Page 24 of Claws and Controllers

Zy’s lips quirked into a smile that made her heart skip. “High praise indeed. I’ll have to remember that the next time you’re yelling at me about code optimization.”

Ellie laughed, the tension broken. “Oh please, as if you don’t love our debates.”

“Guilty as charged,” Zy admitted, raising his glass in a mock toast.

As the night drew to a close, they lingered outside her building, neither quite ready for the evening to end. The city hummed around them, but Ellie was only aware of Zy, of the way he stood close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

“I had a wonderful time tonight,” Zy said softly, his eyes searching hers.

“So did I,” Ellie replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with possibility. Then, Ellie smiled and turned to her building. She glanced over her shoulder once inside and smiled. As she got into her elevator, she frowned at the emptiness in her chest.

TEN

Zy strode into the sleek, modern lobby of Ashford Entertainment’s headquarters, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor. The early morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the space. Despite the early hour, Zy’s mind buzzed with activity, replaying his recent interactions with Ellie.

As he stepped into the private elevator, Zy caught his reflection in the mirrored walls. His tailored suit sat perfectly on his broad shoulders, but there was a hint of something in his golden-flecked eyes that gave him pause. A softness, perhaps? Or was it uncertainty? He shook his head, banishing the thought. He had a company to run and a mystery to solve.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal Adonis waiting for him, his imposing figure a stark contrast to the minimalist decor of Zy’s office suite.

“Morning, boss,” Adonis greeted, falling into step beside Zy as they walked toward the office. “I take it your ‘collaborative session’ with Ms. Madden was... illuminating?”

Zy shot him a look, catching the hint of amusement in his friend’s tone. “It was productive,” he said carefully, pushing open his office door. “And... unexpected.”

Adonis raised a brow as they settled into their usual spots - Zy behind his expansive desk, Adonis in one of the plush chairs across from him. “Unexpected how?”

Zy leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowing as he tried to put his thoughts into words. “Ellie, she’s... not what I expected. She’s brilliant, of course - her insights into game development are truly impressive. But there’s more to her than just technical skill.”

“Oh?” Adonis’s lips quirked into a knowing smirk. “Do tell.”

Zy felt a warmth creep up his neck, grateful for his olive complexion that hid any hint of a blush. “She’s passionate and dedicated. And she’s been through more than I realized. Did you know her ex-husband stole her previous game idea and sold it off?”

Adonis’s expression sobered. “I’d heard rumors, but nothing concrete. That’s rough.”

“It is,” Zy agreed, his voice tinged with a protective edge that surprised even him. “Which is why I’m more convinced than ever that she can’t be responsible for the code theft. She’s experienced that betrayal firsthand. There’s no way she’d do the same to someone else.”

Adonis leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Zy. “You seem awfully sure about someone you’ve just met, Zy. Don’t forget why you started getting close to her in the first place.”

Zy bristled slightly at the implication. “I haven’t forgotten. But I also can’t ignore what I’ve learned about her character.”

A mischievous glint appeared in Adonis’s eyes. “Careful there, boss. Keep this up, and you might end up under her covers instead of undercover.”

“Adonis!” Zy exclaimed, half-exasperated, half-amused. “This is serious.”

“Oh, I can see that,” Adonis chuckled. “The great Zyan Ashford, tiger shifter extraordinaire, brought low by a prettygame developer with a heart of gold. It’s like something out of one of those romance novels my sister’s always reading.”

Zy rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t quite suppress his smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“It’s why you keep me around,” Adonis replied smoothly. Then, his expression grew more serious. “But in all honesty, Zy, you need to be careful. Even if Ellie isn’t directly responsible for the code theft, getting personally involved with her while we’re still investigating could complicate things.”

Zy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. Believe me, I know. But I can’t shake the feeling that we’re looking at this all wrong. Instead of trying to prove how Ellie got our code, maybe we should be focusing on how it got out of Ashford Entertainment in the first place.”

Adonis nodded thoughtfully. “I’m already on it. I’ve been reviewing everyone who had significant access to that particular project. It’s a short list, but there’s one name that keeps coming up.”

Zy leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Who?”

“Vince Benton,” Adonis said, his voice low. “He worked closely with you on that code, didn’t he? Knows it almost as well as you do.”

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