Page 38 of Claws and Controllers

Ellie made her way through the crowd, stopping to chat briefly with various team members. She commended the QA team on their thorough bug reports, laughed at a joke from one of the 3D artists about a particularly troublesome charactermodel, and reassured a junior programmer who was still nervous about an upcoming deadline.

Finally, she reached Zy, acutely aware of the curious glances from some of her team members. “I’m glad you could make it,” she said softly.

Zy’s smile was warm, his golden-flecked eyes twinkling. “I wouldn’t have missed it. What you’ve accomplished here... it’s truly impressive, Ellie. You’ve built not just a game, but a remarkable team.”

A familiar spark of electricity crackled between them, and Ellie found herself fighting the urge to lean in closer. “I don’t suppose I could steal you away for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss... in private.”

Zy’s eyebrow quirked, but he nodded. “Lead the way.”

Ellie led him out of the breakroom and down the hall to her office. As she closed the door, the sounds of the party faded, leaving them in a bubble of quiet intimacy.

“So,” Zy said, his deep voice sending a shiver down Ellie’s spine. “What did you want to discuss? More groundbreaking game mechanics?”

Ellie laughed, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “Actually, I wanted to talk about... us.”

The playful glint in Zy’s eyes softened into something more serious. “I’m listening.”

Ellie took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I just want you to know that I’ve been thinking about us…agreeing to see where things go.”

“Do you regret it?” Zy asked, his voice carefully neutral.

“No!” The vehemence of her response surprised even Ellie. “No, I don’t regret it. That’s... kind of the problem.”

Zy’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure I follow.”

Ellie sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Zy, when we met, I thought I had you all figured out. The big bad corporateshark, out to crush the little guys like me. But the more time we spend together, the more I realize how wrong I was. You’re... you’re not at all what I expected.”

A small smile played at Zy’s lips. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

“It is,” Ellie assured him. “But it’s also terrifying. I’m a mess, Zy. And I’m having these messy, complicated feelings for you. And I have no idea what to do about it.”

The confession hung in the air between them, charged with possibility. Zy took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “And what if I told you that I’m having those same messy, complicated feelings?”

Ellie’s heart skipped a beat. “I’d say we’re in trouble. Our companies are rivals, Zy. If word got out that we were... involved...”

“It would be complicated,” Zy agreed. “But Ellie, I can’t ignore what’s happening between us. I don’t want to.”

He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The simple touch sent sparks racing across Ellie’s skin. “I know it won’t be easy,” Zy continued. “But I think what we could have... it’s worth the risk. If you’re willing to try.”

Ellie closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. Every logical part of her brain was screaming this was a bad idea. That she was setting herself up for heartbreak, or worse. But her heart... her heart was singing a different tune.

“Okay,” she whispered, opening her eyes to meet Zy’s gaze. “Let’s try. But we have to be smart about this. Set some ground rules.”

Zy nodded, his expression serious. “Agreed. First rule: our companies remain separate entities. No sharing of proprietary information or trade secrets.”

“Absolutely,” Ellie said firmly. “And we keep this between us, for now. No public displays of affection, no letting on to our teams that anything’s changed.”

“Discretion is key,” Zy agreed. “Though I’m sure your team is wondering what I’m doing here on a day you’re celebrating. We’ll have to be careful about where and when we meet outside of work.”

As they hashed out the details, Ellie felt a weight lifting from her shoulders. They were navigating uncharted waters, but at least they were doing it together.

“I think that covers the basics,” Zy said finally. “Any other concerns?”

Ellie bit her lip, a mischievous glint entering her eye. “Just one. I’m not entirely sure I remember our kisses. Might need a refresher.”

Zy’s answering grin was positively predatory. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

In two long strides, he closed the distance between them. One hand cupped Ellie’s cheek while the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. And then his lips were on hers, and Ellie’s world narrowed to the points where their bodies connected.

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