The Devoted Winter: BWWM Billionaire Romance Novel (Her Winter Love Series Book 1) Read Online Free
Book: The Devoted Winter: BWWM Billionaire Romance Novel (Her Winter Love Series Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Jamila Jasper
any signs of rejection he’d backed off. Not anymore. Women needed to be pursued. What kind of woman would she be after all if she’d been so easy to get the first time? Slade decided that the next time he tried to show Nadiyya how he felt, he wouldn’t be such a wimp about it. He was certain she would realize how much he really loved her if he kept up his pursuit. She would have to succumb to his desires.
What right did she have to reject him? He’d been such a good friend to her since she moved to Vermont! He’d given her space and now he was giving up everything to go into business with her. Slade came up with a plan that would make Nadiyya his. For good.
**********
Chapter 3
The next morning, Nadiyya noticed that Slade was acting just a little bit off. He was chipper in the morning, as usual, but there was just something odd about him. Nadiyya didn’t think she had time to handle Slade’s bullshit. She was having enough of a problem handling Lucian who was in a particularly boorish mood.
Lucian was pissed that he hadn’t been able to get a hold of Nadiyya the night before and it was taking a toll on him that morning. He could see the obsequious way Slade was teetering around her just hoping he could sink his manipulative claws into her. Lucian wished that he could just pull Nadiyya aside for a moment but Slade was just sticking too close to her for him to get a chance. Even Lucian noticed the change in Slade’s attitude that day. He seemed just a little different and Lucian didn’t trust this apparent change at all.
Lucian had grown to despise Slade and even if he tried to hide it, it quickly became quite apparent. He hated Slade’s ideas, hated the way Slade walked around like he was the smartest guy in the room. Lucian found him to be disingenuous. He tried to come off as the unassuming nice guy, but he was really a saboteur. He would subtly undermine Nadiyya, the brains behind the entire operation, just to ensure she never realized how absolutely worthless he was to her. Yes, they’d gone into business together, but that didn’t mean much. Slade could easily be left behind and Lucian was determined to make that happen. If he could just show Nadiyya how useless the guy was, maybe she would give him the axe and he wouldn’t have to play big bad investor threatening to withhold his money.
For once, Lucian seemed to catch a break. At lunch, Slade finally decided to leave his post at Nadiyya’s side and Lucian made his way to where she was working on her laptop. “Do you mind if I talk to you for a second? This isn’t about work,” Lucian said. He was surprised at how uncertain his voice sounded in that moment and Nadiyya was too. She was intrigued by Lucian approaching her about something unrelated to work, but also immediately distrustful. That entire morning, Slade had been planting the notion in Nadiyya’s head that maybe Lucian was trying to take advantage of them.
“What do you want to talk about?” Nadiyya said, trying to maintain her aloof demeanor.
“I think your partner’s full of shit,” Lucian said, immediately wishing that he’d taken a more diplomatic approach.
“What do you mean?” Nadiyya said defensively.
“I think he’s trying to use you and manipulate you,” Lucian said, again failing to be diplomatic.
“Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and my best friend?” Nadiyya said. Lucian could tell he’d failed to get through to her. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
He continued, “No… it’s not that. Just something I’ve noti--”
She interrupted, “Just stay out of this. Slade has had my back for years.” Nadiyya turned away to let Lucian know that the conversation was over.
“Sorry just thought I should say something. If you ever need to talk, you can find me,” Lucian said awkwardly.
Lucian was beating himself up inside for what had just happened. He couldn’t believe
What right did she have to reject him? He’d been such a good friend to her since she moved to Vermont! He’d given her space and now he was giving up everything to go into business with her. Slade came up with a plan that would make Nadiyya his. For good.
**********
Chapter 3
The next morning, Nadiyya noticed that Slade was acting just a little bit off. He was chipper in the morning, as usual, but there was just something odd about him. Nadiyya didn’t think she had time to handle Slade’s bullshit. She was having enough of a problem handling Lucian who was in a particularly boorish mood.
Lucian was pissed that he hadn’t been able to get a hold of Nadiyya the night before and it was taking a toll on him that morning. He could see the obsequious way Slade was teetering around her just hoping he could sink his manipulative claws into her. Lucian wished that he could just pull Nadiyya aside for a moment but Slade was just sticking too close to her for him to get a chance. Even Lucian noticed the change in Slade’s attitude that day. He seemed just a little different and Lucian didn’t trust this apparent change at all.
Lucian had grown to despise Slade and even if he tried to hide it, it quickly became quite apparent. He hated Slade’s ideas, hated the way Slade walked around like he was the smartest guy in the room. Lucian found him to be disingenuous. He tried to come off as the unassuming nice guy, but he was really a saboteur. He would subtly undermine Nadiyya, the brains behind the entire operation, just to ensure she never realized how absolutely worthless he was to her. Yes, they’d gone into business together, but that didn’t mean much. Slade could easily be left behind and Lucian was determined to make that happen. If he could just show Nadiyya how useless the guy was, maybe she would give him the axe and he wouldn’t have to play big bad investor threatening to withhold his money.
For once, Lucian seemed to catch a break. At lunch, Slade finally decided to leave his post at Nadiyya’s side and Lucian made his way to where she was working on her laptop. “Do you mind if I talk to you for a second? This isn’t about work,” Lucian said. He was surprised at how uncertain his voice sounded in that moment and Nadiyya was too. She was intrigued by Lucian approaching her about something unrelated to work, but also immediately distrustful. That entire morning, Slade had been planting the notion in Nadiyya’s head that maybe Lucian was trying to take advantage of them.
“What do you want to talk about?” Nadiyya said, trying to maintain her aloof demeanor.
“I think your partner’s full of shit,” Lucian said, immediately wishing that he’d taken a more diplomatic approach.
“What do you mean?” Nadiyya said defensively.
“I think he’s trying to use you and manipulate you,” Lucian said, again failing to be diplomatic.
“Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and my best friend?” Nadiyya said. Lucian could tell he’d failed to get through to her. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
He continued, “No… it’s not that. Just something I’ve noti--”
She interrupted, “Just stay out of this. Slade has had my back for years.” Nadiyya turned away to let Lucian know that the conversation was over.
“Sorry just thought I should say something. If you ever need to talk, you can find me,” Lucian said awkwardly.
Lucian was beating himself up inside for what had just happened. He couldn’t believe
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