Chapter 26: 24| Back to Work

The weekend was finally over.

As Ethan placed the last suitcase in the trunk, a realization settled deep in his chest—he couldn't keep denying his feelings for Sophie.

It was exhausting.

Like fighting a battle he knew he was destined to lose.

He turned, watching as she said goodbye to Rachel and Emily. It was almost amusing—how easily she made friends. They had met just two days ago, but they hugged each other like long-lost sisters, chatting excitedly, making promises to stay in touch.

Sophie's laughter carried through the cool morning air, soft and unrestrained.

Ethan couldn't help but smile.

She had this way of bringing people close, of making them feel seen. He had seen it time and time again. It was just who she was.

Lucky for everyone who got to experience it.

Lucky for him—if he let himself be.

Sophie approached the car, still glowing with that easy warmth she carried.

"You ready?" Ethan asked, watching her expression shift ever so slightly.

"Yeah," she said, sliding into the passenger seat. There was a quiet sadness in her voice, something she wasn't saying.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to David?"

Ethan chuckled softly as he settled into the driver's seat. "I'm sure I'll be seeing him soon. He's like a shadow that won't leave."

Sophie laughed, shaking her head at his exasperated affection for his best friend.

But as Ethan started the car, she turned to look at the lake one last time.

It was breathtaking in the morning light, the water shimmering under the early sun, the trees swaying gently in the cool breeze.

She felt a pang of longing.

When would she be able to visit again?

"Soon," Ethan murmured.

Her breath caught.

She glanced at him, heart skipping just slightly at the way he had read her mind so easily.

But she didn't let herself linger on it for too long.

The trip had been wonderful—a glimpse of what could be—but now they were heading back home. Back to reality.

And reality was complicated.

*********

Back in the city, Sophie threw herself back into work.

The flower shop was busier than ever, the demand for fresh blooms keeping her hands full from the moment she opened the doors. It was exactly what she needed—something to keep her mind occupied.

The weekend at the lake house lingered in her mind like a sweet dream, but the buzzing shop was the perfect distraction.

"Lily, can you help Mrs. Jenkins with her order?" Sophie called out over the chatter of customers.

"Got it!" Lily responded, moving toward the counter.

Sophie exhaled, focusing on the large bouquet she was preparing for a big event order.

The shop had been doing better than ever lately.

She and Lily had expanded into wedding arrangements, event contracts—it was a huge step forward. A real milestone. And Sophie felt proud of how far they had come.

During their afternoon break, Lily flopped into the chair across from Sophie, letting out a dramatic sigh as she stretched her arms.

"Hey, about the contract worker we were thinking of hiring?" she said, voice full of exasperation. "Turns out Lucas got his claws into him."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, sipping her water. "Him? I thought we settled on Marianne."

"That's not the point!" Lily huffed, sitting up. "Lucas is sticking his teeth into something he can't even chew."

Sophie smirked. "And you think you can chew it?"

"Yeah," Lily mumbled, her cheeks turning pink.

"Lily!" Sophie sighed, exasperated but amused. "Lily, we talked about this. Jared is fine, but he's still new. Marianne has way more experience. She's serious about the work—she told me she needs this job to support her kids."

Lily pouted. "I just thought Jared could help with deliveries and... you know, maybe he'd be good eye candy walking around the shop."

Sophie rolled her eyes, fighting back a grin.

"We're not hiring someone just because he's handsome, Lily. Focus!"

"Fine, fine," Lily relented with a sigh. "I was just thinking about how stressful this is for you. I figured some extra hands would help."

Sophie softened. "Thanks, Lil. I know you mean well."

Lily brightened. "Then hire Jared?"

Sophie groaned.

"Lily. Getting the flowers arranged faster is what matters right now."

"Fine," Lily grumbled, crossing her arms. "But I'm holding you to hiring someone else later. A cute summer part-timer sounds perfect."

Sophie laughed, shaking her head. "Just don't say that too loudly, or we'll get fined for questionable hiring practices."

