Chapter 7

SEVEN

A s they settled into their work, Ellie found herself relaxing. Despite their competitive history, there was an easy rhythm to their collaboration. They bounced ideas off each other, their shared passion for gaming leading to excited exchanges and creative breakthroughs.

"You know," Zy said during a lull in their work, "I'm really impressed with what you've done with the character customization in Infinite Odyssey. The level of detail is extraordinary."

Ellie beamed at the compliment, even as a small part of her remained wary. "Thank you. It's been a labor of love, that's for sure. Though I have to admit, I'm still struggling with some aspects of the shapeshifter mechanics."

Zy leaned in, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Oh? What kind of issues are you running into?"

As Ellie explained the technical challenges she'd been facing, she couldn't help but notice how intently Zy listened. He asked thoughtful questions, offering insights that showed a deep understanding of the underlying systems.

At one point, Zy reached over to point out something on Ellie's laptop screen. His hand brushed against hers, sending an unexpected jolt of electricity through her. Ellie jerked back slightly, her cheeks warming.

If Zy noticed her reaction, he didn't show it. But Ellie caught a fleeting expression cross his face – something almost like guilt? – before he smoothly continued his explanation.

As their session wore on, Ellie found herself opening up more. She shared stories from her early days in game development, including some of her more embarrassing mistakes. To her surprise, Zy reciprocated with tales of his own missteps.

"I remember this one time," Zy said, leaning back in his chair with a rueful smile, "I was so confident in this new combat system I'd developed. Spent months on it. Brought it to a big industry showcase, ready to blow everyone away."

Ellie leaned forward, intrigued. "What happened?"

Zy's laugh was self-deprecating. "It glitched. Spectacularly. In front of about a hundred people, including some major investors. I thought my career was over before it had even really begun."

"Oh no," Ellie gasped, torn between sympathy and amusement. "How did you recover from that?"

"Honestly?" Zy's expression softened. "It was rough. But it taught me a valuable lesson about humility and the importance of thorough testing. And in the end, it made me a better developer."

Ellie nodded, understanding all too well the sting of public failure. "I had a similar experience once. Not quite as dramatic, but..."

As she shared her own story of a demo gone wrong, Ellie marveled at how easy it was to talk to Zy. There was a warmth and genuineness to him that she'd never expected from the CEO of a rival company.

Before they knew it, hours had passed. Ellie's stomach growled audibly, breaking the flow of their conversation.

Zy glanced at his watch, looking surprised. "I can't believe it's already past noon. What do you say we take a break? I know a great deli nearby if you're interested."

Ellie hesitated for a moment, weighing the professional boundaries she'd tried to maintain against the growing connection she felt with Zy. Her grandmother's words echoed in her mind: "Don't let fear or old grudges keep you from exploring the possibility."

"You know what? That sounds great," Ellie said with a smile.

The deli Zy led her to was a hidden gem, tucked away in a quiet corner near Ellie's office building. They settled at an outdoor table, the New York spring sunshine warm on their faces.

As they dug into their sandwiches – pastrami on rye for Zy, a chicken wrap for Ellie – their conversation drifted to more personal topics.

"So," Zy said, his tone carefully casual, "if you don't mind me asking... what made you decide to start your own gaming company? It's not an easy industry to break into, especially as an independent developer."

Ellie took a sip of her soda, considering her answer. "It's a long story, actually. And not a particularly happy one."

Zy's expression grew serious. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"No, it's okay," Ellie surprised herself by saying. "It's... probably something you should know, given our companies' history."

Taking a deep breath, Ellie stared down at her half-eaten wrap, her appetite suddenly gone. The bustling sounds of the deli faded into the background as memories she'd tried so hard to suppress came flooding back.

"It all started about five years ago," she began. Zy leaned in closer, his brow furrowed with concern. "I was working on a game – Dreamscape. It was... it was going to be my masterpiece."

Ellie's eyes grew distant, lost in the past. "I poured everything into it. Sleepless nights, missed family events, my whole heart and soul. And Grant, my husband at the time, was so supportive. Or so I thought."

She glanced up at Zy, expecting to see boredom or impatience. Instead, his golden-flecked eyes were fixed on her, filled with a mixture of compassion and something deeper she couldn't quite name.

Encouraged, Ellie continued, her words coming faster now. "It was about two months before the scheduled release. I came home early one day, wanting to surprise Grant. But... but he wasn't alone."

Her voice cracked slightly, and Zy instinctively reached out, his hand covering hers on the table. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through Ellie, grounding her in the present.

"He was with a woman from…Ashford Entertainment," Ellie said, watching Zy's face carefully. But there was no flicker of recognition, only a growing horror. "They were... they were going over my game files. All my work, everything I'd created. Grant was offering it to her like it was his to give away."

