Chapter 12

TWELVE

T he warm glow of candlelight danced across the polished wood of the table, casting a soft ambiance over the cozy Italian restaurant. Ellie settled into her seat, inhaling the rich aroma of garlic and freshly baked bread. Across from her, her best friend Noa and sister Frankie chatted animatedly, their laughter mingling with the gentle clinking of glasses and cutlery.

"So," Frankie said, as she reached for her wine glass, "are we going to talk about the elephant in the room, or do I have to drag it out of you?"

Ellie quirked an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Noa snorted, nearly choking on her bruschetta. "Oh please, Ellie. We're not blind. You've been walking around with your head in the clouds ever since that convention. Spill."

A warmth crept up Ellie's neck, and she busied herself with arranging her napkin. "It's nothing. Just... work stuff."

"Work stuff," Frankie repeated skeptically. "Would this ‘work stuff' happen to be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome? With a name that rhymes with fly?"

Ellie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't quite suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "Fine. Yes, I've been spending some time with Zy. But it's purely professional. We're collaborating on some game mechanics."

"Uh-huh," Noa drawled, leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin. "And how's that going? Still think he's the big bad wolf of the gaming world?"

Ellie sighed, absently twirling a strand of her dark red hair around her finger. "I... may have been hasty in my initial assessment. He's actually quite... insightful. And passionate about his work."

"Passionate, huh?" Frankie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Do tell."

"Not like that!" Ellie protested, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. "I just mean... he's not what I expected. He's dedicated and innovative. And he actually listens when I talk about my ideas."

Noa and Frankie exchanged a knowing look. "Sounds like someone's got a crush on the big, sexy man," Noa teased.

Ellie's stomach did a little flip at the word crush , but she pushed the feeling aside. "It's not like that. We're colleagues. Competitors, even. I'm not looking for romance, especially not with someone in the industry."

The words sounded hollow even to her own ears, and judging by the skeptical looks on her friends' faces, they weren't buying it either.

"Oh, come on, Ellie," Frankie said, her tone softening. "It's okay to take a chance, you know. Not every guy is going to be like Grant."

The mention of her ex-husband sent a pang through Ellie's chest. She took a large sip of her wine, buying herself a moment to collect her thoughts.

"It's not just about Grant," she said finally. "It's... complicated. Zy's company bought the game that Grant stole from me. There's history there, baggage. And even if there wasn't, getting involved with a competitor? That's just asking for trouble."

Noa reached across the table, squeezing Ellie's hand. "Maybe. Or maybe it's exactly what you need. Someone who understands your world, who can challenge you and support you. When was the last time you felt this excited about someone?"

Ellie opened her mouth to protest, but the words died on her tongue. Because the truth was, she couldn't remember. Not since before her marriage had imploded, certainly. And even then, had she ever felt this... alive. This spark of excitement every time she thought about their next meeting, the way her skin tingled when he smiled at her...

"I don't know," she admitted softly. "It's all so confusing. One minute I'm sure he's just another corporate shark, and the next..."

"The next, you're imagining what he looks like without that fancy suit?" Frankie supplied helpfully.

"Frankie!" Ellie exclaimed, but she couldn't help laughing. "You're terrible."

"She's not wrong though, is she?" Noa pressed, her blue eyes twinkling. "Come on, El. We haven't seen you this worked up over a guy in years. It's okay to admit you like him."

Ellie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. Yes, I like him. He's intelligent and funny in this dry, unexpected way. And yes, he's attractive. But that doesn't change the fact that getting involved with him would be complicated at best, disastrous at worst."

"Or," Frankie countered, "it could be the best thing that's ever happened to you. Sometimes the most unexpected matches turn out to be the perfect ones."

As her sister and friend continued to debate the merits and pitfalls of an office romance, Ellie found her thoughts drifting to Zy. The way his golden-flecked eyes crinkled when he smiled, the deep timbre of his laugh, the electricity that seemed to crackle between them whenever they were in the same room...

She shook her head, trying to clear it. This was exactly the kind of thinking she needed to avoid. Whatever she felt for Zy – attraction, admiration, or something deeper – she couldn't afford to let it cloud her judgment. There was too much at stake.

And yet, as the evening wore on and the conversation flowed as freely as the wine, Ellie couldn't quite shake the image of Zy's smile from her mind. Or the traitorous little voice in the back of her head whispering, "What if?"

