Men, Love & Power: Drama Queens, #1

By jaha Knight

Men, Love & Power is an emotional, action-packed drama. It's a story of deception, heartbreak, love, lust and betrayal. The drama and mayhem are just getting started in this family soap opera. 

 

Four african american female cousins from a small town must face their respective secrets, for revealing them will change their lives forever.

 

In Drama Queens Book 1, Selah looks like she has it all - the house, the job, the husband but —boom—her life explodes and suddenly she is battling the effects of a dark shame that makes her close out the ones she loves the most.

 

While the men in their family are burning things to the ground, Selah, Moria, Gennifer and Vashti are doing everything they can to hold it all together. But things are constantly thrown into turmoil when old wounds resurface. 

 

Moria's whole life has been about playing it safe. Being the good girl, not coloring outside the lines. Now she is living the life she's never allowed herself to dream of - especially since the tragic death of her parents.

 

In the midst of these dramas, Selah and Moria are forced to examine their lives, their image and their identities. Will the unexpected secrets implode their already broken world and take them down in flames or will they rise like a phoenix from the ashes to reclaim the power they have always desired? 

The Drama Queens Series weaves a spellbinding tale of secrets and betrayal, ambition, courage, love and loss. This is a story that will keep you riveted to the pages of its drama-filled plot and the lives of the ladies who are chasing their own truths.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dakari Moon
• Release date: Oct 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386051893

jaha Knight

Jaha Knight (b. 1978) is an African-American woman novelist, artist, poet, podcaster and entrepreneur. In 2006, Knight began the journey of authoring her first novel, in 2010 her first non-fiction work. She has always been inspired by authors like Sister Souljah, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and her absolute favorite author, Zora Neale Hurston. Her love affair with books began really early. The product of a single parent home, oftentimes when her mother would go to work, she'd drop Jaha off at the local library. She would spend her mother's entire shift reading books and escaping into new places. Each time she would leave the library with a bag of books. A well read black girl, Jaha knight is still is a voracious reader. During those sojourns into another world, she discovered The Color Purple and Alice Walker. After reading that book she quickly discovered Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. When she found Sister Souljah, a seed was planted when she read, The Coldest Winter Ever. Jaha wanted to write books for black girls that focused on black girl bliss, strife and the black experience. Since that decision, she has written several books. Drama Queens Series, the Reiko Series, Unleash Your Giant & Step into Your Greatness, Twisted Linens and Tiny Screams and more.

Book preview

Part I

Book 1 - Men, Love & Power

Chapter 1 - Betrayal Cuts Deep

Scene One

'D o I believe in me?,' was blaring from the club's speakers. Jacinta Cin Cruz stood on the side of the stage watching the stripper gyrate. The stripper's concentration was complete. She bounced her butt cheeks singularly back and forth until several men eagerly threw bills on to the stage. Her head facing the crowd, she licked lips that were already glistening under the lights. They were plump and soft pink with a hint of shimmer. Long red ringlets framed her face and dripped over her shoulders. The thin fabric peeking from between her rounded butt cheeks contrasted with the airy material that covered her torso. The men were in a stupor, mouths slightly agape. She bent over still gyrating to the music.

Cin looked around her, the club was filled with men on a Tuesday afternoon. She smirked a little at how easily men could be distracted. She knew how to use that excitement to her benefit, though. Music throbbed around them, bass heavy mixed with the sound of drinks being poured. She took in the smell of overworked pussies and horny male sweat. Strawberry Dazzle was working the stage to a Prince song. The room was filled with scantily clad women smiling into the faces of sexually excited men. Money, the status equalizer, dangled from their hands.

She nodded to Ricardo in the corner. Her brother was six foot two and built like a linebacker. He leaned over and spoke into the ear of a bartender. The bartender reached under the counter and handed him a bottle. Cupping the champagne, he brought it over to her group, presenting it with a flourish. She winked at him, her smile a thank you. No one other than her family knew she owned this club. Four of her siblings worked at Jocelyn's, in different capacities, but none of them worked the stage.

Jacinta popped the cork, her attention refocusing on Mr. Martinotti. This pudgy, sweaty man in front of her was the president of Steak & Shoes.

She began speaking loudly over the music, breaking the group's entranced reverie. Mr. M, with this new marketing campaign, we can increase your sales by 79% within the first quarter. Then each successive quarter we can follow that with a 65% retention plan to create customer loyalty and buy in. We will be rolling out the first commercial during the Superbowl. Then we will follow that up with a social media campaign involving the fashion blogs. It will feature models and their men showcasing your shoes.

Pouring them both a glass of the bubbly liquid, Cin handed one to Mr. Martinotti. He really did look like a chubby angel, she thought. Her fingers lingered suggestively on his as she handed him his glass. His blonde hair was wispy and thin on the top, the curly tufts silky and short. His stomach protruded from his crisply starched white shirt and his dark trousers were strained around the crotch area. His glazed eyes widened slightly but he returned her smile. Although she knew nothing would happen, it never hurt to make a man think it could.

