Page 34

Rhys

I lean back in my chair, smelling the scent of pine and looking out again at the backdrop of Montana’s rugged peaks visible through the expansive windows of the conference room in the old barn. The air has finally lightened with relief after four days of intense strategy sessions. It’s as if the room itself is breathing a sigh of contentment. We’ve spent many hours reassuring the board, explaining our decisions in a way we haven’t always had to and doing some strategic planning for our future. Profits are up, our business has clawed its way back to solid ground, and for the most part, the leadership team’s spirits seem to mirror the clear blue sky outside. I’m hopeful that now the board members’ do too.

“Let’s not forget the tremendous effort it’s taken to get us here,” I remind everyone as we conclude. “I appreciate each one of you.” There’s a chorus of nods and murmurs around the table. We’re ready to return to San Francisco with renewed purpose.

But then Wade Williams, always one to throw a curveball, leans forward, his fingers tented together. “Listen, we’ve ignored the elephant in the room long enough,” he says. “Rhys, you’ve been stellar as the interim CEO, but we need to start considering permanency.”

A pause hangs in the air, and I feel every pair of eyes on me. Is this an appraisal? A challenge?

Wade doesn’t let the silence linger. “I believe we should consider Crystal Capriotti for the position.”

The suggestion sends ripples through the room, and my eyebrows arch involuntarily. Where is this coming from? She’s lobbied for this—and been rejected—at least twice already.

After a moment Gill Collins gives a slow nod, his expression unreadable. “It’s worth discussing,” he agrees.

Suddenly, the path we’re on feels less certain, more charged. I swallow, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. It’s obvious Crystal’s been rallying the board. Mason warned me about this. But why would they be open to her proposal? And it’s strange that she’s not here to speak for herself.

“Interesting idea,” I say carefully, choosing my words as I navigate this unexpected turn. “Crystal’s contributions to the company are invaluable, no doubt.” I leave it at that, letting the board mull over the implications while I ponder the undercurrents of this move. What game is being played behind those agreeable smiles and thoughtful nods?

The retreat may be drawing to a close, but it’s clear the real discussions are far from over.

Mason’s voice rises above the discussion. “We should table that,” he says, his eyes finding mine. “Crystal isn’t here. She’s in Florida with her mother. This is a difficult time for her, and even if we were to decide she’s right for the job, I hardly think she’s in a position to take on this role while she’s handling a family situation.”

Gill’s chair creaks under his weight. “She didn’t mention Florida when we had lunch in the City last week,” he says.

A look passes between Jim and Mason, tightening the knot of suspicion in my gut.

“Why did she tell you she wasn’t going to be here?” I ask Gill.

He meets my gaze without flinching. “She said she wasn’t invited.”

That’s an outright lie. I draw in a slow breath, steeling myself against the surge of anger. “She was absolutely invited, and she knew that. She’s a founder and major shareholder. But even if that wasn’t so, she’s also a department head. She was invited.”

The room goes still, the air charged with unspoken questions.

“As far as I’m aware, she’s taking care of her mother in Florida, who is sick with cancer, and wasn’t able to get away,” I explain.

Gill’s face remains impassive, but there’s a tightening around his eyes, the only crack in his facade. The silence is filled with the sound of my heart pounding, which I wonder if everyone else can hear.

Wade shifts in his seat, looking concerned. “She still might feel excluded,” he says, with a pointed look in my direction. “That could be why she didn’t attend.”

I hold his gaze. “Crystal is an integral part of this team,” I tell him. “We’ve made a point to include her in everything, but we understand her need for flexibility, something she requested. The last thing we want is to add pressure during a difficult time.”

The room is quiet, but I can feel the shift in energy, the board members processing the new information.

“I assure you all she’s very much included,” I say again. “And when Justin returns, we’ll decide together who should lead as CEO.”

My declaration hangs in the air, a promise to them and to myself. We’re a team. When we started, we determined we’d make decisions that way, with no one left behind.

Twenty minutes later the room is empty. The board members have returned to their rooms to pack before catching flights back to San Francisco. Now, it’s just us founders—Austin, Theo, and myself—along with Mason and Jim.

Jim does not look happy, his voice unusually strained when he speaks. “Crystal’s security detail never entered her parents’ home in Florida,” he says, avoiding my gaze. “With her mother’s illness, it was off-limits for any extra personnel, and we understood.” He runs a hand through his hair. “But at some point, it seems Crystal slipped away. We had no idea she’d gone. And it seems she’s been back in San Francisco.”

My mind reels. This doesn’t make any sense. What could she be up to? Was the story about her mother’s illness deliberate, crafted to keep everyone away? But why? The pieces refuse to align, leaving only questions and the gnawing sense of betrayal.

“The security detail followed someone they believed was her as she drove around town, but they’ve now realized it wasn’t Crystal,” Jim continues. “And the home we thought was her parents’? It doesn’t belong to them. We found them in Fort Lauderdale. They told us they haven’t spoken to Crystal in years, and it sounds like her mother is healthy.”

