“Now it's time to go scout out the men.” Ashanti said. “Right? That's what you want me to do?”
“Where are the other divas? Kendall, Aliyah, Kierra...?” Trina asked.
“I've been texting with a lot of them.” Harper said, slipping her phone back into her purse. “They're here. It's just a huge club. We'll meet up with them at brunch tomorrow.”
Ashanti and Lola went off to the ladies' room as Harper made her way to the bar to get another drink.
As she waited for the bartender, she watched the band set up.
“You a fan of Lola?” She heard a deep voice say behind her. She turned around to see a handsome man with sparkling blue eyes, a seductive grin, some slight stubble on his square jaw, and tousled deep brown hair. He was wearing a suit – no tie. But he had a certain elegance, exuded a certain classiness that immediately turned her on. His skin was a light tan – like he had just come back from the Islands.
She took in a deep breath. She worked all day at a law firm with men who were out-of-shape, unattractive and rude. Now here she was face-to-face with a man who seemed like he just stepped out of a magazine.
Even in her heels, he towered over her. But it was like her mind went blank. His physical perfection was so out-of-this world that was at a loss for words. His eyes were locked with hers and she knew right then and there that she'd never seen a more gorgeous man in all her life.
“A fan, yes.” She said finally. She tried to regain her composure. “But a friend first. We've been friends for years.”
“She's very talented.” He said in his smooth voice.
Harper just nodded. She pursed her lips. Her mind went was still a blank. She had no idea what to say next. She was usually so good at small talk. But when confronted with such a gorgeous man, it was like all her interpersonal skills just flew out the window.
“How do you know about her?” She asked. “Are you a fan?”
“I guess you could say that.” He said, turning to face the stage where Harper was also looking. “But it's more...market research.”
“Market research? You're in the music business?”
“I'm thinking about getting into it. With digital downloads and streaming now replacing CD sales, I was thinking it might be a good time to jump in.”
“Interesting.” Harper said. She took the flute of champagne from the bartender and took a sip.
“I'm Bryce.” He said, putting out his hand.
“Harper.” She said in turn. Feeling his large hand grip hers made her feel so...she couldn't even describe it. She wasn't used to losing her composure like this. But this man – this sexy man – was having that effect on her. She was used to being cool and collected in the court room.
How could this random stranger just come into her life like this and made her act as silly as an immature school girl?
“Beautiful name.” He said.
“Thanks.”
“So what do you do?”
“I practice law here in town.” She said, taking another sip.
Just then, another man in a suit came up to him and said something in his ear. Bryce looked visibly annoyed. He shot Harper an apologetic look.
“Sorry, but I'm being called away. Nice meeting you.” He said as he finished off his drink and sat it down on the bar.
“You too.” Harper said softly as he walked away.
Damn, she thought to herself. Why did I just freeze up in that situation? This gorgeous guy was obviously interested in me and I just let him go like that?
Moments later, the room went dark as Lola went on stage. She performed four songs from her new album.
And although Harper enjoyed the music, her mind was a million miles away. She kept scanning the room for Bryce, seeing if she could see any evidence of him at all in the room.
But it was almost as if he had disappeared. He was no where to be seen.
“Girl, where've you been this entire time?” Ashanti said after spotting Harper and marching over to her. “I kept texting you. Why weren't you in the VIP with us?”
“Ugh, sorry.” Harper said, pushing back a strand of stray hair. “I got distracted.”
CHAPTER THREE
“And all you said you know about him is that his name is Bryce?” Ashanti said, taking a sip of her mimosa as they sat at Brunch at their friend Kierra's restaurant called “Soul Food”.
“That doesn't give us much to go on.” Kierra said. She took a seat down at the table with them, off her duties of greeting the patrons of her establishment.
“We didn't see you there last night, Kierra.” Lola said. Her hair was a dark, shimmery jet-black with purple streaks, a new Indian remy weave that she had installed that morning at their friend Brianna's beauty shop.
“I was there. I swear. I saw you perform! I was just taking all these work calls. Responding to all these work texts. You know how it is.”
“Everyone else was able to put aside their work for one night to help celebrate the launch of my album. One night. And you didn't even show your face. What song did I sing first?”
Ashanti bit her lip, looking back and forth between the two divas. She knew that drama was starting. She had to do something to stop it. Otherwise, it would mess up what was turning out to be a lovely Saturday morning with the girls.
“I'm sorry, ladies.” Ashanti said, smiling demurely. “But I think we were actually talking about Harper's mystery man. Maybe we can get back to this topic in a little bit?”
“Fine.” Lola said, pouting a bit as she crossed her legs. Ashanti couldn't help by admire the knee high python Louboutin platform boots she was rocking. These girls sure loved their fashion.
