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Fallon

“W hat are these documents , even?”

Tucked away in my room with James, he had files and some documents out on display. My brain was spinning with words that sounded too business-y for my experience–well, lack of experience. The folders were full, and I was expected to start learning how to read documents like these as CEO.

“In this folder we have out are financial documents. This one is the profit and loss statement, and we read these to understand our operational efficiency. This one... are you okay?”

He must have seen my eyes glazed over and the words flying over my head. “I think I need to get a notebook for this. A big one.”

“This is why Mr. Evans wants you to be a business major. It’s not out of malice but for your benefit.” He had a level head in all of this mess. After all, I was paying him, right?

“So...you’re my bodyguard and my tutor?”

“In a way. So, this one–write this down–is the balance sheet. This details assets, liability and equity so you can understand the financial health of Montgomery Group.”

Scribbling away, I was determined to truly learn the information. My mother left this to me, and I wanted to make sure her work didn’t go to waste. An entire company would be at my mercy and, as a result, employees who relied on the company to feed and clothe their families. It was a big responsibility to hold up when I was barely in my twenties and it was not the ideal situation. Everyone was doing their best.

My phone rang and I was oddly happy it was Evans taking me away from my brain turning into soup. “Hello, Evans. Yes, I am learning and reviewing and yes, I will comply with your demands.”

A pause filled the receiver before he responded. “Good to hear. We will be tackling your PR nightmare here, but you will need media training. Expect someone by to get you started and rely on James for now for guidance. He is your encyclopedia.” He paused again, leaving me nervous about what came next. “Do I need to tell you the obvious regarding the boy, or will you make good choices until you are in the boardroom this weekend?”

“When will I be needed?” I sighed.

“Sunday. Expect your Sundays to be booked from here on out. I am pleased to hear of your steps forward despite this dramatic scenario.” The line went dead.

“Fuck you too.”

James pursed his lips. “Are we okay to continue?”

“I need a snack first.”

Food wasn’t an option because as soon as I made it to the living room, someone knocked on the front door. I ripped it open, my patience for the day wearing thin. So much so that I was surprised I didn’t rip the door off its hinges.

Of course it was Garrett at my house. Awesome. He stood there, shocked that I was so aggressive. “Bad time?”

“Garrett,” I sighed. “Unfortunately, you cannot be here and right now, it’s best that we don’t speak to each other.” I caught James out of the corner of my eye entering the living room, back in bodyguard mode. “My company is having a PR nightmare. I have a lot of employees to think about right now.” I shooed him. “Please, maybe another time, but not right now.”

James was there behind me, ready for anything.

Garrett looked angry. His fists balled up and his jaw clenched. “Fine. I will have our much needed talk with you. You can’t say no forever and you need to hear what I have to say.”

My bodyguard stepped into his view and crossed his arms, silently telling him to get lost or get hurt. He got the hint because he went off, stomping through my front yard.

Geez, did I even know this guy?

“I’ll answer the door from now on.” James said, leaving no room for pushback.

“Babe, you sounded like a boss just now,” Kelly called from the kitchen holding the leftover box from last night.

That box was calling my name. “Thanks. I am over it for today. I don’t want to go to this damn party, learn these damn business documents, or do anything else. But what choice do I realistically have? Everything is happening at the same time. Give me some of that damned cold pizza.”

She whipped out some coffee and set the table for us, leaving space for James if he so chose to join us. I wondered what he thought about being a bodyguard for a girl like me and what he thought of the antics that went on. Oh, to be a semi-silent observer.

“This is sex pizza, now.”

I groaned. “How is it that I actually forgot about that?”

“Damn, it was that bad?”

Avoiding her gaze–and James’s–I bit into my pizza. “We’re not getting into it. What I will say is that I don’t think he sees me like a normal guy would. I think I just gave it up with the worst possible choice.”

“Being horny will do that to a girl. No sparks with Garrett?”

Were there even sparks with Brent or was he just hot and the pheromones got to me? Garrett felt like a safe choice, but from what everyone was telling me, it seemed that not sleeping with him was the smartest thing I’ve done in a while. He never got pushy with it and in hindsight, it made sense that his motives could have been something else.

