Page 18 of Claws and Controllers

As she set her phone down, Ellie caught her grandmother watching her with a knowing smile.

“Not a word, Abuela,” Ellie said, but she couldn’t keep the grin off her face.

“I didn’t say anything,” Elena replied innocently. But her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and hope that spoke volumes.

The next few days passed in a whirlwind of hospital visits, work catch-up, and preparation for her meeting with Zy. By the time Ellie arrived at her office on the agreed-upon day, she felt a strange mix of nervousness and excitement.

She had just finished setting up her workspace when a knock on the door announced Zy’s arrival. Ellie took a deep breath, smoothing down her blouse before opening the door.

Zy stood there, looking as impeccably put-together as always in a tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. But there was a warmth in his golden-flecked eyes that Ellie hadn’t noticed before.

“Ellie,” he greeted her with a smile. “It’s good to see you. How’s your grandmother?”

The genuine concern in his voice caught Ellie off guard. “She’s doing much better, thank you. The flowers really cheered her up.”

Zy’s smile widened. “I’m glad to hear it. Shall we get started?”

SEVEN

As they settled into their work, Ellie found herself relaxing. Despite their competitive history, there was an easy rhythm to their collaboration. They bounced ideas off each other, their shared passion for gaming leading to excited exchanges and creative breakthroughs.

“You know,” Zy said during a lull in their work, “I’m really impressed with what you’ve done with the character customization in Infinite Odyssey. The level of detail is extraordinary.”

Ellie beamed at the compliment, even as a small part of her remained wary. “Thank you. It’s been a labor of love, that’s for sure. Though I have to admit, I’m still struggling with some aspects of the shapeshifter mechanics.”

Zy leaned in, his eyes lighting up with interest. “Oh? What kind of issues are you running into?”

As Ellie explained the technical challenges she’d been facing, she couldn’t help but notice how intently Zy listened. He asked thoughtful questions, offering insights that showed a deep understanding of the underlying systems.

At one point, Zy reached over to point out something on Ellie’s laptop screen. His hand brushed against hers, sendingan unexpected jolt of electricity through her. Ellie jerked back slightly, her cheeks warming.

If Zy noticed her reaction, he didn’t show it. But Ellie caught a fleeting expression cross his face – something almost like guilt? – before he smoothly continued his explanation.

As their session wore on, Ellie found herself opening up more. She shared stories from her early days in game development, including some of her more embarrassing mistakes. To her surprise, Zy reciprocated with tales of his own missteps.

“I remember this one time,” Zy said, leaning back in his chair with a rueful smile, “I was so confident in this new combat system I’d developed. Spent months on it. Brought it to a big industry showcase, ready to blow everyone away.”

Ellie leaned forward, intrigued. “What happened?”

Zy’s laugh was self-deprecating. “It glitched. Spectacularly. In front of about a hundred people, including some major investors. I thought my career was over before it had even really begun.”

“Oh no,” Ellie gasped, torn between sympathy and amusement. “How did you recover from that?”

“Honestly?” Zy’s expression softened. “It was rough. But it taught me a valuable lesson about humility and the importance of thorough testing. And in the end, it made me a better developer.”

Ellie nodded, understanding all too well the sting of public failure. “I had a similar experience once. Not quite as dramatic, but...”

As she shared her own story of a demo gone wrong, Ellie marveled at how easy it was to talk to Zy. There was a warmth and genuineness to him that she’d never expected from the CEO of a rival company.

Before they knew it, hours had passed. Ellie’s stomach growled audibly, breaking the flow of their conversation.

Zy glanced at his watch, looking surprised. “I can’t believe it’s already past noon. What do you say we take a break? I know a great deli nearby if you’re interested.”

Ellie hesitated for a moment, weighing the professional boundaries she’d tried to maintain against the growing connection she felt with Zy. Her grandmother’s words echoed in her mind: “Don’t let fear or old grudges keep you from exploring the possibility.”

“You know what? That sounds great,” Ellie said with a smile.

The deli Zy led her to was a hidden gem, tucked away in a quiet corner near Ellie’s office building. They settled at an outdoor table, the New York spring sunshine warm on their faces.

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