LOGINShare
Fifty six
Last Updated:
2025-03-29 15:45:10
Related chapters
Fallon’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 : 2025-03-31Fallon’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
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Fallon’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
Last Updated : 2025-03-31
Latest chapter
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Seventy four
~Reid~The last thing I wanted was to leave.But I had to.Business didn’t wait for complicated feelings. The Switzerland deal needed my attention — urgently — and Fallon Prescott was already dangerous enough without me sticking around long enough to make a mistake I couldn’t take back.I told myself it was the right call. A few days away would clear my head, give me the space I needed to remember why we’d done this in the first place — why keeping my distance was the only thing keeping us both from falling off the edge.But when I found her in the kitchen that morning, I knew I was lying to myself.Because the longer I stayed away from her, the worse it got.Fallon stood at the counter, hair falling in soft waves down her back. The strap of her tank top slipped slightly off her shoulder, and I shouldn’t have been looking.But I couldn’t stop.Sunlight streamed through the windows, painting her in gold. Her movements were slow and familiar — the quiet morning routine I’d watched from
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Seventy three
~Reid~I hadn’t planned on asking her to come.The words slipped out before I could stop them — an instinct more than a decision. A reckless, thoughtless move from a man who prided himself on never making reckless, thoughtless moves.But once the invitation was out there, there was no taking it back.And then she walked down those stairs.My breath caught. My throat went dry. And every ounce of control I prided myself on slipped through my fingers like sand.The dress hugged her like a second skin, dipping low in the back, revealing just enough to make my thoughts go places they shouldn’t. Her hair fell in soft waves over her bare shoulders, her lips painted in the kind of red that demanded attention.She was elegance and fire, softness and steel — and I knew the second I saw her that I was in trouble.“Ready?” she asked, her voice smooth and effortless.I nodded.But the truth?I hadn’t been ready for Fallon Prescott in a long, long time.She owned the room.Every time she smiled, ev
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Seventy two
~Fallon~When Reid asked me to join him for drinks with his friends, I almost said no.Not because I didn’t want to go — but because I wasn’t sure I could handle being around him like that. In public. Where the lines between real and pretend kept getting harder to see.Where the way he looked at me made it too easy to forget this wasn’t real.But then I thought about the way his hand hadn’t let go of mine on the red carpet. The way he’d whispered, Let’s talk… and then never did.So I said yes.And if I was going, I was going to make sure he felt every second of my presence.I took my time getting ready.I wasn’t going to make it easy for him.The dress was black and sleek, hugging every curve like it had been made for me. It dipped low in the back, the satin brushing against my skin with every step. My makeup was just enough to highlight everything I wanted him to see — eyes a little darker, lips a little redder.When I stepped into my heels, I felt powerful.And when I walked down th
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Seventy one
~Fallon~“I’m sorry — I must’ve blacked out for a second. Did you say you live here?”Mia’s voice echoed through the grand foyer, her eyes as wide as I’d ever seen them as she turned in a slow circle. Her gaze swept over the sleek marble floors, the towering glass windows, and the kind of minimalist design that screamed old money and impeccable taste.I tried — really tried — not to laugh. “It’s not that impressive.”Mia spun toward me, her jaw dropping. “Fallon. There is a chandelier bigger than my entire apartment hanging above my head right now.”“Okay, maybe it’s a little impressive.”“A little?” she hissed. “You married Batman. Do you have a secret lair? Please tell me there’s a secret lair.”“No lair,” I said, biting back a smile. “But there’s an indoor pool.”She stared at me, her mouth opening and closing without sound. Then she grabbed my arm. “Show me everything. Right now.”I led her through the house, pointing out rooms I barely used and spaces I still hadn’t fully figured
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Seventy
~Reid~I watched her walk away.Every step took her farther from me, and I told myself it was better that way.But my body didn’t believe it.My hands still ached with the memory of her skin. My mouth still burned from the kiss I shouldn’t have given her. And my chest tightened with every second that passed, like some part of me knew I should stop her.But I didn’t.Because this… feeling… was dangerous.I stood there in the dim light of the entryway, listening to the soft sound of her footsteps fading upstairs. And when the house finally went silent, it felt louder than any fight we’d ever had.The urge to follow her was a physical thing — a sharp pull low in my stomach, a restless ache in my hands.But I didn’t move.Because I knew if I did… I wouldn’t stop.And I wasn’t sure either of us would survive that.This wasn’t the first time I’d wanted Fallon Prescott.And it sure as hell wasn’t the first time wanting her had ended badly.We didn’t work. We never had.Not when we were kids
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty nine
~Fallon~The house was too quiet.The kind of quiet that made every sound sharper — the soft click of the front door closing behind us, the echo of my heels against the marble floor, the uneven rhythm of my breath.And then there was him.Reid walked beside me, his hand warm around mine… until I pulled away.The distance between us felt colder than it should have.I turned to face him, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. “Why did you come tonight?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended.He didn’t answer right away. He just looked at me — his eyes dark and searching, like he was measuring his words. Like he was trying to decide how much of the truth he was willing to give.“Because I hurt you,” he said finally.The honesty in his voice caught me off guard.My throat tightened. “You did.” I hated how fragile the words sounded. “And you didn’t seem to care.”He took a breath — slow and uneven, like it cost him something. “I cared,” he said quietly. “That’s why I cam
Fallon’s Reid: An Arranged Contract Sixty eight
~Fallon~The flashing lights were blinding.Photographers called my name from every direction, the sound of their voices blending into one chaotic blur. I kept my smile in place, my posture perfect — but inside, I was unraveling.Because I was alone.And everyone knew it.I could feel the weight of their eyes, the curiosity sharpening into speculation as the seconds ticked by. I heard the whispers, the subtle shift in energy when they realized Reid Callahan was nowhere in sight.The air was thick with questions.And I didn’t have a single answer.I’d spent all week convincing myself I didn’t care.That I didn’t need him. That his absence didn’t matter.But the second I stepped onto that carpet without him, the whispers started.“Where’s Reid?”“Trouble in paradise already?”“Guess the fairytale was too good to be true.”The words sliced through me, even when I kept my face calm and my smile steady.I posed for the cameras, angled my body just right, and answered questions with practic
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
