The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

“You’re truly as beautiful as my father claimed you were,” Sasuke says, smiling at me. Daniel’s fingers tighten around his glass. He’s been putting up with Sasuke’s blatant flirting all evening, and I’m worried he’ll snap soon.

Mr. Takuya smiles at his son and nods. “Alyssa is very clever and very beautiful. You should date a girl like her. All you do is work, work, work. You should give me a grandchild to play with now that I’m retired.”

Daniel grits his teeth and smiles. “Hmm, there aren’t many women like my Alyssa,” he says, wrapping his arm around me in a clear warning. The father and son look at him, startled. Daniel has kept his calm all evening and has been ignoring all of Sasuke’s flirting, but I’ve noticed him grow more and more agitated.

Mr. Takuya looks at me and then back at Daniel. He then proceeds to pour Daniel a glass of sake and pushes it towards him. “You’ve done well, son,” he says, laughing. Mr. Takuya being here means we probably won’t get anything signed and done. He prefers to socialise and drink first and do business after. I was hoping it’d be different with his son. Daniel is already well on his way to being drunk, and I’m definitely tipsy.

Mr. Takuya surprises me when he eventually nods at me with a serious look in his eyes. “I read your proposal, Alyssa. I was very impressed. You inherited your father’s mind. If you work on the project personally, then Sasuke and I will sign the contract.”

I smile at him gratefully and try my best to hide my surprise. “I’m honoured you think so highly of me, Mr. Takuya. My father would be proud to hear your words. I’ll be sure to work on your campaign myself. I’ll make sure to live up to your expectations.”

He nods, and it’s done. I know he’ll sign the contract if he’s given his word. Sasuke doesn’t look annoyed at all when his father makes a decision that should be his. Instead, he looks somewhat contrite, as though he knows it’s the right call and he’s glad he didn’t have to make it himself. His father claps him on the back and all of us share another shot of sake to seal the deal.

By the time we stumble back into our hotel room, Daniel seems frustrated, even though we accomplished what we came here to do in far less time than expected. He grabs me as soon as the door closes behind us and pushes me against it. He kisses me harshly before pulling away.

“I need to put a ring on you, Wifey,” he says. “A tiny little collar for your finger. I’m sick and tired of men hanging around you, coveting what is mine.”

His lips trail over my neck before they return to my lips. “A wedding ring?” I ask, my heart hammering. Could it be? I doubt Daniel would ever consider such an obvious display of commitment.

“Yeah,” he answers, seemingly excited about the idea.

He buries his hands in my hair. “We still have some time. It’s only 10pm. Is there anything you’d still like to do?” he asks.

We have three more days here, and neither one of us wants to waste a single second of it. I mentally go through my list of to do’s in my head. “The thing I wanted to do most was to see the light show at the Gardens by the Bay, but I think we’re too late now. We might’ve already missed it.”

Daniel chuckles and grabs his phone as he strokes my cheek. “Baby, if there’s something you want, then I’ll make it happen. Let me make a call. You go get changed.”

True to his word, an hour later we’re standing in the middle of a closed park, no one else around us. We sit back and watch the light show that they’ve put on just for us. How he’s made it happen is beyond me. Daniel isn’t known for misusing his status or his wealth, and usually I love that about him, but tonight I’m flattered and honoured he did this for me.

He wraps his arm around me, pulling me close. “So, is it everything you thought it would be?”

I shake my head and kiss his cheek. “Better. It’s even better.”