chapter 6: Midnight Meeting

Chapter 6: A Midnight Meeting

I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered long after I left the rooftop bar. The note from Sophia, the tension between Ethan and Sophia, and Rachel's warning all swirled together in my mind, leaving me with more questions than answers.

As the night wore on, I found myself glancing at the clock every few minutes, my mind wandering back to the note and the mysterious meeting between Ethan and Sophia.

At 11:45 PM, I couldn't resist the urge to take a peek outside. I grabbed my jacket and slipped out of my apartment, making my way to the rooftop bar.

The streets were empty and quiet, the only sound being the distant hum of traffic. I reached the rooftop bar and looked around, but there was no sign of Ethan or Sophia.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw a figure emerge from the shadows. It was Ethan, and he was alone.

I watched as he glanced around cautiously, his eyes scanning the rooftop. Then, he spotted me and froze.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us palpable. Then, Ethan strode towards me, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"What are you doing here, Camila?" he demanded, his voice low and husky.

I swallowed hard, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. But before I could speak, Sophia emerged from the shadows, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Ethan, what's going on?" she spat, her voice venomous.

Ethan's eyes never left mine. "Just having a little chat with Camila, Sophia," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sophia's eyes narrowed. "I don't think so, Ethan," she said, her voice icy. "You're not going to use her to get to me, are you?"

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I was caught in the middle of a very complicated and very messy situation.

Ethan's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his cool. "Sophia, this has nothing to do with you," he said, his voice firm but controlled.

Sophia laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Don't lie to me, Ethan," she spat. "I know exactly what you're trying to do. You think you can use Camila to get back at me, don't you?"

I felt a surge of unease at Sophia's words. Was that what Ethan was trying to do? Use me as a pawn in his game with Sophia?

Ethan's eyes never left Sophia's face. "You're paranoid, Sophia," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'm not using Camila for anything. She's just a colleague."

Sophia's eyes narrowed. "Save it, Ethan," she said. "I know you too well. You're not capable of being honest, not even with yourself."

The tension between them was palpable, and I felt like I was caught in the middle of a war zone. I took a step back, trying to distance myself from the conflict.

But Ethan's eyes snapped to mine, and he took a step closer to me. "Camila, don't listen to her," he said, his voice low and urgent. "She's just trying to manipulate you."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at the intensity in his eyes. Was he telling the truth, or was he just trying to manipulate me too?

Sophia's laughter cut through the air again. "Oh, Ethan, you're so predictable," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can just charm your way out of this, don't you?"

Ethan's face darkened, and for a moment, I thought he was going to lose control. But then, he seemed to rein himself in, his expression smoothing out into a mask of calm.

"I think we've said enough for tonight, Sophia," he said, his voice cold and detached. "Why don't you just leave?"

Sophia's eyes flashed with anger, but she seemed to realize that she wasn't going to get the reaction she wanted from Ethan. With a final, venomous glance at me, she turned and stalked off into the night.

As I watched her go, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. But it was short-lived, because Ethan turned to me, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Camila, I need to talk to you," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Now."

I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. What did Ethan want to talk to me about? And why did he look so intense?

Ethan took my arm and led me to a quiet corner of the rooftop bar. We sat down at a small table, and Ethan leaned in close, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Camila, I need to ask you something," he said, his voice low and urgent. "What did Sophia say to you just now?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Ethan's expression made me trust him, at least for the moment.

"She said you were using me to get back at her," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And what did you think of that?" he asked, his voice probing.

I shrugged. "I didn't know what to think. I don't know what's going on between you and Sophia."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'll tell you what's going on," he said, his voice low and husky. "Sophia and I have a... complicated history. We were married, but it didn't work out. And now, she's trying to sabotage my business deals."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the revelation. "Why would she do that?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Ethan's eyes flashed with anger. "Because she's bitter," he said. "She thinks I wronged her in some way, and now she's trying to get revenge."

I nodded, trying to process the information. It sounded like a classic case of sour grapes, but I had a feeling there was more to the story.

"Ethan, can I ask you something?" I said, my voice hesitant.

He nodded, his eyes encouraging. "Of course, Camila. What is it?"

I took a deep breath, trying to phrase my question carefully. "Do you still have feelings for Sophia?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of emotion. But then, his expression smoothed out, and he smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Camila, I think that's a question for another time," he said, his voice low and husky. "But for now, let's just say that my feelings for Sophia are... complicated."

And for some reason I felt disappointed it felt like I hadn't gotten the answer I wanted.