Page 23 of Claws and Controllers

As the evening wore on, Ellie found herself captivated by Zy’s quick wit and self-deprecating humor. He regaled her with stories of his most disastrous coding mishaps, each tale punctuated by increasingly dramatic hand gestures.

“And then,” Zy said, leaning in conspiratorially, “just as I thought I’d fixed the bug, the entire system crashed. In front of the entire board of directors.”

Ellie gasped in mock horror. “No! What did you do?”

Zy grinned sheepishly. “The only thing I could do. I turned to them and said, ‘And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we always back up our data.’”

Ellie burst out laughing, nearly choking on her margarita. “You didn’t!”

“I did,” Zy confirmed. “Surprisingly, they found it charming. Said it showed ‘quick thinking under pressure.’”

As their laughter subsided, Ellie found herself studying Zy’s face. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the little dimple that appeared in his left cheek. She was struck by a sudden, overwhelming urge to reach out and touch him.

Instead, she took another sip of her drink, willing her racing heart to calm down. “You know,” she said softly, “I’m really glad I agreed to come out tonight.”

Zy’s expression softened, his gaze warm and intense. “So am I, Ellie. So am I.”

As they clinked their glasses together, Ellie felt a spark of something she hadn’t experienced in years. And for once, she didn’t try to push it away.

The mariachi band in the restaurant struck up a lively tune, the vibrant notes filling the air. Ellie found herself swaying slightly in her seat, a smile playing on her lips as she sipped her second margarita of the night.

“You know,” Zy said, “I don’t think I’ve seen you this relaxed since we met. It suits you.”

Ellie felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the tequila spread through her chest. “Oh? And how do I usually look?”

Zy pretended to consider for a moment. “Hmm... intense. Brilliant. Slightly terrifying.”

She laughed, tossing a tortilla chip at him. “Terrifying? Me?”

“Absolutely,” Zy nodded solemnly, though his eyes danced with amusement. “You should see yourself when you’re in the zone, coding. It’s like watching a force of nature.”

Ellie felt her cheeks heat at the compliment. “Well, you’re not exactly a pushover yourself, Mr. CEO.”

Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off Zy’s face. The way the soft lighting caught the golden flecks in his eyes, the slight stubble along his jawline that she had the urge to run her fingers and tongue over.

Shaking herself out of her reverie, Ellie took another sip of her margarita. “So, tell me,” she said, aiming for a lighter tone, “has your mother ever tried to set you up with anyone, because mine seems to be the queen of terrible matchmaking.”

Zy groaned dramatically, dropping his head into his hands. “Oh god, don’t get me started. Our mothers might be twins.”

Ellie leaned forward, intrigued. “Oh, this I have to hear.”

“Okay, picture this,” Zy began, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “My mother’s idea of the perfect woman for me? A professional organizer who color-codes her sock drawer and has a five-year plan for her houseplants.”

Ellie nearly choked on her drink. “No!”

“Oh yes,” Zy nodded solemnly. “She showed up to our ‘date’ with a label maker and a stack of spreadsheets. I think she wanted to optimize my life or something.”

“That’s nothing,” Ellie countered, grinning. “My mom once tried to set me up with a guy who collected vintage calculators.”

They traded increasingly ridiculous matchmaking stories, each tale punctuated by bursts of laughter and playful one-upmanship.

As the evening wore on, Ellie found herself captivated by more than just Zy’s stories. The way his whole face lit up when he laughed, the gentle timbre of his voice, the way he leaned in slightly whenever she spoke, as if hanging on her every word.

During a lull in the conversation, Zy’s expression softened, his gaze warm and intense. “You know, Ellie, I have to say... you look absolutely beautiful tonight. Especially when you smile like that.”

Ellie felt her breath catch in her throat. The sincerity in his voice, the way he looked at her... it made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t in years.

“Thank you,” she murmured, suddenly shy. “You’re pretty handsome whether you smile or not.”

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