Page 19 of Claws and Controllers

As they dug into their sandwiches – pastrami on rye for Zy, a chicken wrap for Ellie – their conversation drifted to more personal topics.

“So,” Zy said, his tone carefully casual, “if you don’t mind me asking... what made you decide to start your own gaming company? It’s not an easy industry to break into, especially as an independent developer.”

Ellie took a sip of her soda, considering her answer. “It’s a long story, actually. And not a particularly happy one.”

Zy’s expression grew serious. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it’s okay,” Ellie surprised herself by saying. “It’s... probably something you should know, given our companies’ history.”

Taking a deep breath, Ellie stared down at her half-eaten wrap, her appetite suddenly gone. The bustling sounds of the deli faded into the background as memories she’d tried so hard to suppress came flooding back.

“It all started about five years ago,” she began. Zy leaned in closer, his brow furrowed with concern. “I was working on a game – Dreamscape. It was... it was going to be my masterpiece.”

Ellie’s eyes grew distant, lost in the past. “I poured everything into it. Sleepless nights, missed family events, my whole heart and soul. And Grant, my husband at the time, was so supportive. Or so I thought.”

She glanced up at Zy, expecting to see boredom or impatience. Instead, his golden-flecked eyes were fixed on her, filled with a mixture of compassion and something deeper she couldn’t quite name.

Encouraged, Ellie continued, her words coming faster now. “It was about two months before the scheduled release. I came home early one day, wanting to surprise Grant. But... but he wasn’t alone.”

Her voice cracked slightly, and Zy instinctively reached out, his hand covering hers on the table. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through Ellie, grounding her in the present.

“He was with a woman from…Ashford Entertainment,” Ellie said, watching Zy’s face carefully. But there was no flicker of recognition, only a growing horror. “They were... they were going over my game files. All my work, everything I’d created. Grant was offering it to her like it was his to give away.”

Zy’s hand tightened on hers. “Ellie, I... I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

Ellie nodded, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. “It gets worse. When I confronted them, Grant laughed. Said I was naive to think I could make it in this industry on my own. That he was doing me a favor, getting my work noticed by a ‘real’ company.”

She pulled her hand away from Zy’s, clenching it into a fist. “The divorce was ugly. Grant tried to claim he had co-createdDreamscape and that he had a right to sell it. He went to the media, painted me as unstable and unreliable. Said I was trying to sabotage his career out of jealousy, that I was angry he didn’t want me and so I was trying to make him out to be the bad guy.”

Zy’s face had gone pale, his jaw clenched tight. “That’s... that’s despicable. Ellie, I swear to you, if I had known...”

Ellie met his gaze, searching for any hint of deception. But all she saw was a genuine burning anger that seemed to match her own.

“The worst part,” Ellie continued, “was watching Dreamscape hit the market under Ashford Entertainment’s banner. Seeing all my hard work, my dreams, twisted and changed. Knowing that everyone thought it was Grant’s creation.”

She took a shaky breath, squaring her shoulders. “That’s why I started my own company. Why I created Infinite Odyssey. I needed to prove to myself, and everyone, that I could do this on my own. Show that Grant hadn’t broken me.”

Silence fell between them, heavy with the weight of Ellie’s confession. She watched Zy, bracing herself for his reaction. Would he try to defend his company? Dismiss her pain?

Instead, Zy reached out again, gently taking both of her hands into his. His touch was warm and comforting in a way Ellie hadn’t expected.

“Ellie,” he said, his voice low and intense. “What happened to you... it’s unforgivable. I want you to know I had no knowledge of this. If I had, I would have put a stop to it immediately.”

His golden eyes blazed with a fierce determination. “I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this. Whatever it takes, I’ll make it right.”

Ellie felt something shift inside her, a wall she’d built around her heart beginning to crumble. “You believe me?” she asked, hating how vulnerable she sounded.

Zy’s grip on her hands tightened. “Ellie, you are one of the most talented and driven people I’ve ever met. Anyone who would try to steal your work, to diminish your achievements... they’re not just unethical, they’re fools.”

A warmth bloomed in Ellie’s chest, spreading through her body. For the first time in years, she felt truly seen, truly understood.

“Thank you,” she whispered, a tear slid down her cheek. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

Zy reached out, his thumb gently brushing away the tear. The tender gesture sent a shiver down Ellie’s spine.

“Ellie, I... I truly had no idea,” Zy said when she finished, his voice thick with emotion. “I knew there had been some controversy around that acquisition, but I never knew the details. If I had...”

He trailed off, seeming at a loss for words.

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