I couldn’t believe it—I was back at my parents’ house for the second time in one week. What the heck was going on?
After that awkward reunion dinner, I’d made a clean escape, dodging further conversations with Reid and retreating to my apartment. My plan was to forget the entire encounter. But my mother clearly had other ideas, calling me relentlessly even when I was in the middle of shooting content for small brands. Things had finally started picking up with my content creation, and I wasn’t about to let anything derail me. Still, my mother’s persistence wore me down. Now here I was, sitting in the living room, staring at my parents with growing apprehension. “We have something to discuss with you,” Mom began, her nervous eyes darting to my father. My father cleared his throat, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the tension. “I’ll get straight to the point.” I braced myself. When Daniel Prescott spoke, there were no sugar-coated words. “The company is going under, and to save it, we’re merging with the Callahans.” “Okay…” I trailed off, wondering how this was any of my business. “The merger comes with a clause,” he added, his tone flat. Mom reached for my hand, and my stomach twisted into knots. “What… clause?” I stammered. “You have to marry Reid.” “What?!” I shot to my feet, anger and disbelief surging through me. “You heard me,” Dad said calmly, as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell. “Dad, I barely know this guy!” “You can get to know him while you plan the wedding.” “What wedding? I’m not agreeing to this!” “Why not?” “What do you mean why?!” My voice rose several notches, but Dad remained unmoved. “Fallon,” Mom warned softly, her tone urging me to calm down. Desperate, I softened my voice, hoping to appeal to my father’s emotions. “Daddy, please. I can’t marry him.” “Are you in a relationship with someone who can help the company?” he asked, one brow raised mockingly. I frowned. “No.” “Then it’s settled. Prepare to be married,” he said with finality, walking off as though this was a done deal. My knees felt weak as I collapsed onto the couch. Mom tried to comfort me, but her assurances felt hollow. “This cannot be happening,” I muttered to myself, burying my face in a pillow and screaming into it. “Fallon?” Mom’s voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Yes, Mom?” I croaked. “The Callahans are joining us for lunch on Sunday. You should stay for the weekend.” I sighed. Mom still hadn’t fully accepted that I lived on my own now. “Is Dad serious about this?” I asked, hoping for a glimmer of hope. Mom sighed, shutting the door behind her. “I know it seems absurd—” “It is absurd,” I cut in. “It’s for the best,” she insisted. “But Mom—” “Shh, my darling.” She cupped my face gently, her touch warm and familiar. “I need you to keep an open mind. Your father and I were in an arranged marriage, and look how happy we are.” I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to argue. “That’s different,” I muttered. “We learned to love each other. You and Reid can do the same.” I nodded reluctantly, even though my heart vehemently disagreed. There was no way I could love that man. We had nothing in common, and I could barely stand to be in the same room as him. Once Mom left, I grabbed my phone. There was only one person I could call.Mia Sinclair had been my best friend since we were kids, practically inseparable through every high and low. So when I called her in a panic, she didn’t hesitate to show up at my parents’ house, ditching work with zero regrets.The moment she walked into my bedroom, balancing a bottle of wine and a basket of snacks, she fixed me with a curious look.“Girl, what were you saying on the phone?” Mia demanded, setting everything down on my bed.I rolled my eyes and grabbed a samosa from the basket, dodging her hand as she tried to smack me for being impatient.“My marriage has been arranged to Reid Callahan,” I said flatly, my voice devoid of any emotion.Mia blinked. “What the actual fu—”“Language!” I cut in, frowning.“Sorry, but WHAT?”“It’s not happening,” I declared firmly, more to convince myself than her.Mia’s eyes widened. “Wait… Are you talking about the Reid Callahan?”“Who else?”“Oh my God!” she screeched, making me wince and cover my ears.“This is not good news,” I muttered
I was sick of it.Being a content creator meant I lived for the camera, but this time I wanted nothing to do with pictures or social media posts. Mia, however, was having the time of her life.“I need to talk to Reid,” I said as she took yet another shot of my engagement ring.“How many pictures do you even need?” I grumbled, snatching my hand back.“Patience, sis. This is gold,” Mia said smugly, snapping one last shot.The worst part? She’d already made Reid and me take several photos together, all lovey-dovey like we were a real couple. I’d wanted to gag the entire time.“Eager to see your hot fiancé, I see,” Mia teased, wiggling her eyebrows.Rolling my eyes, I ignored her as I strode toward Reid and our fathers, who were deep in conversation about business.Before I could speak, Mr. Callahan pulled me into a warm hug. “Welcome to the family, Fallon.”“Thank you,” I forced out with a polite smile. “Reid, can I talk to you for a moment?”“He’s all yours,” my father said with a knowi
