19.
Crystal
I ride the escalator down to baggage claim, and my pulse quickens as I scan the sea of expectant faces until my eyes lock on Justin. He’s looking the other direction, holding a bouquet of roses so red they look like they’ve been dipped in paint.
I break into a run. “Justin!” I call, and he turns, giving me the smile that always sends my heart somersaulting. In just a few strides, I’m in his arms, the scent of the roses mingling with his familiar cologne. I tilt my head back, and our lips meet in a kiss that makes me feel like I’m home.
“Get a room, you two,” Teagan chides. We break apart, laughing, and she rolls her eyes in mock exasperation. She’s got her bags slung over her shoulder, looking every bit the independent woman she is.
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride?” I ask. I know she values her autonomy, but I feel strange just leaving her.
“I’m sure,” Teagan replies firmly, waving a dismissive hand. “My ride’s already here. Go enjoy your evening.” She gives me a quick hug, then heads off toward the exits, leaving me with Justin.
His eyes are alight with excitement, and I can tell he has something planned. “I’m so thrilled you’re back,” he says.
“Me too,” I reply, my fingers tracing the soft petals of one of the roses. It’s good to be back, even if part of me is still lingering on the sandy shores of Mexico.
“How about some dinner?” he suggests, taking my hand and leading me toward the parking garage.
“Sounds perfect,” I agree, wondering where he might take me. Might this be a true wine and dine? Their calls of desperation while I was away couldn’t have gone better. I’m so glad Teagan suggested the break.
We load my bag into the car, and Justin drives us farther down the peninsula, the evening sky painted in hues of orange and purple as the sun dips below the horizon. We weave through traffic until we reach Palo Alto, the city alive with tech entrepreneurs and Stanford students milling about.
“Welcome to Zola’s,” Justin announces as he pulls up in front of a French restaurant. The place is nestled in a busy open area, its warm lighting inviting passersby to step in and savor a slice of Parisian life.
“Wow, this looks incredible,” I breathe, impressed by his choice. The atmosphere is both sophisticated and lively, a perfect blend for a welcome-back celebration.
We enter the restaurant, and the aroma of garlic, butter, and fresh bread teases my hungry stomach. It’s clear that Zola’s is a haven for those who appreciate good food and good company, and it seems to be a favored spot among the local tech crowd.
As we’re shown to our table, I can’t shake the anticipation bubbling up inside me. I scan the cocktail menu, skimming the descriptions until I land on something intriguing. “I’ll have a Pensamientos,” I say when the server appears, opting for a delicate balance of gin and blueberry with an undercurrent of floral jasmine—or so the menu says.
Justin gives a nod of approval before turning to our server. “A gin martini for me, please.”
As we wait for our drinks, I fidget with the edge of the tablecloth, my mind racing with thoughts unvoiced. I have to play it cool, keep the upper hand my trip gave me, but I’d rather just get this over with. I need to know what he’s thinking.
“Mexico must have been amazing,” Justin says. “Besides soaking up the sun on the beach, what else did you get up to?”
“Mostly lounging by the pool,” I say, forcing a smile. “And, well, some dancing.”
His eyebrows rise slightly. “Dancing with other men?” There’s a hint of tension in his voice now, veiled concern.
“Nothing serious, just dancing,” I assure him. “It was fun, but that’s all it was.”
I catch a flicker of relief in his eyes as our drinks arrive, the Pensamientos a vibrant indigo hue, captivating and mysterious in its tall glass. Justin’s martini is more austere, crystal clear with a single olive.
We toast to new beginnings, and the conversation flows more freely as the alcohol takes the edge off. Our server returns to take our order.
“Roasted chicken for me, please,” I tell her, trying to sound nonchalant. My eyes drift to Justin as he orders steak frites, and when the server disappears, I find I can’t wait for him to take the lead any longer.
“Justin,” I begin, my voice low, “how did things go while I was gone?”
He sets down his napkin, giving me his full attention. “As you know, we missed you desperately. Nothing was the same without you.” His sincerity warms me more than the alcohol could.
