Novels by Joanna Jade

The city lights blurred past the tinted windows of the Rolls-Royce. Chicago at night was a different beast—quieter, colder, the streets emptied of the day's chaos.Roman sat in the back, one leg crossed over the other, his gaze fixed on the passing buildings. His tie was loosened. His sleeves were rolled up. The exhaustion of the day settled into his bones.Olivia sat across from him, a laptop on her lap, scrolling through the day's notes. She glanced up at him, then back down, then up again."The interviews," she said carefully. "How were they?"Roman didn't look at her. "They were all the same. A complete waste of my time."Olivia nodded slowly. "I see." She paused. "You did spend some time with Miss Mendel, though. How was that?"Roman didn't answer immediately.He thought of her. Sabrina had held his gaze, answered his questions without flinching. And the way she had called him out, pushed back, refused to grovel.She wasn't scared of him.That was rare.He exhaled through his nos

Sabrina sat slowly, placing the folder neatly on her lap.Her heart hammered against her ribs.She had been nervous before walking into the office.Now it was worse.The first candidate had walked out looking defeated and the second had left furious. The third had practically begged her to run.And yet, here she was.Sitting across from Roman Blackwood.The man who could either hand her the opportunity she’d been waiting for… or end it before it even began.Roman didn’t speak.He simply looked at her.His expression was unreadable. His dark eyes studied her with quiet intensity, as though he were trying to understand something that wasn’t written anywhere in the file resting on his desk.The silence stretched.One second. Two. Three.Sabrina shifted in her chair. Then again.Finally, unable to take it anymore, she cleared her throat.“Mr Blackwood,” she said carefully, forcing a polite smile. “Are you going to say something?”Roman leaned back in his chair, studying her. "I'm deciding

The alarm rang at exactly six thirty.Before it had the chance to ring a second time, a hand reached across the bedside table and silenced it.Sabrina Mendel stretched beneath the covers before slowly sitting up.The floor was cold against her bare feet, and the radiator in the corner coughed uselessly.She shuffled to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the hot water wake her up. Steam filled the small space. She stood under the spray longer than she should have, her mind already running through the day ahead.She stepped out, wrapped a towel around herself, and wiped the fog from the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her — tired eyes, damp hair, the faint shadows of someone who didn't sleep enough.She dressed quickly. Simple blazer, blouse, tailored trousers. Nothing too flashy.She checked herself one more time in the mirror. Adjusted her collar and straightened the sleeves.She headed for the kitchen, turned on the kettle, and pulled her phone from her pocket. Three

Roman sat alone in his office, thinking about his father’s final words.“You might not have someone like her to change you again.”He let out a deep breath. That was the least of his problems. He didn’t need someone like her. In fact, he didn’t need anyone.He hadn’t allowed himself to think about Tessa much over the past year, and he wasn’t about to start now. There was nothing to think of.She had left on her own terms. He had respected that. As much as every instinct had screamed at him to find her, he hadn’t used his influence, his money, or his connections.She was a grown woman.She had made a grown decision.And so had he.A firm knock interrupted his thoughts.“Come in,” Roman said sharply.The door opened and Olivia stepped inside, her hands clasped behind her back.“Olivia.” He said. “What is it?”“Mr Blackwood,” She kept her head high. “I apologise for what happened earlier. I had no idea Mr Thorne had—”“How could you let that happen?” Roman cut her off. His voice was lo

The car pulled up to the entrance of Blackwood Chicago.Before the driver could step out, Roman opened the door himself. He stepped onto the pavement, his shoes hitting the marble with a sharp, decisive click. He didn't wait for anyone. Didn't acknowledge the doorman. Didn't look back.He slammed the car door shut behind him.The sound echoed through the entrance.He took a few steps, then stopped.He turned and looked back at the car. His eyes landed on the scratch—the long, ugly gash running along the side where the Camry had hit it.He exhaled slowly. Then he turned and walked inside without another word.The lobby of Blackwood Chicago was a cathedral of glass and steel.Marble floors stretched endlessly. A grand chandelier hung overhead, casting a glow across the space.Staff moved with quiet precision. No one dared to look him in the eye. Not unless he specifically asked.Guests drifted past, and the hum of luxury filled the air.Roman didn't pause to admire any of it. He walked

The sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided effortlessly through the streets of downtown Chicago, its polished exterior reflecting the towering skyscrapers that lined the city. Inside, the atmosphere was calm. Roman Blackwood sat in the rear passenger seat, one leg crossed over the other, a dark pair of eyeglasses on, scrolling through a presentation on the tablet resting on his lap. He looked different now. A year had changed him. His dark hair was shorter than before, his jaw cleaner, sharper. The softness that had once lingered around his eyes had disappeared, replaced by quiet confidence and an authority that came naturally to him now. Across from him sat his executive assistant, Olivia, an organised woman in her early thirties with a tablet balanced neatly on her knees. She adjusted her glasses before glancing at the day's schedule. "You have the investors' meeting at nine thirty," she began. "The board review at eleven. Lunch with the Morgan Group at one. Then the hote

