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Fifty four
Last Updated:
2025-03-28 13:49:06
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Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Fifty five
~Fallon~I spent way too much time getting ready.Which was ridiculous. This wasn’t a date.It was dinner — a business transaction wrapped in good intentions and lingering tension. Nothing more.But that didn’t stop me from changing my dress three times. Or from standing in front of my mirror, second-guessing my lipstick and smoothing my hands over the soft fabric of the midnight blue slip dress I’d finally settled on. It draped just right, the silky material clinging in places I wanted it to and flowing everywhere else.It wasn’t too much. It wasn’t trying too hard.But the nerves fluttering in my stomach told me it was still more effort than I should’ve put into a night with a man who barely spoke to me.It’s just dinner, I told myself. A peace offering. Nothing more.Still… when I walked downstairs and saw Reid waiting by the door, my breath caught.He looked good. Unfairly good. The black button-down fit him too well, sleeves rolled up just enough to show his forearms, the top but
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Fifty six
~Fallon~Editing the video was easy.Keeping my heart out of it? Not so much.I told myself it was just work — like every other brand deal I’d done. Just footage, just angles, just carefully curated moments designed to sell a product and a lifestyle.But the camera didn’t lie.Every time I cut a new clip, I felt it — the warmth of Reid’s hand brushing my waist, the way his fingers lingered a little too long when he adjusted my robe, the soft, almost-smile when he thought I wasn’t looking. And when I hit play and watched the way he tucked my hair behind my ear — gentle and unhurried — my breath caught.I knew it was for show. For the brand. For the internet’s favorite fairytale.But I still felt it.And the more I watched it, the harder it was to pretend I didn’t.By the time I added the final filter and hit “post,” my hands were shaking.And then I waited.The FeedbackIt didn’t take long for my phone to explode.The video went viral within the hour — likes, comments, and shares rolli
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Fifty seven
~Reid~The video was impossible to avoid.It was everywhere — my feed, the headlines, even the business sites that had no reason to care about influencer content. My phone hadn’t stopped buzzing since it went live — a constant stream of texts, emails, and calls. Half of them were about the merger I’d been working on for months. The other half?All about Fallon.All about us.The so-called love story we’d apparently perfected.And I hadn’t watched it.Not all of it, anyway.But the few seconds I did see played on a loop in my mind — her laugh, soft and real. The way she leaned into me without hesitation. The warmth in her eyes when she wasn’t guarded, when she wasn’t bracing for a fight.It looked real. Too real.Which was exactly why I needed to stay far away from it.“Any comment on the video, Mr. Callahan?”I didn’t even look up from my computer. “We’re here to discuss the Prescott acquisition. Not my personal life.”My assistant shifted awkwardly, her stack of notes trembling just
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Fifty eight
~Fallon~I found him in his office — because of course I did.The man practically lived in there, buried in his spreadsheets and power plays while the internet lost its collective mind over our so-called perfect marriage. And I… I was done being ignored.I didn’t knock. I didn’t wait. I pushed the door open and walked in, my pulse already pounding.“Are you allergic to your phone?” I demanded, not bothering with a hello.Reid looked up slowly, his expression as cool and unreadable as ever. He barely even blinked. “Good evening to you too.”“Don’t,” I warned, stepping inside and shutting the door harder than I needed to. “The video’s everywhere. It’s viral. People are obsessed — and you haven’t said a word.”His eyes flicked back to his computer. Dismissive. Detached. “I’ve been busy.”“Too busy to hit like?”“Fallon—”“Don’t Fallon me,” I snapped. “This is our image. Our marriage. And you can’t even pretend to care?”He sighed, leaning back in his chair, and that calm, collected patie
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Fifty nine
~Fallon~If I had known agreeing to this charity gala meant spending another night pretending my husband actually liked me, I would’ve faked a mysterious illness and stayed in bed.But the Prescott name was listed as a major donor. The Callahan name carried even more weight. And skipping out on a high-profile event like this would only fuel the rumor mill already obsessed with our marriage.So there I was — wrapped in silk and sequins, my makeup flawless, my mask firmly in place.Even if the man at my side hadn’t said a word to me since our fight.“Smile,” Reid murmured, his hand settling at the small of my back as the cameras started flashing.I plastered one on, my teeth aching from the effort. “I hate you.”“Smile bigger,” he shot back, his lips curving into something that looked a lot like affection to anyone who didn’t know better. “The press is eating this up.”I wanted to step on his foot. Maybe stab him with my stiletto. But instead, I tilted my head toward him, letting the ph
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty
~Reid~The photo showed up in my inbox at noon.The subject line was neutral — Managing Optics — but the attachment hit like a punch to the gut.I shouldn’t have opened it. Should’ve let my PR team handle whatever crisis they were warning me about and focused on the Zurich deal. But my gut told me this wasn’t about business.And my gut was right.Fallon’s face filled my screen — all sunlight and easy laughter, her head tilted back, her hair spilling over one bare shoulder. She looked… happy.And she wasn’t alone.The guy sitting next to her was tall, broad, and entirely too comfortable in her space. His arm rested casually along the back of her chair, his body angled toward hers like he belonged there. Like he had every right to be close to her.My jaw clenched.My eyes stayed locked on the photo, taking in every detail I shouldn’t care about — the way Fallon leaned into him, the soft flush in her cheeks, the familiarity in their body language.I hated him instantly.But more than tha