~Reid~A few days had passed, and I still hadn’t heard a word from her. Part of me wondered if the terms in the contract had been too much for her to handle.Most women wanted the fairy tale —love, marriage, and the whole happily ever after package. A contract marriage? That was asking for too much, I suppose. I got it. But I wasn’t about to be tied down by any of that nonsense. The only reason I even agreed to this arrangement was because my father practically begged me to do it.And Fallon? I wasn’t about to fake any interest in her.I glanced at my watch —Friday night. Time to blow off some steam.I pulled out my phone and dialed Dave. “What’s up?”“You ready?”“On my way. I’ll meet you at the club,” I said, hanging up.Back at my condo, I took a quick shower before pulling on a pair of jeans and a leather jacket. Perfect for the night ahead.Running into Fallon at the club? That was not part of the plan.I froze when I spotted her through the crowd, feeling something weird twist i
~Fallon~Our parents wanted the wedding to happen as soon as possible, but if I heard one more thing about planning the high society spectacle they envisioned, I might just collapse on the spot.I had finally announced to my few thousand followers that I was engaged. The congratulatory messages poured in, but each one made my stomach turn. I wished they were celebrating something real— something that wasn’t a façade of a fairytale romance with my childhood nemesis.Calling Reid my “friend” was generous at best. Nemesis was more accurate.From the moment we met, we hardly ever saw eye to eye. Sure, there were rare moments when we made a decent team, back in the fleeting days of friendship and that regrettable teenage dating phase. But mostly, he was that one person I couldn’t stand being around.When his family moved away when I was sixteen, I thought that was the end of it. Problem solved.Fast forward almost a decade later, and here he was— about to become my husband. The very though
This is me saying hello once again to my lovely readers. I’ve missed you guys. Fallon’s Reid is quite dear to my heart so if you’re seeing this, please support your girl once again. I just graduated from Uni few months ago so now I have more time to update frequently 🤭 So stay tuned my lovelies ❤️ Thank you!
~Fallon~The day had already been chaotic enough without Reid Callahan deciding to meddle in my life. My filming schedule was packed, and I had spent most of the morning reviewing brand partnership contracts. My car troubles were the least of my concerns until, of course, my mother had to go and spill that information to Reid.I should’ve known something was up when he called out of the blue.“Hello, Reid,” I said, already bracing myself for whatever nonsense he was about to spew.“Hey. Your mom mentioned that your car needs some work done.”I scowled, gripping the phone tightly. “Why would she tell you that?”“And why are you calling me about it?” I added sharply, my annoyance bubbling to the surface.“Let me have your address so I can send my mechanic to pick it up,” he said, completely ignoring my irritation.“No thanks,” I snapped, my pride refusing to let him swoop in and fix things.“That wasn’t a request,” he stated flatly before hanging up.I stared at the phone in disbelief,
~Fallon~ My phone buzzed incessantly, vibrating against the marble countertop. I sighed, setting down the cup of coffee I hadn’t touched and glancing at the screen. Reid Calling. I had no idea why he was calling again, especially after the whole car situation. He’d already sent a mechanic without my consent, fixed my car, and filled my gas tank—whether I wanted his help or not. The least he could do was let it go. Reluctantly, I answered. “Hello, Fallon,” he greeted smoothly, as if he hadn’t pulled a power move that morning. “Hi, Reid,” I replied, my voice neutral. “I assume Theo returned your car in perfect condition?” “Yes. Thanks for that, but I didn’t need—” “You’re welcome,” he cut me off, clearly uninterested in hearing my refusal of his assistance. My jaw clenched. This man was impossible. “Anything else?” I asked curtly. “Actually, yes. There’s a dinner at my parents’ place this weekend. Our families want us to attend together.” I pinched the bridge of
