“I might just be quitting that fucking job soon anyway, when I become Mrs. Duke Carrington,” I said out loud, smiling from ear to ear.
Cheaper to Keep Her Unique
Chapter 4—She’s Coming Home With Me
I had fallen asleep waiting up for Diamond.
When I got up the next day, she was knocked out sleeping and I figured she had a hard night at the club, so I chose not to wake her. As bad as I wanted to shake her ass and show her the dress and the shoes, I didn’t bother. I had some running around to do since I knew Duke was taking me out that night. This time, I wanted to accent the dress with the perfect hairdo, so I called up my girls at the Beauty R Us Hair and Nail Salon and told my hairdresser I was coming. I knew it was going to be an all day affair because the hair salon was more like a social gathering.
I took a shower and threw on a Juicy sweat suit. I checked in on Diamond and she was still out like a light. I scribbled a note down telling her to call me on my cell when she got up and then I grabbed my purse and headed out.
When I got to the salon, I noticed a missed call from Duke. I smiled wide. It was so good that he had been the first to call after our date and not me. Duke was showing so much damn husband potential I couldn’t take it.
I immediately called him back while I sat in the car waiting for my hairdresser to summon me inside.
“Hey, Beautiful,” he answered. I couldn’t help but smile. He told me to be ready by seven-thirty, which gave me plenty of time to get my hair done, shower and get dressed. I told him I would be ready when he got there.
When I got home from the hair salon, Diamond had already gotten up and left the house. “Damn! Why she ain’t call me back? I know she had to see all the missed calls from me,” I grumbled to myself. I started getting my shit ready to get dressed. Then I thought about how the hell I was going to do my make-up without Diamond. Shaking my head, I picked up the phone and tried her one last time. Her phone went straight to voicemail once again. “Diamond, it’s me. Call my cell as soon as you get this message,” I said with attitude.
I got dressed for my date with Duke and I was starting to get real worried about Diamond. Even after my message she still had not called me back. I had called her at least ten times. Sometimes it rang but most times it went straight to voicemail. I kept looking at my watch hoping she would come home before I had to leave. I lied to myself and said primarily because she had skills in the make-up department, but I was worried about her as well.
I pranced around the apartment for a while in my new dress and shoes and I had to admit that I looked damned good. Finally, it was time for Duke to pick me up. I was forced to put on my own make-up and Diamond never came home to tell me how I looked. “Oh well, Diamond, I tried to wait for your ass. I’m gonna curse you out when I see you,” I said out loud as if Diamond was there. Really, I was trying to appease myself. I was pissed with her. I knew for sure her neglect had something to do with Brian. He was probably out of the hospital and taking up all of her time. At least that’s what I told myself.
When Duke pulled up to my complex, I was peeking out of my window. I looked at my watch and decided I would make him wait for a good five or ten minutes before I came outside. It was a little payback for him making me wait the day before. Besides, I wanted to make a grand appearance, so me waiting outside was not an option.
I let my grace period pass and then I headed outside. When I emerged in the parking lot, Duke rolled his window down and whistled, which caused me to smile.
“Mmm, mmm, mmm, Beautiful, you look sexy in that dress,” Duke called out to me as I made my way to the car. He had gotten out and opened my door.
“Thank you, Mr. Carrington,” I commented, as I slid into my seat. Duke kept giving me compliments as he drove to the restaurant. I think he must’ve made me blush fifty times.
We pulled up to the Melting Pot, one of the most expensive restaurants in Virginia Beach. Once again, Duke was about to do it big. He drove his Porsche 911 up to the valet stand and stopped. This time I waited in my seat until he opened the door for me. He helped me out and held my hand while he gave his keys to the valet guy. Duke didn’t let my hand go the entire time it took us to walk into the Melting Pot and get our table. Once at the table, he pulled out my chair and pushed it up to the table once I sat down.
We began our nice, quiet and romantic dinner with a toast to us. The expensive champagne caused a tingling in my throat and eased my mind. I must’ve had five glasses of champagne before we completed dinner. I was tipsy as hell by the time the valet brought the car around. I was holding onto Duke’s muscular arm for dear life.
