Page 41 of Claws and Controllers

SEVENTEEN

The soft glow of Ellie’s computer screen illuminated her face in the otherwise darkened office. The clock on her desk blinked 11:23 p.m., a silent reminder of another late night at Madden Gaming. Ellie rubbed her eyes, the lines of code blurring together after hours of intense focus.

“Just one more bug to squash,” she muttered to herself, fingers flying across the keyboard. The quiet hum of the air conditioning and the muted sounds of New York nightlife filtering through the windows were her only companions.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed, startling her in the silence. A text from Zy lit up the screen:

Still burning the midnight oil? Want a ride home?

Ellie’s heart flopped, smiling despite her exhaustion. She typed back quickly:

My hero. Give me 15 minutes to wrap up.

His response came almost instantly:Take your time. I’ll come up and grab you when I get there.

Ellie set her phone down, warmth spreading through her. It was silly, really, how much she looked forward to these little moments with Zy. A car ride home shouldn’t make her pulse quicken, and yet...

She shook her head, forcing her attention back to the screen. “Focus, Madden. Debug now, daydream about your shifter boyfriend later.”

Just as she was about to dive back in, her phone rang again. This time, her mother’s smiling face appeared on the caller ID. Ellie sighed, knowing she couldn’t ignore it without facing a barrage of worried texts later.

“Hi, Mom,” she answered, leaning back in her chair.

“Elliot Marie Madden,” her mother’s voice crackled through the speaker, a mix of concern and exasperation. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Please tell me you’re not still at the office.”

Ellie winced. “I’m... just wrapping up?”

Her mother’s sigh was audible. “Honey, you work too hard. When are you coming over for dinner? Your father’s starting to think you’ve forgotten where we live.”

“Soon, I promise,” Ellie said, guilt gnawing at her. “Things have just been crazy with the new game launch and?—”

“And that’s wonderful, sweetheart, but you need to take care of yourself too,” her mother interrupted. “Which reminds me... any progress on the dating front? You know your cousin Sam’s best friend is single now. He’s always had a thing for you, and?—”

“Mom,” Ellie groaned, cutting her off. “Please, no more setups. Actually, I’m... kind of seeing someone.”

The excited squeal that erupted from the phone had Ellie holding it away from her ear. “Elliot! Why didn’t you tell me? Who is he? What does he do? Is he handsome? When can we meet him?”

“Whoa, slow down.” Ellie laughed, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “It’s still new, okay? I don’t want to jinx anything. But... his name is Zy…Zyan, actually. He’s in the gaming industry too.”

“Ooh, a fellow nerd,” her mother teased. “Good, you need someone who can keep up with that big brain of yours. Is he cute? Please tell me he’s cute.”

Ellie’s mind flashed to Zy’s chiseled jaw, his intense golden-flecked eyes, the way his tailored suits hugged his broad shoulders. “He’s... not bad to look at,” she admitted, her voice a touch breathier than she intended.

Her mother’s knowing chuckle made Ellie’s blush deepen. “Well, well. Sounds like my baby girl is finally getting some action. It’s about time. Just make sure he’s worthy of you, okay? I won’t have anyone breaking my little genius’s heart.”

“Mom!” Ellie exclaimed, mortified. “We’re not... I mean, we haven’t... Can we please change the subject?”

Her mother laughed again. “Fine. But I expect details soon, young lady. And bring this Zy around for dinner. Your father and I need to give him the third degree.”

“Yes, Mom,” Ellie said, rolling her eyes fondly. “I’ve got to go, okay? I’ll call you tomorrow.”

After exchangingI love yousand hanging up, Ellie sat back in her chair, a mix of emotions swirling in her chest. The warmth of her mother’s enthusiasm clashed with the nervousness of making things with Zy “official” enough to meet the family. It was all happening so fast, and yet...

The sound of shattering glass jolted Ellie out of her reverie. She spun in her chair, heart pounding, to see a terrifyingly familiar figure climbing through the now-broken window.

“Surprise, sweetheart,” Grant’s voice dripped with malice as he straightened, flanked by three burly men. “Miss me?”

Ellie’s blood ran cold. She scrambled for her phone, but Grant was faster, snatching it off the desk and tossing it across the room.

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