Chapter 10

TEN

Z y strode into the sleek, modern lobby of Ashford Entertainment's headquarters, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor. The early morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the space. Despite the early hour, Zy's mind buzzed with activity, replaying his recent interactions with Ellie.

As he stepped into the private elevator, Zy caught his reflection in the mirrored walls. His tailored suit sat perfectly on his broad shoulders, but there was a hint of something in his golden-flecked eyes that gave him pause. A softness, perhaps? Or was it uncertainty? He shook his head, banishing the thought. He had a company to run and a mystery to solve.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal Adonis waiting for him, his imposing figure a stark contrast to the minimalist decor of Zy's office suite.

"Morning, boss," Adonis greeted, falling into step beside Zy as they walked toward the office. "I take it your ‘collaborative session' with Ms. Madden was... illuminating?"

Zy shot him a look, catching the hint of amusement in his friend's tone. "It was productive," he said carefully, pushing open his office door. "And... unexpected."

Adonis raised a brow as they settled into their usual spots - Zy behind his expansive desk, Adonis in one of the plush chairs across from him. "Unexpected how?"

Zy leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowing as he tried to put his thoughts into words. "Ellie, she's... not what I expected. She's brilliant, of course - her insights into game development are truly impressive. But there's more to her than just technical skill."

"Oh?" Adonis's lips quirked into a knowing smirk. "Do tell."

Zy felt a warmth creep up his neck, grateful for his olive complexion that hid any hint of a blush. "She's passionate and dedicated. And she's been through more than I realized. Did you know her ex-husband stole her previous game idea and sold it off?"

Adonis's expression sobered. "I'd heard rumors, but nothing concrete. That's rough."

"It is," Zy agreed, his voice tinged with a protective edge that surprised even him. "Which is why I'm more convinced than ever that she can't be responsible for the code theft. She's experienced that betrayal firsthand. There's no way she'd do the same to someone else."

Adonis leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Zy. "You seem awfully sure about someone you've just met, Zy. Don't forget why you started getting close to her in the first place."

Zy bristled slightly at the implication. "I haven't forgotten. But I also can't ignore what I've learned about her character."

A mischievous glint appeared in Adonis's eyes. "Careful there, boss. Keep this up, and you might end up under her covers instead of undercover."

"Adonis!" Zy exclaimed, half-exasperated, half-amused. "This is serious."

"Oh, I can see that," Adonis chuckled. "The great Zyan Ashford, tiger shifter extraordinaire, brought low by a pretty game developer with a heart of gold. It's like something out of one of those romance novels my sister's always reading."

Zy rolled his eyes, but he couldn't quite suppress his smile. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"It's why you keep me around," Adonis replied smoothly. Then, his expression grew more serious. "But in all honesty, Zy, you need to be careful. Even if Ellie isn't directly responsible for the code theft, getting personally involved with her while we're still investigating could complicate things."

Zy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. Believe me, I know. But I can't shake the feeling that we're looking at this all wrong. Instead of trying to prove how Ellie got our code, maybe we should be focusing on how it got out of Ashford Entertainment in the first place."

Adonis nodded thoughtfully. "I'm already on it. I've been reviewing everyone who had significant access to that particular project. It's a short list, but there's one name that keeps coming up."

Zy leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Who?"

"Vince Benton," Adonis said, his voice low. "He worked closely with you on that code, didn't he? Knows it almost as well as you do."

A chill ran down Zy's spine. Vince had always been ambitious, eager to climb the corporate ladder. But could he really have stolen proprietary code?

"Keep digging," Zy instructed, his mind racing with possibilities. "But keep it quiet. If Vince is involved, we don't want to tip him off."

Adonis nodded, standing to leave. At the door, he paused, turning back with a softer expression. "Just... be careful, Zy. With Ellie, with all of this. I've never seen you like this over a woman before. I'd hate to see you get hurt."

As the door closed behind Adonis, Zy leaned back in his chair, his thoughts a tangled mess of professional duty and personal desire. His tiger, usually a comforting presence in the back of his mind, paced restlessly, as confused by these new emotions as he was.