“You ok?” he asked me.
“I’m fine,” I lied. I really didn’t drink like that so the champagne had snuck up on me. Once the car came, we drove and I didn’t even ask Duke where we were going. I just rested my head back on the headrest and went along with whatever else he had planned.
I had my eyes closed when we finally stopped moving. “Beautiful, we’re here,” Duke said, touching the side of my face gently. I popped my eyes open, embarrassed that I had drifted off. I looked out the window and noticed a huge house in front of me. I looked over at Duke with a confused look on my face. He started chuckling.
“This is my house,” he said.
I relaxed a bit. I was still kind of out of it, but my buzz was wearing off a little bit. I followed Duke into his grand home. The shit was off the chain. I estimated in my head that the house had to be at least 3,000 square feet. We started walking through it and I noticed immediately all of the expensive furniture, artwork and home décor. Once we were in his living room, I looked out the huge glass bay window and noticed the beach. Duke had one of the coveted nicest properties in Virginia Beach. “This is nice,” I said, staring out the window.
“This is only one of my homes,” Duke volunteered. “I don’t stay here most of the time. I have a few places here and there.”
He sat down on an all-white leather couch and put his feet up on a glass coffee table. “Come over here and sit with me,” Duke instructed, patting a spot on the couch next to him. I turned around from the window and smiled at him.
“Gladly,” I said seductively. I eased onto the couch next to Duke and he wrapped his strong arm around my shoulder and pulled me as close to him as I could go. I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked me.
I lifted my head a little, so I could look at him. “No,” I said and paused. He crinkled his face. “I had a wonderful, magnificent, awesome time,” I said, then I let a big smile spread across my face. Duke’s face eased into a smile.
“Whew, you had me scared there for a minute,” he said jokingly, acting like he was wiping sweat off his forehead. We sat there for a few minutes like that. Then Duke excused himself and left the room for a minute. He came back with just his wife beater holding a chilled bottle of champagne and two flutes. I couldn’t stop staring at his ripped abs and beautiful chest through his undershirt. He knew his ass was fine too.
Duke placed the flutes down and poured us each a glass of champagne. I started to tell him no, but I didn’t want to rock the boat. We were having such a great time together. I picked up my flute and he did the same. We each took a sip and Duke busted out laughing at my reaction to the bubbly. “This expensive shit takes some getting used to,” he smirked.
After two glasses of the strong bubbly, I was feeling my head sway once again. Duke moved real close to me and took the flute out of my hand. My heart was beating uncontrollably as I felt his body heat next to me. He put the flute on the coffee table and turned back to me. I didn’t know what to do. Duke reached out and grabbed my face in his hands and brought it close to his. Instinctively, I closed my eyes. Duke placed his sweet tasting lips on top of mine and we began kissing savagely. He tasted so good. I could feel myself growing hot and my pussy getting wet. Duke moved in closer and I could feel his dick hard against my pelvis. We continued kiss
ing. Then Duke put his hand on my breast through my dress and squeezed slightly. I let out a short gasp. My mind started to clear. I started getting nervous. Somewhere in my mind I was back in high school attempting to have sex for the first time. Duke’s hands were starting to travel to different places on my body and that made me uneasy, but brought me back to the here and now. My buzz was fading rapidly. When Duke started unzipping my dress, I pushed him off me.
He stopped abruptly.
I sat up and wiped my lips. Then I stood up and pulled my dress back down over my hips as it had ridden all the way up during our hot patting session.
“What’s wrong, Beautiful?” Duke asked, sounding kind of out of breath. I knew he was horny and ready to fuck. “Nothing. It’s just early for—” I started.
“Baby, whether you give it to me the first time or the tenth time, I am a gentleman,” Duke said, interrupting me in mid-sentence in his attempt to convince me it would be all right.
“Well, I’m not one of those easy chicks. I’d rather wait,” I told him. I was still standing up.
