Cheaper to Keep Her (part 1)

by Kiki Swinson

  Diamond a Pink Lady with an extra shot of Jamaican 151 rum and passed it to her.

  “Lynise, if he was looking for ass he sure wouldn’t be sitting at the damn bar trying to talk to the

  bartender,” Diamond retorted. “Plus, that nigga is definitely caking off. I’m sure you can see that from

  here.” I heard the seriousness in Diamond’s tone and saw it on her face. I thought about that

  statement and she was right. I looked back at the guy and he was staring straight at me, which

  brought back that hot feeling inside my stomach and chest. Diamond took her drink to the head so

  fast I was shocked. She was definitely acting a little different than her normal self.

  “Anyway, if he was just looking for ass he would be after me . . . the one who shakes her naked

  ass shamelessly every night, not you, the goody two shoes who refuses to take her clothes off

  bartender,” Diamond said sternly. “Now you better let that nigga hol er at you before you find me

  fucking him and col ecting al his paper.” Then she turned and walked away. Her words had hit me like

  a ton of bricks. She had definitely put shit into perspective for me.

  “Ok, your bodyguard is gone now, can I order a drink?” the man cal ed to me. It was clear he was

  not the type to give up. Either that or he real y thought I was Beautiful and he just wanted to get to

  know me. Reluctantly, I went over to him.

  “What can I get you,” I asked, arms folded and head cocked to the side. I was stil displaying my

  attitude, because it had become so routine for me. It was a defense mechanism I had acquired over

  the years. I felt like I had to protect my feelings at al times. I wasn’t down for no bul shit from none of

  these cats in Virginia. Between my fucked up childhood and al the fucked up cats I had been with

  over the years, I was not up for the dumb shit anymore.

  “You can get me your number and a date . . . tomorrow,” the man answered. I rol ed my eyes

  again.

  “No, what kind of drink do you want?” I hissed. This time he didn’t press, he just started talking.

  “Trust me, baby girl, I ain’t your average cat,” he responded immediately. “I see you got much

  attitude and I’m digging that. I’m glad to know you don’t let these dirty strip club niggas hit on you just

  for tips. Believe me, I don’t pick up chicks in strip clubs either. I don’t even frequent these jive ass

  places. I’m only here for my worker’s birthday. The young cats that work for me chose this place. You

  know how it is when you young and horny. Wel , maybe you being a woman you don’t know. But in

  any case, the young dudes chose this place. I can assure you this is the first and last time you wil

  see me in here. I’m a businessman. I damn sure don’t have to buy lap dances and fantasy pussy.”

  His tone was very serious and his attack direct. For some reason, something about the way he

  spoke struck me as sincere. A slight chil came over me. I believed every word that came out of his

  mouth and I liked what he was saying. Everything he had said impressed me. I softened my attitude a

  bit and I found myself involuntarily smiling. I felt kind of dreamy. I heard Diamond’s voice playing in my

  ear as wel . Everything she had said was true . . . if this man wanted quick ass, he wouldn’t be

  pursuing me. Not to mention looking at this fine ass man, with his flawless, smooth caramel skin and

  neatly trimmed beard was making me want to get to know him better. I guess the huge diamond studs

  and iced out pinky ring also helped to sway my attitude.

  He noticed me sizing him up. “I can see your brain working,” he smoothly stated. “It ain’t much to

  think about, Beautiful. I’m not the last two bit nigga that hurt your feelings. I am a man. Al I’m asking for

  is a chance to show you what I’m about.”

  I swal owed hard. That mushy feeling was definitely creeping back up on me. I was so digging the

  fact that he kept cal ing me Beautiful. I thought that was so respectful and gentleman-like. But I can’t

  front. No matter how smooth and fine this stranger was, I was nervous to throw my hat back into the

  dating ring. I had been hurt one too many times.

  “I’m Duke Carrington,” the stranger introduced himself. “Since you seem to need a ful background

  check, here is my card. Look me up on the internet and you wil see just what I do.” He paused with a

  quiet confidence. And he knew it. “Then give me a cal so we can do something tomorrow. You don’t

  look like you need a man, but I damn sure wanna show you what a real man can do . . . Beautiful.”

  Then he stood up from the bar. He placed two fresh and crisp one hundred dol ar bil s down and

  looked me directly in my eyes. “Make sure you cal me. Um . . . I didn’t get your name,” he said

  quizzical y. His eye contact was causing me to have hot flashes.

  “Lynise,” I said, almost whispering. Shit, for a few seconds, I forgot my own name. I was so in awe

  of how smooth this cat was.

  “I think I wil keep cal ing you Beautiful, it fits you so much better than Lynise,” Duke the stranger

  said. And with that, he walked away from the bar.

  And I watched every step he took.

  Cheaper to Keep Her Unique

  Chapter 3-Sugar Daddy

  “Lynise Aaliyah Washington would you just pick up your damn cel phone and cal the man already!”

  Diamond yel ed at me.