~Reid~The Callahan estate was buzzing with energy. The clink of champagne glasses, the hum of polite conversations, and the occasional bursts of laughter filled the grand hall. Every high-society socialite worth mentioning had shown up for tonight’s engagement party, eager to witness the spectacle of a “perfect” match between Fallon Prescott and me.Perfect. What a joke.I adjusted the cuffs of my tailored suit and scanned the room. My parents thrived in this environment, smiling and schmoozing with guests as if orchestrating this merger—because that’s what this marriage was—was the greatest achievement of their lives.Fallon stood across the room, talking to some socialite who seemed captivated by whatever nonsense she was saying. She wore a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, the slit up one side revealing just enough to stir a reaction. Her hair was pulled back in some elegant twist, exposing the graceful curve of her neck.She looked stunning.And completely out of place.T
~Reid~I kissed her.And now, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.The warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.The way she had melted into me, just for a second, before pulling away.The soft hitch in her breath, the lingering taste of her on my lips.I should have let it go.I should have walked away, filed it under mistakes I won’t make again, and kept my distance.But I couldn’t.Because it didn’t feel like a mistake.It felt inevitable.And that—that was the part that terrified me the most.This was the problem with pretending. I wasn’t supposed to want her.This arrangement had been clean, structured—an unshakable foundation built on logic and necessity.We were business partners wrapped in a pretty package of public appearances and carefully curated affection.And I’d been fine with that.Until I wasn’t.Because somewhere between the forced smiles and the staged moments, the lines blurred.Somewhere between fighting her and defending her, between resenting her and needing her—I
~Fallon~It was just a kiss.Nothing more.Nothing less.I repeated the words in my head as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling like it held the answers to my rapidly spiraling thoughts.A kiss meant nothing.Not when it was part of a bet.Not when it was Reid Callahan.And yet my pulse still skipped when I thought about it. He was messing with my head.The way he’d looked at me—sharp, heated, entirely too confident. The slow, deliberate way he’d closed the space between us, like he’d been waiting for an excuse. The brush of his lips—firm, steady, undeniable.It had been a game.So why the hell was I still thinking about it?I groaned, throwing an arm over my face.This was ridiculous. It was embarrassing too.I needed a distraction.Anything to pull me out of my own head before I did something stupid—like replay the moment in my mind for the hundredth time and analyze every single second.I rolled over, grabbing my phone from the nightstand.Bad idea.Because the first thing th
FallonThe moment I lost, I knew I was in trouble.Reid didn’t gloat.He didn’t smirk, or throw out some arrogant remark.No.That would’ve been too easy.Instead, he just looked at me—calm, unreadable, with the kind of patience that sent my pulse into a full sprint.And then, in that low, even voice that always got under my skin, he said, “I believe I won.”I swallowed. “So it seems.”The air between us thickened.He leaned back against the couch, fingers tapping idly against the armrest like he had all the time in the world. “You remember what’s at stake?”Like I could forget.A kiss.Not just any kiss.A Reid Callahan kiss.And if the almost kiss from the other night was anything to go by, this was about to be a problem.For me.Because despite every warning, every reason I had to not feel things, my body had other ideas when it came to him.And now?Now, I had to face the consequences.I lifted my chin. “Fine.”Reid’s brows lifted slightly, like he was expecting more of a fight.I
~Fallon~It started as a joke.Well, technically, it started because I caught Reid answering emails again during breakfast, despite claiming he was taking the day off. And since I was no better—scrolling through my social media feed while pretending to sip my coffee—it spiraled into a full-blown challenge.“No work emails,” I declared, setting my phone down with a dramatic flourish. “And no social media.”Reid arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. “You do realize your entire career is built on social media, right?”“And your entire life is built on work,” I shot back. “Which is exactly why we need this. A full day of unplugging. No distractions, no notifications, no meetings. Just… existing like normal people.”He huffed, setting his coffee down. “And what’s in it for me?”I smirked. “If you win, you get to kiss me.”His expression didn’t change, but I felt the shift—the sharp attention in his gaze, the way his fingers drummed once against the table.“And if you win?” he asked, voice lo
