The lights of New York City blinked like a restless heartbeat alive, dazzling, and utterly exhausting.
Crystal Gomez pressed a hand to the cool glass of the Hilton Hotel's grand ballroom window, her champagne still untouched. Behind her, the room sparkled with chandeliers, clinking glasses, and carefully rehearsed laughter. Expensive perfume clung to the air like tension.
She shifted uncomfortably in her floor length midnight blue beautiful gown, yes, but not hers. It was a loaner from the PR firm's fashion partner. Her boss insisted she attend the gala for exposure. "Rub shoulders with the elite," he said. "Make our brand visible."
But to Crystal, the entire event felt like a stage play, and she didn't belong in the cast.
"Plotting your escape?" a deep voice asked beside her.
She turned quickly. The man who'd appeared was effortlessly handsome in a charcoal black suit. His tie was loose, his collar open. Tousled dark hair framed a face both sharp and relaxed. But it was his green eyes calm, amused, and too observant that made her pause.
"Not exactly," she said, recovering with a small smile. "Just wondering how many steps it takes to disappear without causing a scene."
He chuckled. "I tried that earlier. Got intercepted by two board members and a journalist. It's a trap."
Crystal laughed a real one, surprising even herself.
"I'm Crystal," she said, curiosity piqued.
"Justin," he replied. "Justin Miller."
Her smile faltered for half a beat.
"You're... the Justin Miller?"
He winced slightly. "That's what they tell me. CEO, tech guy, reluctant party guest."
Crystal had read about him. Founder of MillerTech, one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the country. She expected someone colder, more polished. Instead, here was a man who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"I thought you'd be handing out business cards or making a speech," she said.
He shrugged. "I've done enough speeches to last a lifetime. Tonight, I'm just trying to survive the wine and small talk."
She smiled. "Well, welcome to the club."
They stood in easy silence for a moment, watching couples on the dance floor spin to a soft orchestral waltz.
"Do you dance?" he asked suddenly, turning toward her.
Crystal blinked. "I dabble in the 'sway and pray' method."
He offered his hand with a slight bow. "Shall we sway?"
Something about the warmth in his tone, unassuming and charming, made her hand move before her brain caught up.
"One dance," she warned.
"One perfect sway," he corrected.
They glided onto the floor, his hand resting gently at her waist, hers finding his shoulder. The connection was instant. Easy. Like they'd done this before.
"You're surprisingly good at this," she said.
"You make it easy," he replied.
Their movements slowed with the music. The world outside the song seemed to vanish.
When the final note faded, neither stepped back.
"I'd ask if I could see you again," he said, eyes never leaving hers, "but I get the sense you don't hand out your number to every tuxedo wearing stranger."
"That depends," she said, tilting her head. "Are you charming enough?"
"Let's test that theory." He pulled out his phone.
They exchanged numbers, and Crystal couldn't ignore the flutter in her chest. Not nerves. Not caution.
Hope.
"I should get back," she said softly.
He nodded. "I'll text you. Maybe next time we skip the suits and try pizza instead."
She grinned. "I'd like that."
As she walked away, she felt his gaze on her. For once, she didn't mind the attention.
And Justin, watching her go, felt something stir—something rare. He came expecting networking and fake smiles. He left remembering a laugh that had felt like light.
Monday Morning
The gala already felt like a memory.
Crystal sat at her desk in Dawson & Hart's open concept office, sipping lukewarm coffee. She'd told herself not to expect anything.
But still… no text from Justin.
Her phone screen remained stubbornly quiet.
"Thinking about your tech prince again?" Tasha, her colleague, leaned over her cubicle wall with a grin.
Crystal rolled her eyes. "It was one conversation."
"One very flirty conversation with New York's most eligible bachelor. Admit it—you've been refreshing your messages all weekend."
Before Crystal could argue, her boss's voice called from his office.
"Crystal. You're on the MillerTech conference this Thursday."
Her breath hitched. "MillerTech?"
"Yes. PR reps from each of their partner firms are invited. Check your inbox."
She nodded and slipped back into her seat. Her heart thumped.
Thursday – MillerTech Headquarters
Tall, imposing, and made of glass and steel, the MillerTech building was everything its founder represented: innovation, efficiency, quiet dominance.
Crystal walked into the press hall dressed in a crisp cream blazer and heels she hadn't fully broken in. She scanned the crowd—reporters, execs, influencers.
No Justin.
She pushed down the disappointment.
But just as the lights dimmed, he walked in.
Wearing a navy suit, sleeves rolled just so, he looked effortlessly confident. The crowd seemed to part as he moved.
Then their eyes met.
Recognition. Surprise. A slow, genuine smile.
After the presentation, which went on about "AI-enhanced smart homes," Justin made his way toward her.
"I thought that was you," he said. "Crystal Gomez. The highlight of last Saturday."
She smirked. "Still dramatic, I see."
"I meant to text," he said quickly. "Total chaos hit Sunday. Server crash. Three hours of sleep in three days. Not exactly romantic conditions."
"Hope and steam?" she teased.
He laughed. "Exactly."
They stood close, and suddenly the noise of the event dulled again.
"Coffee?" he asked. "Right now. I need a real break."
Crystal hesitated for only a second. "I know a place nearby."
The Café
It was a small, quiet spot tucked between a florist and a used bookstore. They took a booth in the back.
Justin ordered black coffee. Crystal, a caramel latte.
"So," she said, stirring her drink, "is this your usual follow-up to gala dances?"
"I usually don't stick around long enough to meet anyone," he replied. "But that night... I stayed."
Crystal raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
He didn't hesitate. "You."
Her pulse quickened.
"You weren't trying to impress anyone," he continued. "You were just you. That stood out."
They talked easily, laughter flowing as if it had always been there. She told him about working her way up in PR. He shared the story of MillerTech's messy beginning in a garage.
Minutes turned to an hour.
"I should get back," she said reluctantly, checking her phone. "Meeting in twenty."
Justin stood with her. "Can I take you to dinner sometime? No business talk. Just... real conversation."
She smiled. "Dinner sounds nice."
"I'll text you," he promised. And this time, she believed him.
Outside, the sun caught the highlights in her hair. Justin touched her arm gently.
"I'm glad I ran into you again."
Crystal met his eyes. "So am I."
As she walked away, something light bloomed in her chest.
This wasn't just coincidence.
It was a beginning.