Page 28 of Claws and Controllers

Vince’s brow furrowed, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. “But, sir, the current work schedule - it’s slowed significantly. The team is concerned about meeting our deadlines. Is there a problem with our performance?”

Zy’s tiger stirred restlessly within him, sensing the tension in the room. He kept his voice calm and measured, years of boardroom negotiations coming into play. “Not at all. Your team’s work has been exemplary as always. This is a company-wide reassessment, affecting all departments.”

“I see,” Vince said, his tone professional but tinged with disappointment. “It’s just... we’ve made such progress on the AI integration. The team was really looking forward to moving to the next phase. Is there any way we can continue some aspects of the project while you conduct your reassessment?”

Zy felt a pang of guilt. Vince’s passion for his work was evident, and under normal circumstances, he would have applauded such dedication. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, Vince. Let’s schedule a meeting next week to discuss which elements of the project can proceed. For now, use this time for code review and optimization.”

Vince nodded, standing and smoothing down his jacket. “Understood, sir. I’ll inform the team. We’ll make the most of this... unexpected downtime.”

As the door closed behind Vince, Zy let out a long breath. Adonis moved to take the now-vacant seat, his expression thoughtful.

“He’s not happy,” Adonis observed.

Zy snorted. “Understatement of the century. But it can’t be helped. Where are we on the review of his work?”

Adonis pulled out a tablet, scrolling through data. “Still ongoing. Nothing conclusive yet, but we’re being thorough.”

Zy nodded, his mind racing. The lack of evidence against Vince was both reassuring and frustrating. Part of him hoped they were wrong about their suspicions, that Vince’s dedication was as genuine as it appeared.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Corbett, Zy’s younger cousin, poked his head in, his usual mischievous grin in place.

“Hey, cuz, got a minute?” Corbett asked, sauntering in without waiting for an answer. “Just ran into Vince in the hallway. He seems pretty swamped lately. Thought maybe I could lend a hand with some of the projects?”

Zy forced a smile. “Thanks for the offer, Corbett, but I think we’ve got it covered. Best stick to your current projects for now.”

“If you’re sure,” Corbett said, his tone casual. “Just trying to be a team player, you know?”

After Corbett left, Adonis turned to Zy, his expression neutral. “Back to Vince’s work?”

Zy nodded, refocusing on the task at hand. They had a mystery to solve, and right now, all they could do was keep digging. As he turned back to the data on his screen, Zy couldn’t help but hope that their suspicions would prove unfounded. But until they knew for sure, they had to keep looking.

TWELVE

The warm glow of candlelight danced across the polished wood of the table, casting a soft ambiance over the cozy Italian restaurant. Ellie settled into her seat, inhaling the rich aroma of garlic and freshly baked bread. Across from her, her best friend Noa and sister Frankie chatted animatedly, their laughter mingling with the gentle clinking of glasses and cutlery.

“So,” Frankie said, as she reached for her wine glass, “are we going to talk about the elephant in the room, or do I have to drag it out of you?”

Ellie quirked an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Noa snorted, nearly choking on her bruschetta. “Oh please, Ellie. We’re not blind. You’ve been walking around with your head in the clouds ever since that convention. Spill.”

A warmth crept up Ellie’s neck, and she busied herself with arranging her napkin. “It’s nothing. Just... work stuff.”

“Work stuff,” Frankie repeated skeptically. “Would this ‘work stuff’ happen to be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome? With a name that rhymes with fly?”

Ellie rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t quite suppress the smile tugging at her lips. “Fine. Yes, I’ve been spending sometime with Zy. But it’s purely professional. We’re collaborating on some game mechanics.”

“Uh-huh,” Noa drawled, leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin. “And how’s that going? Still think he’s the big bad wolf of the gaming world?”

Ellie sighed, absently twirling a strand of her dark red hair around her finger. “I... may have been hasty in my initial assessment. He’s actually quite... insightful. And passionate about his work.”

“Passionate, huh?” Frankie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Do tell.”

“Not like that!” Ellie protested, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. “I just mean... he’s not what I expected. He’s dedicated and innovative. And he actually listens when I talk about my ideas.”

Noa and Frankie exchanged a knowing look. “Sounds like someone’s got a crush on the big, sexy man,” Noa teased.

Ellie’s stomach did a little flip at the wordcrush, but she pushed the feeling aside. “It’s not like that. We’re colleagues. Competitors, even. I’m not looking for romance, especially not with someone in the industry.”

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