One

Eighteen Years Later

I stared at my reflection, brushing through the curls framing my face. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as my fingers grazed the necklace resting against my collarbone. Tonight’s dinner was the last thing I wanted to attend after such a long and draining workday. But when my mother said it was important, I knew better than to defy her—or my father. Missing this dinner would be the ultimate crime in his eyes.

My gaze flicked between the mirror and my watch. Time was slipping through my fingers, and I wasn’t even ready. After a few final touches to my soft glam makeup, I spun in front of my phone camera. The video turned out decent—something I’d probably dump on my social media later. No real-time posting for me; I was far too careful for that.

“Oh, shoot!” I gasped, realizing I was dangerously close to being late. Grabbing my purse and car keys, I bolted for the elevator, jabbing the button for the first floor.

As the elevator descended, I spun my keys around my manicured index finger, the classic French tip design catching the light.

Sliding into my car, I exhaled sharply. I already sensed the night would be more eventful than I wanted. If I were a drinker, maybe a shot of liquid courage would have helped. But no, I was going in sober, as always.

Why my father insisted I be present at these business dinners baffled me. I wasn’t involved in the family business, and their clients had nothing to do with me. Yet somehow, my absence was always unacceptable.

Thirty minutes later, I pulled into the driveway of my parents’ mansion. The grandeur didn’t faze me; I’d seen it all my life. But Sam, my close friend, never failed to gape at it every time she visited.

“Miss Everette,” Mr. Oscar, our long-time butler, greeted me at the door.

“Mr. Oscar, please just call me Fallon,” I reminded him, rolling my eyes playfully as I shrugged off my jacket.

“Force of habit,” he chuckled.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, peering into the empty living room.

“Second floor. Dining room.”

My brows lifted. “Ooh, must be really important guests.”

“You’d be surprised,” he said with a smirk that I chose to ignore.

I hurried up the stairs, the sound of chatter and chairs scraping against marble tiles growing louder. They were about to settle in for dinner.

“Good evening, everyone. Sorry I’m late,” I announced breathlessly as I entered the room.

“Fallon!”

My heart skipped at the familiar voice. I blinked, disbelief washing over me.

“Mrs. Callahan?”

“Yes!” she beamed, pulling me into a warm embrace.

I melted into her arms. It had been so long.

“You look amazing!”

“You look even better. You haven’t aged a day,” I said sincerely.

Mrs. Callahan laughed, clearly flattered. “Oh, stop it. You’ve grown into such a fine young woman.”

“Thank you,” I said, feeling my cheeks warm.

“Mr. Callahan,” I greeted, offering him a side hug before glancing around for… him.

Almost as if his mother noticed my searching gaze, she spoke up. “Reid should be here any second. He was taking a work call. Always the busy one, you see.”

“I can tell. He’s such a hardworking young man,” my father boomed proudly from the head of the table.

I kissed his cheek. “Hi, Dad.”

Moving to my mom, who had been smiling oddly since I arrived, I gave her a warm hug before taking my seat. Just as I reached for my fork, he walked in.

My breath hitched.

Reid Callahan.

He moved with the confidence of a runway model, every step calculated and assured. His shoulder-length curls gleamed under the chandelier light, and I couldn’t help but envy how perfect they looked for a man.

When his eyes met mine, my heart skipped a beat.

This man was drop-dead gorgeous.

I forced myself to remain composed as my parents fawned over him. The proud smile on his father’s face didn’t go unnoticed. I wished, just for a moment, that my father would look at me that way.

“Hello, Fallon,” Reid greeted, his voice smooth and velvety.

I fought back a shiver, blaming it on the cold air despite the warmth of the room.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Hello, Reid.”

“Why are you two so formal?” my mother teased. “You haven’t seen each other in years!”

Awkwardly, we both stood. I reached out for a handshake while he went in for a hug, creating a hilariously awkward moment.

“Nice to see you again, Fallon.”

“Same here, Reid.”

It felt like one of those formal conversations straight out of an English textbook.

We settled back into our seats, and I kept my eyes on my plate, barely tuning in to the conversations around me. The men discussed business while the women chatted about socialite gatherings. I glanced at my watch repeatedly, counting down the minutes until I could escape.

After dinner, the conversations dragged on. Nursing a glass of red wine, I sat by myself, bored out of my mind.

“Fallon,” my father called.

I looked up, startled. “Yes, Dad?”

“You and Reid should take a walk. Catch up for old times’ sake.”

“Um…” I hesitated, unsure how to respond.

“That would be great,” my mother chimed in before I could say a word.

“Okay.”

Reid stepped forward, extending his hand. “After you.”

His touch sent a small shiver down my spine, but I ignored it, leading him toward the backyard. The garden lights cast a warm glow over the neatly trimmed hedges.

“So,” he broke the silence, “how’s work?”

“It’s good. How’s yours?”

“Great.”

There was an awkward pause before he added, “We haven’t talked in a long while.”

“Life happened, I guess,” I shrugged.

“You don’t seem very happy to see me.”

“Last time I checked, we never had a cordial relationship,” I retorted, sipping my wine.

He hummed thoughtfully, his gaze fixed straight ahead. I couldn’t help but admire the sharp angle of his jawline.

His eyes suddenly locked onto mine, and I quickly looked away.

“I should get going. I have work to do,” I said.

“You never told me where you work.”

“You didn’t ask,” I shot back, walking off before he could say anything else.

The last thing I needed was for Reid Callahan to know I was still trying to figure out my life while he was clearly thriving.