Cheaper to Keep Her (part 1) (16 page)

“
No!” the cabdriver barked. “You pay now or I will call the police!”

“
Oh my God! What did I do to deserve this!” I screamed. With my hands shaking I called Diamond again. I was praying she had some cash to loan me. Before I could place the call, Diamond knocked on the cab window. My shoulders slumped with relief. I was never so happy to see her ass.

“
Diamond, I don’t have enough to pay him and he’s threatening to call the cops. Please, loan me some cash,” It was a pitiful sight. I had gone from high price shopping sprees, high-class spas and exclusive restaurants to begging for cab fucking fare.

“
Girl, you know I got you,” Diamond announced, digging in her purse.

She paid the cabdriver and helped me with my things. As I climbed the old, dirty, worn down stairs to my old apartment, a feeling of depression and shame washed over me. I was right back where I started from, only this time I was worse off. Now I didn’t even have a fucking job to make my own money and Duke had taken all of his money back. Even the money he had rightfully given me was left in the condo when he lifted me up and tossed me out on my ass.

When I got inside the apartment I was even more depressed. I was so used to Duke’s condo with the expensive furniture and beautiful artwork, that the drab, raggedy furniture and old ass walls in the apartment made me feel sick. It looked worse than I had remembered, plus Diamond wasn’t the clean type. When I lived there, I was the one who always kept shit clean. I couldn’t be choosey though, so I just sat my stuff down and flopped down on the couch.

“
So, what the fuck happened?” Diamond asked, sitting on the raggedy recliner across from me. I couldn’t even speak without crying. I relayed the entire story for Diamond.

“
Oh shit, yeah, I heard about the thing with the cars,” Diamond announced. She had just begun her rambling, so I was going to let her finish was once again failing to inform me about some shit.

“
Those stupid muthafuckas tried to sell the parts back to a chop shop that Duke owned,” she continued. “So he caught one of the kids and they told that it was you who had told them to go there and fuck up those cars. Girl, I meant to call you and tell you that I heard that but I was caught up in some dumb shit with Brian.”

I rolled my eyes at her. Truthfully, I wanted to kick her trifling ass but she was the one who took me in. However, she was a trifling bitch at times.

“
Diamond, don’t you think that shit should have been top priority on your list!” I finally opened my mouth in an uproar. “I could’ve fucking gotten away if I had known that Duke knew what was up! I was planning on leaving but he got there before I could get out. He got all the money I been stashing!”

Sometimes I thought she was a damn retard. I loved her but she was dense as hell. If she didn’t already strip for a living, I would recommend her ass to be a fucking stripper.

“
I’m sorry, girl, I been busy,” Diamond apologized. “So, what you gonna do now?” I thought her tone was kind of condescending, like she was a little happy that I had to come back groveling.

“
I’m gonna move back in here and go get my job back. I guess I’m gonna have to make a living somehow,” I lamented.

“
You don’t think Duke is gonna bother you anymore, especially after all the shit you told me you did?” Diamond asked.

“
I don’t know but I can’t afford to just up and leave. I have nothing,” I said sorrowfully. “All those months . . . as a matter of fact . . . a goddamn year and I ain’t got shit to show for it and now Duke is about to get married and publicly humiliate me even more.”

“
Well girl, you win some and you lose some. I guess you better try to get back to work ‘cause ain’t nothing going on but the rent up in this camp here,” Diamond said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes at her. That was what I had to look forward to. This bitch throwing my failed relationship back up in my face, especially because I had given her such a hard time about her no good ass man over the years.

You win some and you lose some. What kind of bullshit was that? And it was bullshit!

“
Well, you can go back to your old room. Lucky thing I didn’t let Shayla move in yet. Now I’ma have to tell that bitch she gotta find some place to live. But anything for you boo,” Diamond said, walking over and hugging me.

“
This shit ain’t over Diamond. I’m telling you I can’t just let go like this . . . not this easily,” I told her. “I have to bring this nigga to his knees. The shit I did wasn’t enough. I’m gon’ have to find a way to completely ruin him.”

“
Just be careful. I wouldn’t be able to handle coming to your funeral now,” Diamond laughed.

But I knew her she was dead serious. What she didn’t realize was a fool is born every day and the day I was born, I wasn’t that fool. However, I couldn’t say the same for Mr. Duke Carrington.

You win some, you lose some
.
Fuck that bitch, I planned on winning.

Cheaper to Keep Her Unique

Chapter 21—This Can’t Be Life

I lay around the apartment for a week feeling so depressed that I hardly wanted to get out of bed to eat and wash my ass.

Diamond was doing her usual in and out act. Sometimes I believed that bitch was really on some kind of drugs. Hell, who could stay up four straight days and then crash like that? She was acting like a real crack head. The reason I knew was because my own mother was one and that was her M.O., modus operandi, doing that same bullshit.

Plus, we knew countless dancers in the game who couldn’t help themselves. Those who got hooked on something needed drugs or alcohol to take the edge off. Marijuana was a good drug to get hooked on but for most that didn’t do a damn thing. If anything, it gave them the munchies and they gained weight. Alcohol cut the edge but that induced sleep.

Nope, the hard shit, crack, was the drug that sharpened the senses in the worst way. First, it kept you on your feet for hours and days on end. Then it helped you to crash and crash hard. Finally, it made you paranoid as a whore in an unguarded prison with men who haven’t seen a woman in twenty years.

However, Diamond and I had made a pact to never do drugs. It was especially important since we were working in a strip club, the number one venue for getting hooked on something to cut the edge.

As much as I loved Diamond, I didn’t have time to worry about her. I hoped like hell she had her shit together.

