14| The Business Rival

Sophie shook her head for what felt like the thousandth time that day. She was pretty sure her regulars thought she'd finally lost her mind. And honestly? Maybe she had.

She had every reason to.

Ethan had dropped her off this morning.

She could still remember how kind he'd been, offering to drop her off even though it was out of his way. He'd opened the car door for her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And he looked very attractive in his suit. It wasn't the first time he'd driven her in his car, but still... it was hot. God, she was so embarrassing.

The whole ride, she'd been fighting to keep her emotions in check because, at any second, she was sure she'd explode into a blushing mess.

Maybe it was because he'd been nice to her last night. He'd taken her out to dinner—ironically—after dinner at his parents' house.

Damn, it was really hard having a crush on your husband... when he wasn't really your husband.

The doorbell chimed, snapping her from her spiraling thoughts. She'd normally ignore it—rush hour was over, and it was probably just Lily coming back from an errand or Mia dropping in to chat. Still, she always liked to welcome anyone with her usual bright smile.

But when Sophie looked up, her smile faltered slightly.

Of course.

Lucas Anderson strolled in like he owned the place. Dressed in casual yet annoyingly stylish attire, he exuded a suave charm that Sophie found more irritating than attractive.

If there was a list of men she hated, Lucas was at the top. Well, hate was a strong word. You'd have to care enough to hate someone—and to that, Sophie was completely indifferent.

She'd known Lucas since they were kids. Both their families owned flower shops, and Lucas had always made it his mission to outdo her.

Whether it was undercutting her prices, snatching up vendors, or pulling sneaky little tricks to lure customers away to Anderson's Flowers, Lucas never missed an opportunity to get under her skin.

But the one thing she'd never do was give Lucas the satisfaction of thinking his antics worked on her.

"Good morning, Sophie," Lucas greeted, his smile so smooth it practically dripped with smugness. "Busy day, I see."

"Well, it was good before you walked in, Lucas. What do you want?" she replied dryly, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Lucas chuckled, unfazed as he leaned casually against the counter, his eyes lazily scanning the shop.

"I was just passing by and thought I'd see how my favorite competitor is doing. Your arrangements look lovely as always."

"Thanks," Sophie replied flatly. "Now, what do you want, Lucas?" She crossed her arms, hoping to hurry him along.

Lucas's grin widened, that familiar hint of condescension flashing in his eyes.

"Don't rush me, sweet Sophie. You know I like to savor our little chats," he teased. "My shop's been expanding quite a bit, you know. But I just had to stop by to lay my proposition on the table—like always."

His voice dipped slightly, that annoying smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You know, merging our businesses... along with other things." He added a cheeky wink for good measure.

It seemed the heavens had decided she'd had too good of a day, and they'd sent Lucas to keep things interesting.

"I'm sure your business is doing just fine, Lucas, and so is mine. So, for the last time, I'm not interested in your proposition," she said sharply, her patience running thin.

"And just to be perfectly clear, I'm still not interested in dating you."

Lucas chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Alright, alright, I get it," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But one of these days, Sophie, you'll come around."

She wasn't ever going to come around. Not in this lifetime. Not in the next.

Before Sophie could respond, the doorbell chimed again.

Please let it be someone interesting, she thought, silently begging the universe for a distraction from Lucas's nonsense.

But when she turned toward the door, her breath hitched.

Ethan.

Ethan Sinclair, standing in her flower shop.

He had literally just dropped her off this morning. She felt like some kind of super fan. What was she going to do next—ask for his autograph?

Ethan's sharp blue eyes scanned the room, narrowing slightly when they landed on Lucas. Then his gaze shifted to her, softening in that way that made her heart do somersaults.

"Sophie," he said, walking over to her with that effortless calm of his. "You forgot your phone in the car."

Sophie blinked. She hadn't even realized she'd left it behind. What had she been doing since she opened the shop? Oh, right—spiraling over Ethan.

