Bound by Deception

The Deal That Changed everything

Chapter One

Sophie Patel adjusted the strap of her navy-blue dress and took a deep breath before stepping into Le Jardin, an upscale restaurant with dim lighting and an air of pretension that made her skin itch. She had no idea why her parents insisted on setting her up like this—again. It wasn’t as if she was incapable of finding love on her own. She just… hadn’t been interested. Not in the men they paraded in front of her, at least.

But tonight, she had caved. One date—that was the deal. One date to stop her mother’s endless sighs and her father’s pointed remarks about marriage.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as a hostess greeted her with a polite smile. “Miss Patel?”

Sophie nodded. “I have a reservation. I think under my parents' name?”

The hostess scanned her list, then brightened. “Right this way.”

Sophie smoothed the fabric of her dress, steeling herself for whatever awkward conversation awaited her at the table. But nothing could have prepared her for who she saw sitting there.

Daniel. Daniel Reid.

Her former boss. The man she spent two years working under—and nearly lost her sanity because of.

He looked as impeccable as ever, clad in a tailored black suit that screamed wealth and power. His sharp, chiseled features remained unreadable as he swirled the whiskey in his glass, eyes lifting lazily to meet hers. The moment stretched between them, thick with disbelief and something else—annoyance? Tension?

It was Daniel who spoke first, his deep voice carrying the same authority that used to send junior associates scrambling.

“Well,” he said dryly, setting his glass down. “This is unexpected.”

Sophie stood frozen, her mind racing. Of all the men in this city, why him?

The hostess, oblivious to the sheer disaster unfolding, gestured toward the chair across from Daniel. “Enjoy your evening.”

Sophie barely noticed her leaving. She was too busy trying to pick her jaw off the floor.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, lowering herself into the seat despite every instinct screaming at her to run.

Daniel arched a brow. “Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“My parents set me up on this date.”

His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “So did mine.”

Sophie stared at him. No. There was no way.

“You’re telling me,” she said slowly, “that this was arranged by—”

“My mother.” Daniel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s been on a mission to get me to ‘settle down’ for months now.”

Sophie swallowed. This had to be a joke.

She and Daniel had never been friends. He had been her boss—an unrelenting, demanding, and unfairly brilliant attorney who expected perfection. Under his leadership, she had worked late nights, sacrificed weekends, and nearly burned out trying to prove herself. And when she finally walked away from the prestigious Reid & Locke firm, he hadn’t even tried to stop her.

And now, here they were.

Forced into a date neither of them wanted.

Sophie exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. “Great. Just great.”

Daniel leaned back in his chair, watching her with mild amusement. “We could just eat in silence and leave. Or—”

“Or what?” she asked warily.

His lips curled into something resembling a smirk. “We could make them think we’ve already found someone.”

Sophie’s breath caught. “You mean—”

“We pretend to date,” Daniel said smoothly. “You want Bound by Deception

Chapter One

Sophie Patel adjusted the strap of her navy-blue dress and took a deep breath before stepping into Le Jardin, an upscale restaurant with dim lighting and an air of pretension that made her skin itch. She had no idea why her parents insisted on setting her up like this—again. It wasn’t as if she was incapable of finding love on her own. She just… hadn’t been interested. Not in the men they paraded in front of her, at least.

But tonight, she had caved. One date—that was the deal. One date to stop her mother’s endless sighs and her father’s pointed remarks about marriage.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as a hostess greeted her with a polite smile. “Miss Patel?”

Sophie nodded. “I have a reservation. I think under my parents' name?”

The hostess scanned her list, then brightened. “Right this way.”

Sophie smoothed the fabric of her dress, steeling herself for whatever awkward conversation awaited her at the table. But nothing could have prepared her for who she saw sitting there.

Daniel. Daniel Reid.

Her former boss. The man she spent two years working under—and nearly lost her sanity because of.

He looked as impeccable as ever, clad in a tailored black suit that screamed wealth and power. His sharp, chiseled features remained unreadable as he swirled the whiskey in his glass, eyes lifting lazily to meet hers. The moment stretched between them, thick with disbelief and something else—annoyance? Tension?