“Really? Because I want to come back, but I need to be clear.” I meet his gaze, steeling myself for the negotiation ahead. “You mentioned it while I was away, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page. I want equity in the business. It’s only fair—I’ve put as much into this as anyone since we got here.”
A moment of silence stretches between us as he seems to wrestle within himself. “I know what I said, and I meant it. We’ll do whatever it takes to get you back, Crystal. You’re essential to us—equity included.”
Relief washes over me, and I smile. I’m not sure why that had to be such a battle, but this feels good. Wait until I tell Teagan. Who knew a Mexican vacation could reap such benefits?
Our dinner arrives, and as we dine, Justin catches me up on what happened while I was gone. There seem to have been several near disasters, and he confesses that the guys have all agreed that I do much more for the company than they thought.
When we leave the restaurant, I’m practically floating, and Justin leans in. “I want you all to myself tonight, so I reserved a room close to here. Is that okay?”
My stomach flips with excitement. “Yes, of course.” This could not get any better.
After that, our return to the car and trip to the modest hotel are a blur. I’m wrapped up in the experience of being with Justin, my senses heightened by the wave of joy that keeps crashing over me.
When we arrive, Justin strides past the sleek, modern front desk and swipes a plastic keycard over a sensor. The elevator doors open and then slide shut behind us, and he stands close enough for our bodies to touch. His lips meet mine in a soft, lingering kiss.
“God, I’ve missed you so much.” He groans.
His hands find my breasts, sending jolts of electricity to my core. “Show me.”
As the elevator dings to a stop on our floor, we step out into the hallway and make our way to his hotel room. The air crackles with anticipation. Justin closes the door behind us and pulls me into his arms, his touch setting my skin on fire.
We shed our clothes in a frenzy, scattering them across the floor as we come together with a desperate need.
His fingers circle my nub, and I let out a shivering moan, arching my back as sensations spread through my body. Justin’s eyes lock onto mine, his expression hungry. I stare back at him, surrendering to the raw passion between us.
He gently caresses my breast, his fingers tracing delicate patterns before moving down to tease my sensitive nipple. My breaths come shallow and rapid. “I’m so glad you’re here with me,” he whispers, his gaze never leaving my eyes.
He pushes his fingers deep inside me, and he pivots them in and out. My heart races as he pushes me closer and closer to the edge. I groan loudly as my climax hits and my body shakes. Justin’s eyes widen as he watches me surrender to the pleasure, thrusting harder and faster.
“That’s it, baby,” he growls, lifting me and carrying me to the bed. He lays me down gently, positioning himself between my legs.
He reaches for a condom and rolls it on his cock. “Are you ready?” he asks.
The corner of my mouth turns up. “Show me what you’ve got.”
With a hard thrust, he’s buried to the hilt, filling me. “You’re so tight. I want everyone in the hotel to hear you.”
I moan loudly. “Give it to me.”
Justin’s thrusts are deep and passionate, his hips swaying in rhythm with the beating of my heart. Each movement sends another wave of pleasure coursing through my veins. Right now, we are the only two people in the world. We move together as one, our bodies a single entity, lost in the heat of the moment.
My moans grow louder, filling the room as I reach for my peak. “I’m so close,” I whisper.
Justin’s expression morphs into pure lust as he watches me nearing my climax. “Come for me, baby,” he growls, his voice hoarse with need. Our bodies slap together. “Show me how much you like this.”
His words are my undoing, and I let out a loud cry as I reach my climax.
A little while later, we lie tangled in the sheets. Our breaths mingle in the quiet aftermath of our reunion, the world beyond these four walls forgotten for a few precious moments.
“Crystal,” Justin whispers, his fingers tracing lazy circles on my arm, “you’re so important to me.” His words soothe the last of the silent fears that crept into my heart while I’ve been away.
I turn to face him. “Justin…” My voice trails off, but he understands, pulling me closer.
“I can’t wait for us to finally live alone. I want us to feel this free all the time.” He gently caresses my skin. “What do you desire?” he whispers.
“Only you,” I answer without hesitation.
