Page 6 of Claws and Controllers

The crowd surged forward, eager to try the game for themselves. Ellie moved among them, answering questions, offering tips, and soaking in their reactions. This was what it was all about – seeing the spark of wonder in someone’s eyes as they discovered a new world of possibilities.

As she helped a young gamer navigate through one of the game’s starter quests, Ellie felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Noa grinning at her, but there was a hint of tension in her friend’s eyes.

“Ellie, heads up,” Noa whispered, her gaze darting toward the entrance. “The competition just walked in.”

Ellie followed her line of sight, and her stomach tightened. Striding confidently into the convention center, flanked by an entourage of sleek-looking executives, was none other than Zyan Ashford, CEO of Ashford Entertainment and her biggest rival in the industry.

“Fantastic,” Ellie muttered, memories of her past betrayal surging to the surface. It had been Ashford Entertainment that had bought her ex-husband’s stolen game, the very creation he’d ripped from her hands and claimed as his own. Even years later, the wound was still raw, a constant reminder of how cutthroat the industry could be.

Noa squeezed her arm supportively. “Don’t let him get to you, Ellie. Your game is light-years ahead of anything they’ve got. This is your moment to shine.”

Ellie took a deep breath, pushing down the swirl of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “You’re right,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “Infinite Odyssey speaks for itself. I’m not here to impress Ashford or anyone else. I’m here to show the world what real innovation looks like.”

As she turned back to her booth, Ellie felt a familiar fire ignite within her. This wasn’t just about showcasing her game anymore. It was about proving that she, Ellie Madden, could stand toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the industry and come out on top.

“All right, folks,” she called out, her voice strong and clear. “Who’s ready to experience the next evolution of gaming?”

The crowd around her booth surged forward, eager to get their hands on the controls. Ellie moved among them with renewed energy, her explanations more passionate, her demonstrations more dynamic.

As the day progressed, the buzz around Infinite Odyssey grew louder. Ellie caught snippets of excited conversations and saw the way people’s eyes lit up as they explored her virtual world. This was what she had dreamed of and what she had fought for.

TWO

Zyan Ashford stood in the wings of the main stage, his heart racing with a familiar pre-presentation rush. The convention center hummed with anticipation, a sea of eager faces waiting to glimpse the future of gaming. Zy smoothed down his tailored charcoal suit, a power move that never failed to boost his confidence.

“Ready to blow their minds, boss?” Adonis, his right-hand man and closest friend, appeared at his side. The man’s imposing presence and ever-present earpiece made him look more like a secret service agent than a tech executive.

Zy grinned, a flash of white teeth against his olive skin. “Always. Let’s show them what Ashford Entertainment can do.”

With a nod to the stage manager, Zy strode out into the spotlight. The crowd’s chatter died down, replaced by an electric silence. He could feel hundreds of eyes on him, hungry for innovation.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Zy began, his voice resonating through the hall, “welcome to the next evolution of gaming.”

With a dramatic gesture, he unveiled the sleek console sitting center stage. Its curves gleamed under the lights, promising power and possibilities.

“Behold, the Ashford Nexus,” Zy announced, unable to keep the pride from his voice. “This isn’t just a new gaming system. It’s a portal to worlds beyond imagination.”

For the next twenty minutes, Zy guided the audience through Nexus’s capabilities. He demonstrated its lightning-fast processing speed, its revolutionary haptic feedback controllers, and its ability to render graphics so lifelike, they blurred the line between virtual and reality.

Corbett, his cousin and head of marketing, handled the controllers with practiced ease, showcasing a racing game that had the front rows gasping at every hairpin turn. Vince, leading the software development team, stepped in to explain the AI-driven narrative system that promised unique storylines for every player.

As Zy fielded questions from the audience, he noticed a ripple of excitement spreading through the crowd. Tech journalists furiously tapped at their tablets while industry insiders whispered to each other, clearly impressed.

“Mr. Ashford,” a young woman in the third row called out, “how does the Nexus handle cross-platform play?”

Zy launched into an explanation of the system’s seamless integration capabilities, but as he spoke, something caught his eye. Or rather, someone.

In the sea of faces, one stood out like a beacon. A woman with striking features – all high cheekbones and full lips – watched him with an intensity that sent a jolt through his system. Her dark red hair fell in waves around a heart-shaped face, and her light brown eyes pierced right through him.

Zy faltered for a split second, a hitch in his usually smooth delivery that only Adonis would have noticed. He recovered quickly, finishing his answer with his trademark charm, but his gaze kept drifting back to the mystery woman.

There was something about her, beyond her obvious beauty. The way she leaned forward, analyzing every word, every demonstration. This wasn’t just casual interest. She understood the tech, probably better than most in the room.

As Zy wrapped up the presentation to thunderous applause, he felt an unfamiliar stirring deep within him. His tiger, the primal shifter part of his nature, was suddenly alert.

The moment he stepped off stage, Adonis was at his side. “Killer presentation, Zy. They ate it up.”

But Zy’s mind was elsewhere. “Adonis, the woman in the green top, about ten rows back. Who is she?”

---