The day passed in a blur of meetings and decisions, but Zy found his thoughts constantly drifting back to Ellie. Her warm laugh, the spark of intelligence in her eyes, the way her face lit up when she talked about her game...

Before he knew it, evening had fallen, and it was time for his family dinner. Zy changed into a more casual but still impeccably stylish outfit - dark jeans, a crisp button-down shirt, and a soft leather jacket. As he made his way to the restaurant, he tried to push thoughts of work and Ellie aside. Tonight was about family, about celebrating his sister-in-law's birthday.

The restaurant was bustling when he arrived, the warm lighting and rich aromas creating an inviting atmosphere. He spotted his family at a large round table near the back - his parents, Mara and Tarian, looking as elegant and timeless as ever; his brother Azure and his wife, both glowing with happiness; and a few other relatives he didn't see as often.

"There he is!" Azure called out as Zy approached. "The prodigal son finally graces us with his presence."

Zy rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he took his seat. "Some of us have empires to run, little brother."

The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and gentle teasing. Zy found himself relaxing, the tensions of the day melting away in the warmth of his family's presence. And yet... he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was missing.

It wasn't until halfway through the main course that he realized what - or rather, who - it was. A familiar laugh cut through the din of the restaurant, causing Zy's head to snap up, his tiger suddenly alert.

There, at a table across the room, sat Ellie. She looked stunning in a deep blue dress that brought out the rich tones of her skin, her dark red hair cascading over one shoulder. But it wasn't her beauty that made Zy's breath catch in his throat. It was the radiant smile on her face as she laughed at something the man sitting across from her had said.

Zy felt a growl building in his chest, his tiger clawing at his insides. Who was this man? Why was Ellie looking at him like that? The rational part of his brain tried to remind him that Ellie was free to see whoever she wanted and he had no claim on her. But his tiger didn't care about rationality. It saw Ellie as theirs, and the sight of her with another man was driving it wild.

"Whoa there, big brother," Azure's amused voice cut through Zy's spiraling thoughts. "If looks could kill, that poor guy would be six feet under. What's got your tail in a twist?"

Zy blinked, realizing he'd been glaring daggers at Ellie's companion. He forced himself to relax, embarrassed by his lack of control. "It's nothing," he muttered, taking a large swig of his wine.

Azure's eyes darted between Zy and Ellie's table, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh ho! Don't tell me the mighty Zyan Ashford has finally met his match. And with a human, no less! Mom's going to flip."

"Shut it, Azure," Zy growled.

His brother's teasing had broken through some of the tension, allowing Zy to see how ridiculous he was being. And yet... he couldn't quite quell the urge to go over there and stake his claim somehow.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Zy found himself standing. "Excuse me for a moment," he said to his confused family, striding purposefully towards Ellie's table.

As he approached, Ellie looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Zy! What are you doing here?"

Zy plastered on his most charming smile, trying to ignore the way his heart raced at her nearness. "Ellie, what a pleasant surprise. I'm here with my family, celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday." He turned to the man sitting across from her, extending his hand. "I don't believe we've met. Zyan Ashford."

The man stood, clasping Zy's hand in a firm handshake. "Jack Madden," he said with a warm smile. "Ellie's father. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ashford. I've heard a lot about you."

Zy felt a wave of relief wash over him, followed immediately by a surge of embarrassment. Her father. Of course. He'd worked himself into a jealous frenzy over Ellie having dinner with her father.

"All good things, I hope," Zy said smoothly, trying to cover his momentary discomfort.

Ellie snorted, a sound that shouldn't have been as adorable as it was. "Well, I wouldn't go that far. But I may have mentioned your surprisingly decent gaming skills once or twice."

"High praise indeed," Zy chuckled, his eyes locked on Ellie's. For a moment, the rest of the restaurant seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble.

The spell was broken by Jack clearing his throat. "Well, Mr. Ashford, it was nice to meet you. We shouldn't keep you from your family celebration."

Zy blinked, coming back to himself. "Of course, you're right. Enjoy your evening."

