Page 59 of Claws and Controllers

Adonis nodded, his expression turning serious. “And what about Ellie? How is she handling all of this?”

Zy’s smile softened at the mention of her name. “She’s incredible, Adonis. Stronger than I ever imagined. She’s not just standing by me; she’s actively working on solutions for both our companies.”

“You got lucky with that one,” Adonis said with a grin. “Don’t screw it up.”

Zy chuckled. “Trust me, I have no intention of letting her go. Ever.”

Vince knocked at the door, his usually confident demeanor tinged with hesitation.

“Mr. Ashford, do you have a moment?” Vince asked, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

Adonis excused himself and left the meeting room.

Zy nodded, gesturing for Vince to take a seat. “Of course, Vince. What’s on your mind?”

Vince sat, his fingers drumming nervously on the armrest. “Sir, I... I feel I owe you an explanation. About Corbett.”

Zy’s eyebrows rose, his full attention now on Vince. “Go on.”

“I should have come to you sooner,” Vince began, regret evident in his voice. “The truth is I’ve been limiting Corbett’s involvement in our key projects for months now.”

Zy leaned forward, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Why?”

Vince sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He kept making mistakes, sir. Not small ones either. The kind that could have set us back significantly if they’d gone unnoticed. At first, I thought it was just a lack of experience, so I tried to mentor him. But it became clear that he wasn’t taking the work seriously.”

“And you didn’t think to inform me of this?” Zy asked, his tone more curious than accusatory.

“I... I wanted to handle it internally first,” Vince explained. “Corbett is—was—your family. I hoped that by giving him less critical tasks, he might improve without the need for formal action. I was trying to protect both him and the company.”

Zy nodded slowly, processing this new information. “I appreciate your intentions, Vince. But in the future, I need to know about issues like this, family or not.”

“Yes, sir. I understand,” Vince said, then hesitated before continuing. “There’s more. The day before... before everything happened, I had a meeting with HR. I formally reported my concerns about Corbett. I have the documentation here.” He pulled out a file from his briefcase and handed it to Zy.

As Zy read through the detailed report, he felt a mix of emotions. Frustration at not having known sooner, sadness for the path Corbett had chosen, and a growing respect for Vince’s dedication to the company.

“Vince,” Zy said, looking up from the file, “I want to thank you for your diligence and loyalty. It’s clear you always had the best interests of Ashford Entertainment at heart.”

Vince’s shoulders relaxed visibly at Zy’s words. “Thank you, sir. This company means everything to me. I would never do anything to jeopardize its success or integrity.”

Zy stood, extending his hand to Vince. “Your commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed, Vince. The promotions and projectsyou’ve earned? They’re well-deserved. I’m glad to have you on our team, especially as we navigate these challenging times ahead.”

Vince shook Zy’s hand firmly, a smile of relief and pride on his face. “Thank you, Mr. Ashford. I won’t let you down.”

As Vince left the office, Zy sat back in his chair, reflecting on this new perspective. He’d always known Vince was competent, but this revelation showed a level of loyalty and foresight that impressed him. It was a reminder that even in the darkest times, there were still people he could trust, people who truly cared about the company and its future.

With a renewed sense of confidence in his team, Zy turned back to the tasks at hand, ready to lead Ashford Entertainment into its next chapter.

Zy turned back to the windows, gazing out at the city skyline. The sun was setting, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink. It was a reminder that even after the darkest days, beauty and hope remained.

His phone buzzed with a message from Ellie:How did it go? Want to grab dinner and decompress?

Zy smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he knew he had found his perfect partner – in business and in life.

Absolutely, he texted back.Meet you at our usual spot in 30?

As he gathered his things to leave, Zy felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead would be difficult, but with Ellie by his side and the support of his family and team, he was ready to face whatever came their way.

The future of Ashford Entertainment – and his life with Ellie – was bright and full of possibility.

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