Page 118 of Their Courtesan
Chapter 29
JUDITH
It was the first Friday in a long time in which Judith had no obligations until the evening. When the personal stylist from New York heard this, she insisted on coming down that day.
Judith had been touched by stylists before. Clients loved to spoil her with spa days and trips to famous boutiques all over the world. Since coming to the Château, Judith wasn’t allowed to go out with anyone but her patron, but clients could gift her experiences for her to cash in the next time she went somewhere on her own – or with her patron, not that he had to know.One time Mitch took me to Montreal and I spent my day off getting shitfaced at a club another client paid for me to go to… because I know how to spank his balls and tell him he’s a sick shit.It was a delicate balancing act for everyone involved.
Now she stood in her bedroom, having some middle-aged woman and her entourage of three men poking, prodding, and dressing her for a wedding she didn’t even know she was going to until a few days ago.
“More red!” the stylist hollered. “He said no pink!”
Not that Judith wanted to wear pink, but the idea that she had to go by Miguel’s rules… well, he was the boss right now. She would have to keep the eyerolls in check, however. Especially when some bright lavender piece of shit was slapped against her skin. Clearly, red.
“Looks like a damn hurricane in here,” Monica muttered from the doorway once everyone was gone in the late afternoon. Judith wandered around in a silk slip, trying to clean things up in case Miguel came that night. “Should I send a maid in to help you?”
“No thanks.” Judith found a box full of sex toys beneath a red and yellow kimono.Who was going through this?Now she had to disinfect them all again. “To what do I owe this pleasure? Do I have an appointment I should know about?”
“No.” Monica smiled. “Better. You should sit down for this. I received the final bids.”
Judith sat on her couch. “Go on!”
Monica unfolded a piece of paper covered in her handwriting. Notes, calculations… the woman never stopped working. Or writing in code so Judith couldn’t pry into what she was up to.One of these days you’ll have to let me know.Probably when Judith became more owner than employee.
“So? Who is it? Who won the battle of Judith’s Body?”
Monica kept her paper close to her chest. “Do you really want to know?”
“Duh!”
Monica peered at her paper. “They’re pretty astronomical bids. Our previous record has been smashed by almost over a hundred thousand dollars.”
“Holy shit.” Judith couldn’t stop smiling. “We’re both rich!” Monica was already filthy rich thanks to her husband. Judith was about to get richer, though.
For some reason, her boss was not forthcoming with the results. In fact, her countenance turned into a strange look, neither comforting nor critical. “Yes. Both of these men are offering to spend over a million dollars a year on you, gifts not included. Not that I doubt they have the money, but I want to know something fromyou.”
Judith didn’t feel too excited anymore.
“Before I tell you the results,” Monica continued, “I want to ask you one more time if you prefer one of these men over the other.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not playing favorites with them.”
“Duly noted.” Monica sat on the other end of Judith’s couch and peered at her notes once more. “Dr. Christens is offering you a final number of $150,000 a month.”
“Wow.” How far that man had come. From dithering over paying for a blowjob to throwing all his money at her.I really am the best…Whatever the other number was, Judith could clearly claim this as a moment of serious pride. “Miguel?”
“Mr. Bolivar, on the other hand, is offering…” Was she fucking pausing for effect? The nerve! “$200,000 a month.”
“Holy. Shit.”
“I had to look at it twice to make sure that’s what it said. Both offers came via the post to make sure there were no errors.”
“So Miguel is the winner.” Judith stood, relieved to have this over with. She could get back to business… and back to traveling the whole of Europe if she had her way with Miguel. Seth would pout, and then pout again when he realized he was forever doomed to paint nothing but the Château unless he worked something out behind the scenes with Monica, but it wasn’t like abadthing.I get both of my favorite men. They both get me. We now know what the boundaries are.Judith got her cut of $200,000 a month, plus whatever personal gifts Miguel foisted on her. “He’ll probably be by later tonight. Should I tell him the good news? It would probably get me even more money tonight if he wants to celebrate.”
Monica’s expression did not change. “I think it’s best if you don’t mention this. Besides…”
Now what?
“I want to give you time to think this over, anyway.”
