Page 64 of Their Courtesan
“Because his father’s Kyle Gretzky, the shipping magnate.”
“That guy! He’s been here before.”
“Yes. Now he’s brought his son. Hisfreshly minted eighteen-year-old virginal son.”
“Oh…oh.” Judith paled. “Wait, you mean some guy brought his son here to lose his virginity? That’s messed up and really old school.” Judith had heard of it happening, of course, but most boys from families rich enough to buy such services did well getting blowjobs and handjobs on their own, never mind intercourse. What was a kid of those means needing a pro for?Forget that. It’s bizarre.
Monica nodded. “Mr. Gretzky has asked for one of you fair ladies to help his son on his road to manhood. The boy is over eighteen, so it’s legal.”
“You said so yourself. He’s aboy.”
“You’ll do it, right Judith?” Holly crossed her arms. “You always say you’ll take on anyone if the price is right.”
She groaned. “Don’t forget I have rules. Rule #3 is no teenagers.” She adopted that the day she turned thirty, and she would only break it for the biggest sum in the universe. Once clients became young enough to be her own kids, she was done with them. She’d deal with an adult virgin, but eighteen was adult only in legalities. Even early 20s pushed it these days.Give me men like Seth and Miguel any day.They were both older than her, in their mid-30s. “So, no thank you. Besides, I have an appointment that I need to start getting ready for.”
“Be that as it may,” Monica said, “I still need someone to deal with young Mr. Gretzky’s blue balls.”
“What definition of virginity are we talking here, anyway?” Grace asked.They say I’m a ho for money.Grace was the next most adventurous woman after Judith. Even she had her ethical limits, though. “Are we playing loose with third base counting as a score? Or a full homerun?”
That was another code. Within one day of the Château opening, they were using baseball analogies to describe how far one went with a client. First base meant light entertainment and maybe some stripping with a lap dance. Second base meant frottage. Third, and genitals were being touched, whether with mouths or hands. Homeruns meant any kind of vaginal or anal intercourse. Most of these girls would’ve done at least first base with a young client, but anything more than that and people started to get weirded out.
“The way Mr. Gretzky described it, he didn’t come up here so his son could be teased.”
“What about senior Gretzky?” Grace asked. “I’m betting he wants something too.”
“Not unless his son is getting some.”
“Someone take one for the team, and the rest of us will deal with Mr. Gretzky.”
“Shut the fuck up, Grace.” Chelsea looked so exasperated that she almost passed out.
“Ladies,” Monica interrupted with finality, “I will go downstairs and tell them that no one is available today if it pleases the lot of you, but keep in mind that this may happen again, and we would have to establish an age policy beyond eighteen.”
“Twenty would be good,” Yvette mumbled. “Virgins are delicate enough as it is. One that’s still in high school?Fuckthat. I don’t care if it’s over in ten minutes because he’s lost both his heads in record time. I’m grossed out.”
“Just think, if it were a girl the same age, there would be no question whether it’s right or wrong.”
“There is no right or wrong in this situation,” Judith interjected. “He’s eighteen. It’s legal. For fuck’s sake, one of your lots’ brains isn’t even fully developed yet.” She shot that comment to Holly. “We are professionals, and this is a part of our job. Is it archaic? Yes, but so is a lot of other paternalistic shit we deal with every day. It’s ourjob.That said,” she could see the reddening cheeks and furrowed brows all around her, “there may be no right or wrong, but there are comfort levels and our own hard boundaries. We all have the right to turn down a client if we think it pertinent, for whatever reason. I understand, but watch the language. There will be no judgment if someone decides to take on this kind of client. Because regardless of his circumstances and who is paying for his fun, he isstilla client who deserves professionalism on our parts. As long as that young man consents to his father’s plan, he has the privilege to ask for our services. We also have the right to say no.”
“No,” Chelsea said. “Hell no.”
“That youngmanis young enough to be my brother Tommy. I don’t think so.”
“I may be the youngest one here, but that’s pushing it for me. I was done with high school boys when I graduated.”
The only one not jumping in to say no again was Grace, who studied the carpet with a pensive look. “I’ll do it,” she finally said, steady. She turned to Monica. “Double my rates for him. $7,000 instead of $3500. I want to keep the difference for myself. That way you still get your cut since it’s justanotherclient, and I get fairly compensated for how frustrating this is.”
“Done.” Monica braced herself against the arms of the lounge chair and heaved herself up. “Go get ready. In twenty minutes, you will find the young Mr. Gretzky in guest room #2. Give him whatever he wants, if it pleases you.”
“I will.”
“As for the rest of you,” that was not directed to Judith, who was already picking her bags up again to go get ready for Seth, “I want all three of you down in the Receiving Room to make sure the first Mr. Gretzky is comfortable.”
“What about Judith?” Yvette asked.
“She has an appointment soon. None of you do.”
Grumbling, the others filed out of the room, leaving Monica alone with Judith.