I took a lazy bite of pizza. “Getting into bed never really came up much. He wasn’t pushy about it and we seemed...surface level? I don’t know how to explain it, but I think what some people are saying makes sense.”

“Not that it matters now, but he wasn’t the one. Don’t be so quick to believe what other people are saying just yet. In this world, everything is an onion. Layers on layers like I wish this pizza would have.”

She was right. It didn’t matter anymore. The drama was spread all over the internet and probably on the freaking news and I slept with Brent after telling myself I wanted to do it with ‘the one’ one day.

“Snack time,” James interrupted.

I got up from the table. “I guess I need to at least finish a bit of this work before getting ready for this party.”

Financial documents were officially notated. The documents were sensitive information, but I had to see what the company sees on a regular basis in order to properly lead as CEO. My notebook would be filled before the end of the month. Budget reports outlined projected expenses and revenues for upcoming projects. Investment portfolios informed leadership on investment opportunities.

My brain was soup.

But at least I looked pretty despite everything getting worse. To clean your room, you must mess it up in order to clean it up. I kept that in the back of my mind as I mentally firmed myself as Kelly applied my armor for the night. A full face of makeup and a dress that screamed I am Fallon Montgomery.

“So, you like him?” Kelly asked while she focused on my eyeliner.

“Pass.”

“Oh girl,” she laughed. “It’s going to get so much worse for you if you act like this after a hookup. But sure. I’ll finish getting you ready for this shit show of a party.”

Let’s get this shit storm started.

The primary party was being held at a neighboring fraternity. The after party was at Sloane’s sorority house. What would happen at either party was anyone’s guess.

The boys must have paid an arm and a leg to get their place decorated because no man could decorate to that caliber. From the outside, the party screamed Halloween in a low key away. The darker colors and themed decor made it clear that everyone was ready for fall and itching to go all out ghoul. Pumpkins manifested everywhere, darker colors adorned the decor, and attendees wore masks and costumes.

“I didn’t think Halloween started this early with anyone but us.” We stood at the edge of the driveway, and I didn’t feel like I wanted to go in.

Halloween might be actually scary this time.

“It’s September now. Anything after July is free game.” She nudged me forward as a drunk person in a sheet danced by holding a bottle of something.

I pouted at her. “My brain hasn’t even registered that it’s September. We should have dressed up.”

“We’re hot!”

“We could have been a couple of naughty nuns.” I winked.

“Ha! Very sacrilegious. Let’s drink and dance and hope no one bothers you until it’s time to move on to the next venue.”

We followed the stream of people inside and to whoever was serving drinks and snacks. There were a few familiar faces, but I never clocked them as the top families. Unless...that was saved only for the afterparty.

The snack tables were full and that was my first stop. I needed something other than sex pizza to sustain me for the rest of the night. Especially if people were going to be throwing drinks into our hands left and right.

Avoiding seeing people was also my goal.

“Come on, you can’t hide in here forever.”

She dragged me into the main room to the bar and more familiar faces started to appear. Sloane. Her groupies. Shane.

Brent.

“Yeah, no. I am going back to the other room before those people see me.” I tugged on her arm, but she wasn’t budging. For how small she was, the girl was as strong as a brick house. She had strength from how many pancakes she ate.

I pleaded with her with my eyes.

She shook her head. “There is no hiding for you anymore. You said so yourself not that long ago. These are the people you are most likely going to have to see and deal with for the rest of your life from the circle you were born into. One way or another, you have to face the music and live by the nepo baby rules. Trust me. I’ve thought about it, and I’ve resigned myself to the fact that no matter how much I avoid my father, I can’t escape him or this life. So, get in there and kick some ass.”

In many ways, she was right. She grew up with more knowledge than I had and never told me too much because my mom died and was more concerned with being there for me. She also never told me too much about her family’s expectations other than her dad disapproved of most of what she looked like or was interested in. Despite that, she still knew about societal expectations in our echelon and what etiquette was required.

A drink was placed into my hand, and she linked arms with me, leading me into the lion's den.