Bella’s POVThe door clicked shut behind them.I sat there, frozen, staring at the space where Zayden had been. The photograph lay on the table between us, still open, still accusing. My face. My dress. My hand on Marcello’s arm.I couldn't look at it anymore.I pushed it away and buried my face in my hands.What had I done?The tears came before I could stop them. Silent at first, then harder, shaking my shoulders. I had ruined everything. Everything we had just built, everything I had just confessed, everything he had just let himself feel—and I had shattered it with one stupid, ignorant mistake.I didn't know how long I sat there.Then I heard the door creak open.I looked up, quickly wiping my face.Noemi stepped inside. Her eyes softened when she saw me.“Hey," she said quietly. She walked toward me and sat in the chair beside mine. She didn't say anything at first, just sat with me, letting the silence settle.“I messed up,” I said finally. “I messed up so badly.”“We all mess u

Zayden’s POVI stared at the image. At the woman. Her face. Her dress. The way she was looking at him — at Hiram — with a smile I hadn't seen on her before.I felt my jaw tighten."Where did you get this?" I asked.“It was delivered to my doorstep,” Nico answered. “Seems like Hiram knows exactly what he’s doing and what you’re looking for.”I inhaled sharply. “I can’t believe she did this.” “Calm down…you don’t know for sure if —“Before he could complete his words, I walked away. My steps echoed on the floor. “Breakfast is over,” I said as soon as I got back to the table. “Everyone leave now.”They all looked at me confused.Noemi. My mother. Bella. The staff. “Zayden…” Noemi started. “What’s going on? We haven't even started eating yet.”“Noemi,” I said firmly. “I said everyone out, now.”The staff moved immediately, slipping out of the room without a word.My mother opened her mouth to speak, but I shot her a look that silenced her before she could form a single word. She and No

Zayden’s POVI stepped out of my room and leaned against the wall, waiting.Last night replayed in my mind like a film I couldn't stop watching. Her confession. The crack in her voice when she said the words I never thought I'd hear."I think I love you too."It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love but it was close.I had always told Bella she would come to me. I believed it. But I never imagined it would be like this. Never imagined she would give herself to me so completely that she would confess her love in the middle of the night, broken and raw and honest.The door to her room opened and pulled me away from my thoughts. She stepped out, and my breath caught.She was wearing a mini red dress. It clung to her waist and fell free at the hem, showing off her legs. Her hair was down, soft waves framing her face. She looked like sin wrapped in silk.One wrong move from her and I would completely tear her apart. She smiled at me. "Do you like it?"I walked toward her, pulling her clos

Bella’s POVI woke up wrapped in warmth.For a moment, I didn't move. I just lay there, my cheek pressed against something solid and warm. The steady rhythm of a heartbeat beneath my ear. The weight of an arm draped across my waist.Then I remembered.Last night.The confession. The kiss. The way he had held me like I was the only thing keeping him alive.His lips brushed the back of my shoulder in a lazy kiss.“Buongiorno Bella,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep.I smiled despite myself. “Good morning.”He pulled me closer, turning me in his arms until we were face to face. His green eyes were soft in the morning light, his hair messy, his lips curved into a rare, genuine smile.He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. Then my nose. Then my lips.I giggled against his mouth. "You're in a good mood.""I have reason to be." He kissed me again, slower this time. "You're here. You're mine."I pulled back slightly. "I've always been yours. I was just too stubborn to admit

Bella’s POVI took in a deep breath before I finally stepped out from behind the hedges. Zayden looked different tonight. He was dressed in all black. He looked angry yet calm at the same time and his eyes were hardened that if looks could kill, I would have dropped dead by now.“What are you doing out here Bella?” He asked.“I got your package.” I raised the box.His gaze glanced toward it then back to me. “Good.” He said. “Keep it!”Then he turned to walk away. “Please don't walk away when I’m talking to you.” I went after him. “Bella…” he said, not stopping. “I’m really not in the mood tonight.”“Are you ever in the mood, Zayden?”He didn’t answer me. He just kept walking, back into the house, down the hall, up the staircase and into his room. He tried to shut the door behind him but I stopped it and went in after him. I held the box up. “These are Marco’s fingers aren’t they?”“Yes.”My chest tightened. “How could you?”“How could I what?” He said, nonchalant.“How could you

Bella’s POVSleep never came.I lay in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling while my thoughts refused to quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him standing beside my bed.“Bella… if you’re awake, I want you to know I’m sorry.”The apology should have comforted me.Instead, it only made everything more confusing.With a frustrated sigh, I threw the blanket aside.“I can’t do this,” I muttered.Gianna, who had been arranging fresh flowers near the window, looked over immediately.“Bella, everything okay?”I nodded. “I want a bath please.”“Of course.”Within minutes, the large marble bathtub was filled with steaming water scented with lavender and jasmine. Chiara helped undo the buttons of my dress while Gianna gathered fresh towels.The warm water wrapped around my body the moment I stepped inside.For the first time all day, I allowed myself to breathe.Neither maid spoke much. They quietly washed my hair while I scrubbed away the tension that seemed to cling to ev