"Thank you, Ethan," she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Lucas straightened, his smug grin faltering as he turned to face Ethan. "Mr. Sinclair, what a surprise to see you here. I saw you on TV just last night—scary," he added with a forced laugh.

Ethan looked at him with a polite but cool expression. "Are you a customer here?"

Lucas chuckled, stepping closer with an outstretched hand. "No, no, not in a place like this. Lucas Anderson, at your service. I own a competing florist shop nearby." He lowered his voice conspiratorially, like they were sharing a secret. "Trust me, we offer far better service than what you'll find here."

Sophie rolled her eyes so hard she was sure they might get stuck. Ethan barely glanced at the offered hand.

"I see," he said flatly. "And why are you here if you're a competitor?"

"I was wondering the same thing," Sophie muttered under her breath, already so over this conversation. She could be having a moment with Ethan right now, but noooo, Lucas had to ruin it.

Lucas, finally realizing his handshake was being blatantly ignored, pulled his hand back with a forced laugh. "Poor Sophie's been through a lot, so I like to support her." He reached out to pat her head, and Sophie had to fight the urge to swat his hand away.

"That just shows how attentive I am as a business owner," Lucas boasted, completely oblivious to the growing tension. Social awareness was definitely not his strong suit.

"By the way, Mr. Sinclair, why exactly are you here? I heard you got married recently. Are you here to get flowers for your wife?" He winked dramatically. "You should come to my shop instead—I'll give you the best flowers that can swoon any woman."

Ethan's expression remained impassive, but Sophie noticed the slight tightening around his eyes.

"I came to see my wife," Ethan said, his voice low and even.

Sophie felt her heart flutter. Wife. Yes, she was his wife. It was a fact, but the way Ethan said it made her swoon—like it meant something.

Lucas's eyes widened, darting between Sophie and Ethan like he was trying to process what had just been said.

"I'm sorry, wife?" he repeated, his voice rising theatrically.

He looked back and forth between them, and for a split second, Sophie thought maybe he was genuinely surprised. But then—theatrics.

"Oh, Sophie!" Lucas wailed, clutching his chest as if struck by a sudden heartbreak. "How could you betray me? You knew my feelings for you!"

His face contorted with exaggerated grief. "I can't believe this! You knew I loved you, Sophie!" he exclaimed, stumbling back like he was in the middle of a soap opera.

If he had auditioned like this in high school, he could've played Gaston in the musical. What a shame.

Before Sophie could say anything, Mia strolled into the shop, her expression already unimpressed. She quickly assessed the situation and, without missing a beat, grabbed Lucas by the arm.

"Alright, Romeo, time to exit stage left," Mia said, her tone firm but amused as she led him toward the door.

"But Mia—" Lucas whined, his voice fading as the door closed firmly behind him.

As the shop finally fell silent, Sophie let out a long sigh of relief. She turned to Ethan, her cheeks still flushed.

"Thank you for coming by," she said softly. "I didn't even realize I forgot my phone."

Ethan, still slightly stunned by the whole encounter, asked, "What was that?"

Sophie shrugged, a small laugh escaping her lips. "He's a bit of an anomaly. Nothing he does surprises me anymore."

Ethan's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression softening. "You sure you're okay?"

Sophie nodded, her heart fluttering all over again. God, this was getting out of hand.

"Sorry that took up your time," she said, realizing he probably needed to get back to work. "You have to go back, right? I'll see you at home."

Ethan nodded, his sharp blue eyes warm for just a moment. "Yes. I'll see you at home."

And just like that, Sophie knew she'd be thinking about those words all day.

********

"Do you know what they're calling Lucas out there?" Lily asked, strolling back from what she generously called her lunch break—but what Sophie knew was really her gossip break.

"Romeo," Lily said with a dramatic roll of her eyes.

"Why does he get to keep that name after the stunt he pulled in my shop?" Sophie sighed, already so done with the whole Lucas situation.

It was later that day, and the hustle and bustle of the shop had finally started to wind down. Sophie was wrapping up the day's business, arranging the last few orders and making sure everything was in its place.

