Page 69 of Their Courtesan
Chapter 17
SETH
Seth Christens had never been so content in his life. Work was fantastic. Joy had called him the day before to announce that a gallery in New York was interested in featuring his Judith collection in July.“I need a shortlist of the pieces you want to submit… oh, and how about a title for the collection? That would be SO HELPFUL, hint hint.”His finances were better than ever, with his accountant announcing that some of his stocks were skyrocketing and now was the time to cash out and invest in other things for more long-term gain. The weather was so beautiful that he was able to spend a healthy amount of time both indoors working and outdoors socializing with friends, some of whom he hadn’t seen in ages. Even his father didn’t give him crap for retiring from the medical world the last time they chatted on the phone.
As for his love life? Seth had never been so infatuated as he was with Judith. Every time he thought of her, his face lit up and he started whistling a tune he had never heard before. Maybe he was making it up. Maybe it was a sign that his next artistic venture would be music.
When he saw her instead of thinking about her?
Life was complete.
Seth took the good news from his accountant as a sign that he should keep bidding on his fair Judith. Him and the other guy were at a stalemate in the mid-60ks. Seth wasn’t sweating it. At some point the other guy would give up, and Seth was willing to go up to a full 100k. Judith was worth every pretty penny.
Of course, he often fantasized about not having to pay for her at all. If she were a real girlfriend, he would be asking her to move in with him. Introducing her to his family. Taking her to Cancun like he promised so he could post selfies of them on social media. The world deserved to see them together, happy.
One step at a time.First, he would win the bid and become her greatest patron ever.Then,after a while, if things were still going well and they meshed together in the civilian world, as she called it, he would start thinking about the next steps.
What were the next steps? At some point Seth would want more from her. If not for her to retire from her career as one of the country’s greatest courtesans, then to at least leave the Château and be with him first and foremost. It was a pipe dream, and perhaps his goals would change as the months and years went on, but the truth was that Seth had never felt like this before. He fully intended to ride it out as far as it could go.
One. Step. At. A. Time.Still, he looked like a fucking idiot as he sat at his and Zack’s favorite outdoor bistro, sunglasses covering his love sick eyes but his smile so broad that more than one person looked at him as if he were criminally insane.
“You’re despicable,” Zack grunted. He stabbed his crab cake with a fork, but did not eat it. “I don’t even have to ask what you’re so dumb about. It’s that woman. Congrats, I guess. I would say I like the new positive you, but I still say you’re going to be eating this situation for shit-breakfast sooner rather than later.”
“Don’t care what you think.” Seth emptied a pack of sweetener into his iced tea. He stirred it a little too vigorously, sending tiny splashes of light brown all over the bistro tablecloth. “I’ve put up with every woman you’ve fallen in love with since we’ve known each other. Remember Cathy? After the second date you were pacing around here, whooping and hollering, talking about how much you wanted to marry her already.”
“Yeah, and it turned out that Cathy was dating Jeremiah Holder already, whom she married instead of me. That sucked.”
“How about that model from LA? The soap opera star? Something like that?”
“Cindy Charles. Had to dump her because she was stealing things right beneath my nose. Lost my grandmother’s 19thcentury locket because of that klepto.” Even so, Zack grinned. “She was agreatlay, though. Almost made it worth it.”
Not as good as Judith, I’m sure.Seth didn’t know how it was possible, but every encounter with Judith was better than the last. Maybe it was because he had shed every layer of inhibition he had been harboring for years. He didn’t care if he banged her against a stone bench or in her soft, malleable bed. The urgency, the desire, thepassionwas the same. When he asked her what she wanted?“Make love to me as if you have everything to prove.”He had. He not only wanted to be one of the most memorable men in Judith’s busy, infamous life, but he wanted to prove how much he cared about her. Seth had a feeling not many men she encountered did.
“I have to tell you, though,” Zack continued, drinking beer. They were both waiting for their lunches to arrive. “You’re making me want to find a girl of my own. Maybe not from that Château, though… I hear that woman I was with is the mistress of the Andrews. You know.TheAndrews. I ain’t going up against that. I’d fear for my life and dick.”
Seth vaguely knew who Zack talked about.I’m not in the society like he is.Seth grew up rich and privileged, but he was from a medical family. They traveled in different circles from the other elite… and tended to be anti-social everywhere but the golf course.Dentists, on the other hand…They didn’t count as real doctors, anyway.
Zack was from that other world. And friendly.Andcharming. He knew everyone, even if only tangentially.
“I had figured you were jealous. First time I’ve had a great girl and you don’t.”
“Sure. Let’s call it jealousy.” Zack glanced at the waitress walking by. A new girl. Big, round ass. “Either way, I’m happy for you about the gallery thing. I know this is huge for you.”
“You’re coming to the show, right?”
“Of course I am? What, do you think I’mthatshitty of a bitter, jealous friend? Nah, man, I’ll keep telling you that you’re making a huge mistake. I’ll be first in line at your show, though. Wow me enough and I’ll even buy a painting from you!”
“Whoa, slow down hustler. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“Tell me the truth, though,” Zack said, serious. “You’re notfallingfor this woman, are you?”
Seth had to get serious too. “I try not to think about it. Taking one thing at a time.”
“All right. I’ll leave you alone about it.”
Their food came, giving them a respite from this old conversation. While the waitress put down their food – and Zack not so covertly checked out her ass – Seth thought about his feelings for Judith, however they could be classified.I feel like I would do anything for her.Throw money at her. Tell her she was beautiful. Paint her until she died. Give her a shoulder to cry on, not that he knew what she would be crying about. Drive her halfway across the world so she could see an old friend she hadn’t spoken to in years. Whatever she wanted, he would give it to her.
Wasn’t that a form of love?
