26.
Justin
For a long time after the meeting, I trudge down San Francisco streets, the weight of the day’s confrontations dragging my steps. The boardroom fiasco plays on loop in my mind; I stood at the center of a storm, defending my decision to the team—Austin, Rhys, Theo, along with Mason and Dillon. Their faces, contorted in frustration, accuse me silently even now. I gave Crystal something that legally I couldn’t without their approval. And at the worst possible moment, that left her with nothing. I tried to keep everything together, yet now everyone feels betrayed.
I’m determined to keep pushing on this, though. They have to acknowledge all the work Crystal did that contributed to our success. We wouldn’t be here without her. No one has fought for us like Crystal. No one has put in the hours or brought the dedication she has, all for a paycheck that only since the Automotive Showcase has become respectable. She deserves more than recognition; she deserves a stake. And yes, there’s the unspoken truth that she’ll own half of everything that’s mine soon enough when we marry. California law makes sure of that. But it’s more than legal eventualities. It’s about respect, about acknowledging her worth as an independent person.
A cold gust sweeps up from the Bay, chilling me, but it’s nothing compared to the chill that settled over the conference room when Theo dropped the next bombshell. Turner might leave Velvet Anomaly. And he wants in with EnergiFusion. He has grand plans for us to work together the way we did at Georgia Tech. It’s true that he built the first engine powered by our battery, but he sold that concept. So, what does he have to add now? No one seems exactly clear. And Turner is a bit of a wildcard, caught at a crossroads between music and engineering. How long will he stay interested? And what exactly does he want? I’m certainly not giving him a share of the ownership before we agree to give one to Crystal.
I pause at a street corner, waiting for the light to change, battling the twin tides of loyalty and leadership. I love Turner. His support has been unwavering. Yes, he said the right thing that helped us fix our problem that day in the lab, but does that mean we’re obligated to bring him in? The light turns green, and I cross, my decision just as uncertain as the flickering street lamps overhead.
Our temporary home awaits, a sanctuary that seems less welcoming tonight. Crystal will be waiting, another confrontation I’m not eager to face. But I have to, and I’ll need to beg her to forgive me.
When I arrive, the door shuts behind me, even as Mason’s words still ring in my ears. “Turner wants to build cars, but you’re about building batteries.” I shake my head. He’s right. Turner’s dreams are grand, but they’re his own. He can’t just waltz into EnergiFusion and expect the red carpet. He needs to understand that he’s one among many automakers lining up for our tech. It’s not personal; it’s business. With that sorted, I feel slightly more settled.
But then Crystal appears as I move through the entryway, her form outlined by the living room lamp. She’s wearing a tank top and sleep shorts, but her stance—hands on hips and a scowl on her face—tells me sleep is the last thing on her mind.
“Justin,” she says, her voice brimming with hurt and anger, “how could you lie to me?”
I’m already defeated, weighed down by the day’s battles, and now this. She’s upset, understandably so. The lies sit heavy on my conscience. “Crystal, I…” I trail off, unsure where to start.
“Did you think that would make everything better? That giving me part of your share would suddenly make me feel appreciated?” Her eyes are wells of disappointment.
That’s exactly what happened, but it doesn’t seem wise to point that out at this moment. “I hate how they’ve treated you,” I tell her, my throat tight. “You should have had their support from the start.”
“Because I’m your girlfriend?” There’s an edge to her words, a challenge.
“Because you’re incredible at what you do,” I counter, taking a step closer. “I knew I wanted to marry you the moment you said you’d come to San Francisco with us. Giving you part of my share…it wasn’t a ploy. It was because I love you, Crystal.”
She scoffs, crossing her arms, but I see something flicker in her eyes. “Marry me? When were you going to tell me I didn’t really have any share in the business? I was honest with you. Why didn’t you use that as an opportunity to be honest with me?”
“I thought the transfer was going to work, and then once we were married, it wouldn’t matter anyway. It was dumb. I see that now, and it was especially dumb since it wasn’t even legal. I should have done things differently, but it doesn’t change how I feel or what I want to accomplish for you,” I say, standing my ground. “I’m not going to let this go with the guys.”
