My Enemy's Daughter (Edited)

chapter 25

Fiona's POV

I arrived at the café a little early, trying to shake off the thoughts still buzzing in my head from earlier that morning. Meeting Ethan was always a breath of fresh air. There was no pressure, no hidden agenda, just two friends catching up. But today, something felt different. Maybe it was because it had been a while since we last saw each other. Our lives were so busy now, between managing the responsibilities of our family businesses and personal matters, that it often felt like we were living in separate worlds.

As I took a seat at our usual table by the window, I caught sight of Ethan walking towards me, his familiar grin stretching across his face.

"Fiona!" he called out, opening his arms wide for a hug.

I smiled and stood to meet him, wrapping my arms around him briefly. "It's good to see you, Ethan."

"You too," he said, pulling back and sitting across from me. "It feels like it's been ages."

"It has," I replied with a soft laugh, settling into my seat. "Life's been...a lot lately."

"Tell me about it," he said, picking up a menu. "But hey, we made it. Let's catch up like old times."

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me. Despite the chaos in my life, Ethan had always been a constant. We dove into easy conversation about work-how the businesses were doing, the challenges we faced, and the projects we had in the pipeline. It was nice to talk to someone who understood the weight of those responsibilities without making it feel like a competition.

"So, what's going on with you and Samuel?" Ethan asked suddenly, glancing at me over the top of his menu. His tone was casual, but there was a teasing glint in his eyes.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh...nothing much. We're just...talking."

"Talking, huh?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what they're calling it these days?"

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. "Yes, Ethan. Talking."

Before I could elaborate, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced at the screen, and my heart did a little flip when I saw Samuel's name. I felt Ethan watching me, a smirk forming on his lips as I picked up the phone.

"Hey, Sam," I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could already feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Hey, Fi," came his deep, familiar voice, sending a shiver down my spine. "Where are you?"

"I'm out, just grabbing coffee," I replied, keeping my tone casual. Ethan, of course, leaned forward, listening intently.

"With who?" Samuel asked, his tone light but curious.

I glanced at Ethan, who was now grinning like a Cheshire cat. "I'm with Ethan," I said, smiling despite myself.

There was a brief pause on the other end before Samuel responded. "Ethan, huh?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, Samuel. *Just* Ethan. He's a friend."

"Uh-huh," he said, though I could hear the teasing edge in his voice. "You sound a little...too happy."

Ethan, clearly enjoying this, gave me an exaggerated wink. I swatted at him, trying to suppress a laugh. "Stop," I mouthed, but he just leaned closer.

"Well, I don't want to interrupt your coffee date," Samuel continued, sounding amused. "I'll let you get back to it. Just...call me later, okay?"

"Will do," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "Talk soon."

As I hung up the phone, Ethan was already laughing. "Oh my God, Fiona, you were blushing. I've never seen you look so smitten."