I finally pulled myself together. Enough that I decided I would go and try to get my old job back. I borrowed Diamond’s car while she was asleep of course, and drove over to the Magic City. I took a deep breath when I parked the car. I had to get ready to throw myself at Neeko’s mercy and beg for my old bartending job back. Hell, I’m sure throwing myself on the mercy of the court would have been easier than throwing myself at the mercy of Neeko. Unfortunately, bartending was the only thing I knew how to do to make some money. When I walked in the club, I got more than my fair share of stares and snickers. Still, I held my head high and ignored them.

I went to Neeko’s office and knocked on the door. He yelled come in before he knew who it was at the door. When Neeko looked up from his desk and saw that it was me, his facial expression went cold. He squinted his eyes and twisted his mouth. Not a good sign.

“
What’s up, Neeko? How you been?” I said, plastering a fake smile on my face. It was phony but I knew I had to try to get on his good side. I had essentially left the club high and dry without a good bartender. Duke had me so convinced I wouldn’t ever need to work that I didn’t even give Neeko the courtesy to call and quit.

“
What the fuck you want?the fuck Neeko grumbled, puffing on his stink ass cigar. I fanned my hand in front of my face to swipe away the stink smoke.

“
Um . . . I was wondering if I could just go back to work. I know what happened was kind of fucked up and all but you know I’m good at what I do . . . I really, really need this Neeko,” I said, begging without shame.

“
Naw, I don’t need nobody else. I got a new bartender and she’s fine as shit and she don’t gimme no lip,” Neeko said dismissively.

“
C’mon Neeko, I’m willing to share shifts. I’m willing to stay all the way until the last customer leaves. Anything, I just need a job,” I begged some more. I was on the brink of tears and I was fighting hard not to cry.

“
Naw, Lynise. I can’t fuck with you right now,” Neeko said with finality.

I stood there in shock for a minute. I guess I always thought I could just keep getting my way in life. I never thought I’d be on the desperate side of shit.

“
You can be one of my strippers if you want. I always wanted to see that apple ass without clothes,” Neeko said, blowing more cigar smoke in my direction.

I started coughing and gagging. “Fuck you Neeko! I ain’t never taking off my clothes for a bastard like you!” I spat. As I turned to leave, Neeko called after me.

“
Lynise! You might as well strip ‘cause ain’t much else you can do in these parts. Somebody done seen to that.”

I flipped him the bird and stomped out of his office. I had no idea what the fuck he was talking about.

I peeled out of the parking lot in Diamond’s car. “Fuck Neeko! There’s more than one club in the Tidewater area! I’m gonna be alright! I’m a damned good bartender.” I drove to the next strip club.

When I got inside, the owner also dismissed me. He said some shit like he couldn’t work with me even if he wanted to. I didn’t know what the fuck he meant by that bullshit. I told him to kiss my ass and I headed to the next club. Same shit. The owner would hear nothing of hiring me. This shit was starting to really make me suspicious. When I got to the last club on my list I just knew I would get a job. It was owned by a guy named Drew and he and I had gone out way back in the day. I was really embarrassed when I walked into his club and saw his fine ass sitting inside with his iced out chain and pinky ring. I immediately felt small. I fought the feeling because I needed a job badly.

“
What’s up, Drew?” I said, flashing a smile. In my desperation, I tried using my strategy. While I was still in the car, I opened the top buttons on my shirt all the way down to my cleavage. I really was in desperation mode. It is what was is. If I had to show some breasts to get a job, then that’s what I had to do.

“
Ayyy, Lynise. Long time, no see, girl,” Drew said. His enthusiastic reaction was a good sign. I was excited already.

“
Well, you know I must be here for a reason, so let me just get right to it. Drew, I need a job like nobody’s business right now,” I said trying to make myself as seductive as possible. I knew Drew and he was always a little on the perverted side. I probably would’ve even rubbed up on him for a job at this point. Anything except suck his dick.

“
Yeah, baby girl. I heard around town you was kind of down on your luck and shit,” Drew said. When he said that a sharp pain immediately shot through my stomach. That meant all of my business was already getting around the Tidewater area. I was probably the fucking laughing stock.

“
You know shit happens,” I replied, trying to play the shit off. “But I’m also sure you’ve heard I’m the best female bartender around and I bring in the crowds. That’s how good and strong my drinks are.”

“
I heard that but I can’t help you baby girl,” Drew said. He looked kind of hesitant though.

“
Ugh!” I grunted, throwing my hands up. “Why is everybody dismissing me? So what, I had a falling out with my boyfriend, what does that has to do with me mixing fucking drinks!” I barked in frustration.

“
Baby girl, I thought you knew the deal. Listen, I’ma tell you this for ya own good,” Drew said, leaning in closer and whispering. I looked at him strangely, confused. “That nigga Duke Carrington holds a lot of weight in these here streets. He went around everywhere to all the bars across the city telling niggas not to fuck with you. Said you was a thief and couldn’t be trusted. That nigga even threatened that if any of us put you on to a job, he was gon’ have our liquor licenses revoked.

“
You know he got peoples on the fucking board down there at the ABC. That’s how the nigga found out you tried to get his liquor license fucked up. Word is, if so many people didn’t know about you fucking up his business shit, he was gon’ body you.”

This shit made my ears start to ring. I wanted to just scream. Duke was the fucking reason I couldn’t get a job. How dare this bastard. He was trying to play me at my own game. I tried to undo his life so now he was fucking up mine. If I had any kind of fucking sense, I should have been upset that Duke would have me killed if everyone didn’t know how I tried to fuck him up.

“
Ya’ll don’t know the half of it. But thanks for the heads up. I understand all ya’ll little scary ass so-called men let Duke run ya’ll . . . it’s all good,” I snapped at Drew.