Thankfully, she'd managed to stay busy enough not to think about him...

"I feel bad for him, though," Lily said, tying her apron back on. "Unrequited loves are hard."

Sophie opened her mouth to refute, but then remembered her own unrequited love and just sighed, sinking into the chair to take a break.

Just then, the doorbell chimed.

A familiar face walked in—Mrs. Jenkins, one of her most loyal customers.

"Good evening, Mrs. Jenkins," Sophie greeted warmly, trying to shake off her mood. "I've been expecting you all day."

"Good evening, dear," Mrs. Jenkins replied, though her tone was more serious than usual. "I came by to pick up my order, but I also wanted to talk to you about something."

Sophie handed over the beautifully arranged bouquet. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

Mrs. Jenkins sighed, her brow furrowing. "I was near Anderson's Flowers the other day, chatting with an old friend. That Lucas boy approached me—very persistent. Said he was offering a special discount. Claimed his shop had better arrangements for better prices. Wouldn't stop talking."

Sophie's jaw tightened, a surge of anger bubbling up. Just when she was starting to feel bad for him.

"That snake," Lily muttered under her breath.

"I see," Sophie said, forcing a calm tone. "Thank you for letting me know, Mrs. Jenkins. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

Mrs. Jenkins patted Sophie's arm gently. "I thought you should know. But don't worry—I told him I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. Your flowers are the best, Sophie."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Jenkins," Sophie replied, her voice steady but her mind already racing. "It means the world to me."

After Mrs. Jenkins left, Sophie stood in the middle of the shop, frustration simmering under her skin. He just had to remind her why she couldn't stand him.

"Lily, hold the fort. I'll be back," Sophie called out, already grabbing her coat.

"Oh, I like this energy," Lily called after her. "Go get him, Soph!"

When Sophie arrived at Anderson's Flowers, she spotted Lucas inside, charming a customer with that same smug smile he always wore. She waited until the customer left before storming in.

Lucas looked up, surprise flashing across his face before he masked it with a grin. "Sophie! What a pleasant surprise. Here to further embarrass me? Break my heart again?"

"Oh, please. You did that to yourself," Sophie shot back, her tone cold enough to freeze the room.

Lucas chuckled, leaning lazily against the counter. "So, what brings you here, sweet Sophie?"

"I'm here to talk about your recent tactics, Lucas," she said, stepping closer. "I heard you've graduated from bad advertising to poaching my customers. I won't tolerate it."

Lucas's grin wavered, but he quickly recovered, slipping into his usual charm. "So, you're here to defend your territory?"

Sophie's eyes narrowed. Did he actually think she came here to confess some undying love?

She took another step closer, her voice calm but firm. "Mrs. Jenkins told me how persistent you were. And frankly, it's embarrassing. What exactly are you trying to achieve?"

Lucas crossed his arms, his smile dimming as he leaned against the counter. "Business is competitive, Sophie. You should know that. I'm just trying to stay ahead."

"There's a difference between healthy competition and underhanded tactics," Sophie snapped. "My dedication to my clients and my shop isn't something you can just spit on. It's rude and embarrassing."

Lucas studied her for a long moment, his expression shifting from playful to thoughtful. "You're fiercer than I gave you credit for, Sophie. I must admit, I'm impressed. That's why I'm in love with you."

"Oh, save me the confession, Romeo," Sophie shot back, watching as Lucas's eyes widened at the nickname.

"This isn't about your feelings, Lucas. It's about respect and integrity. I've worked hard to build my shop, and I won't let you tear it down."

Lucas raised his hands in mock surrender, the grin creeping back onto his face. "Alright, alright. I'll back off. But you should know, business is only going to get tougher from here on out."

Sophie's gaze hardened. "I'm prepared for that. Just remember, Lucas—my clients trust me because I'm honest and dedicated. Maybe, when you're not planning your next ridiculous stunt, you should try it sometime."

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