Lust & Hip Hop (The Ms. Mogul Series)

by Jazz Jordan

LUST & HIP HOP

  THE MS. MOGUL SERIES

  By Jazz Jordan

  PUBLISHED BY:

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons (living or deceased) is coincidental and a product of the author’s imagination.

  Copyright © 2015 Jazz Jordan

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission.

  CHAPTER 1

  When Angelique walked into the bar, she wasn’t sure if people were staring at her because she looked sexy or strange. The stiletto boots she wore were half a size too big; the black fitted skirt was a full size too small, and the hot pink leather jacket looked like something she picked out of Nicki Minaj’s closet. With each wobbly step, Angelique was self-conscious about her womanly assets being on display. She usually wore outfits to cover up her thick legs, curvy hips and bubblelicious booty, but on that particular night, her best friend and roommate, Ebony, convinced Angelique to break way out of her comfort zone of basic pantsuits and comfy flats.

  Angelique’s hair and makeup were also Ebony’s creation. Angelique usually wore her shoulder-length, naturally curly hair in a ponytail at the nape of her neck, but Ebony had worked some miracles with leave-in conditioner, mousse and a large-toothcomb. Now, Angelique’s tresses were loose and free, reminiscent of the actress, Tracee Ellis Ross. And although Angelique typically opted for neutral makeup to compliment her deep cinnamon complexion, Ebony had given her BFF smoky eye shadow, midnight blue mascara and pink lip gloss to match the jacket she’d loaned her.

  The ambiance inside of 67 Orange Street was welcoming. The glossy, dark wood finish of the bar and the floor reflected the flickering candles throughout the room. The dim lighting made everyone appear more attractive. Angelique couldn’t help but notice a few handsome men in the crowd. Her heart raced, and her throat felt dry. I’m not ready for this, she thought as she turned to Ebony who looked completely in her element.

  No matter what she wore or how she styled her hair, Ebony always looked glamorous enough to strut the runway. With her high cheekbones and full lips, she was supermodel beautiful. On that night, her naturally kinky hair was cornrowed into a funky frohawk. Although Ebony’s flawless, coffee-colored skin didn’t need an ounce of makeup, her dramatic, dark eye shadow and false lashes brought out her big brown eyes. Though petite, Ebony had generous curves, and she was showing them off in a micro mini, little black dress.

  Angelique looked down at her watch. “If we leave now, we can get back home in time to watch Scandal.”

  “Girl, hush,” Ebony said and patted Angelique’s arm. “You need to stop watching Olivia Pope and start being like her.”

  Angelique raised an eyebrow, offering her friend a look of uncertainty.

  “I’m not saying that you should sleep with a married man; that’s just wrong on every level. You know I don’t condone that. Anyway, we’re here to meet single men tonight. And who knows, maybe you can fulfill your New Year’s resolution.”

  “It’s October; I doubt it,” Angelique said, thinking back to the pledge she made in January to spend Christmas with someone special. Hopefully, a boyfriend or at least a man with the potential to become one. At the time, her New Year’s resolution seemed feasible. In a city with millions of eligible singles, surely she could connect with one decent guy. But Angelique’s chaotic work schedule as a management consultant for the Fortune 500 firm QMI Global combined with her chronic bad luck with the opposite sex proved to be a toxic combination. For the past ten months, she’d dated two types of men, weirdos or insatiable sex fiends.

  Last year, when she’d relocated from Atlanta to New York City, she was well aware that the Big Apple was the capital of one-night-stands, but Angelique was overwhelmed by the barrage of guys who invited her on dinner dates, only to suggest with a sly wink, “Let’s go back to my place, baby,” before the waitress even brought out the appetizers. It wasn’t that Angelique was a prude. On the contrary, she enjoyed a healthy sex life; however, Angelique would only sleep with a man on one condition. She had to be in love with him first before she shared the most intimate part of herself. In her opinion, nothing good came from casual hookups. Angelique looked to her mother as a prime example of the tragedies which can result from careless sex.

  “Check him out. I know he’s your type.” Ebony pointed to a tall, bronze-skinned brotha with a baldhead. He was a striking-looking man, wearing a navy suit which made him appear as though he walked straight out of the tailor’s with it on.

  “Yeah, you know that looks aren’t the only thing I care about. I care about the inside much more than the outside.”

  “So you’re saying you could date an ugly dude as long as he was handsome on the inside?”

  “Listen, what I’m trying to say is …”

  “Excuse me!” An attractive, light-skinned Latina with long, wavy hair stood in the middle of the room holding a microphone. “Excuse me,” she repeated. “Can I have your attention, please?”

  The patrons at the bar quieted down and turned their attention to her.

  “I’d like to welcome you to Speed Dating at 67 Orange Street. My name is Yamilex Lopez, and I’m happy to be your host. Tonight, as you can see, we have a nice variety of singles. The way this works is that you will talk with each single for two minutes, then talk to the next one and so on,”

  The spirited hostess paused briefly before she continued with a smile, “I realize you might meet someone you really like, but out of respect for the process, please keep it to two minutes. If you lose track of time, don’t worry; I will be your timekeeper. Since I’m old school, and I believe in chivalry, the ladies will stay seated, and the guys will move around to different tables. At the end of the night, you will write down the name of the person you liked most. If that person wrote your name down as well, you two are a match. I’ll announce all the matches. We’re going to get started soon, so hang tight, grab a drink and relax. You just might meet that special someone tonight! Good luck to all of you.”