Page 5 of F*ckboys

“Dad," I sigh, "I really would prefer not to go.”

“Why? Are you afraid of seeing all your ex boyfriends?” Link tosses his head back in glee, eliciting a snort from Fenton.

“I have one ex-boyfriend from when I was at high school who might be there, Link.” I narrow my eyes at him. “And I would have no problem being in the same room as Aksel King.”

“Everyone knows that’s a lie, Fal. You can see it all over your face.”

“Whatever did happen to that guy, anyway?” Bronson speaks up for the first time. He’s been oddly preoccupied tonight, rarely speaking, although he does have a tendency to try and stay out of our sibling drama as much as possible. Still, when he has to pick a side he usually goes with the other guys.

Here I am, surrounded by family, and as usual, I’m feeling alone. I glance at my stepmother, even though there’s no hope that she’ll side with me. She avoids eye contact, busying herself with an ornate napkin ring. So much for female solidarity.

“Come on, Fallon. This is important." My dad presses his lips into a thin line, one of the ways he conveys seriousness. "It's crucial to our bottom line that we are selected for the Eternity Development Project. Our acquisition of Stephenson Industries is resulting in some skepticism from the local council. We’re seen as creating a bit of monopoly with this acquisition, and having you generate some goodwill would go a long way toward humanizing our operations and making it seem lower-risk to the local community.” He pauses. “And besides, it would give you the opportunity to build up your client base in Palm Falls. I’ve been looking at your metrics recently, and you’re not expanding at the rate we’d anticipated when I agreed to give you the loan.”

I feel my cheeks redden at his mention of my company's performance. It's bad enough that he keeps track of my day-to-day earnings, but it's embarrassing when he recites the metrics in front of my brothers who are all involved in much more profitable pursuits. None of them seem to understand that growing a business takes reinvestment. And obviously there's an entire set of operations I can't share with them.

“That’s not good, Fallon," Link pipes in, eager to jump on this new piece of information, with a condescending tone that mirrors my father's. "You know most small businesses fail within the first year or so. If you’re already trending down, it sounds like you’ll be scurrying back to Dempsey Industries before you can even say ‘fuckboy’.” He smirks.

His words sting and my skin crawls with indignation. “Very clever, Link. Good one." I roll my eyes. "But I’ll have you know the business is growing far in excess of my expectations. I don’t know what your financial advisors imagined as a reasonable ROI, Dad, but I think we’re doing quite well. Our programs are regularly selling out and we’re building quite a reputation.”

On paper, I know the business looks like it’s failing compared to his high financial expectations, but it's not just about the money for me. Neither my father nor my brothers are privy to the darker side of what I do. And if they were, they would never understand.

I sigh, eager to change the subject. “Fine, I’ll go to this stupid gala. Although I really think you’re overstating the benefits.” I glance at my most annoying brother. “Pass the mashed potatoes, please, Link. With a side of shut the fuck up.”

Chapter 3

Fallon

The opulent ballroom of the prestigious Palm Falls Grand Plaza Hotel is the perfect venue for tonight's black-tie charity gala, the only one in Palm Falls fancy enough to draw this group of attendees except for maybe the local country club.

The air is alive with the clinking of crystal champagne glasses and the murmur of conversations among Palm Falls' elite. Elaborate, sparkling chandeliers cast a soft glow on the polished marble floors, and the walls are adorned with modern art, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance. Palm Falls may be a smaller town, but there's a lot of old money here and certainly enough pretentiousness to go around. I take a deep breath, the scent of expensive perfume and anticipation filling my lungs.

I move gracefully through the crowd, my sleek, form-fitting teal gown complementing my fiery red hair which cascades down my back in soft waves. The subtle click of my heels against the marble floor is drowned out by the ambient music and lively chatter, and I almost kick myself for wearing what must be the world's most uncomfortable pair of heels.

My heart thuds in my chest like a caged bird, but I keep my composure, refusing to let anyone see my vulnerability. He, of all people, doesn't need to know how I'm feeling inside. In addition to attending the event out of familial obligation, I have another reason for being here tonight. This is the perfect place, the perfect moment, to put my plan into action.

My piercing green eyes survey the room until they lock onto a figure that stands out amidst the sea of suits and gowns—Aksel King. Damn him. Even after all these years, his mere presence sends a shiver down my spine. Tall, imposing, and with an air of quiet power about him, Aksel looks every bit the part of the merciless businessman he's now rumored to be. He immediately notices me, his eyes locking onto mine, eliciting a shiver down my spine.

Even though I knew he was going to be here, his presence at the gala hits me like a tidal wave, drowning me in memories I'd rather forget. It's been several years since we've seen each other, with him working all over the globe and on the other side of the country for most of that time.

He stands across the room, whiskey tumbler in hand, exuding the same suave arrogance that once consumed my thoughts day and night. For a fleeting moment, I'm transported back to our high school and early college days—moments of passion and betrayal, and the ruthless competition that has defined us and always will.

The sparks of attraction that linger between us are now mingled with the embers of old rivalries and betrayals, creatingan atmosphere charged with electricity. I can feel the curious glances from those around us, recognizing the potential collision of two powerful forces that haven't seen each other in some time.

"Fallon Dempsey," Aksel says, approaching me with a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Hello, Aksel King," I say coolly as I approach him, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

"Didn't expect to see you here." His slate gray eyes appraise my body.

"Nor did I expect to see you, Aksel," I reply, lying because I knew he would be, struggling to maintain my composure. Those damned dimples still haunt me, even after all these years.

"Fallon," he replies, his voice low and smooth as silk, sending another involuntary shiver down my spine. "You look stunning."

"Thank you, but flattery will get you nowhere tonight," I retort, refusing to let him charm me like he has so many times before. I study his face, noting the faint lines that time has etched around his eyes and mouth, adding a touch of maturity to his once-youthful features.

"That's a shame," Aksel says with a hint of a smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I was hoping we could put the past behind us and start anew... have a little reset, if you will..."

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow, not quite ready to let my guard down. "Or are you just trying to get information on the Eternity Development Project?"

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