Their Courtesan: Billionaire Menage Romance

by Cynthia Dane

  “Gracious,” Monica muttered. She had stayed at Holly’s side the whole time. Was she grateful? No! She crawled from beneath her blanket, red splotch on her cheek and anger in her eyes.

  Anger at Judith.

  “What the hell!” she cried, while the bouncer left the room to make sure the guy was gone from the premises. That’s what the backup security team on the outer grounds was for. “I was working! Do I barge into your room when you’re with your clients?”

  Judith’s mouth dropped open. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that wasn’t what I thought I saw and heard?”

  “Fuck off!”

  Monica got up. “You and I will talk later.” Who was she saying that too? Probably anyone who would listen. “I’m going to check on what’s going on out there.” She put a hand on Judith. “I trust you will take over from here?”

  “That’s my job, ain’t it?”

  “Fuck your job,” Holly mumbled as Monica left and closed the bedroom door behind her. “What about mine?”

  “Yeah, what about it?” Judith turned to her the moment they were left alone. “You want your career to end now… let alone your life?”

  “It wasn’t that bad!”

  “Let me guess… you had control over the situation.”

  “Yeah!”

  Typical. Typical naïve brat who was probably too immature to be working at a place like this. “You didn’t. The moment that guy put a hand like that on you, his time here was over. Nobody hits you. Do you understand me? It’s not acceptable!”

  “Says the woman who has the richest men around lining up to be her patron. Do you know how long I’ve had to wait for you to finish your fucking game so I can get a patron? I’m making the least amount of money here because of it! A girl does what she has to!”

  I’ve heard that a million times, coming from my own mouth. Time for some real talk.

  “I’m sorry you’re not making as much money as you want, but you won’t be making any money at all if that shit happens. You’ve been given a panic button for a reason. You’re lucky I saw that happen on the cameras.”

  “Nothing gives me job security like knowing you’re watching me blow and ride.”

  “Shut the fuck up. Even if it wasn’t my job to keep an eye out for that shit, I would do it anyway. I won’t stand for those types of clients coming around here. It is not allowed. Full stop.”

  Holly pouted, hand on cheek. What do I say beyond that? They weren’t friends. They barely got along for work and were good at faking a mutual sexual attraction for the right paying clients. That was part of being a professional. Something Holly still had troubles getting a grip on from time to time.

  Before Judith could find a new way to reprimand her again, Holly slapped her hand over her eyes, refusing to cry.

  Ah, fuck. All Judith could do was sit on the edge of the young woman’s bed and pat her on the back. No sense saying anything. What could she say? Whatever bothered Holly was deeply personal. Like no two employees of the Château had the same experience or relationship with sex as another, no two could know how to console each other about it. Yet part of Judith’s job as second-in-command and courtesan liaison was to interpret what was happening behind the scenes and do something about it, if applicable.

  “I don’t know what it was like for you before you came here,” Judith said, “but you need to know that this is a place where your safety is the most important thing. No one has the right to even pay you to treat you like that.”

  “Has anyone done that to you?”

  “Many times. Not in a long, long time, though.”

  “Why do you keep doing this? Don’t you get tired of it?”

  Here we go. Everyone wanted to know why Judith hadn’t retired by thirty. The ongoing story was that this kind of gig lasted for the prime of a woman’s youth, and then she moved on, either to marry, to start her own business, or to use her savings to start a new life doing something else entirely different. Even Monica, who was older than Judith, didn’t have this kind of background when she opened her pleasure house. While Judith was far from the oldest courtesan around, let alone the most experienced, her reputation often preceded her wherever she went… tabloid pictures notwithstanding.

  “I do it because I love it. It’s not my job. It’s my career. It’s okay if you think it’s a job and that you will move on when the time is right. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not okay to enjoy what you do here. Likewise, it’s okay to have a bad day, or to realize that it’s not always going to be great. We’re in a unique situation, because most people treat what we do with disrespect and disdain. Most of what we do here is unregulated and illegal. Monica and I work every day to make sure you’re safe and that we all don’t get arrested. This is one of the best places you could work to be happy and make money.”

  “I guess.”