“I just want to be seen, Justin. Not as your plus-one, but as me. As Crystal. I may not be an engineer, but EnergiFusion is successful in part because of my contribution.”
I nod. Her words sting because they’re true, and I have no idea what’s blocking the others from seeing this. We bicker back and forth, the tension between us taut but not unloving. It’s the kind of argument that clears the air, where even through the heat of disagreement, there’s an undercurrent of care and commitment.
“Look, I didn’t do any of this to deceive you, Crystal,” I insist, holding her gaze. “I wanted to share what I have with you because I love you, and because I see that you deserve it, even if the others are stubborn in a way I can’t understand. As far as I could control things, I wanted to make them right.”
Her posture softens for a moment, and I recognize the shift toward resolution. But she’s still working through a lot of energy, I can tell. Her anger is a live wire, sparking with every word that clashes between us. And it’s not just the fury that catches my attention. It’s the passion behind it, a fierce determination I’ve always admired in her. “You’re incredible when you’re fired up,” I admit, my voice thick with an emotion that isn’t frustration.
“Am I?” Her eyes flash, but the edge in her voice smooths as she steps closer, narrowing the chasm between us. “Because I love that you’re the one person who’s always got my back.”
She’s right. I do. It’s a pull stronger than gravity, this need to support her, to be her unwavering ally. I close the remaining distance, pulling her fiercely against me. Our lips collide in a messy, fierce kiss, teeth nipping and tongues tracing familiar paths with a hunger that’s insatiable.
In a sudden surge of energy, I hoist her over my shoulder like she’s nothing more than a feather. Her laugh, light and surprised, is music to my ears as I carry her to the solitude of our bedroom. There, I gently lay her on the bed, the anger from before dissipating like mist under the sun.
Crystal peels off her tank top, her movements a dance of defiance and invitation. She shimmies out of her shorts, revealing herself to me in a way that still sets my heart racing, though I’ve seen her like this countless times. My own clothes fall away as I hurry to join her and have the warmth of her skin against mine.
I lower myself, starting at her feet, my lips tracing a path upwards, worshiping her with every kiss. My hands glide over her, fingertips playing across her skin until they find her breasts. The weight of them fills my palms perfectly, and I knead her nipples, coaxing moans that resonate deep within me.
Beneath me, Crystal moves with a restless energy. Her hips arching to meet my touch, her body speaking volumes in the silent language of desire. The heat between us builds, a tangible thing that threatens to consume us both.
“God, Crystal, you make these sounds…” I murmur against her skin, my voice husky with want. “They go straight through me.”
She writhes, and the sight of her like this—unguarded, raw, completely in the moment—ignites something primal within me. “I’m yours, heart and soul,” I whisper, seeking her gaze, needing her to understand the depth of my commitment. “Tell me what you want.”
Crystal’s eyes, dark and urgent, lock onto mine. “I want you,” she breathes, her voice heavy with desire. “Now, Justin. Please.”
Without further words, I position myself above her, my body responding to the command in her voice. With a gentle but insistent nudge, she slides her legs behind me, an invitation that pulls at every fiber of my being. I ease into her, enveloped by the warmth and softness that is uniquely hers. My breath hitches as sensation floods through me, grounding me in this moment, in this profound intimacy.
“Crystal,” I gasp out her name like a prayer, a recognition of everything she represents to me. Home isn’t a place; it’s right here, within her embrace.
We move together in rhythm, each push and pull knitting us closer, weaving our souls into one tapestry. The night stretches on, a canvas for our passion. As we explore and claim, love becomes an act of defiance against the world outside our sanctuary.
Hours pass until the fervor gives way to tender exhaustion. Her breaths are even and soft, the aftermath of our connection still lingering in the air.
“Justin,” she murmurs, pulling me from the edge of sleep. “I’ll stay on at EnergiFusion… But I’m doing it for me. I don’t want to rely only on you.”
I tighten my hold around her, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. “I know,” I assure her. “And I love that about you.”
In the quiet that follows, I recognize that true partnership isn’t about possession or dependence. It’s about supporting each other’s strengths and ambitions. And as sleep claims us, I drift off secure in the knowledge that together, we’re unstoppable.