~Fallon~I had no idea how I ended up here.Well, actually—I did.Reid had come home earlier than expected, looking ridiculously put-together despite what I knew had to be a brutal day at work. Meanwhile, I’d been lounging on the couch, wearing an oversized sweatshirt and no intention of doing anything productive when he casually dropped a question that sent my entire evening spiraling into enemy territory.“Do you play chess?”I blinked up at him. “Are you being serious?”His lips twitched. “I don’t joke about strategy, Fallon.”Of course he didn’t. I could already picture it—Reid Callahan, eleven years old, probably reading The Art of War between school exams and power plays on the playground.But I wasn’t about to let him think he had the upper hand.“Fine,” I said, stretching lazily before standing up. “But if we’re playing something, we’re making it interesting.”That’s how chess turned into a full-blown game night.And now here we were—an hour and three games deep, sitting cross
FallonIf the press wanted a spectacle, I’d give them one.Because I wasn’t about to let some random nobody run my name through the mud and get away with it.My phone buzzed again, the screen flashing with a name I’d been ignoring for the past half hour.Mom.I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose before finally giving in and answering.“Fallon,” she said the second the call connected. “I assume you’ve seen the headlines.”“No, Mom. I just woke up and thought the entire internet was blowing up for fun.”She sighed, the exasperation practically vibrating through the phone. “I told you this would happen. People will always look for cracks in a marriage like yours. The only way to win is to ignore it.”I rolled my eyes. “That’s not winning. That’s surrendering.”“It’s strategic,” she corrected. “If you don’t acknowledge it, the story dies faster. Engaging gives it power.”I paced the room, jaw tightening. This was so like her. The constant need to present the perfect image, to
~Fallon~ I woke up to war. My phone was vibrating off the nightstand, the screen lighting up with notifications so fast I could barely process them. I grabbed it, groggy, scrolling through an endless flood of texts, missed calls, and push alerts. And then I saw it. “Billionaire Reid Callahan Spotted on an Intimate Dinner Date—Where Was His Wife?” My stomach dropped. The article was everywhere. Attached were pictures—Reid at a sleek, exclusive restaurant, seated across from a woman I didn’t recognize. She was gorgeous. Brunette, sophisticated, leaning in just close enough to make the photos look damning. The kind of woman the press would love to call his real match. I scrolled faster, my pulse hammering. “Reid Callahan and mystery woman share a private dinner—sources say Fallon Callahan was nowhere in sight!” “Trouble in paradise? Callahan marriage not as picture-perfect as they want you to believe.” “Who is the woman seen dining with L.A.’s most powerful billionaire?” Th
FallonI should not be this affected.It didn’t even happen.That was what I told myself as I unpacked, folding my clothes with unnecessary precision. That was what I repeated as I lined up my skincare bottles on the bathroom counter, arranging and rearranging them in a way that made absolutely no difference.It didn’t happen.He didn’t kiss me.He was going to.My hands froze over the drawer I’d been stuffing with newly purchased lingerie I had no actual plans of wearing.God.I closed my eyes, exhaling sharply.I was losing it.Because Reid Callahan had almost kissed me, and I’d been waiting for it.That was the worst part.Not the fact that my heart had practically lunged out of my chest, or the fact that my breath had caught when his hand slid to my jaw. Not even the way my lips had parted in pure, helpless anticipation.No.The worst part was the way I’d wanted it.The way I’d been ready for it.And the way I’d felt like a complete idiot when his phone rang, dragging him back to
~Reid~The house was dark when we stepped inside. Quiet. Like it hadn’t even noticed we were gone.I set our bags down by the staircase, rolling my shoulders to ease the stiffness from the flight. Fallon stood a few feet away, one hand on her hip, scanning the space like she had to reacquaint herself with it.Home.It should’ve felt like a relief to be back, to slip into familiar routines and put the past few days behind us. Instead, there was something restless in the air. Something unspoken.Something I wasn’t ready to face.Fallon exhaled, tilting her head back and stretching, her sweater riding up slightly with the motion. My gaze flickered, completely without permission, to the bare sliver of skin between the soft fabric and the waistband of her jeans.I looked away just as fast, flexing my hands at my sides.This wasn’t the time.Not when my mind was already tangled with everything that had happened on this trip. The banter, the closeness, the easy way she fit into my life when