Love & Lipstick: Passonate Professors

By Louise Lennox

Mia Farris is a successful attorney and owner of a clean beauty cosmetics business. When Fortune 500 company, Sinclair Cosmetics, proposes to invest in her expansion, she is wary of the corporate giant and their sexy chemist Peter Attah. Peter's job is to convince Mia that opening her mind to compromise will place her products in the hands of more women that need them. Instead, he convinces her that she may need to open her heart as well. 

Peter Attah is a chemistry professor committed to helping people of post-war African nations rebuild their lives. As a consultant for Sinclair Cosmetics, he uses his influence with the CEO to do so. When he is assigned to develop new products with the beautiful Mia Farris, he finds her impenetrable. But with time, he realizes her broken heart is an equation that only he can solve.

Love & Lipstick is a STEAMY enemy to lovers short read where the characters hate hard and fall in love fast. There are instances of domestic violence, corporate greed, and racism. Please read responsibly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Louise Lennox
• Release date: Dec 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393610564

Louise Lennox

Hello! I'm Louise Lennox and I'm glad you are here! I am a writer, true rabble rouser, hopeful romantic, wife, and mother of the cutest two dragons ever to walk the earth. I write to provide Black women with a diverse presence on romance novel pages. I am a voracious reader of contemporary romance. Often, I bemoan the lack of opportunities to see women like myself, friends, Spelman sisters, aunties and cousins on the page. I’m here to fix that! I write what I like to call #happyblackromance. I highlight joys of our relationships. We should admire them for their strength and downright sexiness. It’s time to share some of our magic! My female characters are highly educated influencers, always seeking to change the world around them. My male characters are alphas committed to the responsibility of leading their homes and communities.  In my novels sparks will fly; the sex will amaze; and the characters will always leave the world better than they found it through their love.

Book preview

1

Organization

Mia

It’s only 10:00 am and today is a shit show.

I overslept and missed my usual morning Peloton ride. Without that daily rush of adrenaline to wash away my anxiety, I feel like a frazzled mess. Even worse, I look like one because I took a shower and deliberately wet my hair to wear a wash and go style. I opened my jar of kinky curl crème, only to find I am completely out of it. Without the cream, my natural hair is a shrunken mushroom, mercilessly mocking me from the mirror.

And just when I thought my morning could not get worse, I got caught in the rain without an umbrella. Now, here I am, waiting in the Manhattan lobby of Sinclair Cosmetics Inc. with shriveled curls, a damp blouse, and ruined suede shoes. Not to mention, I have a court case today at 1:00 pm and the opposing counsel is my ass of an ex-boyfriend. I want a do-over.

Ms. Mia Farris, a voice rings out. Mr. Sinclair will see you now. I look up to see a pretty and put-together blonde standing in front of me. I am envious. I bet she got her workout in this morning. I rise to greet her. She looks down at my blouse and shoes before scrunching her nose as she extends a hand toward the hallway. After you, Ms. Farris. Stop at the end of the hall.

We walk for what feels like a mile before reaching the end of the hallway. Massive double doors greet me. The steel door tag reads Cameron Sinclair, CEO.

Cameron Sinclair is the patriarch of the Sinclair Cosmetics empire. The company has been the number one go-to for women since 1942. The storied firm wants to partner with me, and my small business Ankara Beauty. Sinclair Cosmetics was not on my radar as a potential investor. No Fortune 500 company was. But thank God I was on theirs.

Ankara Beauty is more than just my business, it is my legacy. At thirty-one years-old, I am a sought-after trial attorney on my way to making partner. However, I fill my nights and weekends with the study of my great-grandmother’s natural oil and plant formulas for body butters, body oils, lipsticks, and moisturizers. My parents died when I was two in a boating accident and my grandmother raised me. Growing up, I never had to buy beauty products such as lotion or shampoo. I did not have to buy hygiene products like soap or deodorant either; my grandmother made them.

One day seven years ago, she called her three daughters and four granddaughters home to Virginia for a special weekend where she shared her formulas. No one seemed to think it was a big deal. But I did. I knew something was wrong. My grandmother would not randomly give us recipes to the thing that guaranteed our visits. When pushed, she finally admitted to the cancer. I was finishing up my second year of law school and my world came crashing down. I took a year off from Columbia Law to take care of her.

Our last nine months together were special. I learned that she once tried to break into the cosmetics world, but no company would give her products a shot. Before she passed, I promised her I would finish what she started. I moved back to New York, finished law school and started selling her products. I’ve done pretty well, but I reached the end of my capacity to manufacture and distribute the products six months ago. One day, I looked at my sales order page and realized I had 1800 orders and only one employee-Me!

Enter Sinclair Cosmetics. When Cameron Sinclair’s granddaughter Maddie learned about my line through her roommate, she was determined to partner. Maddie saw an opportunity for Sinclair cosmetics to widen their market share by intentionally serving Black women’s beauty needs. She requested I create 10 new products to present to her grandfather, Mr. Sinclair, alongside my best-sellers. Today is the day.

I stand at the doors of Ankara Beauty’s future and look back at the blonde. She nods and gestures for me to enter. He’s waiting for you. She flatly states.

When I enter the office and Mr. Sinclair is sitting behind a massive mahogany desk. He stands when I enter, and I notice how handsome the silver fox is. He is tall and dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. You can tell he still works out. He has a full head of wavy salt and pepper hair and his smile is disarming. He looks towards the woman that escorted me in and addresses her.

Jennifer you look lovely today. I love that color on you. Jennifer’s demeanor immediately warms up. Her cheeks are now a rosy shade of pink. Pleased with the effect he has on her; Mr. Sinclair smiles and continues. If we need anything, I will call you. He dismisses her with a nod and quickly turns his attention to me; clapping his hands together in an exaggerated gesture. Ms. Farris, how wonderful to meet you.

I move towards one of the two seats sitting in front of his desk. When I stand next to the seat to his right and he gestures for me to sit down. Once I’m seated, he re-takes his seat and continues speaking. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to meet with me today. I am intrigued by you and your business.

I take stock of his office. It is an intimidating space filled with sharp lines, black leather, chrome, and steel. I look to the left side of my seat and notice my products set up and prepared for my presentation. I adjust my posture and clear my throat. It’s go time!

Mr. Sinclair, thank you for the warm welcome. I’m excited to dive right in and show you why Ankara Beauty is the number one provider of cosmetics and skincare for Black women.

Mr. Sinclair adjusts in his seat and maintains eye contact. "Yes, please start. I am already inclined to deem your products effective and this pitch a success, Your skin is radiant, and your make-up is