Cin knew sexuality was all about control. Martinotti's eyes, a startling blue were unfocused and dreamy. She wondered how someone who seemed this innocent could become the president of such a financial empire. He didn't seem to have a sharp bone in his soft, doughy body.

Well, that sounds absolutely great, Ms. Cruz. We knew The Alanis Agency would provide us with the marketing campaign we would need to launch our newly acquired venture.

He turned to Robert, his second in command and said, Robert get the details from Ms. Cruz.

Jacinta looked at Robert, whose glasses were now in the teeth of a Stacey Dash look-alike, his hair ruffled and his conservative tie now sitting comfortably in her cleavage.

Yes, sir, Robert said voice muffled by his own tie.

I will get your copy from my car, Cin said. She stepped away from the group, walking towards the door in the back. She paused there and looked over her shoulder at her boss, Maxim.

Cin was giddy inside. She allowed herself a small victory arm pump. This was going very well. Two weeks ago, she called and rearranged the pitch schedule for Steak & Shoes to a day prior after getting her hands on Team Devine's marketing campaign. This was too delicious to be believed. Selah had no idea Mr. Martinotti was in town and when she found out, she'd quake in her stilettos. Cin was excited that her plan was in motion.

With her prompting, Maxim brought the whole team to Jocelyn's upscale gentleman's club to pitch this marketing campaign. He was in the corner getting a lap dance from the newest dancer in her crop. A blonde Russian named Juliette.

He was watching her, she noticed. His movements with Juliette perfunctory and distracted. She smiled at him and began to wiggle seductively. Cin loved it when another woman turned him on. It made her time with him that much hotter. As Juliette ground her butt into Maxim's crotch, he cupped her breasts in his large hands. Jacinta bit her lip and rolled the glass of champagne between her own. Maxim massaged Juliette's breasts--eyes devouring Jacinta. She lifted her skirt a little, subtly shifting her legs while flashing him her thin silver garter. Maxim slipped his hands down Juliette's back and to her waist. He helped her grind into him, bucking into her in time to the rhythm she set. Cin felt herself go moist. She tipped the glass to her lips and swallowed the liquid hard.

She took a deep breath before placing the glass on the bar. Composed, she pushed the door open and headed to her car. She needed to retrieve the pitch for Robert.

Maxim abruptly jumped up and tipped Juliette. He quickly followed Jacinta. Cin was in her Mercedes, digging for the proposal. He grinned to himself thinking about squeezing the apple bottom that she wiggled at him a few minutes earlier.

How is the pitch going, Cin? Maxim asked sidling closer to her. His long lean body was a total contrast to Mr. Martinotti's soft, round form. His broad shoulders were encased in a well tailored suit. Sandy brown, shoulder length hair blew gently across his fully manicured beard and mustache. Maxim exuded sex. He was her boss but had also been her lover since she began working at the Alanis Agency a little over a year ago. Coming in behind her, he began rubbing himself against her protruding buttocks.

She moaned a little and closed her eyes. He was her one weakness, this man. Grabbing all of the information quickly, Cin mixed the two versions of the pitch together. Backing out of the car she said admonishingly, Maxim the pitch is going very well. This is business so we are going to have to save anything else for later.

He slid his finger down the side of her face, charming her instantly. It was a flashback moment to their first time in his office at The Alanis Agency.

You know I am all about my business, he said, voice rumbling like thunder in his chest, but you have me sufficiently distracted. You send me a sexy Russian blonde and then you tease me with what you're wearing under this very professional skirt and jacket. How do you expect me to stay focused? Don't you want to sin with me?

Jacinta tilted her face into his caress. Sin with him, she thought. It was tempting. Maxim always brought out the naughty in her and she never had to pretend with him. She had a feeling that he would want more than the lap dance and she planned for it. That was why she parked at the back of the lot in a secluded area. His Escalade and Mr. Martinotti's stretch Hummer limo flanked her small car on either side. But she was conflicted, she needed to get back inside to hand off the proposal to Robert.

This coup was important to her. She wanted Maxim to recognize her as a professional dynamo. After all, he was grooming her to be more ruthless and she thought she knew why. He wanted a partner in his bed and in his business and she was more than willing to fill that role.

Cin tossed her head at Maxim, gracefully exposing her neck and accepting his challenge. He kissed her behind her ear, smoothing back her long, chestnut hair. Placing his hands on her hips, and with fingers over his, she slowly began lifting her skirt to give him a full view of the silver garters.

He sucked in his breath as she teased him by raining kisses along his jawline. He turned his head, snagging her lips for a deep kiss. Skirt all but forgotten, he felt her fingers tighten against his. She was lifting the skirt again, past her hips to display a perfectly waxed set of circumstances. Her thighs glistened with her juices. Red lace panties sat discarded on the seat next to the proposal that