  We had just finished looking Duke up on the web. He had been right when he told me about

  himself. He was a wel -known businessman in the Virginia Beach area. You name it, he was into it: real

  estate, landscaping, a few car washes, a couple of barbershops and beauty salons. Duke was a real

  entrepreneur. I read up on al his business ventures, but for some reason his style and swagger stil

  made me feel that he was into something il egal. It was just a gut feeling I had.

  “Give me that damn number then. I’l make a date with the nigga while Brian ass is laid up in the

  hospital useless as shit with broken ribs,” Diamond said jokingly. At least, I think she was joking.

  “Ok . . . ok . . . I’m gonna cal him. He wanted to see me today and whatever we do has to be early

  before I gotta be at the club for work,” I told Diamond.

  “Girl, fuck the club and Neeko! You ’bout to become the wife of a rich man and get us both up

  outta this hood,” Diamond sang, laughing afterwards. She seemed in much better spirits and more like

  herself than she had been in a while. I guess that was because that bum ass Brian was out of her life

  for a minute.

  After a few more minutes of going back and forth with Diamond, I final y picked up the phone and

  cal ed Duke’s number. When his sexy voice filtered through the phone I closed my eyes. Diamond

  was making al kinds of faces. I could feel her presence.

  Duke and I spoke for a few minutes and he agreed to pick me up. I gave him the address of the

  Marriott that was a few miles away from my apartment. I wasn’t ready to let his ass know where I

  lived just yet. Duke said he would pick me up at five o’clock. That only left me an hour and a half to

  get ready. When I was sure he was off the phone I turned to Diamond with a panicked look on my

  face.

  “Ok Miss Bitch, I took your advice and cal ed him, but now the nigga wil be here in an hour. What

  the fuck am I gonna put on and do with my hair!” I yel ed at my best friend. “That is not enough time to

  get something done and find something at th
e mal to wear.”

  “Girl, please. You know you got Indian in your family,” Diamond joked, putting her hand up against

  her mouth mocking an Indian cal . We both busted out laughing. But my expression turned serious. I

  wasn’t one to panic, but I felt some mild anxiety coming on.

  “Seriously Diamond, what am I gonna do with my hair and what wil I wear with a man like that,” I

  said, getting back to the issue at hand. “Not like he is one of these regular slouches from around here.

  ”

  “Lynise, your hair is long and beautiful, put some water and gel in that shit and wear it curly,”

  Diamond told me, her voice of reassurance. “See, now look at my shit, this is gotta-have-a-perm hair.”

  She playful y patted her hair. “Not you. You got that curly girl shit and besides, I love when you take

  your hair down out of that ratty ass ponytail you wear al the time.”

  I looked in the mirror at my reflection. Maybe Diamond was right. A little water, some gel, some

  make up and one of her hot outfits and I’d be set for my date with the businessman.

  It took me close to an hour to get ready. I chose a black, fitted pencil skirt, a white col ared shirt,

  which I left unbuttoned al the way down to my cleavage, and a threw on a pair of red pumps. Not too

  dress down and not too dress up.

  “How does this look?” I asked Diamond as I tugged at my skirt.

  “Nini, you look so gorgeous. I haven’t seen you dressed up in a minute,” Diamond said, faking like

  she was wiping tears of joy from her eyes. Her ass was hilarious and I enjoyed when we got a

  chance to spend time together like this.

  “Your ass is sil y!” I exclaimed, laughing at her. Diamond had hooked up my make-up. The fire red

  lipstick was taking some getting used to. I usual y wore tans and browns on my lips, because my

  complexion was a bit light for the red stuff. Diamond had succeeded once again in convincing me that

  the red lipstick was the right touch for my outfit. I took her advice, of course. If there was anybody I

  trusted with fashion sense, it was Diamond.

  I paced the sidewalk outside the Marriot waiting on Duke. I hated that I was there before him. I

  wondered if that would make me look thirsty or desperate in his eye. Usual y the man had to wait on

  the woman, but being that Duke was such a classy businessman, I didn’t want to have him waiting.

  I stopped walking for a minute because my feet were already kil ing me in the pumps Diamond

  had loaned me. Cheap shoes were a bitch to wear. Just as I folded my arms impatiently and shifted

  my body weight from one foot to the other, I noticed a beautiful sleek, silver Porsche 911 pul ing into

  the hotel’s driveway. My heart started hammering in my chest like a bass drum. The windows were

  darkly tinted so I wasn’t even sure it was Duke, but my gut told me that it was him. Sure enough, he

  slowly rol ed down the passenger side window and leaned down so he could see me. He was

  flashing that sexy ass smile again.

  “Hey Beautiful, you ready to go?” Duke sang out. I smiled back. I had told myself I would let my

  guard al the way down with Duke. I wanted to give him a chance. I wanted to give myself a chance to

  be treated like a woman should be treated by a real man.

  I climbed into the car and I immediately recognized the scent of my favorite men’s cologne

  —Platinum Chanel. I knew right then and there that if Duke played his cards right, he could have me,

  in every sense of the word.

  “Beautiful you look so gorgeous tonight,” Duke complimented me. I smiled and thanked him. “I

  have something real special planned for you. I know you work hard as hel at that little club, so a

  woman that works that hard also deserves to relax and play just as hard.”

