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.
The society sharks circled her, probably trying to figure out how a social media influencer had managed to land me. The whispers had already started, and I was sure they'd reach the tabloids by morning.
Victoria's sudden appearance earlier hadn't helped matters. Her calculated smile and lingering touch had nearly pushed Fallon over the edge. I saw it in the way her jaw tightened and her eyes sparked with defiance.
I couldn't decide whether I was amused or annoyed by her reaction. Maybe a bit of both.
I downed the rest of my champagne and made my way toward Fallon.
"Enjoying yourself?" I asked as I reached her side.
She glanced up, her expression unreadable. "Oh, absolutely. Who wouldn't love being paraded around like a prize cow?"
I smirked. "You do have a way with words."
"Charming, isn't it?" she shot back.
The socialite excused herself awkwardly, clearly sensing the tension between us.
Fallon crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Do you ever get tired of this?"
"This?" I echoed.
"The whole show—the fake smiles, the shallow conversations, the constant scrutiny?"
I considered her question. "It's part of the deal."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She rolled her eyes. "Typical."
Before I could respond, my mother appeared, practically glowing with excitement.
"There you two are! It's time for the announcement," she beamed, gesturing toward the center of the room where my father waited.
Fallon sighed. "Can't wait."
I placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the front. She tensed slightly but didn't pull away.
As we stood before the crowd, my father cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for being here tonight," he began, his voice commanding attention. "Tonight, we celebrate not just a union between two remarkable individuals but a partnership between two families with a shared legacy."
The room erupted into polite applause.
I leaned toward Fallon, my voice low. "Ready for your speech?"
Her eyes widened. "Speech?"
"You'll do great," I said, biting back a grin.
She shot me a glare that could've melted steel.
When it was our turn to speak, Fallon surprised me. She straightened her shoulders, her expression shifting into something polished and poised.
"Thank you all for being here," she began, her voice steady. "Reid and I are honored to share this special moment with you. We look forward to building something meaningful together—not just as individuals, but as partners."
The crowd hung on her every word, clearly charmed by her authenticity.
When she finished, the applause was genuine. Even I had to admit she'd handled herself well.
As we stepped down, Fallon leaned toward me. "How was that?"
"Not bad," I admitted.
"High praise coming from you," she quipped.
Before I could respond, Victoria reappeared, her smile as fake as her extensions.
"Reid," she purred, "can I steal you for a moment?"
Fallon's eyes darkened, but she kept her composure.
"Actually, I need my fiancé," Fallon said smoothly, slipping her arm through mine.
Victoria's smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. "Of course. Congratulations again."
As she walked away, Fallon let out a breath.
"Thanks for the save," I said, genuinely impressed.
"Don't get used to it," she muttered.
Despite myself, I chuckled. Maybe this arrangement wouldn't be as miserable as I'd thought.
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.
The society sharks circled her, probably trying to figure out how a social media influencer had managed to land me. The whispers had already started, and I was sure they'd reach the tabloids by morning.
Victoria's sudden appearance earlier hadn't helped matters. Her calculated smile and lingering touch had nearly pushed Fallon over the edge. I saw it in the way her jaw tightened and her eyes sparked with defiance.
I couldn't decide whether I was amused or annoyed by her reaction. Maybe a bit of both.
I downed the rest of my champagne and made my way toward Fallon.
"Enjoying yourself?" I asked as I reached her side.
She glanced up, her expression unreadable. "Oh, absolutely. Who wouldn't love being paraded around like a prize cow?"
I smirked. "You do have a way with words."
"Charming, isn't it?" she shot back.
The socialite excused herself awkwardly, clearly sensing the tension between us.
Fallon crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Do you ever get tired of this?"
"This?" I echoed.
"The whole show—the fake smiles, the shallow conversations, the constant scrutiny?"
I considered her question. "It's part of the deal."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She rolled her eyes. "Typical."
Before I could respond, my mother appeared, practically glowing with excitement.
"There you two are! It's time for the announcement," she beamed, gesturing toward the center of the room where my father waited.
Fallon sighed. "Can't wait."
I placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the front. She tensed slightly but didn't pull away.
As we stood before the crowd, my father cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for being here tonight," he began, his voice commanding attention. "Tonight, we celebrate not just a union between two remarkable individuals but a partnership between two families with a shared legacy."
The room erupted into polite applause.
I leaned toward Fallon, my voice low. "Ready for your speech?"
Her eyes widened. "Speech?"
"You'll do great," I said, biting back a grin.
She shot me a glare that could've melted steel.
When it was our turn to speak, Fallon surprised me. She straightened her shoulders, her expression shifting into something polished and poised.
"Thank you all for being here," she began, her voice steady. "Reid and I are honored to share this special moment with you. We look forward to building something meaningful together—not just as individuals, but as partners."
The crowd hung on her every word, clearly charmed by her authenticity.
When she finished, the applause was genuine. Even I had to admit she'd handled herself well.
As we stepped down, Fallon leaned toward me. "How was that?"
"Not bad," I admitted.
"High praise coming from you," she quipped.
Before I could respond, Victoria reappeared, her smile as fake as her extensions.
"Reid," she purred, "can I steal you for a moment?"
Fallon's eyes darkened, but she kept her composure.
"Actually, I need my fiancé," Fallon said smoothly, slipping her arm through mine.
Victoria's smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. "Of course. Congratulations again."
As she walked away, Fallon let out a breath.
"Thanks for the save," I said, genuinely impressed.
"Don't get used to it," she muttered.
Despite myself, I chuckled. Maybe this arrangement wouldn't be as miserable as I'd thought.