The Devoted Winter: BWWM Billionaire Romance Novel (Her Winter Love Series Book 1) (3 page)

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 he’d been such an idiot. Normally he conducted himself with confidence but with Nadiyya he’d been stumbling over his words. Lucian liked her but he didn’t realize that he liked her enough to be reduced to a bumbling idiot. He normally didn’t falter around women, even attractive ones. But Nadiyya wasn’t your regular girl next door or your desperate gold digger at the club. She was smart, beautiful and she would stand for none of his shit.

He’d found her beyond attractive too. Her round dark skinned face was always glowing, despite the dryness of Vermont winters. She dressed with more style than any woman in the state and her hair always smelled of shea butter or coconut oil. What Lucian found most attractive about her was her eyes. They were a dark brown color, almost black, but they were the most expressive pair of eyes he’d ever seen. Wars were fought over women so beautiful. Plus, Nadiyya didn’t have the typical body type social elites seemed to require of the women who kept their company. She had a curvy body that softened her features and projected an aura of confidence and warmth.

Lucian wished that he’d gotten through to her, but if he had to be honest with himself, he was impressed at how loyal she was. Yes, her best friend was a certified shithead who was definitely hindering her success.  But you didn’t find loyalty like that quite so easily anymore. Slade was more of a fool than Lucian thought, to risk a friendship that he clearly didn’t deserve. Lucian brushed off her harshness once he realized what it said about Nadiyya. He still wanted some way to get through to her, but he figured it could wait. Plus, if he was lucky, she would realize it on her own and he wouldn’t have to take the fall for breaking up a friendship.

Slade returned from lunch to find the room tense and silent. He secretly hoped that Lucian had made the mistake of stepping on Nadiyya’s toes and found himself in hot water.

Slade’s odd mood that day was because of his plan for after work. That would be the night he would finally conquer Nadiyya and make her his own. She could no longer pretend that they were just friends after what he had planned for her. She would realize how much he loved her and he wouldn’t be stuck in this prison of involuntary celibacy forever. Slade figured he would butter Nadiyya up all day, show her what a gentleman he was, then later, he would be able to pursue her like a real man.

To everyone else, the afternoon seemed to be off to a typical and uneventful start. Lucian had taken charge and split up the afternoon’s work. The three were focused on separate projects around the table in the center of the room when Lucian figured he should attempt to reach out to Nadiyya after their awkward moment earlier that day. Heck, he should reach out to both of them. He realized that he had been particularly boorish and steadfast in his opinions regarding the direction of the company. Nothing a few rounds of free top shelf liquor couldn’t cure.

“What do you guys say to a trip to the bar tonight? Drinks on me,” Lucian offered.

“That sounds fun,” Nadiyya said smiling. She realized that this was probably Lucian’s way of apologizing for trying to drive a wedge in her friendship. The gesture was transparent, but appreciated.

Slade’s cheeks reddened immediately. He saw Lucian’s offer as an attempt to thwart his plans and steal the woman he’d been planning on sleeping with all day. ‘Fucking alpha male piece of shit!’ Slade thought to himself as he stewed silently.

He couldn’t let that happen. Tonight was the night he’d planned to get with Nadiyya and here this guy was trying to take it away from him. Did he think because he was some rich fuck that he
deserved
her? Slade felt his temper rising. Everyone around the table was waiting for his response. Slade scowled knowing that this imbecile actually expected him to respond.

He replied, “No it doesn’t sound fun at all. Nadiyya, you can’t go with him.”

The room got so silent that you could have heard a pin drop. Even Lucian was totally taken by surprise. Nadiyya had no trouble breaking the silence. What the hell was Slade thinking talking to her like that?

“Excuse me?” she said. Her voice was low and deadly.

“He’s obviously just trying to get into your pants. Don’t fall for it,” Slade said. He rapidly tried to shit Nadiyya’s attention from his blatant fuck up over to Lucian.

Lucian smirked. He knew that idiot would eventually show his true colors. Perhaps his little problem with Slade would take care of itself.

