Chapter 18

Erik

It had been a week since I last saw Crystal. It was the day when she left the apartment and moved into the mansion. Hesitation was what I noticed on her face before we parted ways. I knew it was because of the warning I wired her—it was about Mrs. Wayne and Carrie. I was so certain that the two women weren't so happy when they learned that Crystal would be living with them. I tried to speak with Mr. Wayne about my concerns and he assured me that nothing would harm his daughter in the mansion.

I was content to hear that Crystal was going well now. I knew adjusting to a new world was quite tough, especially when the ones you loved were being left behind. Just like me—I lost my parents in a car accident two decades ago. Mr. Wayne was the one who helped me to stand up until I was stable enough to do things on my own. But even though I learned to be independent, I still missed my parents. They would never leave my heart and mind.

From the Law school, I went directly to Wayne Tower. This was my daily routine—school and work. I only got a few years to finish my postgraduate degree before officially becoming part of Mr. Wayne's team.

The staff greeted me when I entered the President's floor. I nodded at them and smiled back without saying a word before walking to Mr. Wayne's office. I only knocked a few times before I heard him respond.

"Mr. Wayne…"

"Ah, here you are." He was in his usual business suit when he stood and walked to me only to tap my shoulder. "Have a seat. We have an important matter to talk about."

I beamed. "But we only talk about important things. So if you tagged this one 'important', it means the world depends on this."

"It sure is. That's why I'd be needing you again for a long-term assignment." He sat back in his chair and the smile on his face slowly vanished.

"Sounds challenging and interesting." I wondered what a long-term assignment this could be. It might be my first crucial case. Or another impossibly hard negotiation with his business partners and rivals. But before we dived into the heart of our conversation, Crystal suddenly flicked into my mind. So I grabbed the chance to ask about the girl's situation.

"Speaking of assignments, how's Crystal doing?" I asked, trying to hide the concern in my voice.

Mr. Wayne's face shadowed for a moment before he sighed heavily. "I'm afraid she's not doing so well. She's still dealing with the aftermath of her mother's death and it's taking a toll on her mental health."

My heart sank at the news. I had met Crystal a few times before and she was always so full of life. But after her mother's sudden passing, she became withdrawn and distant. I wanted to help her, but I didn't know how.

"Is there anything I can do to assist her?" I asked, hoping for a chance to be there for her.

"That's why I'm assigning you to this long-term project," Mr. Wayne said, a glint of hope in his eyes. "I want you to keep an eye on her. That's your job from now on."

I knew I had to hide my surprise at the sudden change in my assignment. But I couldn't help but feel worried about how I was going to approach Crystal with this news. She might not appreciate someone keeping tabs on her, even if it was for her good.

However, I couldn't say no to Mr. Wayne. He had given me a great opportunity and I couldn't let him down. So, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the upcoming challenge.

"I understand," I said nodding my head. "I'll do my best to take care of her."

"Good. I can always count on you," Mr. Wayne said with a smile, but I could sense the underlying sadness in his tone. I knew he cared deeply for Crystal and her well-being.

As I left his office, I couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility that now weighed heavily on me. I had to be there for Crystal, help her heal, and get her life back on track.

I decided to start small, by simply being there for her as a friend. I invited her out for lunch and we talked about everything under the sun, except for her mother's death. I didn't want to push her too hard too soon.

As the weeks passed, I started to notice a change in her demeanor. She was laughing more, opening up about her feelings, and even making plans for the future. It was slow progress, but it was progress nonetheless.

One day, Crystal surprised me by inviting me to her mother's grave. I knew it was a big step for her, and I felt honored to be there with her. As we stood in front of the grave, she broke down in tears.

"I miss her so much," she cried, clinging to my arm.

"I know you do," I said, holding her tightly. "But she would want you to be happy and live your life to the fullest."

Crystal looked up at me, her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration. At that moment, I knew I had made a difference in her life.

From then on, Crystal and I grew closer. We started going out more often, exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and even going to concerts together. It was like we were two peas in a pod, always on the same wavelength.

But as our friendship blossomed, something else started to stir inside me. Something that went beyond just friendship. I found myself drawn to her in a way that I couldn't explain. I tried to ignore it, but it only grew stronger with each passing day.

One night, as we were sitting on her couch watching a movie, I mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to her. She looked surprised at first, but then a smile spread across her face.

"I've been waiting for you to say that," she said, taking my hand.

And just like that, everything changed. Crystal and I became more than just friends, and our relationship ignited like a spark that had been smoldering for years. We began exploring each other's bodies, discovering new depths of pleasure and intimacy that neither of us had experienced before.

Our attraction to each other was undeniable, and it only grew stronger with each passing day. We found ourselves unable to keep our hands off each other, constantly craving each other's touch.

As our passion intensified, we began to explore new ways of expressing our desire for each other. We experimented with bondage, role-playing, and even bringing others into the mix. It was an exhilarating journey of sexual exploration that left us both breathless and craving more.

But even as our relationship deepened, there was always a twinge of sadness lurking in the background. We both knew that Crystal's mother's death had left a lasting impact on her, and no amount of passion or love could fully heal the pain she felt.

Despite this, we continued to explore our relationship, finding solace in each other's arms and exploring new levels of intimacy. One night, as we lay in bed together, I held her close and whispered in her ear, "I love you."

She turned to me with tears in her eyes, and whispered back, "I love you too."

At that moment, I knew that our love for each other was stronger than any pain or sorrow. And even though we faced challenges along the way, we would always find our way back to each other, exploring new levels of pleasure and intimacy that left us both breathless.

As we continued down this path of sexual exploration and deepening love, I realized that Crystal had become not just my lover, but my soulmate. And although life would throw us many twists and turns, we would always find our way back to each other, united by a love that could never be extinguished.

I sat in my room, my heart racing as I thought about how best to break the news to Violet. We had been together for almost two years, and while our relationship had its ups and downs, I knew that she deserved more than me just walking away without explanation.

Taking a deep breath, I dialed her number and waited for her to pick up. When she did, I could hear the surprise in her voice as I told her that I was breaking up with her. Tears quickly filled my eyes as I spoke the words, knowing that they would haunt us both forever.

Violet remained quiet on the other end of the line as she listened to my apology and explanation. She could tell that this decision had been difficult for me, but all she said was "I understand". With that one simple phrase, we both knew that it was over between us – no matter what we wanted or how much we still loved each other.

And so it was – with a heavy heart full of sorrow and regret – that our relationship ended. In the aftermath of our parting, we both felt a sense of loss and emptiness, but also an appreciation for having shared such an intense bond even if it wasn't meant to last forever.

With Violet now out of my life, Crystal became more important than ever. As we explored our passions together and opened up to new levels of intimacy, I found myself falling deeper in love with her with each passing day. It was clear to me then that Crystal was truly my soulmate; someone who would always be there by my side no matter what life threw at us.