As he turned to go, Ellie called out, "Zy?" He looked back, his breath catching at the soft smile on her face. "It was good to see you."

"You too, Ellie," he replied, his voice low and warm. "You too."

As Zy made his way back to his family's table, his tiger settled, a contented purr rumbling through his chest. He knew he should be focusing on the investigation and maintaining professional boundaries. But in that moment, all he could think about was Ellie's smile and the warmth in her eyes when she looked at him.

Settling back into his seat, Zy tried to ignore the knowing looks from his family, especially Azure's smug grin. He had a feeling he was in for quite a bit of teasing in the days to come. But as he glanced back at Ellie, catching her eye across the crowded restaurant, he found he didn't much care.

Whatever complications lay ahead, whatever challenges they might face, Zy knew one thing for certain: Ellie was quickly becoming a force in his life that he couldn't - and didn't want to - ignore.

As the evening wore on, Zy found himself increasingly distracted. He participated in the family conversation, laughed at the right moments, but his mind kept drifting back to Ellie. He couldn't help but steal glances at her table, watching the animated way she talked with her father, the sparkle in her eyes when she laughed.

"Earth to Zy," Azure's amused voice cut through his thoughts. "You in there, big brother?"

Zy blinked, realizing he'd been caught staring again. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Azure's grin widened. "Oh, nothing important. Just wondering if you'd like us to invite your new friend over. You know, since you can't seem to take your eyes off her."

Zy felt a warmth creep up his neck, grateful for the dim lighting of the restaurant. "I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, taking a large swig of his wine.

"Mm-hmm," Azure hummed, unconvinced. "You know, for a century-old tiger shifter, you're not very subtle. I haven't seen you this worked up over a woman since... well, ever."

Zy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated, Az. She's... she's not just any woman. She's a competitor, a rival. And there's this whole mess with the code theft..."

Azure's expression softened slightly. "But she's also the first person in decades to make you actually feel something, isn't she?"

Zy nodded, surprised by his brother's insight. "I can't explain it. When I'm around her, my tiger... it's like it recognizes her somehow. But that's impossible. She's human."

"Maybe," Azure said thoughtfully. "Or maybe there's more to this than we understand. You always were a sucker for a good mystery."

Zy chuckled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "That I am. Speaking of which, how's that new tech startup of yours coming along? Still planning to revolutionize virtual reality?"

As Azure launched into an enthusiastic explanation of his latest project, Zy allowed himself to relax. His gaze drifted once more to Ellie's table, only to find her looking back at him. Their eyes met across the crowded restaurant, and Zy felt a jolt of electricity run through him.

Ellie's lips curved into a soft smile, a hint of color rising in her cheeks as she quickly looked away. But that brief moment of connection was enough to set Zy's heart racing.

As the evening drew to a close and the family began to say their good-byes, Zy found himself lingering. He watched as Ellie and her father stood to leave, an irrational part of him not wanting to let her out of his sight.

"Go," Azure said softly, nudging him. "Say good-bye properly. I'll cover for you with Mom and Dad."

Grateful for his brother's understanding, Zy made his way across the restaurant. He reached Ellie just as she was shrugging on her coat.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

Ellie turned, a hint of surprise in her eyes that quickly melted into warmth. "Some of us have empires to build, Mr. Ashford," she teased, echoing his earlier words to Azure.

Zy chuckled, his heart swelling at her playful tone. "Touché, Ms. Madden. I just wanted to say... it was good to see you tonight. Even if it was unexpected."

"It was good to see you too," Ellie replied softly. For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with unspoken possibilities.

Jack cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "Well, Mr. Ashford, it was a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other, given how closely you and Ellie seem to be working these days."

There was a knowing twinkle in Jack's eye that made Zy wonder just how much Ellie had told her father about their recent interactions. "I certainly hope so, Mr. Madden," Zy replied, shaking the older man's hand. "Ellie's insights have been invaluable."

As Ellie and her father turned to leave, Zy found himself calling out, "Ellie?" She looked back, a question in her eyes. "I'll see you soon? For our next... collaborative session?"

