Page 7 of Claws and Controllers

Adonis followed his gaze, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. “Ah, that would be Elliot Madden. Goes by Ellie. She’s the brains behind Madden Gaming. Word is she’s got a revolutionary new game she demoed earlier.”

Zy blinked, taken aback. “Wait, Elliot Madden is a woman? I always assumed...”

“That Elliot was a guy?” Adonis chuckled. “You’re not the only one. She seems to like keeping a low profile. But make no mistake, she’s a force to be reckoned with in the industry.”

Zy’s mind raced. He’d heard whispers about Madden Gaming’s latest project, but he’d never paid much attention to the person behind it. Now, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“She’s gorgeous,” Zy murmured, more to himself than to Adonis.

His friend’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, well. The great Zyan Ashford, smitten at first sight? Should I alert the media?”

Zy shot him a look. “Very funny. I’m just... intrigued.”

“Uh-huh,” Adonis said, his tone dripping with amusement. “Well, Romeo, before you go writing any sonnets, you might want to know that rumor has it she’s not exactly your biggest fan.”

That snapped Zy out of his daze. “What? Why?”

Adonis shrugged. “Could be the usual industry rivalries. Or maybe she’s heard some of the less flattering rumors about Ashford Entertainment. You know how cutthroat this business can be.”

Zy frowned. He prided himself on running an ethical company, but in the tech world, rumors could spread faster than wildfire. What could he have done to earn this woman’s ire?

“I need to meet her,” Zy decided, straightening his tie.

Adonis laid a hand on his arm. “Whoa, there, tiger. Literally. Your eyes are starting to glow. You might want to rein it in before you shift right here on the convention floor.”

Zy took a deep breath, forcing his shifter nature back under control. It wasn’t like him to lose composure like this. What was it about Ellie Madden that had him so off-balance?

“Thanks,” he muttered to Adonis. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Oh, I think I have an idea,” Adonis said with a grin. “But maybe save the mating dance for after the convention, yeah? We’ve still got a booth to run.”

Zy nodded, trying to refocus on the task at hand. But as they made their way through the crowd, shaking hands and fielding congratulations, his gaze kept drifting back to where he’d last seen Ellie.

She was gone now, lost in the sea of convention-goers. But Zy couldn’t shake the feeling that something significant had just happened. His tiger, usually content to remain dormant during business hours, prowled restlessly beneath his skin.

For the first time in decades, Zyan Ashford felt truly alive. And more than a little terrified.

As they approached the Ashford Entertainment booth, Zy’s mind whirled with possibilities. How could he engineer a meeting with Ellie? Would she be receptive, or would her apparent dislike of him create an insurmountable barrier?

“Earth to Zy,” Adonis’s voice cut through his thoughts. “You planning on greeting your adoring public, or should I tell them you’re busy daydreaming about a certain redhead?”

Zy shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. “I’m perfectly capable of multitasking, thank you.”

He turned to the gathering crowd, plastering on his most charming smile. For the next hour, he shook hands, posed for selfies, and answered questions about the Nexus. But a part of his mind remained fixed on Ellie Madden.

During a lull in the action, Corbett sidled up to him, a mischievous glint in his eye. “So, cuz, Adonis tells me you’ve got the hots for our biggest rival. Bold strategy.”

Zy sighed. Sometimes he regretted hiring family. “I don’t ‘have the hots’ for anyone, Corbett. I’m simply intrigued by a fellow innovator in our field.”

Corbett snorted. “Right. And I’m sure the fact that she’s smoking hot has nothing to do with it.”

Before Zy could retort, Vince approached with a tablet in hand. “Mr. Ashford, we’ve got some analytics coming in from the presentation. The response is overwhelmingly positive.”

Grateful for the interruption, Zy focused on the data Vince showed him. The numbers were impressive, but he couldn’t help wondering how they compared to the reception Ellie’s game was receiving.

As the day wore on, Zy found himself scanning the crowd, hoping for another glimpse of Ellie. But she remained elusive like a mirage always just out of reach.

During a quick break, Zy pulled Adonis aside. “What else can you tell me about Ellie Madden? I feel like I should know more about our competition.”

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