  Oh, the young. That was as close to “I guess you’re right” that Judith was going to get from Holly. “I simply want to make sure you understand that this was not acceptable, no matter what. We can’t have those types of clients coming around, let alone spreading the word that we allow that shit. It’s not just your safety. It’s our reputation. Our reputation means the best, well-paying and respectful clients.”

  “They’re not all respectful.”

  “This is true. Unfortunately, it’s the nature of our business.” Judith put a sturdy hand on Holly’s shoulder. “We okay here? You can take the night off if you want.”

  “No way. I’ve got appointments to keep. Some of those guys could become my patron.”

  “This is true. I’m sure Monica is going to focus on you as soon as my business is settled. Don’t worry. We won’t expand what we’re doing until you’re secured here.”

  “Good. I’m tired of being the new girl. Hire some more so I can have my peace.”

  Judith left Holly in her room, but made sure the bedroom door was ajar so she could hear the life beyond her room. If Holly really wanted it closed, she could get up and do it herself.

  “Everything all right?” Monica asked at the top of the grand staircase. “That man won’t be coming back here again. I’m glad you kept an eye on it.”

  “She’s fine.” Probably. “You should talk to her later, though. Give her some space now.”

  “I don’t doubt it. She reminds me a lot of you.”

  Judith was taken aback. “How so?”

  Monica smiled. “Do I have to tell you? She’s ambitious and knows how to play her game. She’s going to make us a lot of money here as soon as she matures a bit. I’ve already got regular clients of hers asking about patronage.”

  “She’ll be glad to hear that.”

  “I’m sure, but like you, she’s also stubborn.”

  “I won’t argue with that.” Judith shrugged. “At least I know how to pick my battles.”

  “You’re ten years older than her. I should hope so.” Monica turned toward the hallway. “You’ve got an appointment with Mr. Bolivar to get ready for, right?”

  “He could show up to me brushing my teeth in a parka and would throw thousands of dollars at me.”

  “Be that as it may, we have an image to uphold.”

  Judith went to her room, finished her toenail upkeep, and dithered between a gold dress or a crimson pantsuit to entertain her patron in that night. He’s never seen me in a pantsuit before. That could be fun. With any luck Miguel would be okay with stalling sex so they could enjoy themselves in the rooms that night. There was a movie (and strip poker) party slated for eight, and Judith wanted in. The more clothes she wore with the pantsuit, the more likely she would win the strip poker tournament. Miguel was a master of cards, right? His family runs casinos… I can’t believe otherwise.

  As her stomach began to rumble for dinner, Monica appeared in the doorway. Her face was flushed.

  “Mr. Bolivar is here… and so is Dr. Christens.”

  Judith dropped her hairbrush. “What!”

  “You didn’t double-book,
did you?”

  “No! Why is Seth here? He never comes on Fridays!”

  “He’s here… and they’re both waiting for you. In my office, no less.”

  No no no! Judith followed Monica down to the office, brain trembling with the possibilities. Like how they were both dumping her. Or worse. Making her choose between them!

  Men could be so fickle. So underwhelming. So damn immature that they constantly made a woman’s life difficult!

  Judith was not prepared for the scene in Monica’s office. She expected to find her favorite lovers on opposite ends of the room, ignoring one another. Or, worse, engaging in the most barbaric display of alpha masculinity like at the wedding. I can’t stand either thought. Both were embarrassing. Both were…

  Both were not happening.

  Instead, she found Miguel and Seth sitting in the chairs before Monica’s desk. Relaxed. Bored. They both looked like they had come to discuss legal proceedings or to get a mortgage at the bank. Their body language pointed to one another instead of away. They were not in a hurry to have a conversation, but they also weren’t throwing punches like a couple of pubescent middle-schoolers.

  Judith had never been so confused. She nodded to them both before sitting on a loveseat on the far side of the room. Monica took her place behind the desk.

  “Gentlemen,” she said with careful grace. “I so would like to know what brings you here together. Pardon me for inviting Judith in. I assumed that this had to do with her and that she had a right to know.”

  They glanced at her before focusing back on Monica. “We are indeed here to talk about our lovely Judith,” Miguel said in his indescribable accent.

  “Our?” Monica had never looked so shocked in her life. Either that or she suddenly had gestational heartburn. “This is a turn of events.”

  “Forgive me for doing all the talking,” Miguel continued, “but since I was originally to sign on to become Judith’s patron this weekend, I thought it pertinent to make it clear that I agree to what we’re about to propose.”