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty one
~Fallon~I should have closed the door.I should have stepped back, said goodnight, and kept the distance we were both so good at pretending we wanted.But then he said it.“I care because the thought of anyone else getting that smile makes me want to break something.”And just like that — the ground shifted.My breath caught, my fingers tightening on the edge of the door. He stood there in the dim light of the hallway — all sharp lines and tension, his jaw tight and his eyes dark.He looked… wrecked.And the worst part? It was because of me.“I—” My voice cracked. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “Reid…”But I didn’t know what to say.Because I didn’t know what this was.The line between performance and reality had been blurring for weeks — in every glance that lingered too long, every brush of skin that felt like more than it should. And now, with his words hanging between us, that line had completely disappeared.I should have closed the door.But I didn’t.He stepped for
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty two
~Fallon~By the time I came down for breakfast, Reid was already gone.Of course he was.I stared at the empty coffee pot like it had personally offended me, my fingers tightening around the edge of the counter. The kitchen was spotless — too perfect, too sterile — and the air still carried the faintest trace of his cologne.It was a reminder I hadn’t asked for.And I hated how much it made my chest ache.I shouldn’t have cared.I shouldn’t have still felt the ghost of his touch — the warmth of his hands sliding into my hair, the press of his body against mine, the way his lips had devoured me like he was starving.But my skin still tingled where his fingers had gripped my waist. My mouth still burned from the kiss we weren’t supposed to have.And the worst part?He’d been the one to pull away.He kissed me like he needed me — and then walked out like it hadn’t meant a damn thing.So why did it still feel like I was the one left wanting?~~~When I finally saw him again later that aft
Last Updated : 2025-03-31
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Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty seven
~Fallon~I waited until after dinner.Mostly because I was trying to avoid another fight. And partly because I wanted him in a good mood — though I should’ve known better.Reid Callahan’s default setting was cool detachment, and tonight was no different.The house was quiet when I went looking for him. The kind of quiet that felt thick, like the silence between us had soaked into the walls, filling every corner with the weight of everything we weren’t saying.I found him in his study, as always. The soft glow of the desk lamp cast long shadows, and the faint sound of his pen scratching against paper filled the space. His sleeves were rolled up, his tie discarded, and he looked so effortlessly composed it made my teeth clench.It wasn’t fair — how calm he always seemed. How easy it was for him to slip into distance while I felt like I was coming apart at the seams.But I kept my voice light. Friendly.“Hey.”He glanced up, brow lifting. “Hey.”Just one word. Just one glance. But my pul
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty six
~Fallon~The Prescott estate was already buzzing with activity by the time we arrived.Golden light spilled from the house, stretching long and soft across the lawn, where perfectly arranged seating areas had been set up beneath strings of twinkling lanterns. Waitstaff moved through the crowd with trays of champagne, their uniforms crisp and their smiles polite. Laughter rose from the garden, drifting through the warm evening air, blending with the quiet hum of conversation and the soft notes of a string quartet.It was perfect.Elegant. Polished. Exactly the kind of event my parents loved.It was also the last place I wanted to be.Not with Reid beside me. Not with the silence between us still feeling like a fresh wound.“Smile,” he murmured as we stepped onto the patio. His hand settled at the small of my back — light, steady, a perfect imitation of ease. “Wouldn’t want anyone thinking we’re anything less than perfect.”My teeth ached from the force of my grin. “You’re so good at th
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty five
~Reid~I saw her.The second I looked up and found Fallon standing in the doorway, my heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt.She wasn’t doing anything. Just standing there, her hair falling in loose waves over one shoulder, watching me with this quiet, uncertain expression — like she was waiting.For me.And that was the problem.Because I didn’t trust myself when it came to her.The light from the kitchen cast long shadows behind her, and for a moment — one dangerous, fragile moment — I let myself look. Really look.At the softness in her face. The way her lips parted just slightly, like she was on the verge of saying something. The way she felt closer than she actually was, even with the stretch of the kitchen between us.My throat went dry.Because I knew — if I didn’t stop this, if I didn’t stop her — I was going to ruin everything.So I did what I always do.I shut down.I forced my expression into cool detachment, made my face a mask, and pretended it didn’t gut me when
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty four