“You just found this out?” Theo asks.

“As soon as Gill said he’d had lunch with Crystal, I sent a message to my team down there, and they got immediate answers. I sincerely apologize. We were approaching that situation all wrong.”

A heavy silence settles over us. My mind races with questions and scenarios, none of them good. How could we have missed this? I guess now we know why the food Mackenzie sent couldn’t be delivered.

“Any leads at all on where she might be? Why she’s doing this?” Austin asks.

“None, I’m sorry to say,” Jim admits. “Clear Security is in the dark right now. She has a comprehensive security system on her home in San Francisco that we’ve been monitoring, and she has a housekeeper who comes and goes, but there was nothing that seemed unusual. We’re checking her home in person now.”

Theo’s agitation is palpable. He paces like a caged animal, his hands clenching and unclenching. “I was there, in Florida with her,” he says, his voice tight. “I talked to her every day on the phone.” He shakes his head, lost. “I tried to support her. Now, I feel like she’s betrayed me.” He circles the room again before pausing mid-stride. “Turner Bishop’s place,” he says. “Have you checked there? She’s been spending time with him a lot since his band went on hiatus.”

“Turner Bishop,” Jim mutters, tapping into his phone. “We’ll have someone look into it right away.”

Turner’s name is a spark in the dark, a thread connecting to a web I can’t quite see. If Crystal’s with him, what’s their plan?

“In his messages to me, Justin said he was talking to Crystal,” I tell them. “Do you think he’s filling her head with all the don’t-trust-anyone stuff too?”

Mason slumps in his chair. “I would suspect he is.”

Then it makes sense she’d go to Turner. We’ve known him since our Georgia Tech days, but he’s never worked for the company, so he’s a perfect safe haven from all this chaos.

“Okay, let’s keep this between us for now,” I say. “We need to find her before any speculation starts. Agreed?”

They nod in silent accord.

“She’s not being honest about this… What else? Could Crystal have known where Justin is from the beginning? Did they plan this?” Austin asks.

The room feels suddenly colder. I reach into my pocket, fingers closing around my phone. The third voicemail weighs heavy on my mind, along with Jade’s theory about it. Could they really be plotting to dismantle everything we’ve built?

“If Crystal and Justin are working together, their endgame could be catastrophic for EnergiFusion,” Mason says.

“Their timing is off, though.” I thumb the screen of my phone, the voicemail icon glinting accusingly. “If Justin wanted Crystal to step into his shoes, gain more power, why not orchestrate it before he vanished? Why all this subterfuge?”

“Maybe he thought his absence would bring panic, make us more likely to change the plan we’d all agreed to,” Theo interjects.

“Share with everyone what Jade said,” Austin urges.

I sigh. “Jade has suggested that the person orchestrating all this is dividing us so we’re easier to conquer,” I say. “And right now, I can’t say she’s wrong.”

“Jesus.” Mason rakes a hand through his hair. “We play into their hands if we turn on each other now. We need unity, not suspicion. Everyone sees that, right?”

“Absolutely.” My affirmation is solid. “We find Crystal, uncover the truth, and then decide our next move. Together.”

Their nods are solemn as they gather their things. We’ve got one more dinner this evening before we all head out tomorrow morning. I’ve just shuffled my papers into a neat stack when Jim approaches again.

“Rhys, I’m flying back tonight,” he tells me. “I have a meeting with Jade, her sister, Alexis, and their father tomorrow.”

My eyes widen. “What?” My heart hammers. “Jade left Colorado?”

“I’ll be meeting her plane when she arrives from there tomorrow. Lee is coming with her.”

I push the papers into my bag. “Is it about the information on the thumb drive?”

Jim gives me a single nod.

“I understand her father is a real piece of work. Be careful.”

He nods again as he strides toward the door.

“Made a big mistake there, huh?” Theo’s voice, laced with mockery, comes from across the room. I didn’t realize he was still in here.

“Excuse me?” Irritation pricks my skin like thorns.

“Letting Jade go,” he says. “Mind if I ask her out?”

Anger flares, hot and sharp, but it’s not just Theo’s words that sting. It’s the truth behind them. Letting Jade go was for her safety. And now, watching Theo poke the wound like it’s some game, I can’t decide if I’m angrier at him or myself.

“Back off, Theo.” My response is ice. “She doesn’t need the likes of you in her life.”

He raises his hands in mock surrender, but I can see the challenge still sparkling in his eyes, undeterred by my rebuke. He knows just where to prod, how to get under my skin. But this isn’t about me. It’s about Jade, and right now, she needs allies, not some guy looking to get laid.

As Theo saunters off, I force myself to focus. Personal frustrations can’t cloud what’s at stake here. Crystal’s AWOL, and our company’s future is hard to see clearly. I’ve made mistakes, but I won’t let them define what happens next.