Page 32 of Their Courtesan
Chapter 9
MIGUEL
A raucous party was the big thing going on the night Miguel returned to the Château. After giving Aimee the whole weekend off to check out the sights of the city, he hopped into his Vanquish Volante and began the long, albeit scenic, drive up into the mountains.
Good thing I scheduled an appointment.He had a feeling that Saturday was the biggest night at the Château, and if everyone knew as well as he did that Judith was a divine goddess at her profession, then she would be in high demand. Felt like a miracle he had managed to schedule her for the whole evening before anyone else did.
“Mr. Bolivar!” the doorman announced. How anyone heard him over the crazy laughter echoing from upstairs, Miguel had no idea. Yet before he could count to five, Judith was at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in a soft pink Chanel sweater dress – with every button going down to the waist undone. A woman of her chest size had no problems filling out the bust enough to make the fabric drape elegantly over her generous cleavage.
“Welcome back,” she said with a smile that further said, “And bringing all your assets with you.”“Let me take your coat.”
Miguel already had his coat half off when Judith put her hands on him. She had the lightest touch of any woman he met. That was not to say she was gentle. Indeed, Judith knew how to respect his personal space while still making her own presence known.I tucked well enough when I dressed for this occasion, right?While Miguel did not doubt that most of the men around there sported an erection every five minutes, he was not inclined to join.
“Seems like a busy evening.” Miguel nodded to a pair of drunk men stumbling from one room to another. The redhead Holly followed after them, wearing nothing but a thong and a glittery gold chain around her naked breasts. Judith looked like her elegant mother in comparison.My preference.
“The weekends tend to be rather rambunctious.” Judith folded his coat over her arm and flagged down a maid. “See to it that Mr. Bolivar’s items are well taken care of.” When she received confirmation, the maid took off, carrying the large coat. The usual coat closet must have been stuffed already. “No worries. You have me all to yourself, as was arranged.”
“By your madam.” Miguel was used to making appointments, but calling the Château and getting Monica right away was an… experience. She couldn’t mask the glee in her voice that he was already coming back to stick it in one of her employees again.
Judith tossed her long hair behind her shoulder. Thick gold bangles clattered on her wrist.The real deal.Presents from other men? Who knew.I should bring her a present next time.He already had something in his inside pocket, which he pulled out now. Simple, but effective. “Is that for me?” she asked.
He handed her the red rose, freshly picked up from the florist on the corner of his street back in the city. “Yes. Forgive me for something so simple. I don’t know you well enough to gauge your tastes quite yet.”
She grinned, snatching the thorny stem from his hand. “I love roses. You know, a girl loves jewelry and lingerie and all that, but flowers feel a lot more personal. Thank you.”
“They’re also temporary,” he said, hands in pockets as he walked with her through the main hall. Judith began her ascent up the grand staircase, and Miguel followed, only one step behind.Are we going to her room already?Things must have been really busy to have no room to hang out elsewhere. He wanted to have a casual chat before getting down to business.
Why? He supposed it had to do with a lack of companionship since his move. Like Aimee, Miguel hadn’t much chance to get to know people outside of business. Judith was as good as anyone when it came to socializing… and other things.
“Sometimes temporary is best,” Judith agreed, taking her time up the stairs. Her ass swayed with every movement, the cashmere material of her sweater dress hugging her curves. “I get a lot of trinkets, Mr. Bolivar. Some of them I enjoy, but most of them go into boxes and take up space. Flowers are beautifulanddon’t accumulate. You throw them out when they’re done.”
She said it so dreamily, and yet her words stung. “They’re also a lot cheaper than a diamond tennis bracelet. Which I’m sure you have plenty of.” He nodded to her bangles.
“These things?” Judith waited for him at the top of the stairs, holding up her hand so the chandelier reflected off gold and jade. “These are from my patron. He knows my tastes well.”
“Ah…” Monica had said something about the Château’s patron system. Miguel had heard of it elsewhere, but he never thought much about it. Being a woman’s patron wouldn’t be so bad. Throw money at her so she could live comfortably and then have her whenever he wanted. Appointments still necessary, because thiswasan organized business, but no other man could have her without his say so.Maybe that’s too much power for a woman who isn’t my girlfriend.“He’s a lucky man, your patron.”
Judith leaned against the railing, rose petals touching the sides of her breasts. She was so enticing that Miguel had to ball his hands into fists to keep from touching her before he was ready. “He’s also a rich man,” she said with a sigh. “I’m expensive to keep, you know.”
“I’m sure. You know your worth, Judith.”
“Indeed I do.” Her grin was more flirtatious than serious.I love her smile.It was always so genuine, and when she did employ a fake smile, there was still humor behind it. Truly, a woman who loved what she did, or at least knew how to make it work for her. “My retainer is the highest here at the Château.”
“I’m sure it is.” Miguel thought about asking how much it was. A million a year was more than worth it. He suspected it was actually higher than that.A woman making that much money… she could retire whenever she wants.So why hadn’t she? Miguel didn’t know of many women who thought of this career as anything but temporary, no matter how much they liked it.
“So!” The way she changed subjects was as natural as those breasts taunting him in her sweater dress. Bras truly were a waste on her. “Where shall we go, Miguel? I’m afraid the best rooms are already reserved tonight.” She looked across the hall. “Balcony? It’s a nice night, and it should be quiet. Do you want a drink?”
He asked for a scotch and for her to get whatever she wanted, on his tab. She got herself a scotch as well, and joined him on the main balcony overlooking the rear grounds of the Château.
“You’re right. It is nice out here.” A spring night usually meant cold, but that day had been so warm that the night wasn’t too bad yet. It helped that there was no breeze, and everything was as still as the voices between them. One other pair occupied the large balcony with them: a young woman in a black dress and a half-intoxicated businessman playing with a telescope. Every time the woman squealed in excitement, the man laughed. They seemed to have a buoyant relationship. “We’re not the only ones who think so.”
“That’s Yvette and her patron. She’s really into astronomy and astrology. Tell her your birthday and she’ll give you the 411 on who you are. Unless you’re a Cancer. Then she won’t talk to you.”
“Let me guess…” Miguel sampled his drink. “You’re a Cancer?”
Her grin grew. “No. You?”
“I think I’m a Leo. Or a Virgo. I was born in August, either way.” He shrugged. “Never took much stock in it.”
