The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

I stare at my reflection and turn around in a circle. I’m wearing another form-fitting dress and I’m starting to like them on me. I’ve gotten so used to not dressing up and wearing comfy baggy clothes that I forgot how good it makes me feel to dress up. I should make a habit out of it.

I grab my clutch and slip on a pair of heels. I know it’s just ice cream, but Dominic and I haven’t been out together in so long. I haven’t been out in forever, full stop.

I pull a hand through my long brown hair, loving the feel of it. Straightening my hair always makes me feel good. I touch up my lipstick one more time and nod to myself, satisfied.

I walk out of my door at the same time Daniel does. He pauses and looks at me, surprised.

“Where are you going?” he asks, his eyes roaming over me slowly. I instantly feel guilty, even though I know I’m not doing anything to feel guilty about.

“Oh, Dominic and I are going out for ice cream.”

Daniel walks up to me and I automatically take a step away, my back hitting my closed bedroom door. He puts his forearm against the door and leans into me, almost caging me in with his body.

“You’re going for ice cream dressed like that?”

His voice is soft and dangerous. He’s standing so close that taking one step closer would have him pressing his body against mine.

“Dressed like what?”

He chuckles and pushes my hair behind my ear with his free hand, truly caging me in now. “Are you sure this is appropriate?”

I bite down on my lip, my heart racing. “Of course.”

He scowls at me and stares me down as though he thinks I’ll cave and admit I’m doing something wrong.

“Daniel? Alyssa?”

I jump and Daniel pulls away from me, both of us turning to Lucy who’s staring at us in shock. Her gaze keeps jumping between us as though she can’t believe what she’s seeing. It’s like she caught us making out or something.

“Are you also joining us for ice cream, Daniel?” she asks.

My heart sinks. Dominic told me it’d just be the two of us. I thought we’d finally be able to catch up again, and that this would be his way of making up for his absence. My heart aches and I inhale deeply. I drop my head back against the door and close my eyes. Another night of watching Lucy and Dominic falling over each other.

“No, I’m not. Change of plans. I’m taking Alyssa out for dinner. Please let Dominic know she won’t be joining you.”

Lucy smiles and nods. “Oh, dinner sounds great! We’ll come with you. We can always do dessert afterwards.”

Daniel chuckles. “Yeah, no.”

I bite back a smile and look at my shoes instead.

“What?” she says, a confused look on her face. It’s clear that she isn’t used to people refusing her anything, and her baffled expression is amusing as hell.

Daniel ignores her and grabs my hand, pulling me past her. We walk past Dominic who is waiting in the hallway and Daniel waves at him. “Enjoy your date,” he says.

Before Dominic can reply, Daniel has pulled me out the door, slamming it closed behind him. He walks me to his car and opens the door for me. I sit down quietly. He seems angry and I have no idea why.

He’s quiet as he drives us to one of the most expensive places in town. It’s a five-star hotel with a beautiful rooftop restaurant, but it’s always fully booked.

I follow behind him quietly as he walks to the lift that goes straight to the top. It’s clear that he’s been here before.

“Are you okay?” I ask once the doors close behind us. He hasn’t spoken once since we got into the car. He looks at me and smiles absentmindedly.

“Yeah, fine. Just lost in thought, sorry.”

I nod, unsure of what to say. Should I warn him we probably won’t get into this restaurant?

The hostess smiles at us politely. “Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”

I shake my head and her smile falls. Daniel takes out his wallet and for a second I’m scared he’s trying to bribe her into giving us a table, but then he takes out a black card and hands it to her. Her eyes widen as she swipes it. She nods at us politely as she hands it back to him, her hands trembling slightly.

“I didn’t recognise you, Mr. Devereaux. Please forgive me,” she says. She leads us to a small secluded table in the corner of the terrace. It’s hidden behind a wall and I wouldn’t have noticed it if she hadn’t led us straight to it.

Rather than putting the card back into his pocket, Daniel gives it to me. I stare at it curiously. It’s a black metallic card similar to a credit card, but instead of numbers on the front, it’s got the golden Devereaux family crest on it. The same one as Devereaux Inc’s company logo. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that DM Consultancy isn’t Daniel’s only job. The main reason my dad didn’t make Daniel the full-time CEO is because Daniel doesn’t have time for it. Besides doing this he’s also on the board for Devereaux Inc.

“What is this?” I ask as I sit down.

“Put it away and keep it on you. It’ll give you access to any facility owned by the Devereaux family. We always have at least one table for VVIPS at every one of our restaurants and at least one room in our hotels. It’ll also give you discount at all the shopping malls and other stores owned by us. Every Devereaux has one of these cards. This one is currently registered to me, but I’ll transfer it to you tonight.”

I stare at it with wide eyes. “I had no idea something like this even existed. Dominic never told me about it. I’ve never seen him use it either.”

Daniel nods. “Hmm, yeah. I developed it a few months ago. He doesn’t have one because I don’t trust him with it. Probably didn’t tell you because he’s bitter as fuck about it. Last thing I need is that little asshole racking up bills everywhere and demanding superior treatment. He can have one when he finally grows the fuck up.”

I sit back in surprise. I know Daniel and Dominic aren’t as close as they used to be, but I didn’t realise Daniel’s impression of him was this bad. I want to stand up for him, but realistically I know Daniel is right. Dominic does have a bit of a penchant for showing off. Putting a card like this in his hands would only make his behaviour worse.