“One day, we’ll have a beautiful home in Pacific Heights, and we can fill it with as many children as your heart desires. Our life will be everything we’ve always dreamed of.” His kisses trace my jaw. “When the time is right,” he murmurs, “I’ll propose the right way. But know this—my future is with you, Crystal.”
A wave of elation rushes through me, yet a moment later, there’s a weight pressing down, the secret that nags my conscience begging to be set free. My bipolar disorder. But I can’t tell him now, not when everything seems so perfect. The fear that he might change his mind about having children with me gnaws at my resolve.
His breathing evens out, and I listen to the steady rhythm, feeling him drift into sleep. In the room’s silence, I hold on to the joy of his plans, pushing my worry to the darkest corners of my mind. This is a victory. I need to focus on that for now.
The first light of dawn is peeking through the curtains when my eyes flutter open. Justin stirs as soon as I do, and we dress quickly. We need to get going. It’s Saturday, but it’s also crunch time for EnergiFusion, so in to the office we go.
“Before we leave…” Justin pulls out a folder with a sheet of paper. “You need to sign this if you’re going to have a share of the company.”
My eyes grow wide. “Really?”
He nods, and I quickly sign the document. Finally. It feels good to be acknowledged for all I’ve contributed to EnergiFusion.
The traffic into San Francisco is slow, but I’m floating on air.
Austin, Rhys, and Theo greet me with an unexpected warmth, their expressions sheepish and apologetic as I enter the lab. “We’re sorry, Crystal,” they say almost in unison. “We took you for granted.”
“Never again,” Austin adds, handing me a green tea latte.
“Thank you,” I reply. And I hope this is truly a new beginning, a promise from them that things will be different now. I own five percent of EnergiFusion, and that changes the game. Our success is truly bound together in a way it wasn’t before.
Together, we dive into preparations for the Automotive Showcase, which is just an added burden on top of the perpetual battle to beat the charging issue once and for all. But based on what Justin has told me about the latest developments and progress, I’m confident that they will. So, I throw my energy into coordinating with Mason’s team, ensuring the space at the Moscone Center is secured and orders have been placed for marketing materials. And in addition, I have something special up my sleeve. I reached out to Mason, and he thought my idea was good, so he helped me.
I’m working away on it, and the guys are busy in the lab when the office phone rings. I glance at the screen, and it’s Turner Bishop. My heart leaps, as it does every time he calls, as I immediately picture him as the lead singer for Velvet Anomaly. But he’s also quite the engineer, and these guys’ friend since the good old Georgia Tech days. He calls periodically to check in on them, and we’ve gotten to know each other a little. It’s still crazy to think that the guy I’ve watched sing his heart out so many times is now someone I chat with on the regular.
“Hey, Turner,” I answer, pressing the phone to my ear as I lean back in my chair, taking a respite from the morning’s work.
“Crystal! How’s the brainiest girl I know?” His voice is like an electric guitar riff, vibrant and full of life.
“Brainy and buried. What’s up?”
“I’m coming into town with Velvet Anomaly. We’ve got a gig in two weeks at The Fillmore. I’m setting aside tickets and backstage passes for you guys.”
I feel myself smiling. “Awesome. We could use a break.”
His laughter crackles through the phone. “Great! I’ve missed you all. Hey, how’s EnergiFusion holding up?”
“We’re gearing up for the Automotive Showcase. It’s crunch time.” I swivel in my chair. “We’ll be presenting our EV battery to all the big names. It’s a make-or-break opportunity, you know?”
“Damn, that sounds huge. You’re gonna blow their minds!” I can almost see his grin, wide and encouraging. “Our tour is winding down, and the band’s taking a breather, so I might come back and hang around a bit, get the lay of the land. We can celebrate EnergiFusion’s success.”
“Stay as long as you want, Turner. It’d be great to have you around.” I’m sure the guys would love it.
“Keep a beer cold for me, Crystal.”
“Always. Drive safe, rock star.”
As I end the call, my attention shifts back to the list of calls I still need to make. Turner’s faith in us is a welcome fuel. I’m determined to ensure that our vision for EnergiFusion is abundantly clear and tangible for the Automotive Showcase. But right now, I’ve got good news to share.
