~~ San Jose, California, March 2066 ~~
Juniper stood quietly with Jade as she finished getting ready, "It's fine, you're fine, he loves you." Jade nodded and flung her arms around Juniper, Annabella and Jasmine.
The three of them led out, Juniper, Annabella, and Jasmine taking their places across from the groomsmen as Jade came out resplendent in her white gown. The music swelled then abated as she arrived, smiling happily up at Zane. "Dearly beloved," the priest began speaking.
The wedding itself went off without a hitch, then the toasts and the reception dinner and party. Jade and Zane took the floor, dancing around the room for the first dance, then it was expected that the groomsmen danced with the bridesmaids. So Michael eagerly took Annabella into his arms, and James did the same with Jasmine. Juniper watched as the third groomsman walked over to her. "I... actually don't think we've met. I'm Tanner. Can I have this dance?"
"Juniper, and I would love to," she murmured. When he took her hand, she smiled up at him shyly and followed his lead, "Have you known Zane long?"
"Since college, anyway. We roomed together in the dorms at Stanford our first year. How about you?" he asked with a warm smile.
She wrinkled her nose slightly, "I met him four months ago when he interviewed me for a position here with Future Power Designs. I've known Jade for almost seven years now. We've worked on a couple of projects together for Michael."
"Oh, wonderful. Michael's a good guy. He's done quite well in Minnesota. I even worked a patent case for him once," he offered. "What did Zane rope you into doing for him?"
"I joined his robotics team," Juniper said softly. "California is very different from Minnesota."
Tanner laughed, "It is indeed. Not nearly as pretty either. Not as much to recommend it. In fact...," he trailed off, "I'm not entirely sure how Zane manages to bring on so many beautiful women engineers. He didn't... you know... drug your drink or anything when he took you out to dinner did he?" he joked. "Alien mind control? Secret government blackmail?"
She giggled softly, a faint blush on her cheeks as she ducked her head, "No, none of that. I had dinner with the two of them in Minnesota. I needed a change, and it was hard to refuse when Jade gave me puppy dog eyes after I visited out here the first time."
"She's something isn't she?" he asked, glancing over at Zane and Jade. "I don't think I've ever seen him so happy."
"Nor I, her," Juniper said softly, "They're good for each other I think. She's not so... hesitant as she used to be." She smiled, her eyes softening slightly, "Of course he's got excellent taste in jewelry."
"Jade wearing... Jade. It's almost cliche...," he chuckled softly. "Suits her, though." He paused then looked back to her. "You're an excellent dancer, by the way."
She smiled up at him, "Thank you, so are you." She moved closer to him as the rest of the guests joined the floor. "I'm glad they found each other." The two spent the rest of the afternoon talking to each other, then with other people as the reception ended.
++++++++++
It had been a bit over a month since the wedding, Juniper was hard at work when it came time. Someone had filed a patent suit against Future Power Designs on one of her products. She came to the meeting that morning. "Thank you for coming, Miss Young, please have a seat," Zane said calmly, Tanner was seated to his left. "Do you know why you are here?"
"Yes, Mister Fowler," Juniper murmured. She lifted her head from her hands, "Someone is claiming one of my designs infringes on their patent."
Tanner nodded, "Now, what can you tell us about your design?"
Juniper looked at him, then looked at Zane before rising to her feet and handing over two folders, "The suit that they're filing states that the product violates patent D twenty-four three sixty-seven dash-B." She paused, "They are claiming they hold the patent." She sat back down, "Patent D twenty-four three sixty-seven dash -B is invalid because of a prior patent on the material. The original patent is D twenty-one nine seventy-two."
She paused, "Patent D twenty-one nine seventy-two is, in point of fact, owned by, well... me, Juniper Young. The design is in production with Future Power Designs per the contract agreement I signed when I was hired. As documented on page sixty-four of the hiring contract, any designs I own patent for are exclusively for production by Future Power Designs for as long as I work for Future Power Designs or twenty-five years." Her nose wrinkled, "There is a lot more legalese behind that, but the gist is, he can't claim a patent on something that is already patented and is the intellectual property of someone else. I've held this patent for almost... three years."
She sat back down, carefully crossing her legs and sliding her hands down the pants, "The folders I have just handed you contain certified copies of the original patent information and application with the US Patent Office, the confirmed patent acceptance and notarization, and the document information that I agreed to when I signed on with Future Power Designs."
Tanner looked at the documents in the folders, then back up at her. Back and forth, several times, before tossing the folder down on the table, relaxing back in his chair and laughing. "Oh, Zane... This one is rare. You shouldn't let anything happen to her. She's going places."
Zane nodded, "I know. So we're good?"
Tanner nodded, "I'll take care of the suit. They won't want this to go to trial. Do you want royalties for them using your patent, Juniper? Or just a Cease-and-Desist order?"
Her nose wrinkled, "Whatever pleases, Mister Fowler."
Zane thought about it for a moment, "Are they working on something that will compete with us or using the technology in a different arena?"
"Currently a different arena, however they intend to compete with us in the future," Juniper offered, and then handed over the second set of folders from her bag. "When I received the email about this meeting last Friday I spent the weekend doing research. They've been trying to break into the same market as you for the past two years and have been stalled out at every turn. Their current chief engineer was also one of the professors when I was going for my doctorate, he was removed from the hearing board because it was a conflict of interest."
Zane thought about that for several long minutes, swiveling in his chair. Finally, he spoke. "I can't stop them from trying, so we're just going to have to be better than they are. Fortunately, I've got some impressive minds working for me to make that happen." He turned to Tanner, "Get with HR. Work out whatever royalty you think you can get and then have HR add it to Ms. Young's salary."
'I'll take care of it, Zane," he smiled. "It seems, quite obviously, well-earned."
Zane nodded, then looked at Juniper, "Just out of curiosity, what was the conflict of interest?"
Juniper blushed slightly, her eyes ducking, "Between the three of us?" At his nod, she shrugged, "He tried to collar someone who refused to kneel for him."
Zane chuckled softly and glanced at Tanner whose eyes widened in surprise, before muttering, "Good girl. Don't settle. You never know when the right person will come along. Michael could attest to that, as can I."
"Yes, Sir," Juniper murmured, "Do you need anything else from me?" She lifted her gaze slightly, giving them a slight smile.
Zane shook his head, "No, Juniper. You can get back to work. We'll take care of the rest." He paused, then added, "Good job."