He reached out and pulled me back down to him. It was as if he wasn’t trying to take no for an answer. Duke roughly put his mouth on top of mine again and forced his tongue into my mouth. This time it didn’t taste as good as the first time. I felt as if he was trying to choke me. I started squirming and then I forcefully pushed him. I couldn’t move his muscular body, but he eventually got the picture and stopped holding me down. I stood up again. Between the effects of the champagne and my heavy breathing from trying to get Duke off me, I felt a little dizzy. I staggered away from him.
“Beautiful, I’m sorry. I’m just feeling you so much,” he explained. I softened when he said that.
“I just don’t want to do it right now, Duke. Please understand,” I said. I wanted him to respect me. He could say whatever he wanted to say, if I had let him fuck me so soon he wouldn’t want to make me his wifey. I was trying to be somebody’s wife, not go through another quick, slam-bam-thank you ma’am relationship.
Duke was quiet. He looked like he was disappointed. I wanted to rush over to him and beg him to understand but I stood my ground instead. I was almost sure he probably had women all over Virginia, but I wanted to win him over. I wanted to be with him for the long haul if it was meant to be. If I had given in to him that early, I knew that would be the kiss of death for my chances at being his number one.
“Duke, are you ok?” I asked as I picked up my purse.
“I’m good. I will take you home as soon as my head clears a little bit,” he said flatly. I could tell he was really disappointed by the situation.
“It’s all good. I can take a cab home. I have to go anyway. Diamond doesn’t have her keys and I need to let her in the house,” I lied. I needed to get the heck out of there as fast as possible before I gave in to him. I wanted him but I had to stand pat. To give in would be the end of my dream.
Surprisingly, Duke didn’t argue with me. Instead, he was good enough to call me a cab. He tried to give me money for the cab, but since I was the one who insisted on taking a cab, I refused his money. He grabbed my purse and pushed the money inside. I was glad. Truth be told, from where Duke lived to where I lived was going to be expensive and I had only brought forty dollars with me.
When the cab arrived, I told Duke good night. He didn’t try to kiss me or anything. I hung my head and walked to the cab.
I looked back at Duke when the cab pulled out of his driveway. He was still watching me, which told me although he was disappointed that I didn’t give it up, he was probably impressed with the fact that he would have to work hard to get me.
I wanted to be a lady of class for him.
Cheaper to Keep Her Unique
Chapter 5—Some People Hate
I dialed Diamond’s phone as soon as I got in the cab.
Diamond finally answered her damn phone. “What’s up? Where the hell you been at?” I yelled into the receiver, causing the cab driver to look at me funny. I frowned at his ass and continued with my conversation. Diamond gave me some lame ass excuse about she was at the club, then she went here and there. The bottom line after all the bullshit was that she was caught up with Brian because he had gotten out of the hospital.
“Well, I forgive you this time. But don’t do that shit again! You had me fucking worried like hell,” I chastised. Diamond promised not to disappear like that. Then she asked me for all of the details about me and Duke.
“Diamond, you don’t understand how much I am feeling this nigga,” I told her. I could tell by the screeching in the phone that Diamond was excited for me. She made me smile.
I told her all about the spa, lunch, shopping, the dress and all of it. She told me she had seen the Saks bags. Then I told her about what had just happened with Duke. “Girl, I feel so guilty not giving him some after all the shit he did for me these last two days,” I said sadly.
“Don’t you feel guilty girl. He can wait and the longer you make him wait, the more respect he gon’ have for that ass,” Diamond told me sternly.
“You think so?” I questioned, sounding unsure. I was usually the one giving her advice and now I was so sprung over Duke the tables had turned.
“Yes! Nini, listen to ya girl. If I were you, I would make him wait two more fucking dates. If a nigga really wants you, he will wait,” Diamond told me. I was listening to her and I loved her for making me feel better. But after seeing Duke sit back on his couch with a hard dick and an attitude, I didn’t know how much longer I could make him wait for the pussy before he would just move on to the next one. Duke was powerful and had money, which meant he could have any bitch anywhere.
Diamond and I spoke for almost my entire ride home. She promised me she would be in the house when I got there and we would continue our conversation.