Well, most of them.
Just then, their friend Kendall walked into the restaurant and scanned the room, looking for her crew. Kendall was one of the original divas, the one who originally suggested that they all meet one Saturday every month – at a minimum – to have some girl talk and help each other out. In a world where men still dominated, Kendall had always thought that sometimes (not always) women didn't do enough to help each other out.
Kendall worked in the nonprofit sector and was the head of a small nonprofit that helped out women who were in abusive relationships. Coming from a home situation that was less than ideal, it was a cause close to her heart.
But having worked in the nonprofit industry, where sometimes business casual was interpreted very loosely, she had an appearance that was in stark contrast to the other ladies.
Her natural hair was done up in two braids, reminding Ashanti of a black Pippi Longstocking. She wore a baggy, frumpy looking striped sweater that Harper could almost remember donating to Goodwill about 5 months ago after it had sat in the back of her closet for the past 15 years, taking up space that could've been holding Chanel or something Versace, not an old sweater her great-aunt had given her.
She DIDN'T! Harper thought to herself as she gave Kendall the once over. She did not go and buy that ugly sweater that I donated. No way!
Kendall sat down. She gave each of them a warm smile. She tossed her old leather bag that looked like it had been chewed by a mouse up on the table.
“Oh, Kendall.” Lola said with a disapproving look as she eyed the bag.
“What!?” Kendall said defensively in her soft yet direct voice. “I found it on sale for a dollar! It was for a good cause.”
“Forget about that.” Harper said, piping up. The mimosa was starting to go to her head. “Let's talk about my man.”
“Your man?” Kierra said as she brought them another plate of pancakes. “You don't even know him yet.”
“Girl, what's with the attitude. A girl is allowed to dream.” Harper said.
“Now, let's review. What do you know about him? I'm taking from what little I heard in the past minute that it's not much.” Kendall said. She started digging into the pancakes as though she hadn't eaten in days. Knowing her affinity for giving away most of her money and food to charities and the homeless, she probably had
n't.
Harper sighed. She put her head on her hand as she stared dreamily out the window onto the busy main street.
“He's tall, dark and handsome. He's got beautiful blue eyes. He says he's in business. What type, I don't know.”
“Blue eyes? So he's white, I take it.” Kendall said, chewing thoughtfully.
“Yeah.” Ashanti answered. “A white man.”
“He didn't give you a card or anything?”
“Nope. He had to go. I didn't see him again.”
“Well, there were a lot of people there.” Lola said. “But I mean, of course there were. It was my album release party, after all. I hope you all pre-ordered it online?”
Harper sighed. “Just like you wanted us to. I pre-ordered 25 copies.”
“Me too.” Said Kierra. “Plus, there's a surprise.”
Kierra stood up and walked behind the bar and came back holding a big cardboard box. “I bought these at the party last night. Each customer is going to get one when the album is officially released.”
“Oh, that's awesome, boo!” Lola said. She jumped up and gave Kierra a hug. Lola then excused herself to go to the bathroom to powder her nose.
“Bitch thought I didn't show up.” Kierra said, shaking her head as she set down the box. “Bought damn near four thousand dollars worth of CDs that half of these people are just going to toss in the trash.”
They all laughed as Kierra sat back down.
“Harper, you'll probably run into him again. I mean, Oak View is a big city but...we do run in pretty exclusive circles. He's bound to turn up again.” Ashanti purred. “Who knows? Maybe I'll be hired to redesign his house or office?”
“You're right.” Harper sighed. But she had a dejected look on her face. “But I guess if he was really interested, he would've come back to find me.”
“Maybe he got called away?” Kendall offered.
Harper shrugged. “A guy that hot probably has a whole harem of women waiting for him.”
“Stop that.” Lola said, overhearing as she sat back down. “You're a gorgeous, independent woman. You're doing you're own thing. You're successful. You're a frickin' attorney for crying out loud. You're the complete package. There's no reason why he'd not want to date you.”
“That is if she can find him again.” Ashanti said unhelpfully.
“Well, I got problems of my own.” Lola said, tossing her hair over her shoulder as the busboy cleared the table. “I'm releasing this album and they think they might sell off the label.”
“What?” Kierra said. “Is that going to mess things up for you?”
“Right now, I'm not sure.” Lola sighed. “They already have a budget for the first single, but after that? I don't know.”
“But it's doing well, I thought.” Harper said, studying her friend's face. She could see the concern. Lola had been singing all her life. She started in church, like most people, but then gave everything up to pursue it. Even when her mother was sick with cancer, she was on tour – something she was contractually obligated to do.