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the New York skyline etched against a canvas of blue sky. Ellie strode into her office, a nervous energy thrumming through her veins. She'd barely slept, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions after last night's dinner.

As she settled at her desk, booting up her computer and arranging her notes, a soft knock at the door made her heart skip. She looked up to see Zy standing in the doorway, looking unfairly handsome in a charcoal gray suit that accentuated his broad shoulders.

"Good morning," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. "Ready to dive back in?"

Ellie nodded, gesturing for him to come in. "Absolutely. But first, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

She led Zy to a small workspace tucked away in the corner of the office. A young man with unruly dark hair and thick-rimmed glasses sat hunched over a computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Zy, this is Alex," Ellie said warmly. "Our resident coding genius. Alex, this is Zyan Ashford from Ashford Entertainment."

Alex's head snapped up, his eyes widening behind his glasses. "Oh! Um, hi. It's, uh, nice to meet you, Mr. Ashford. I'm a big fan of your work on neural network integration in game AI."

Zy smiled, extending his hand. "Please, call me Zy. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. Are you working on something similar for Infinite Odyssey?"

As Alex launched into an enthusiastic, if slightly stammered, explanation of his current project, Ellie watched the interaction with a warm feeling in her chest. This was the side of Zy that had surprised her most – his genuine interest in and respect for others in the field, regardless of their position or company affiliation.

"Alex is one of our newest team members," Ellie explained as they made their way back to her office. "Brilliant mind, but still working on the whole human interaction thing."

Zy chuckled. "Reminds me of myself at that age. Well, minus the brilliance part. I was more of a fumbling idiot with delusions of grandeur."

Ellie raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Oh? And what changed?"

"Now I'm a fumbling idiot with actual grandeur," Zy quipped, his golden eyes twinkling with mirth.

Ellie laughed, the sound echoing through the office. It struck her how easy this was, the back-and-forth between them. How natural it felt to have him here in her space.

As they settled in to work, the conversation flowed easily between technical discussions and more personal topics. Ellie found herself opening up about her team and the trust and camaraderie they'd built.

"I couldn't have done any of this without them," she said, gesturing to the storyboards and concept art lining the walls. "When I first started the company, I was trying to do everything myself. I nearly burned out within the first six months."

Zy nodded sympathetically. "I remember those days. It's hard to let go, to trust others with your vision."

"Exactly," Ellie agreed. "But once I did... it was like everything fell into place. Everyone here brings something unique to the table. Their passion, their creativity – it's what makes Infinite Odyssey special."

As she spoke, Ellie carefully omitted her lingering reservations about their newest hire. It wasn't that she distrusted him, exactly. But there was still a part of her, scarred by past betrayals, that held back that last bit of faith.

The day wore on, bleeding into evening as they lost themselves in the intricacies of game mechanics and character development. Before Ellie knew it, the rest of the office had cleared out, leaving just her and Zy hunched over her desk, surrounded by empty coffee cups and half-eaten snacks.

As the evening wore on, Ellie's stomach grumbled audibly, interrupting her explanation of a particularly complex AI routine.

Zy chuckled. "I think that's your body's way of calling for a time-out. How about we order some pizza?"

Ellie grinned, grateful for the break. "Only if you promise not to judge me for putting pineapple on it."

"Pineapple on pizza?" Zy gasped in mock horror. "I'm not sure our budding friendship can survive such a betrayal of culinary decency."

"Oh please," Ellie shot back, reaching for her phone. "Don't tell me you're one of those pepperoni purists. Live a little, Ashford."

Their banter continued as they debated toppings, eventually settling on a compromise – half Hawaiian for Ellie, half meat lovers for Zy. As they waited for the delivery, they migrated to the small seating area in the corner of Ellie's office.

"So," Zy said, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me more about the Madden clan. Are they all as fiercely competitive as you?"

Ellie laughed, tucking her legs under her on the small sofa. "Oh, you have no idea. Family game nights are practically blood sports. My sister Frankie once flipped a Monopoly board because my brother landed on Boardwalk."

"Remind me never to challenge your family to a game of Uno," Zy quipped.

"What about you?" Ellie asked, genuinely curious. "What are the Ashfords like behind closed doors?"

A soft smile played on Zy's lips. "Surprisingly normal, most of the time. We have weekly Sunday dinners where shop talk is strictly forbidden. My mother insists it's the only way to keep us from turning into ‘soulless corporate drones.'"

