to all too well.

As he watched, Ellie looked up, her eyes meeting his across the crowded space. For a moment, the noise and bustle of the convention seemed to fade away. Ellie’s smile softened,becoming something more personal, more intimate. Zy found himself returning the smile before he could think better of it.

The moment was broken by a convention staffer announcing the hall’s imminent closure. Zy shook himself, trying to clear his head. This attraction, this connection he felt with Ellie - it was a complication he couldn’t afford right now. He had a responsibility to his company and the technology he’d worked so hard to develop.

And yet...

As he began gathering his own belongings, Zy’s mind raced with possibilities. Tomorrow, he’d begin his deeper investigation into Infinite Odyssey and its mysterious creator. He’d get closer to Ellie, gain her trust, and uncover the truth.

But a small, traitorous part of him whispered that maybe, just maybe, he’d discover something even more valuable in the process.

Zy squared his shoulders, his resolve strengthening. Whatever happened next, he was committed to seeing this through. For his company, for his own peace of mind, and for the chance to understand the enigma that was Ellie.

As he left the convention center, stepping out into the cool New York evening, Zy allowed himself one last glance back. Through the glass doors, he could see Ellie leaving with her team, her head thrown back in laughter at something her friend had said.

Tomorrow, Zy thought. Tomorrow, the real game begins.

With that thought, he slipped into the waiting car, his mind already racing with plans for their upcoming “collaboration.” As the car pulled away from the curb, merging into the bustling New York traffic, Zy couldn’t shake the feeling that he was standing on the precipice of something monumental.

Whether it would lead to triumph or disaster remained to be seen.

SIX

Ellie’s phone buzzed insistently, dragging her from a fitful sleep. She fumbled for the device, squinting at the screen in the pre-dawn darkness of her bedroom. As her eyes focused on the caller ID, her heart leaped into her throat. Mom.

“Hello?” Ellie’s voice was thick with sleep and worry. Her mother never called this early unless something was wrong.

“Ellie, honey,” Letty Madden’s voice crackled through the speaker, strained and urgent. “It’s Abuela. She’s in the hospital.”

The words hit Ellie like a bucket of ice water. She sat bolt upright, sleep forgotten. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“She had a fall,” Letty explained, her voice wavering slightly. “They think it might be her heart. We’re at Mount Sinai.”

Ellie was already out of bed, fumbling for clothes. “I’m on my way.”

As she rushed to get dressed, Ellie’s mind raced. Today was supposed to be the final day of the gaming convention, the culmination of months of hard work. Infinite Odyssey had been a hit, generating buzz beyond her wildest dreams. But none of that mattered now. Family came first. Always.

Ellie fired off a quick text to Noa as she hailed a cab:

“Family emergency. Can’t make it today. You’re in charge. Call if there’s a crisis.”

Noa’s reply came almost instantly: “OMG! Is everyone okay? Don’t worry about the booth. I’ve got this. Go take care of your family. ??”

The taxi ride to the hospital seemed to take an eternity. Ellie’s leg bounced nervously, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. She thought of her grandmother – Abuela Elena – the matriarch of their family. A woman who had moved to New York from Puerto Rico with nothing but determination and dreams and building a life and a legacy that inspired them all.

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