Ellie's smile was radiant. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Zy watched them go, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. As he made his way back to his own family, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the precipice of something monumental. Something that could change everything.

His tiger purred contentedly in the back of his mind, more settled than it had been in years. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever complications arose from the code investigation, Zy knew one thing for certain:

Ellie was quickly becoming the most important person in his world. And he was powerless to stop it.

As Zy rejoined his family, Azure clapped him on the shoulder, a knowing grin on his face. "So, big brother, when do we get to meet her properly?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Az. There's still a lot to figure out."

Azure chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure, sure. Just remember, when you do finally bring her around, I get dibs on telling all the embarrassing childhood stories."

Zy rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. As they made their way out of the restaurant, he found his thoughts drifting once again to Ellie. The way her eyes had lit up when she smiled at him, the warmth in her voice when she said good-bye...

"Zyan?" his mother's voice cut through his reverie. Mara Ashford stood before him, one elegant eyebrow raised in amusement. "You've been distracted all evening, darling. Is everything all right at work?"

Zy blinked, realizing they'd reached the valet stand. "Everything's fine, Mom. Just... a lot on my mind."

Mara's keen eyes studied him for a moment, and Zy had the distinct impression she could see right through him. After several centuries of life, very little got past Mara Ashford.

"I see," she hummed, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "And would this ‘a lot' happen to have long red hair and be sitting at table twelve?"

Zy felt a warmth creep up his neck. "I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, suddenly very interested in his shoes.

His mother laughed softly, reaching up to pat his cheek affectionately. "Oh, my darling boy. You forget, I've known you for a hundred years. I know that look in your eyes."

Before Zy could formulate a response, his father joined them, car keys in hand. "Ready to go, dear?" Tarian asked, his deep voice rumbling with warmth.

Mara nodded, but not before giving Zy one last meaningful look. "We'll talk more about this later, sweetheart. Don't think you're off the hook."

As his parents' car pulled away, Zy let out a long breath. He loved his family dearly, but sometimes their perceptiveness was exhausting. Especially when he himself wasn't sure what was going on with Ellie.

The drive back to his penthouse was a blur, his mind racing with thoughts of code theft, family expectations, and warm brown eyes that seemed to see right through him. By the time he stepped into his luxurious living room, Zy felt mentally and emotionally drained.

He loosened his tie, padding over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of Central Park. The city sprawled out before him, a glittering tapestry of lights against the night sky. Usually, this view never failed to center him, to remind him of all he'd accomplished.

Tonight, however, it just made him feel... lonely.

With a sigh, Zy turned away from the window, his gaze falling on the state-of-the-art gaming setup in the corner of the room. Without really thinking about it, he found himself booting up Infinite Odyssey.

As the familiar opening sequence played, Zy couldn't help but smile. Even now, knowing the potential complications surrounding the game's code, he had to admire the artistry and innovation Ellie had poured into every aspect of the design.

He navigated to the character creation screen, his fingers moving almost of their own accord as he crafted a tiger shifter avatar. The level of detail was astounding - he could practically see his own golden-flecked eyes staring back at him from the screen.

For the next hour, Zy lost himself in the game, exploring the rich, immersive world Ellie had created. With each new discovery, each cleverly designed quest, he found himself more and more in awe of her talent.

It wasn't until his phone buzzed with a text from Adonis that reality came crashing back in.

"Preliminary report on Vince's activities. You're going to want to see this. First thing tomorrow."

Zy stared at the message, a knot forming in his stomach. Whatever Adonis had found, he had a feeling it was going to complicate things even further.

With a heavy sigh, he typed out a quick affirmative response before shutting down the game. As Ellie's beautifully designed world faded from the screen, Zy couldn't shake the feeling he was at a crossroads.

On one side lay his duty to his company, his family legacy, and the shifter community he was sworn to protect. On the other... Ellie. With her brilliant mind, her infectious laugh, and the way she made him feel more alive than he had in decades.

As he got ready for bed, Zy's tiger paced restlessly in the back of his mind. For once, man and beast were in complete agreement: whatever happened next, Ellie had become far too important to let go.