"I like the sound of your mother," Ellie said, grinning.

"She'd like you too," Zy replied, his voice warm. "She's always said I need someone who can keep me on my toes."

The words hung in the air between them, charged with possibility. Ellie felt her cheeks warm, and she busied herself with adjusting a throw pillow.

Thankfully, the arrival of the pizza provided a welcome distraction. As they dug in, the conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and playful jabs.

"I can't believe you've never seen Cowboy Bebop ," Ellie exclaimed, waving a slice of pizza for emphasis. "It's a classic."

Zy shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was too busy building my empire to indulge in cartoons."

"Okay, that's it," Ellie declared. "We're having an anime night. I can't in good conscience continue to collaborate with someone so culturally deprived."

"Is that your subtle way of asking me out?" Zy teased.

Ellie felt her heart skip a beat, but she managed to keep her voice light. "This is purely for the sake of your education."

As the night wore on, Ellie found herself falling more and more for this man. The way his laugh rumbled through her, the subtle scent of his cologne, the warmth of his hand when it accidentally brushed against hers as they reached for the last slice of pizza.

It wasn't until Zy glanced at his watch, his eyes widening in surprise, that Ellie realized how late it had gotten.

"I should probably get going," Zy said reluctantly, standing and stretching. "Though I have to say, this has been the most enjoyable ‘work session' I've had in years."

Ellie smiled, a warm flutter in her chest at his words. "Me too. We should... do this again sometime. You know, for the sake of the project."

Zy's answering grin was playful, a hint of something more simmering beneath the surface. "Of course. Purely professional reasons."

As they gathered their things, Zy turned to her. "Let me drive you home. It's late, and I'd feel better knowing you got there safely."

Ellie hesitated for a moment, torn between her growing attraction to Zy and her resolve to maintain professional boundaries. But the genuine concern in his eyes won her over.

"All right," she agreed. "But no funny business, mister. I've got my eye on you."

Zy's laugh echoed through the empty office. "Wouldn't dream of it. Scout's honor."

The drive through the city was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft strains of jazz from the car's speakers. Ellie found herself sneaking glances at Zy's profile, admiring the strong line of his jaw, the way the city lights played across his features.

As they pulled up to her building, Zy turned to her, his expression suddenly serious. "Ellie, I... there's something I should probably tell you."

Ellie's heart raced, a mix of anticipation and fear coursing through her. "What is it?"

Zy took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "The other night, at the restaurant... when I saw you with that man, it…it made me crazy. I couldn't believe you were out with someone else."

Ellie blinked, caught off guard by the admission. "But... that was my father."

"I know that now," Zy said with a self-deprecating chuckle. "But in the moment, all I could think was... here's this amazing woman, laughing and enjoying herself with someone else. And it drove me insane."

Ellie stared at Zy, her mind whirling. He'd been jealous? Of her? The thought sent a thrill through her, even as a part of her brain screamed caution.

"But…we're not in a relationship," she managed finally.

Zy's smile was soft, a vulnerability in his eyes that made Ellie's breath catch. "Whatever this is between us... it means something to me."

Before she could overthink it, Ellie leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Zy's cheek. "Goodnight, Zy," she whispered. "Thank you for the ride. And... for everything else."

As she climbed out of the car, Ellie's heart pounded in her chest. What was she doing? This was dangerous territory, a minefield of potential complications and heartbreak.

And yet...

As she made her way up to her apartment, Ellie couldn't shake the memory of Zy's smile, the warmth in his voice when he said her name. For the first time in years, she felt a spark of something she'd long thought extinguished – hope.

Whatever this was, wherever it might lead, Ellie realized with a mix of excitement and trepidation that she was no longer content to watch from the sidelines. She wanted to be in the game, risks and all.

With that thought, she pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the keyboard for a moment before she typed out a message:

"Had a great time tonight. Looking forward to our next ‘purely professional' meeting. Maybe over dinner next time?"

Her heart raced as she hit send, a giddy smile spreading across her face. As she stepped into her apartment, her phone buzzed with a response:

"Dinner sounds perfect. I know a great place with a view of the city. And if we happen to discuss work while we're there... well, that's just being efficient, right?"

Ellie laughed, a warm glow spreading through her chest. Whatever tomorrow might bring, whatever challenges lay ahead, she was ready to face them. Because for the first time in a long time, Ellie was excited about the possibilities the future held – both in her career and her heart.