"Aw, Soph, you really know how to make me happy," Lily grinned, pulling her into a quick hug.

"Don't push it," Sophie teased, nudging her away before getting back to work.

As they got back to work, Lily brought up Lucas again.

"But seriously, Soph—what are we going to do about Lucas? He's doing that thing again."

Sophie groaned. "Honestly? I don't even want to give him the attention he's so obviously craving. If he wants Jared, he can have him. Maybe he'll finally have something pretty to look at in his shop."

Lily snickered. "So you do admit Jared's handsome?"

Sophie shrugged, smirking. "Not Ethan-handsome—but I've got eyes, Lily."

Lily gasped dramatically. "We seriously cannot have a conversation without Ethan's name coming up."

"No," Sophie said with a grin. "In fact, we cannot."

*********

Meanwhile, back at Sinclair Enterprises, Ethan was neck-deep in work, the familiar hum of the office returning to its usual rhythm. The weekend at the lake house had been a much-needed reprieve, but now he was paying the price for switching off his phone.

His father, true to form, had demanded revisions on already completed work, pressuring Jessica—who wasn't even supposed to be in the office—to redo reports that didn't need redoing.

Still, Ethan couldn't bring himself to regret it. Any more time spent in the office over the weekend, and he would've exploded.

Instead, he had memories of Sophie—

The way her eyes lit up at the lake.

Her laughter, still ringing in his mind.

And her smile—God, that smile. The kind that did something to him. The kind that made the weight on his chest just a little lighter.

For now, that was enough to get him through the chaos of his workday.

"Mr. Sinclair, the board meeting is scheduled to start in ten minutes," Jessica reminded him as she walked in, dropping off a neatly stacked pile of files.

Ethan glanced at the clock and nodded. "Thank you, Jessica. I'll be there shortly."

He flipped through the last pages of a report, scribbling a few notes, before straightening his tie and heading to the conference room.

The board meeting was like every other one—predictable and draining. Ethan laid out strategies and progress reports, receiving nods of approval from most of the members.

But, as always, his father had to make his presence felt, throwing in unnecessary comments and redirecting conversations toward trivial issues. It wasn't about improving the business; it was about power—reminding Ethan who still had the final say.

Ethan bit back his frustration. Playing politics wasn't in his nature. He had a business to run, and if humoring his father was what it took to keep things moving smoothly, then so be it.

When the meeting finally ended, Ethan returned to his office, feeling equal parts satisfied and drained.

He dropped into his chair, loosening his tie slightly, letting his mind drift.

And, without even realizing it, his thoughts turned to her.

Sophie.

His fingers hovered over his phone before he finally typed out a message.

"Hey, do you want to see the photos from the lake house? David sent them to me."

Before he could second-guess himself, he hit send. Almost instantly, his phone buzzed with her reply.

"Oh, I already saw them on the group chat. You looked really handsome in the photos."

Ethan's lips quirked into a smile, the knot in his shoulders loosening just a little. He replied quickly.

"There's a group chat?"

Sophie's response was immediate, as if she had been waiting for his reaction.

"Haha, how could you not know that there's a group chat?!"

Another message followed quickly after.

"Wait, you're not kidding, right?"

"Nope. And when did you get added to it?" Ethan texted back, amused.

There was a brief pause before Sophie replied.

"Don't get upset—it's your fault! They said you never accepted the invite. That's on you, Ethan. But they're sending a new one, so please accept this time!"

Ethan laughed to himself as he typed:

"Thanks, Sophie. What would I do without you?"

Her reply came almost immediately.

"Become a social pariah. Gotta go—customer's here. Bye!!!!"

Ethan stared at the screen, the lingering smile still on his face. It was just a simple exchange—meaningless to anyone else—but for him, it carried so much more.

Sophie had this effortless way of bringing light into his day, even when she wasn't physically there. His phone buzzed again with a notification about a new group chat invite.

Shaking his head in amusement, Ethan accepted the request, already imagining Sophie's triumphant reaction when she found out.

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