Zy's hand tightened on hers. "Ellie, I... I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

Ellie nodded, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. "It gets worse. When I confronted them, Grant laughed. Said I was naive to think I could make it in this industry on my own. That he was doing me a favor, getting my work noticed by a ‘real' company."

She pulled her hand away from Zy's, clenching it into a fist. "The divorce was ugly. Grant tried to claim he had co-created Dreamscape and that he had a right to sell it. He went to the media, painted me as unstable and unreliable. Said I was trying to sabotage his career out of jealousy, that I was angry he didn't want me and so I was trying to make him out to be the bad guy."

Zy's face had gone pale, his jaw clenched tight. "That's... that's despicable. Ellie, I swear to you, if I had known..."

Ellie met his gaze, searching for any hint of deception. But all she saw was a genuine burning anger that seemed to match her own.

"The worst part," Ellie continued, "was watching Dreamscape hit the market under Ashford Entertainment's banner. Seeing all my hard work, my dreams, twisted and changed. Knowing that everyone thought it was Grant's creation."

She took a shaky breath, squaring her shoulders. "That's why I started my own company. Why I created Infinite Odyssey. I needed to prove to myself, and everyone, that I could do this on my own. Show that Grant hadn't broken me."

Silence fell between them, heavy with the weight of Ellie's confession. She watched Zy, bracing herself for his reaction. Would he try to defend his company? Dismiss her pain?

Instead, Zy reached out again, gently taking both of her hands into his. His touch was warm and comforting in a way Ellie hadn't expected.

"Ellie," he said, his voice low and intense. "What happened to you... it's unforgivable. I want you to know I had no knowledge of this. If I had, I would have put a stop to it immediately."

His golden eyes blazed with a fierce determination. "I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this. Whatever it takes, I'll make it right."

Ellie felt something shift inside her, a wall she'd built around her heart beginning to crumble. "You believe me?" she asked, hating how vulnerable she sounded.

Zy's grip on her hands tightened. "Ellie, you are one of the most talented and driven people I've ever met. Anyone who would try to steal your work, to diminish your achievements... they're not just unethical, they're fools."

A warmth bloomed in Ellie's chest, spreading through her body. For the first time in years, she felt truly seen, truly understood.

"Thank you," she whispered, a tear slid down her cheek. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

Zy reached out, his thumb gently brushing away the tear. The tender gesture sent a shiver down Ellie's spine.

"Ellie, I... I truly had no idea," Zy said when she finished, his voice thick with emotion. "I knew there had been some controversy around that acquisition, but I never knew the details. If I had..."

He trailed off, seeming at a loss for words.

Ellie studied him, her heart racing. Everything in Zy's reaction seemed genuine. Could it be possible that he truly hadn't known?

"It's in the past now," Ellie said softly. "I've moved on, built something I'm proud of. But I won't lie – it's been hard to trust anyone in the industry since then."

Zy nodded, his expression solemn. "I can only imagine. Ellie, I want you to know – I would never knowingly participate in something like that. Ethics in business are paramount to me. If there's been any wrongdoing on Ashford Entertainment's part, I promise you I'll get to the bottom of it."

The intensity in his golden-flecked eyes made Ellie's breath catch. For the first time since they'd met, she allowed herself to truly consider the possibility that Zy might be exactly what he seemed – a decent man caught up in circumstances beyond his control.

"Thank you," Ellie said, surprised by the emotion in her voice. "That... means a lot to hear."

A comfortable silence fell between them, filled with the ambient noise of the city and the weight of shared understanding. Ellie found herself studying Zy's face, noticing details she'd overlooked before – the slight crinkles at the corners of his eyes when he smiled, the way the sunlight brought out golden highlights in his light brown hair.

Zy cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "So, tell me about Infinite Odyssey. What inspired you to create such an expansive, customizable world?"

Ellie's face lit up, her passion for her creation shining through. "Oh, where do I even start? I've always been fascinated by the idea of limitless possibilities in gaming. The chance to be anyone, do anything..."

As she launched into an enthusiastic explanation of her game's core concepts, Ellie gestured animatedly, nearly knocking over her drink in the process. Zy caught it smoothly, his hand brushing against hers in the process. That same electric spark jolted through her again, and this time, she was sure Zy felt it too. His eyes widened slightly, and he pulled back, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

"Sorry," Ellie mumbled, flustered. "I get a little carried away sometimes."

Zy's smile was warm and genuine. "Don't apologize. Your enthusiasm is... infectious. It's clear how much you love what you do."

Their conversation flowed easily after that, ranging from industry gossip to their favorite classic games. Ellie found herself laughing more than she had in months, surprised by Zy's quick wit and self-deprecating humor.