“Slade, you don’t control me,” Nadiyya replied with an eerily calm voice as if she were holding back a tidal wave of anger.

Slade snapped. “Why are you being such a bitch? This guy is clearly just trying to fuck you! I’m the one who has your goddamn back! Or maybe you’re such a
dumb whore
that you can’t see past it,” he yelled.

This time, Nadiyya couldn’t hold back her rage. What Lucian had tried to discuss earlier flooded into her head. She realized that he was right all along. What on earth was Slade thinking talking to her that way? Nadiyya didn’t care what was wrong with him. She just wanted him out. She had never let anyone talk to her that way before and she certainly wouldn’t start now.

“Get out! You’re fucking fired Slade! Don’t you dare come back here!” Nadiyya screamed. He wasn’t sure if she was serious.

“I said get the fuck out! Take all your shit too!” Nadiyya screamed. Her dark brown face took on a reddish hue as anger pumped through her veins. She stood up to let Slade know she meant business. Slade was taken aback but once he saw that Nadiyya was serious, he knew he had to get moving. He’d never seen her quite this angry and although he was trying to save face he was terrified of what she could do.

“You heard the lady,” Lucian replied, standing up to take Nadiyya’s side. He wasn’t so much trying to be a gentleman as ensuring that Slade didn’t hurt her. He had always known there was something off about the little creep. Slade was furious. He packed up his possessions in a huff and stormed out the door. 

Nadiyya was shaking with anger and tears were pouring down her face as Slade left. She hadn’t felt so emotional in years. This was it, the end of a friendship and a partnership. It had all happened almost too fast for her to really understand but it was most certainly over. She could never let someone who had called her a ‘dumb whore’ back into her life. Nadiyya had clear boundaries and they’d been violated. She just hadn’t expected this from Slade.

He had pretended to be her friend and Nadiyya felt totally betrayed. These weren’t just words misspoken due to anger. There was clear, violent intent about them. That was just too much for her to handle. The quiet flow of tears quickly turned into loud sobs that echoed through the small office space.

Lucian pulled Nadiyya close, extending his hand in genuine friendship for the first time. He let down his arrogant, know it all persona and just held her in his arms. Even Lucian realized that what had just happened had wounded Nadiyya deeply. Nadiyya rested her head on Lucian’s chest, noticing the fresh smell of his aftershave. The smell comforted her. He knew he had to offer her a few words of reassurance. This was his chance to redeem himself for his earlier faux pas.

“What am I going to do about this company? Slade was everything,” Nadiyya squeaked out between sobs.

“Nadiyya, Slade wasn’t what was holding this company together. It was you. And I’m willing to go through with this no matter what. He wasn’t what intrigued me and attracted me to working here. It was you,” Lucian said. Nadiyya pulled away and looked into his eyes. She saw that Lucian was dead serious.

Nadiyya was at a loss for how to respond. She’d been filled with so much self doubt, that of course had been planted and exaggerated by Slade throughout the time they were working with each other. And here Lucian was telling her that she was everything to her company. She’d never received a better compliment. Nadiyya dried up her tears, but she was embarrassed that she’d cried so publicly. Black women are so rarely given space to be fragile that it seemed her tears had broken some sort of taboo. Lucian didn’t mind her display of vulnerability. In fact he felt it was more than justified. Watching her cry had awakened Lucian’s nurturing spirit, but he wasn’t quite sure what Nadiyya needed.

“Still want to go for that drink, or would you rather be alone?” Lucian asked.

Nadiyya was surprised that he had witnessed her outburst and hadn’t been scared off.

“I’ll take you up on that drink,” she replied, wiping away her tears.

The two locked up the office and walked down the snowy streets together. As they headed towards the bar, they talked for the first time about something other than work. Nadiyya appreciated the break and she appreciated the chance to get to know Lucian in a different context. He was starting to seem like less of a boorish asshole to her and Nadiyya enjoyed getting to know this side of him.

For the first time since he’d arrived, Nadiyya finally got the chance to ask him the burning question she’d been wondering for a while: how did he get to be so wealthy?