~Fallon~“I’m just saying, if my fake husband kissed me like that and then spent a week acting like I didn’t exist, I’d burn the whole house down.”I sighed, flopping back onto my bed as Mia’s voice crackled through the phone. “Helpful.”“I’m serious, Fallon!” she huffed. “You kissed. It happened. And now he’s just… what? Pretending it didn’t?”“Pretty much.”There was a long pause. Then—“I hate him.”Despite everything, I laughed. “You don’t even know him.”“I don’t need to know him. I know you. And I know when you’re pretending you’re okay when you’re very much not okay.”The words hit harder than I wanted them to, because she was right. I wasn’t okay. Not even close.I stared at the ceiling, the ache in my chest tightening. “I don’t know how to be okay when he won’t even look at me.”The silence on the other end of the line stretched, heavy and thoughtful. Then—“Fallon.” Mia’s voice softened. “What are you afraid of?”I swallowed hard. “That it didn’t mean anything to him.”And t
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty three
~Reid~The kiss had been a mistake.At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.It didn’t matter that I could still taste her — that my hands still remembered the shape of her waist, the softness of her skin. It didn’t matter that every time I closed my eyes, I saw the way she’d looked at me — surprised, wanting, wrecked.None of it mattered because his wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.So I did what I always did when things got too complicated. I worked.The Prescott merger was close to finalizing, and there were still a dozen things to handle before the deal went through. Financial reports. Staffing plans. Restructuring.The kind of work that demanded my full attention.That’s what I told myself, anyway.But no matter how many hours I buried myself in meetings and spreadsheets, I couldn’t outrun the distraction that was Fallon.She was everywhere.Every time I passed her in the hallway, my pulse kicked up. Every time I heard her voice drifting through the house — soft, distant, just out
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty two
~Fallon~By the time I came down for breakfast, Reid was already gone.Of course he was.I stared at the empty coffee pot like it had personally offended me, my fingers tightening around the edge of the counter. The kitchen was spotless — too perfect, too sterile — and the air still carried the faintest trace of his cologne.It was a reminder I hadn’t asked for.And I hated how much it made my chest ache.I shouldn’t have cared.I shouldn’t have still felt the ghost of his touch — the warmth of his hands sliding into my hair, the press of his body against mine, the way his lips had devoured me like he was starving.But my skin still tingled where his fingers had gripped my waist. My mouth still burned from the kiss we weren’t supposed to have.And the worst part?He’d been the one to pull away.He kissed me like he needed me — and then walked out like it hadn’t meant a damn thing.So why did it still feel like I was the one left wanting?~~~When I finally saw him again later that aft
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty one
~Fallon~I should have closed the door.I should have stepped back, said goodnight, and kept the distance we were both so good at pretending we wanted.But then he said it.“I care because the thought of anyone else getting that smile makes me want to break something.”And just like that — the ground shifted.My breath caught, my fingers tightening on the edge of the door. He stood there in the dim light of the hallway — all sharp lines and tension, his jaw tight and his eyes dark.He looked… wrecked.And the worst part? It was because of me.“I—” My voice cracked. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “Reid…”But I didn’t know what to say.Because I didn’t know what this was.The line between performance and reality had been blurring for weeks — in every glance that lingered too long, every brush of skin that felt like more than it should. And now, with his words hanging between us, that line had completely disappeared.I should have closed the door.But I didn’t.He stepped for
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty
~Reid~The photo showed up in my inbox at noon.The subject line was neutral — Managing Optics — but the attachment hit like a punch to the gut.I shouldn’t have opened it. Should’ve let my PR team handle whatever crisis they were warning me about and focused on the Zurich deal. But my gut told me this wasn’t about business.And my gut was right.Fallon’s face filled my screen — all sunlight and easy laughter, her head tilted back, her hair spilling over one bare shoulder. She looked… happy.And she wasn’t alone.The guy sitting next to her was tall, broad, and entirely too comfortable in her space. His arm rested casually along the back of her chair, his body angled toward hers like he belonged there. Like he had every right to be close to her.My jaw clenched.My eyes stayed locked on the photo, taking in every detail I shouldn’t care about — the way Fallon leaned into him, the soft flush in her cheeks, the familiarity in their body language.I hated him instantly.But more than tha
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Fifty nine
~Fallon~If I had known agreeing to this charity gala meant spending another night pretending my husband actually liked me, I would’ve faked a mysterious illness and stayed in bed.But the Prescott name was listed as a major donor. The Callahan name carried even more weight. And skipping out on a high-profile event like this would only fuel the rumor mill already obsessed with our marriage.So there I was — wrapped in silk and sequins, my makeup flawless, my mask firmly in place.Even if the man at my side hadn’t said a word to me since our fight.“Smile,” Reid murmured, his hand settling at the small of my back as the cameras started flashing.I plastered one on, my teeth aching from the effort. “I hate you.”“Smile bigger,” he shot back, his lips curving into something that looked a lot like affection to anyone who didn’t know better. “The press is eating this up.”I wanted to step on his foot. Maybe stab him with my stiletto. But instead, I tilted my head toward him, letting the ph