I grab a stack of photos from my desk and head down to the lab, where the familiar scent of solder and cold machinery hangs in the air. Until I was away for a while, I didn’t realize how distinct that aroma is. In one corner, Theo’s fingers dance over his keyboard like a pianist. He looks up as I approach, arching an eyebrow in silent question.
“Guess who’s coming to The Fillmore?” I announce, unable to keep the grin from my face.
The guys swivel in their chairs. “Who?” Austin asks, leaning back in his chair.
“Turner,” I say, and the room erupts. “Velvet Anomaly’s going to blow the roof off that place in two weeks.”
“Sweet!” Rhys punches the air.
“Tickets?” Theo asks, already reaching for his phone.
“Courtesy of the man himself. With backstage passes.”
“Well, I’d better say thanks, then.” Theo grins as his thumbs fly across the screen, tapping out a message to Turner.
It’s good to bring some joy into the lab. These guys haven’t just been to Mexico, so they could use a reminder that there’s life beyond these walls filled with circuit boards and prototypes.
My gaze drifts to the corner where three tarps conceal our latest delivery of supplies. “And speaking of shows,” I continue, flipping the photos in my hands to reveal a sleek American electric car. “Feast your eyes on this.”
“Whoa,” Theo murmurs, pocketing his phone. They gather around as I unveil the other two—a German model with a cutting-edge aesthetic and a Japanese compact renowned for its efficiency. Each one represents an opportunity, a challenge, and a promise.
“I’ve spoken with each of these companies, and they’re ready for you to tailor prototype batteries for them,” I say. “That way we’re not just showcasing a product, we’re demonstrating adaptability and innovation. This will show all the automakers that they won’t have to redesign their engines to fit our batteries.”
Austin nods, his gaze tracing the lines of the cars. “It’s a bold move. We’ll have to work nonstop to get them ready.”
“Can we pull it off?” Rhys asks, skepticism and hope warring in his eyes.
“Of course we can,” Justin affirms. “We’ve got the talent, the drive, and now, we’ve got the perfect stage. This Automotive Showcase will be our launching pad.”
Their nods are hesitant but determined. We all know what’s at stake, and as I look at the faces of the team, I see the reflection of my own resolve. They’ll make this happen, for EnergiFusion, for all of us and the future we’re trying to build.
I hover at the edge of Lamb’s workspace, my gaze fixed on the cluster of battery cells spread across the bench. In that moment, he returns to the lab, appearing as if out of nowhere and seeming barely aware that the rest of us are here. “More sodium should have done it,” he mutters to himself, his fingers rearranging the components like a conductor coaxing harmony from an orchestra. His brow is furrowed, lined with countless equations and failed experiments.
“Could there be an issue with the conductivity?” Austin ventures, stepping closer.
Fraser shakes his head, frustration evident. “I’ve triple-checked the calculations. The conductivity is fine. It’s something else.”
Every cell, every wire, is like a personal taunt. Justin’s restless shadow flits at the periphery of my vision. His usual confident demeanor is undercut by the quick, clipped way he paces behind us.
“Justin,” I say softly, reaching out to still him with a touch. His hand is clammy, betraying the cool front he presents. “We’ll figure this out.”
His nod is automatic, but his eyes are stormy. If EnergiFusion can’t solve the charging issue, the battery will be dead on arrival, no matter how many cars they can tailor it for. EnergiFusion’s dreams will deflate like a punctured balloon.
“Maybe it’s the balance between the sodium and aluminum,” Justin muses. “Have we considered shifting the ratio incrementally instead?”
Fraser pauses, a glint of interest cutting through his exasperation. “Incremental… Yes, small steps might show us where the imbalance lies.”
“Exactly,” Rhys chimes in, latching onto the lifeline of hope. “We find the tipping point and then recalibrate.”
“Let’s get to it, then,” Theo declares, rolling up his sleeves. “We don’t have time to waste.”
Fraser nods, already lost in thought, his fingers dancing anew over the battery cells. Justin gives my hand a quick squeeze before letting go, a silent thank you for the support I know he needed.
This is what we do, what we have to do. We fight, we innovate, we solve. We keep moving forward. Failure is not an option.