Chapter 6

SIX

E llie's phone buzzed insistently, dragging her from a fitful sleep. She fumbled for the device, squinting at the screen in the pre-dawn darkness of her bedroom. As her eyes focused on the caller ID, her heart leaped into her throat. Mom.

"Hello?" Ellie's voice was thick with sleep and worry. Her mother never called this early unless something was wrong.

"Ellie, honey," Letty Madden's voice crackled through the speaker, strained and urgent. "It's Abuela. She's in the hospital."

The words hit Ellie like a bucket of ice water. She sat bolt upright, sleep forgotten. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She had a fall," Letty explained, her voice wavering slightly. "They think it might be her heart. We're at Mount Sinai."

Ellie was already out of bed, fumbling for clothes. "I'm on my way."

As she rushed to get dressed, Ellie's mind raced. Today was supposed to be the final day of the gaming convention, the culmination of months of hard work. Infinite Odyssey had been a hit, generating buzz beyond her wildest dreams. But none of that mattered now. Family came first. Always.

Ellie fired off a quick text to Noa as she hailed a cab:

"Family emergency. Can't make it today. You're in charge. Call if there's a crisis."

Noa's reply came almost instantly: "OMG! Is everyone okay? Don't worry about the booth. I've got this. Go take care of your family. ??"

The taxi ride to the hospital seemed to take an eternity. Ellie's leg bounced nervously, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. She thought of her grandmother – Abuela Elena – the matriarch of their family. A woman who had moved to New York from Puerto Rico with nothing but determination and dreams and building a life and a legacy that inspired them all.

The hospital corridors were a maze of antiseptic smells and fluorescent lights. Ellie found her family clustered outside a room in the cardiac unit. Her mother enveloped her in a tight hug the moment she arrived.

"How is she?" Ellie asked, peering over her mother's shoulder into the room where her grandmother lay, looking small and fragile amidst a tangle of wires and monitors.

"Stable for now," her father, Jack, answered. His usually commanding presence seemed diminished in the sterile hospital environment. "They're running tests."

The next few hours passed in a blur of doctor's visits, hushed conversations, and anxious waiting. Ellie's phone buzzed periodically with updates from Noa about the convention, but they felt distant and unimportant compared to the rhythmic beeping of her grandmother's heart monitor.

It wasn't until mid-afternoon after Abuela Elena was resting comfortably and the immediate crisis had passed that Ellie remembered her commitment to Zy. She'd promised to meet with him to work on the character development for Infinite Odyssey. With everything happening, it had completely slipped her mind.

Guilt gnawed at her as she pulled out her phone. Professional obligations shouldn't matter at a time like this, but Ellie couldn't shake the feeling that she owed Zy an explanation. Their rivalry aside, he had been unexpectedly kind during their last encounter.

She typed out a message, hoping to strike a balance between professionalism and honesty:

"Zy, I apologize for the short notice, but I won't be able to make our meeting today. Family emergency. My grandmother is in the hospital. Perhaps we could reschedule for later this week?"

Ellie hit send before she could overthink it. She was surprised when a reply came almost immediately:

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Ellie. Of course, family comes first. Please don't worry about our meeting. Is there anything I can do to help?"

The genuine concern in his message caught Ellie off guard. She found herself smiling despite the circumstances.

"Thank you for understanding. We're okay for now, but I appreciate the offer."

She hesitated for a moment, then added:

"How about we meet at my office in a few days? Once things settle down here."

Zy's response was prompt and warm:

"Absolutely. Just let me know when you're ready. Sending positive thoughts to you and your grandmother."

Ellie set her phone down, a strange mix of emotions swirling in her chest. Gratitude for Zy's understanding, surprise at his kindness, and a lingering wariness born from their competitive history. It was all too much to process right now.

She turned her attention back to her family, pushing thoughts of work and rivalries aside. Right now, all that mattered was being here for Abuela Elena.

The day wore on, a parade of doctors and nurses coming and going. Ellie's siblings arrived, filling the small hospital room with whispered conversations and the rustle of get-well cards. As evening approached, Ellie found herself alone with her grandmother while the rest of the family went in search of coffee and somewhat edible hospital food.

Abuela Elena stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Elliot?" she murmured, using Ellie's full name as she always had.

"I'm here, Abuela," Ellie said, taking her grandmother's hand gently.

"My brave girl," Elena said, her voice weak but filled with warmth. "Always working so hard. You should be at your big event, not stuck here with an old woman."

Ellie shook her head fiercely. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be. The convention doesn't matter."

