“We can talk about Jon another time. Right now, I’d like to talk about you.”
Ellie cast him a bewildered look before focusing back on her father. “About me?”
“Victoria said you had been back to the hospital for more tests. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think?—”
“Youdidn’t think.” Steven grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m your father. And now I’ve had to come all this way. You know how busy I am, Ellie.”
Jon crossed his arms over his own chest, irritation starting to rise.
Ellie poured a small mug of black coffee and passed it across to her father before turning to him and mouthing a small, “Sorry.” And damn if that apology didn’t make his irritation rise further. Not with Ellie, not at all. With Steven.
Ellie walked over to lean against the counter beside him, and he very nearly took her hand.
Ellie stuck her hands in her pockets. “Why are you here, Dad?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Steven asked.
It wasn’t to Jon, but from the expression on Ellie’s face, it was obvious to her. And he had a horrible feeling it wasn’t to check up on Ellie’s health. He wanted to tug her hands from her pockets and hold them in his.
Steven took a sip of his bitter coffee. “When are you going to finalize the sale ofThe Shadow-rifting Chronicles?”
“TheShadowbindingChronicles,” Ellie murmured, looking more weary than she had even at midnight.
“That’s what I said.” Steven drained the rest of his coffee and then pushed the mug away.
It wasn’t, but Steven didn’t appear to care.
“I don’t want to sell,” Ellie replied, her voice soft, but firm. “I’ve told you this already.”
“Come now, Eleanor.” Steven leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed. “I’ve created an opportunity for you that anyone in the world would be grateful for. I’m trying to help you.”
“It’s my game, Dad. And it’s doing really well where it is,” Ellie replied, her arms coming up to wrap around her stomach. She’d done that before when she’d been under pressure, and he didn’t like seeing it again, especially when she’d been so relaxed and happy before her father arrived.
“It’s okay,” Steven allowed. “But it could be a real success. And everyone would benefit. All your employees. Victoria. Our family. Don’t you want to work together on this?”
“Would we work together though?” Ellie muttered half under her breath, but Steven didn’t seem to notice as he continued, “Silver Wolff would take it much higher than you ever could.”
Ellie’s shoulders curled, just a fraction. Jon probably wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been standing right beside her. But she didn’t back down. “Silver Wolff would turn it into a combat-based RPG.”
“And what’s so wrong with that? You’d reach a far wider audience.”
“A younger, far more male audience, you mean,” Ellie argued. “People who are constantly being told that romance is stupid. We both know Silver Wolff doesn’t care about a happy ever after.”
Steven dipped his chin in agreement. As if Ellie had finally said something sensible.
“But isn’t the whole point of the game that it’s a romance?” Jon asked. Ellie had been so passionate when she’d explained it to him. “Isn’t that the essence of the story?”
Steven ignored him completely, focused only on Ellie. “I’ve worked hard for you all your life. Trust me to know what’s best for you now. Throwing away this opportunity would be a huge misjudgment. Just think of how much money you’ll lose. How much credibility.”
Ellie was silent for a moment, but then her spine slowly straightened. Jon could see it was difficult for her, but she spoke clearly and calmly as she replied, “You asked me to think about this, and I did. The first game was far more successful than I’d hoped, and we have a good chance of winning New Game of the Year with part two. And, even more importantly, if I keep creative rights, I can make sure both games stay true to their values. I can keep my promises to our players.” She didn’t look away from her father as she continued. “We learned a lot with the first game, and part two is going to be a fantastic launch… but not if we give it away to someone who won’t love it.”
Ellie looked so determined. Like a knight standing up to a dragon. Perhaps a little uncertain, but still on her feet and fighting. It took everything he had not to wrap his arm around her shoulders and pull her into his side. To give her his support. To tell her that she wasn’t alone.
But he didn’t do it. They both knew he couldn’t make promises like that.
Steven stood and straightened his already immaculate cuffs. “Now you’re just being silly. You’re not giving it away, you’resellingit. This is business; it’s not the place for falling in love with a product.”
