Read Cheaper to Keep Her (part 1) for Free Online

Alexander McQueen, Versace or Herve Leger dress in my life. Caroline also brought out about thirty pairs of shoes, most of them were Christian Louboutin, the red bottoms I had heard Oprah Winfrey talk about and saw her wear on all of her shows.
    “ Damn! Beautiful, you look amazing in that shit,” Duke exclaimed when I finally came out in a crimson Herve Leger bandage dress. He made me blush. I whirled around for him in the tight fitted dress that looked like somebody had poured me into it.
    “ That’s the one, Beautiful . . . that is definitely the one,” Duke said excitedly. That was enough for me. I went back into the fitting room and took it off. I gave it to Caroline and she and Duke rang up the dress and a pair of hot red bottoms. I came to the register just in time to see that he had paid $800 for the dress and $695 for the shoes. I felt a little nervous letting a man spend that kind of paper on me. I started thinking that Duke might expect something in return. I mean we were in a recession and this man was spending that kind of money on me. I couldn’t lie to myself though, I was damn sure glad Diamond had convinced me to go out with him. Even if shit didn’t work out for the long haul, this one date was well worth it.
    “ Here you go, baby,” Duke said, handing me my bags. “All yours,” he smiled.
    “ Oh my goodness, Duke, I cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful first date,” I said and gave him a hug and a kiss on his cheek. I released him just in time to see Caroline smirking. I rolled my eyes at the old white bag. I told myself that bitch was just jealous. Maybe she wanted Duke too, just like the fucking waitress did.
    “ So you want me to drop you back at the Marriot or to where you live,” Duke said snidely as we pulled back around my neighborhood.
    “ Well . . . um . . . you can take me home. The reason I—” I started to explain, but Duke cut me off.
    “ Baby, it’s all good. I was real happy when you didn’t give me your address right away. That told me you were smarter than most of these chicks out here,” Duke interjected. I felt a sense of relief that he understood. Then I told him my address.
    Duke pulled up in front of my apartment complex and I prepared to leave the car. He leaned over and kissed me softly on my cheek. I almost fucking melted inside.
    “ I will see you tomorrow night when you put that dress on,” he said in a low whisper. I wanted to tongue him down so badly. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
    “ Yes, I will see you tomorrow. Thank you again for a more than wonderful day,” I said softly. Then I kissed him back, also on the cheek.
    I exited the car and flew up the stairs to my apartment. I rushed inside and called out for Diamond. “Diamond! Dee, you here?” I hollered. I raced into her bedroom but it was empty. Then I looked at the cable box, it was nine o’clock. Diamond was probably at the club already, I reasoned. Then it dawned on me that I hadn't called Neeko to let him know I was going to be late for fucking work.
    “ Shit!” I cursed myself and went to pick up my cell phone. I dialed Diamond’s cell first. I wanted her to tell me if Neeko had asked for me or find out what kind of mood he was in. Diamond’s phone went straight to voicemail. “She must be on the damn phone with that bastard Brian,” I mumbled.
    I clicked off and went to dial Diamond’s number again. I flopped down on our raggedy couch and started to press send on my phone. Suddenly, I looked over at the Saks bag and said fuck it. I didn’t bother to call Diamond again. I figured I would just see her when she got home. I was no longer worried about Neeko’s ass. “I will just show up tomorrow if I feel like it. Neeko don’t be paying a bitch anyway and those fucking tips suck nowadays,” I told myself.
    I picked up my Saks bag and put on my new shoes and strutted around my apartment feeling like a star.
    “I might just be quitting that fucking job soon anyway, when