Elena clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Everything matters, mi amor . Especially the things we pour our hearts into." She studied Ellie's face for a moment. "Something's troubling you. Beyond my little tumble."

Ellie opened her mouth to deny it, but the knowing look in her grandmother's eyes stopped her. Even lying in a hospital bed, Abuela Elena could read her like a book.

"It's... complicated," Ellie began hesitantly. "There's this guy–"

"Ah," Elena interrupted with a knowing smile. "There's always a guy."

Ellie couldn't help but laugh. "It's not like that, Abuela. He's a competitor. The CEO of Ashford Entertainment."

"The company that bought your ex-husband's stolen game?" Elena's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ellie nodded. "But he's... not what I expected. He's been kind and understanding. He even offered to help me with some issues I've been having with my game."

"And this confuses you?" Elena asked gently.

"I don't know what to think," Ellie admitted. "Part of me wants to trust him, to believe that maybe he didn't know about the stolen game. But another part..."

"Is afraid of being hurt again," Elena finished for her.

Ellie nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat.

Elena squeezed her hand. "Let me tell you a story, mi amor . About your grandfather and me."

Ellie leaned in, always eager to hear about her grandparents' legendary romance.

"When we first met," Elena began, her eyes twinkling with the memory, "our families were rivals. Competing businesses, old grudges. Everyone said we were doomed from the start."

"But you fell in love anyway," Ellie said, smiling.

"Oh yes," Elena chuckled. "Head over heels. But it wasn't easy. There were misunderstandings, arguments. Times when we both thought it would be easier to walk away."

Her expression grew serious. "The point is, mi amor , that sometimes the greatest joys in life come from taking chances. From being willing to look past our preconceptions and see the person underneath."

Ellie absorbed her grandmother's words, feeling something shift inside her. "But how did you know it was worth the risk?"

Elena's smile was radiant. "We didn't. But we chose to believe in each other and the possibility of something beautiful. And look what came of it – a love that lasted over fifty years, a family and the Heritage Hotel chain that brought our rival businesses together."

She patted Ellie's hand. "I'm not saying this young man is your soul mate. But don't let fear or old grudges keep you from exploring the possibility. Give him a chance to explain himself. You might be surprised."

Ellie leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her grandmother's forehead. "When did you get so wise, Abuela?"

Elena laughed, a sound that filled the sterile hospital room with warmth. "Ay, mi bebé . I've always been wise. You're just finally old enough to notice."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. A nurse entered, pushing a cart laden with an enormous bouquet of flowers.

"Delivery for Elena Madden," the nurse announced, setting the vibrant arrangement on the bedside table.

Ellie blinked in surprise. "Who are they from?"

The nurse checked the card. "It says... Zyan Ashford."

Ellie's jaw dropped. She reached for the card, reading the message with wide eyes:

"Wishing you a speedy recovery, Mrs. Madden. Your granddaughter speaks very highly of you. – Zy Ashford"

"Well," Elena said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "It seems this young man of yours has impeccable manners."

"He's not my–" Ellie began to protest, but stopped short. She stared at the flowers, a warmth blooming in her chest that had nothing to do with the room's temperature.

Without thinking, she pulled out her phone and fired off a quick text to Zy:

"Thank you for the flowers. They've brightened up Abuela's whole room. Your kindness means a lot."

His reply came moments later:

"I'm glad they arrived safely. How is she doing?"

Ellie found herself smiling as she typed back:

"Better. Thank you for asking. I think we're still on for our meeting later this week."

"Looking forward to it," Zy responded. "Take care, Ellie."

As she set her phone down, Ellie caught her grandmother watching her with a knowing smile.

"Not a word, Abuela," Ellie said, but she couldn't keep the grin off her face.

"I didn't say anything," Elena replied innocently. But her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and hope that spoke volumes.

The next few days passed in a whirlwind of hospital visits, work catch-up, and preparation for her meeting with Zy. By the time Ellie arrived at her office on the agreed-upon day, she felt a strange mix of nervousness and excitement.

She had just finished setting up her workspace when a knock on the door announced Zy's arrival. Ellie took a deep breath, smoothing down her blouse before opening the door.

Zy stood there, looking as impeccably put-together as always in a tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. But there was a warmth in his golden-flecked eyes that Ellie hadn't noticed before.

"Ellie," he greeted her with a smile. "It's good to see you. How's your grandmother?"

The genuine concern in his voice caught Ellie off guard. "She's doing much better, thank you. The flowers really cheered her up."

Zy's smile widened. "I'm glad to hear it. Shall we get started?"