Page 132 of Their Courtesan
Chapter 34
MIGUEL
Miguel had tried to talk himself out of coming multiple times. He had no other reason to be in New York. There was work to do at home. American Independence Day didn’t mean anything to him. Netflix called and said he still had yet to watch the new season ofHouse of Cards.Yet no matter how many excuses he came up with to stay where he belonged in America, he still booked the first flight to JFK he could find.
He had to know.
For the past week Miguel had been driving himself crazy, not only with thoughts of Judith and where he stood with her, but what hereallywanted from her. Of course he wanted the sex and fun and passion. Of course he claimed, both to himself and to her, that he loved her more than he had loved any other woman – even more than Rosa! Yet there was no denying that he spent much of his time sitting with a bottle of whatever, playing whatever Spotify deemed good enough while he stared at his ceiling and wondered what he should do about Judith… and Seth.
I never expected a guy like this to throw the first punch.
Right after Seth finished his speech of gratitude, he met Miguel’s eyes in the back row of the crowd. Miguel turned away and pretended to be fascinated with a woman’s intricate French twist laden with a thin veil of sapphires. What he really wanted to do was stare at Judith. Then again, that’s what everyone there wanted to do. Nobody could take their eyes off her once it was revealed she was the model in these paintings.
The damned paintings. Miguel had only glanced at them on his way in. Once he spotted Judith hanging around Seth, he couldn’t look at anything else.
They looked good together. They were even somewhat coordinated, and people commented on this as if they had planned it. The way Judith brushed her hand against the painter’s arm was not the practiced movement of a professional trying to squeeze more money out of him. It was a genuine touch of affection.
Fuck off with that.
“Oh my God,” Judith gasped ten minutes later, when she was sent to mingle with the crowd. Seth was in another corner with an Asian woman… probably his agent. They were shaking hands with an older man and his younger wife. “Miguel? What are you doing here?”
He forced a smile. Well, “forced” wasn’t how he would put it.I can’t force anything around her. She’s the light of my life.How corny. Yet it didn’t sound corny at all in his head. “How could I miss this? Don’t worry. I won’t bother the man you are with. I wanted to see how it was going.”
Judith, torn between glaring and smiling, gave his arm the same touch she bestowed upon Seth earlier. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you.”
“That said…” Miguel sent a warning stare to a man trying to approach Judith. The guy shuffled off. “Could we speak in private for a moment? There’s something I want to ask you.”
When Judith was satisfied that nobody else wanted her attention – least of all Seth – she finally agreed to go with Miguel. As long as he made it quick. There was only one place for them to talk privately in that large, broad room. Although partitioned off with many cream-colored walls, there were not many nooks and crannies not already occupied by someone. This left a small alcove in the far back of the gallery, beyond the paintings, the lights, and even the closets. Miguel kept an eye out for anyone following them. So far, so good.
“What is this about?” Judith stood up straight against a dark wall. It didn’t matter how little light there was in there. Miguel could still see the warm dark gray of her sweater dress and every golden part of her illuminated in the shadows.I love this woman so much all I want to do is…No. He wouldn’t. First things were first. Besides, did he really want to pull what Seth did when Judith was supposed to be on a date with Miguel? “It must be important, if you can’t wait another week.”
Her words were harsh, but her tone soft. Miguel didn’t mind if she was brusque with him as long as she used that tone.True definition of love.
At any rate, next weekend was when they were supposed to formally start their new business relationship. Monica was going to send over Miguel’s copy of the contract as soon as the holiday weekend finished. That wasn’t what Miguel wanted to talk about.
“Like I said, I wanted to come see what kind of paintings this man has done of you. The one in your bedroom isn’t good enough,mi amour.I wanted to see if he really loves you as much as I do.”
“Well?” Judith put both hands on her hips. “Does he?”
“It certainly seems like he cares for you.”
“Hmph.” Now her arms crossed. “You do love to say how much you love me, Miguel. Yet so does he. You get used to such things in this business.”
Miguel finally said what he intended all along. “Do you love me, Judith? Will you really tell me that after everything… you don’t love me back?” He had heard her at the wedding, but who knew what she meant by that. Besides, he was in a bit of a daze from Seth’s fierce right swing.The man works out more than it looks.
For the first time since he met her, Judith looked… scared. Frightened.Maligned.She refused to meet Miguel’s eyes as she bit her lip and stared at the floor. “I care for you very much,” she finally relented. “You’re one of the best clients I’ve ever had. I think you’re going to be the best patron a girl like me could ever ask for.”
“Forget that shit for one minute!” Miguel had caught her anxious eyes by surprise. “I’m not asking you about our work relationship. I’m asking you about ourpersonalrelationship. I know you pride yourself in being able to separate the two facets of sex and all that… but are you really that divided?”
“Don’t ask me these things.” Judith put a gentle hand on his chest. “I can’t fall for a client, even if he is my patron. I’ve seen shit, Miguel. I’ve seen how it can destroy a woman more times than you can count in any language you know.”
“Let me guess… all those guys those girls fell in love with were trash to begin with. I may not be a rocket scientist, but even I can put two and two together. I know those guys like you know those girls. They love to pick out a new woman, change her life for the better… and then cast her aside like yesterday’s dinner plates. Sometimes they rewash them and use them again, but every time things get a little more run down. Emotionally speaking, of course.”
“Uh huh.” Judith was not impressed. “I’ve heard those gross euphemisms before. Keep going if you insist.”
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I came to you as nothing more than a client looking for sex, some company, and maybe a new friend. That’s true. That’s how I’ve operated for years, but for some reason you’ve killed me inside more than any other woman has. Maybe it makes me sound like the most foolish man in the world, but Iloveyou Judith. I have no strings attached to me. No other women. Fuck, I haven’t even been with another woman since I met you!”
She cocked her head. “Now I find that hard to believe. A guy like you? They’re lining up to ride your dick.”
