Chapter 2

TWO

Z yan 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?"

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."

Adonis gave him a knowing look but obliged. "She's been in the industry for about a decade, started her own company a few years back. Brilliant coder, from what I hear. Got a reputation for thinking outside the box."

Zy nodded, absorbing the information. "And her game? What do we know about it?"

"Not much," Adonis admitted. "She's kept it under wraps. She did the official trailer and demo earlier but we missed it since she had an early block and then was set to give tips and tricks on her last release. There are other demos being played throughout the day and people can play the demo, but we haven't seen them. But the buzz is intense. Some are saying it could be a real game-changer, pun intended."

A competitive spark ignited in Zy's chest. As much as he was drawn to Ellie personally, he couldn't ignore the fact that she was also a business rival. The tiger in him growled, loving the challenge.

"I need to see this game for myself," Zy said.

Adonis raised an eyebrow. "Planning a little corporate espionage, are we?"

Zy shook his head. "Nothing underhanded. I'll wait my turn like everyone else. But I want to know what we're up against."

As the afternoon wore on, Zy found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. His shifter senses, usually dormant in business settings, were on high alert. Every flash of red hair in the crowd made his heart race, only to plummet when it turned out to be someone else.

"You know," Adonis said during a quiet moment, "I've never seen you like this. Not in all the years I've known you."

Zy ran a hand through his hair, a rare display of frustration. "I don't understand it myself. It's like... like my tiger has woken up after a long nap and decided she's the most fascinating thing in the world."

Adonis's eyes widened. "You don't think... Could she be your mate?"

The word sent a shiver down Zy's spine. Mate. It was a concept he'd long since given up on. At a hundred years old, he'd assumed his chance had passed.

"That's ridiculous," Zy scoffed, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice. "I don't even know her."

"Maybe your tiger knows something you don't," Adonis suggested. "Stranger things have happened in the shifter world."

Zy shook his head, trying to clear it. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. For all I know, she could be happily married with three kids."

"She's not," Vince chimed in, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. At Zy's surprised look, he shrugged. "What? I did some digging. Standard competitor research. She's divorced. It was nasty and public, but otherwise, she's single."

Zy's heart skipped a beat at this information, but he kept his face neutral. "Thank you, Vince. That will be all."

As Vince walked away, Adonis leaned in. "You know, boss, if you're really interested, there are ways to arrange a ‘chance' meeting."

Zy considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "No. If I'm going to meet Ellie, I want it to be genuine. No tricks, no corporate maneuvering. Just two people in the same industry, crossing paths."

Adonis nodded approvingly. "Glad to hear it. Though I've got to warn you, if she really does hate Ashford Entertainment as much as the rumors say, you might be in for a chilly reception."

The thought sent a pang through Zy's chest. He'd faced down boardrooms full of hostile investors, negotiated multi-million dollar deals, and even stared down rival tiger shifters in territorial disputes. But the idea of Ellie looking at him with disdain made him feel like a nervous teenager.

As the day drew to a close, Zy found himself both exhilarated and frustrated. The Nexus presentation had been a rousing success, but he'd failed in his personal mission to meet Ellie.

"There's always tomorrow," Adonis reassured him as they packed up for the night. "The convention runs for two more days. Plenty of time for a star-crossed meeting."

Zy rolled his eyes at his friend's teasing tone, but he couldn't deny the flutter of anticipation in his chest. Tomorrow was another day, another chance.

As they left the convention center with the New York night alive with lights and energy, Zy's thoughts drifted once again to Ellie. Somewhere in this vast city, she was out there, possibly thinking about Nexus or Ashford Entertainment.

About him?

Zy shook his head, amused at his own wishful thinking. He was Zyan Ashford, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, alpha of one of the most powerful shifter prides in North America. He didn't pine after women he'd never even spoken to.

And yet, as he climbed into the back of his waiting car, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life had somehow shifted on its axis. That from this day forward, nothing would ever be quite the same.

"Home, sir?" his driver asked.

Zy nodded, leaning back against the leather seat. As the car pulled away from the curb, he allowed himself one last indulgence. He closed his eyes and pictured Ellie's face – those intelligent brown eyes, that cascade of red hair, the look of intense concentration as she'd watched his presentation.

Tomorrow , he vowed silently. Tomorrow, he would meet Elliot Madden properly. And maybe, just maybe, he'd unravel the mystery of why she had captured his attention so completely.

As the car wound its way through the bustling streets of Manhattan, Zy's tiger purred contentedly within him as if approving of this plan. For once, man and beast were in perfect agreement.

Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.