I paid the cab driver and climbed the stairs to my apartment. As soon as I got near the door, I heard a loud commotion coming from inside. I couldn’t get my key out fast enough. That’s when I heard Diamond screaming. With my hands shaking, I finally got the key in the door and pushed the door open. I heard another loud scream coming from Diamond’s bedroom and then a bunch of thumping and banging.
“What the fuck!” I gasped. I kicked off my pumps and ran to Diamond’s door. It was locked. “Diamond! Diamond, open the door!” I screamed banging on the door. She screamed again, this time I heard her pleading for Brian to stop.
“This muthafucka!” I screamed, banging my body up against the door. That shit didn’t budge. I started kicking the door frantically and screaming. Finally, the door banged open. I saw Brian choking Diamond and then he slapped her across her face.
“Bitch, you stole my fucking drugs!” he barked and hit her again.
I raced into the room and jumped right on Brian’s back. “Get off her you fucking bitch ass nigga!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Brian let go of Diamond and tried to get me off his back. Diamond was on the floor gasping for air. “Get the fuck off me, you ugly bitch!” Brian said to me, as he spun around trying to get me off of him. I dug my nails into his neck and slid off him. I then punched and kicked him. He tried to grab my wrists but I was too fast for his ass. He swung on me but miss. My dress was all the way up over my hips but I didn’t even care. I was gonna fuck Brian up for putting his hands on my best friend. I was finally sick of his shit.
“You no good piece of shit,” I charged at him again. This time Diamond jumped in the way. She was crying hysterically.
“Lynise! Stop! Don’t hit him no more!” Diamond cried out. That shit stopped me dead in my tracks. I looked at Diamond like she was fucking smoking crack.
“Oh, you protecting this bitch ass nigga after he was in here trying to kill you?” I hollered at her, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
“It’s my fault Lynise. Just stay out of it,” Diamond said firmly. Her words were like a slap in my face. I couldn’t understand what this bitch could possibly see in this nigga, especially
now that he was beating her ass.
“You are a stupid ass if you stay with his bitch nigga and let him beat on you Diamond!” I tried screaming wisdom in her dense mind. “You’re right, it ain’t none of my fucking business, just don’t call me when this no good ass bum tries to kill your ass again!”
“Just get out! Everybody ain’t like the rich nigga you fucking with! You better not forget where you came from!” Diamond screamed back in response.
I couldn’t believe her words. She sounded like a jealous enemy instead of my best friend. I was shut down. I pulled my dress down and backed out of her room. “Let that nigga kill you then,” I said out of anger. I knew I didn’t mean it, but I was fucking seething mad.
Diamond slammed the door in my face and left me standing outside of her room. I was devastated by her treatment. From then on, I started living for Lynise. I took on a fuck it attitude. Diamond would just have to make her own way. She was right . . . there weren’t many men out there like Duke and I was going to make sure I kept him.
Cheaper To Keep Her Unique
Chapter 6—Streets Are Talking
I had a lot of shit on my mind the next day after the dust up with Diamond and Brian.
To top it off, I had not heard from Duke. He hadn't answered my calls all day. I was starting to feel like I had messed up a good thing just because I didn’t give him some ass. I decided to call Neeko and beg him to let me come to the Magic City to work. I hadn't shown up in the two days that I went out with Duke. Yeah, I had to admit that I got a bit carried away thinking he was going to take care of me and I didn’t need to work. In any case, Neeko was glad to let me come in to work because he said mad customers had been complaining about weak drinks while I wasn’t there. I was glad to hear that my boss appreciated the way I worked.
I was so excited that I left the house without knocking on Diamond’s door to ask her if she wanted to ride with me. Now that Brian was around she was probably going to be missing work anyway. When I got to the club, shit looked slow. It was late and there was only about half of the regular customers there. I slid behind the bar and prepared myself to work. When I got settled in I looked out into the crowd and noticed J-Rock, a dude I had grown up with and kicked it with off and on for years. He was bopping over to the bar. I smiled and he smiled back.
Cheaper to Keep Her (part 1) Page 4