  I was quiet. Sitting next to a man who was nothing but a gentleman, smel ing good, in a hot ass

  whip and looking like real money. I was in heaven. I just needed a minute to take it al in.

  Little old me, a girl from the hood that had been treated like shit since she was a kid. My mother

  and father were fucked up and I had knocked around Virginia living with various family members. I

  used to run away al the time and I thought hustling, street niggas were gonna save me from my life on

  the streets. I was wrong.

  When I met Diamond, she was going through the same shit. We instantly hit it off and got an

  apartment together. She put me on to the Magic City and Neeko had tried to get me to strip. I just

  couldn’t do that shit. So I started mixing drinks and became a ful -time bartender.

  Duke’s car rode smoothly down the streets. I couldn’t feel the bumps on the road. That told me

  the car was straight luxury. Duke was playing nice, easy going music and he was talking up a storm. I

  answered him if he asked me a question, but I didn’t make much conversation. I was just taking it al

  in.

  When we pul ed up to the Virginia Beach Elegance Spa my mouth dropped open. This place was

  one of the top, high-class spas in our area and mostly rich people and celebrities frequented it.

  “Oh my goodness. I can’t let you take me here, Duke,” I gasped. I knew the place costs at least a

  stack for just a massage. I looked over at him with my eyes stretched wide.

  “Nonsense,” he replied. “The entire staff inside knows me. They’re expecting you, Beautiful. Don’t

  worry, when you get inside they wil take your clothes and hang them up. I selected the super deluxe

  package for you and it includes everything they offer. And that is only the beginning of our day, baby.”

  I smiled.

  “I told you when fuck with me and you would see what it was al about,” he said as he climbed out

  of his car.

  I started getting out, but he knocked on the window and put his hand up tel ing me to stop. I was

  confused and I shrunk back down into the seat looking at him like he was crazy. That’s when I saw

  him coming around to my side of the car. He opened the door for me and stretched out his hand for

  me to take so he could help me get out.

  “A real man opens doors for his woman,” Duke said smoothly. I was screaming inside of my head.

  I swear Duke could’ve had my pussy right then and there with that shit.

  When I emerged from the spa I felt like a new woman. The massage was relaxing and my face felt

  silky and smooth from the sugar scrub facial I had received. Duke was waiting front and center for

  me.

  “You look gorgeous as ever, baby.” he complimented, extending his arms for a hug. I walked up to

  him, embraced and squeezed him tightly. I was had. At that moment, I could’ve stayed in his arms al

  day and night.

  “Thank you for everything. It was so nice and relaxing. I realize now why people with money

  always look so good. It’s this kind of treatment that keeps them on point,” I admitted, letting go of his

  broad shoulders so I could look into his face. I wasn’t into fronting. Duke knew I was a struggling

  bartender and I wasn’t trying to front like I was anything other.

  “It doesn’t stop there, baby. We are on our way to the next phase of the plan I have for you,” he

  said.

  Damn! There was more! I thought to myself. This man had already spent some serious cake on

  me. What else did he have in store? We got back in the car and pul ed out of the spa’s parking lot.

  “There can’t be more. You’ve done enough already,” I said and I was serious.

  “Beauti
ful, you need to eat, right? This place we’re going to is swanky and nice. I’m a gentleman, I

  would never send you home hungry,” Duke said laughing.

  He whipped his ride down the highway and I kept looking at him out of the corner of my eyes. He

  was so damn fine. We pul ed into a cozy little restaurant and went inside. They seemed to know him

  inside. Why wasn’t I not surprised? The waitress had me a little vexed the way she kept saying his

  name with this seductive little voice. That immediately made me suspicious that maybe Duke had

  something going on with her in the past.

  Why are you jealous? You are here with him and she is serving you, I thought to myself, putting my

  mind at ease.

  “What’s wrong? You look a little distant,” Duke asked me.

  “Nothing. I’m fine,” I answered, trying my best to put my suspicious thoughts out of my head.

  “Good, because I have one more thing planned for you before I take you home,” he told me. I

  almost dropped my fork when he said he had yet another thing planned for me.

  “You’ve done more than enough Duke,” I said bashful y. Honestly, I didn’t want him to stop. My

  indifference was getting the best of me. I didn’t want him to think I was a sistah that wanted him to

  keep doing more and more for me.

  “I already told you, I planned our day down to the hour,” he replied. “It’s al good, baby. Trust me.”

  And I did just that. I final y put my defenses al the way down and made myself trust Mr. Duke

  Carrington, businessman.

  After lunch, Duke drove me al the way to the mal near the Pentagon in northern Virginia. I was

  shocked yet again. I didn’t shop at that mal . I wasn’t modest. I couldn’t afford to shop at that mal .

  The mal had high-end stores such as Burberry and Saks Fifth Avenue. Diamond and I always talked

  about one day being able to shop at places like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus on the

  regular. I smirked to myself thinking about my fantasy of a personal shopper showing me dresses

  that cost a stack and better.

  “This is the last phase of my plan for us, baby,” Duke informed me. “I want you to go inside and

  get the prettiest dress and shoes you can find. I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow and you need the