Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

Z y stood at the head of the ornate dining table in his parents' Upper East Side mansion, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his family. The room buzzed with a nervous energy, a stark contrast to the usual warmth and laughter that filled their weekly Sunday dinners. Tonight was different. Tonight, everything had changed.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Zy began, his voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside him. "I know you're wondering why I've called this meeting, and I promise I'll explain everything."

He felt Ellie's presence at his side, a source of strength he hadn't realized he'd been missing all these years. Her small hand slipped into his, and he gave it a gentle squeeze before continuing.

"First, I'd like to introduce you all to Ellie Madden," Zy said, his tone softening as he looked at her. "She's not just my business partner or my girlfriend. Ellie is my mate, and soon, she'll be my wife."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Zy's mother, Mara, was the first to react, her eyes sparkling with joy as she rose from her seat.

"Oh, my darling boy!" she exclaimed, rushing to embrace them both. "I knew it! I just knew when I saw you two together that she was the one."

Zy's father, Tarian, remained seated, but a rare smile graced his usually stoic features. "Well done, son," he said with a nod of approval.

As the initial excitement settled, Zy's brother Azure spoke up, his brow furrowed with concern. "Not that I'm not thrilled for you both, but I'm guessing there's more to this impromptu family gathering than just announcing your engagement?"

Zy nodded grimly. "You're right, Az. I'm afraid I have some difficult news to share." He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what came next. "Corbett is dead."

The room fell silent, shock evident on every face. Zy's youngest sister, Aria, let out a small gasp. "What? How?"

"I killed him," Zy said, his voice heavy with the weight of his actions. "He left me no choice."

Over the next hour, Zy recounted the events of the past few weeks – the stolen code, the plot against both his and Ellie's companies, and the final confrontation that had ended in tragedy. As he spoke, he watched the expressions of his family members shift from disbelief to anger to sorrow.

"Corbett was working with Ellie's ex-husband, Grant," Zy explained. "Their plan was to sabotage both our companies, using stolen proprietary information. When we confronted them, things... escalated."

His father, Tarian, leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "And you're certain there was no other way?"

Zy met his father's gaze steadily. "He attacked first, shifting and going for my throat. I defended myself and Ellie. It was him or us."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the family processed this information. Mara broke it, her voice gentle but firm.

"You did what you had to do to protect your mate and our family's legacy," she said. "Corbett made his choices, as painful as they are for us all."

Zy felt a wave of relief wash over him at his mother's words. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed to hear them until that moment.

"Thank you, Mother," he said softly. "I want you all to know that moving forward, Ellie's safety and well-being will be my top priority. She's part of this family now, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect her and our future together."

Azure raised his glass. "To Zy and Ellie," he said. "And to family – the ones we're born with and the ones we choose."

The rest of the family echoed the toast, the tension in the room finally beginning to dissipate. As they settled into a more relaxed conversation, Zy felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see his father gesturing for him to follow.

In the privacy of Tarian's study, his father poured two glasses of scotch, handing one to his son.

"I'm proud of you, Zyan," Tarian said, his use of Zy's full name emphasizing the gravity of the moment. "You've handled this situation with the strength and wisdom I've always known you have in you."

Zy took a sip of the amber liquid, letting it warm him from the inside. "Thank you, Father. I didn't realize until now how important a mate becomes when you have one."

Tarian nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Leading a family – and a company – means making difficult decisions. You've proven you're ready for both." He paused, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And this Ellie of yours... she seems like quite the woman."

Zy couldn't help but grin. "She is. I never thought I'd find someone who could challenge me, support me, and make me laugh all at once. But Ellie... she's everything I never knew I needed."

"Well then," Tarian said, raising his glass. "To new beginnings and bright futures."

They clinked glasses, the sound ringing with promise and hope.

As they rejoined the family, Zy found Ellie deep in conversation with his mother and sisters. The sight of her so at ease among his family filled him with a warmth he couldn't quite describe. She caught his eye and smiled, and in that moment, Zy knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would get them together.

The next morning, Zy stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Ashford Entertainment conference room, watching the bustling city below. The weight of the decisions he was about to make pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he felt a sense of calm resolve.

As his executive team filed in, led by Adonis, Zy turned to face them. The room quieted, all eyes on their CEO.

"Thank you all for coming," Zy began, his voice steady and authoritative. "I've called this emergency meeting because we face a crisis unlike any in our company's history."

He proceeded to outline the recent events – Corbett's betrayal, the stolen code, and the potential fallout. As he spoke, he watched the reactions of his team carefully. Shock, anger, and concern played across their faces.

"I understand this is a lot to process," Zy continued. "But we don't have the luxury of time. We need to act swiftly and decisively to protect our company and our future."

Vince, the head of R 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 projects you'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.