It was Daniel who spoke first, his deep voice carrying the same authority that used to send junior associates scrambling.

“Well,” he said dryly, setting his glass down. “This is unexpected.”

Sophie stood frozen, her mind racing. Of all the men in this city, why him?

The hostess, oblivious to the sheer disaster unfolding, gestured toward the chair across from Daniel. “Enjoy your evening.”

Sophie barely noticed her leaving. She was too busy trying to pick her jaw off the floor.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, lowering herself into the seat despite every instinct screaming at her to run.

Daniel arched a brow. “Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“My parents set me up on this date.”

His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “So did mine.”

Sophie stared at him. No. There was no way.

“You’re telling me,” she said slowly, “that this was arranged by—”

“My mother.” Daniel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s been on a mission to get me to ‘settle down’ for months now.”

Sophie swallowed. This had to be a joke.

She and Daniel had never been friends. He had been her boss—an unrelenting, demanding, and unfairly brilliant attorney who expected perfection. Under his leadership, she had worked late nights, sacrificed weekends, and nearly burned out trying to prove herself. And when she finally walked away from the prestigious Reid & Locke firm, he hadn’t even tried to stop her.

And now, here they were.

Forced into a date neither of them wanted.

Sophie exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. “Great. Just great.”

Daniel leaned back in his chair, watching her with mild amusement. “We could just eat in silence and leave. Or—”

“Or what?” she asked warily.

His lips curled into something resembling a smirk. “We could make them think we’ve already found someone.”

Sophie’s breath caught. “You mean—”

“We pretend to date,” Daniel said smoothly. “You want your parents off your back. I want my mother to stop setting me up with every woman in the city. It’s mutually beneficial.”

Sophie folded her arms. “Let me get this straight. You, the man who once told me feelings are a ‘waste of time,’ want to fake a relationship?”

Daniel didn’t even flinch. “It’s not about feelings. It’s about convenience.”

She let out a disbelieving laugh. “And how exactly do you think this will work?”

“We play the part. A few public outings. Some photos. Your parents will be thrilled, and my mother will finally get off my back.”

Sophie considered it. It was ridiculous. Completely insane. But also… tempting.

She had spent years dodging setups and lectures about marriage. This could be an easy way out.

But it was Daniel.

She met his gaze, trying to ignore how unsettlingly intense his eyes were. “This would have to be convincing,” she said slowly.

He nodded. “Of course.”

“No loopholes,” she added. “If we do this, we do it right. Dates, public appearances, the whole deal.”

Daniel smirked. “Agreed.”

Sophie hesitated one last time. Then she extended her hand across the table. “Fine. You have a deal.”

Daniel took her hand in his, his grip firm and sure. “Then let the games begin.”

And just like that, they struck a deal that would change everything.

mother to stop setting me up with every woman in the city. It’s mutually beneficial.”

Sophie folded her arms. “Let me get this straight. You, the man who once told me feelings are a ‘waste of time,’ want to fake a relationship?”

Daniel didn’t even flinch. “It’s not about feelings. It’s about convenience.”

She let out a disbelieving laugh. “And how exactly do you think this will work?”

“We play the part. A few public outings. Some photos. Your parents will be thrilled, and my mother will finally get off my back.”

Sophie considered it. It was ridiculous. Completely insane. But also… tempting.

She had spent years dodging setups and lectures about marriage. This could be an easy way out.

But it was Daniel.

She met his gaze, trying to ignore how unsettlingly intense his eyes were. “This would have to be convincing,” she said slowly.

He nodded. “Of course.”

“No loopholes,” she added. “If we do this, we do it right. Dates, public appearances, the whole deal.”

Daniel smirked. “Agreed.”

Sophie hesitated one last time. Then she extended her hand across the table. “Fine. You have a deal.”

Daniel took her hand in his, his grip firm and sure. “Then let the games begin.”

And just like that, they struck a deal that would change everything.