When Lola had heard her mother passed all alone at the hospital, Lola changed. Music no longer was just a passion – she became almost warlike with her ambition, stopping at nothing to make sure she had the best producers, best songwriters – the best of everything. For what she sacrificed, she was going to make it worth it. She wasn't going to be a has-been or just some basic r&b chick.
“It is. But audiences can be fickle. I have to keep the momentum going with another single soon. They haven't talked about shooting the video. And that has me worried. Last album campaign, it was already in the can. Ready to go.”
“Yikes.” Ashanti said, leaning back and crossing her legs. “Well, if you need a place to shoot a video, I've got some clients with gorgeous estates who would probably waive the filming fee.”
“Thanks, sis.” Lola said. “But right now I'm in a wait and see mode.”
“Sorry I'm late!” Telah said, carrying an armful of folders and envelopes along with her already overflowing Louis Vuitton briefcase. She flung it all down on the table. “Just came from an event. Gotta get ready for the next one.” She explained as she looked at a clipboard and started turning the pages, reviewing the schedule of what was coming up.
Telah owned one of the hottest PR agencies in the city and was responsible for staging Lola's album release party the night before.
“I don't think I can thank you enough for last night, Telah.” Lola said, taking her friend's hand and shaking her head in grave appreciation. “It was a party fit for an A-lister...that I just happen to be.”
They all erupted in laughter.
“You know I got you, girl.” Telah said, raising her hand at the waiter and motioning for a drink.
“What's this?” Harper said. She picked up a pile of papers.
“Ugh, just a million guest lists I need to review.”
“You don't happen to have the one from last night, do you?” Harper asked expectantly.
“I might.” She responded. She started shuffling through the papers, peering through her Chanel reading glasses. Suddenly her face lit up. “Here it is.” She said, passing the list over to Harper.
Everyone huddled around as Harper started thumbing through the pages.
“Bryce...Bryce...Bryce...” She said as she scanned down the list.
“I don't see his name anywhere.” Lola said, leaning over Harper's shoulder.
Harper shot her an annoyed look. “Don't be so negative. I'm still looking. And you know I hate it when people read over my shoulder.”
Lola shrugged and sat back down. She knew that matters of the heart sometimes pushed Harper to the extreme.
After a few moments, Harper sat the paper down and scrunched up her face.
“Sorry. You're right. He's not there.”
“I'm sorry, girl. He must've been someone's guest. A plus-one or something.” Lola said, looking up from the work she was doing.
The waiter came around and offered them more drinks.
Harper put up her hands, refusing. “No, that's okay. I think I'm going to head home.”
“But I thought we were going to go see Brianna at her salon and get manicures?” Lola said with a dejected expression on her face.
“I'm sorry.” Harper said. She picked up her Gucci handbag from the back of her chair and slung it into the crook of her arm. “I'm just suddenly feeling really tired. I think I need a nap.”
“Okay, feel better then.” Lola said as the other girls said their good-byes to their dear friend.
“But don't give up so easily on your search for Bryce,” Lola whispered in her ear as she gave her a hug. “You never know what's waiting around the corner. The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Harper flipped through the menu on her DVR, but nothing held her interest.
All she could think about was Bryce.
But she knew nothing about him. Other than the warmth in his voice. That sexy smile. That face. Oh, that face. Those sparkling blue eyes.
Harper stood up and crossed her arms, looking out the window.
“This is ridiculous,” she said to herself. “I'm a grown woman. I can't mope around about some guy I barely met.”
Suddenly, her phone rang.
“Hello?” She answered. She knew from the caller ID that it was her boss from work. His name was Greg Jacobs – one of the most distinguished attorneys in the area. He hired her right out of law school and had been her mentor for all these years. She would never let his call go to voice mail, even on the weekend.
“Harper, we got a situation.”
“Okay.” She said. She took a seat at one of the designer stools that she purchased to be put around her kitchen island and crossed her legs as she listened intently. “Shoot.”
“Your friend Lola's record label – it's in trouble.”
“What?” Harper exclaimed.
“They're going bankrupt. They're about to file. It's not looking good
.”
“That's horrible,” Harper said, shaking her head. Music was Lola's life. If her label went out of business, she knew that Lola would have a difficult time securing another deal. “But Lola's single is doing well, I thought?”
“Yeah, but it's not enough to prop up the company. But luckily, there's someone interested in buying.”
“Thank goodness.” Harper said, exhaling.
“His name is Bryce. Bryce Petros, the Greek shipping heir.”
ROMANCE: His Ebony Blood Jewel - A Novel (BWWM, Paranormal, Vampire, Billionaire New Adult Romance) Page 2