I stare out the window and lean on my elbow, admiring the view. When I look back at him, Daniel is leaning back, looking much more relaxed.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to take me for dinner, you know.”

He looks at me with such a sweet smile my heart skips a beat.

“And let you sit through a night of Lucy and Dominic’s PDA? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

I laugh as Daniel fills my glass with champagne before filling his own. He raises his glass to mine and looks into my eyes as they clink together. “Here’s to us.”

I nod and take a sip, my heart racing. The waitress takes our order but struggles to keep her eyes off Daniel. I can’t help but feel offended, even though this isn’t actually a date.

“How long has it been?” he asks when she finally leaves.

“How long has what been?”

He looks out the window and sighs. “How long have you been in love with Dominic?”

I freeze and stare at him. He’s called me out on my unrequited love before, but I didn’t think he’d ask me so directly.

“I — why do you ask?”

He shrugs. “Just curious.”

“I don’t even know, to be honest. I think I’ve always loved him. It was a very gradual thing.”

Daniel smiles bitterly.

“What about you?” I ask. “Is there anyone you love?”

He pauses and takes a big sip of his champagne before nodding. “Yeah, there’s a girl. I’m not sure I’m in love with her, per se. But there’s someone that I can’t seem to get off my mind.”

My stomach tightens in what I’ve come to realise is jealousy. I brush it off and smile at him.

“How? I’ve seen the tabloids and the photos that get stuck on your office door. You make it in there almost every week, photographed with one model or the other, and that’s been ongoing for as long as I can remember.”

Daniel laughs. “It’s complicated. That girl wasn’t available. I couldn’t pursue her.”

He’s after a married woman? Or at least someone in a serious relationship. My mind automatically replays his words, my anxiety rising. “Wasn’t?”

He nods and smiles at me. “Yeah. I think I might have a shot now, but like I said, it’s complicated.”

I tense and unintentionally glare at him. “Yes. And you’re married.”

He grins and looks away as the waitress brings over our meal. She sets it down in front of us, but my appetite seems to have waned. I wait until she leaves before probing further.

“How long has that been a thing?”

He takes a bite of his fish and chews slowly, like he expects to get out of the question that way.

“You’re curious tonight, aren’t you,” he murmurs.

I swirl my champagne in my glass and take another big sip before smiling at him.

“Hmm, well, I answered your questions, so it’s only fair.”

I try my best to pretend the answer doesn’t matter to me, as it shouldn’t. Just as he did, I take a bite of my food and chew slowly. The food looks delicious, but my nerves render it tasteless.

“A couple of years. Since around the time I did my MBA, I guess.”

My heart tightens and I try my best not to show how crestfallen I suddenly feel.

“That was four years ago. Quite some time to hold a torch for someone.”

I feel jealous and bitter, even though I don’t have the right to be.

“Who is she?”

It’s likely someone from our social network unless he knows her from work or from his MBA. Daniel shakes his head and smiles. I’m annoyed by his refusal to answer. Part of me wants to insist that he tells me since he knows all about Dominic, but doing so would be beyond childish.

Since she was unavailable until recently, she must’ve just gotten out of a relationship or she just got divorced. Considering Daniel’s type of tall skinny models, it won’t be that hard to figure it out. Who got out of a long-term relationship recently?

“Well, if you want to pursue her, I won’t stand in your way. If you’ve waited four years for her, I won’t make you wait another three years until we divorce.”

He looks at me thoughtfully, as though he’s actually considering it. “Is that so?” he asks.

I panic. Considering how strongly he seemed to feel about that rule, I thought for sure he’d shoot me down straight away. I didn’t even realise I was bluffing until now.

“I, well, yeah. If that’s what you want, it’s fine by me.”

I grab my glass and empty it. I’m angry and I don’t even know why.

“Hmm. There’s no need. If she’s the one for me, then she’ll still be there in three years.”

I laugh. “You believe in fate?” I ask, shocked. Daniel is the most level-headed person I know. While he’s very chivalrous, I can’t imagine him being romantic or believing in fate.

He shrugs and smiles at me as if to say so what.

I shake my head. “You’re crazy. Life waits for no one.”.

He leans forward in his seat and looks at me, his eyes twinkling.

“I’ll make you a bet. If I propose within the next four years and she says yes, then you’ll owe me a new Aston Martin. It’ll have to be whichever model has just come out. If you win, I’ll buy you an apartment the equivalent of the Aston.”

I laugh and shake his hand. “That’s a deal, Daniel. I’ll start looking at apartments.”

He shakes his head at me as though he’s certain that he’ll win, and if I’m honest, it hurts a little to know he wants someone so badly that he sees himself marrying her. Daniel is the ultimate bachelor. Girls come and go in his life, and no one has ever lasted for more than a few months.

“You should come back to work soon, Lyss.”

I look down and nod. He’s right, of course. I’ve not been in the office since my father died. I can’t stay on leave forever.

“There’s someone joining our executive training programme soon. I’m hoping you can take him under your wing. I owed his father a favour, so he’s starting halfway through the programme. I tried to warn him that the competition will be even fierce because his peers will know it’s blatant nepotism, but he said he didn’t care so he’s on his own with that one.”

I nod. I’m pretty sure this dude will quit within a couple of weeks anyway. DM Consultancy is an extremely competitive place. Not many who come in through nepotism are able to last.

“Yep. No problem, boss.”