kai

Mallory had grown up surrounded by money. Her family owned multiple businesses, lived in an enormous mansion, and had a reputation that everyone in the city knew. But there was one family they could never get along with. The Hayes family. They were just as wealthy, just as powerful, and had been competing with Mallory’s family for years. And Kai Hayes was the worst part. Kai and Mallory had been rivals for as long as either of them could remember. If Mallory’s family bought a new property, Kai’s family would buy the one next to it. If Mallory won an award, Kai somehow ended up winning one too. Neither family ever let the other forget it. Tonight, both families had been invited to an extravagant ballroom event. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, an orchestra played softly, and the entire room was filled with wealthy families dressed in formal clothes. Mallory walked in beside her parents. Then she saw him. Kai. He was standing with his family across the ballroom. Their eyes met. Kai smirked. Mallory immediately looked away. Her mother leaned toward her. “Please don’t start anything tonight.” “I wasn’t planning to.” Across the room, Kai’s father was saying something to him