  “Go on.”

  Both men shared a silent word. Judith was getting antsier by the second. Don’t you dare fuck me over.

  “I’ve had ample opportunity to talk to Dr. Christens over the past week. He’s made it clear that he is in love with Judith, but has been kind enough to congratulate me on my recent winnings. I have to admit, though, that I was swayed by his emotional outpouring.” You’re so full of shit, Miguel. Seth was trying his damn hardest to not smack his hand against his own forehead. “So much so that he and I came to an eventual agreement. You see, I also am in love with Judith. Hence my willingness to spend so much money a month on her to be her patron. At first we saw this as a terrible love triangle, let alone for a woman of her career pursuits. Then we realized that it didn’t have to be a love triangle at all, but a completely different, more fulfilling arrangement.”

  Monica cleared her throat. “I’m listening.”

  “We know what we’re about to say is not what you usually do,” Seth said in Miguel’s stead. “But we want to make it clear that we both agree to this. We simply want to make sure that you and Judith do as well.”

  Judith was completely frozen to the loveseat, and glad that she had worn the pantsuit. Otherwise, her sweaty legs would be sticking all over the leather beneath her.

  Miguel finished what we had started to say. “We would both like to offer an equal investment in Judith’s career. That is, we would both like to be her patrons.”

  The office was so quiet that the ticking clock on the wall sounded like window-shattering thunder. What. The. Fuck. Judith had to remind herself to breathe. Monica looked like she was about to go into labor.

  “Of course, this would mean some changes.” Miguel pulled out a piece of paper and slid it across the desk. “We hope that you two find this satisfactory, but we are open to haggling.”

  Haggling!

  “I think our dear European friend means discussing.” Seth uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “I for one think it’s a great deal that I am 100% on board with. Assuming that you ladies are as well.” He shot Judith a look to his left. It was so steely, so calculating that she almost died right there. This is how an alpha like him takes over the pack. With another man, no less!

  “This is certainly unprecedented.” Monica turned the paper over and studied it carefully. “If I’m reading this right, you are both offering to pay $100,000 a month for the privilege.”

  “We are willing to go higher if you would like,” Seth said, “but we figured this way it was the same amount that Mr. Bolivar here was going to pay anyway, so you’re not losing any of the money originally promised to you. Our only stipulation is that we pay the same exact amount, to keep it fair.”

  “Of course…” Monica looked closer. “Oh, dear, Judith is not going to like this.”

  “I’m over here, you know!” That was the only thing necessary to shake Judith in her seat. “What does it say?”

  They all looked at her. “Mr. Bolivar and Dr. Christens are willing to enter this arrangement with the understanding that it would be monogamous.”

  The whole room turned a bright shade of red.

  “What!” Judith was up, although she dared not cross the room out of fear of losing to her oncoming rampage. “Are you fucking kidding me!”

  “We think it’s more than fair.”

  “In return, we would be monogamous as well.”

  “Really, it’s unfair for us. We have to pay for it. I mean, spoil you silly. Meanwhile, you get two boyfriends who want to spend all their time with you… but are willing to share if it means even getting to spend one day a month with you.”

  “We hope it would be more often, though.”

  “That’s not the point!” Judith stood behind their chairs, arms jutting into the air. “That was never the point! Don’t you get it? This is my job.”

  “Yes. Which is why we are willing to pay.”

  “Now hold on,” Monica interrupted, eyes mostly focused on Judith’s top about to blow. “This would require serious discussion. That is a big clause to put in a contract, and would require Judith’s absolute agreement.”

  What proceeded was an hour’s worth of discussing. Haggling. It’s fucking haggling. Judith raised the point that she needed to make as much money as possible, and agreeing to exclusivity made that very difficult. Seth responded that they didn’t require her to stop working at the Château. She could continue to entertain clients as long as there was no sex. That was all they truly cared about.

  “As her dual patrons, we would expect our main benefit to be exclusivity,” he said. “We know that Judith isn’t a one-man woman. We do hope she could be happy with two, however.”

  “I’m okay with her even seeing her BDSM clients, as long as there is no sexual contact.”

  “We know that she has an important administrative position as this establishment, and don’t want to interfere with that.”

  “You… two…” Judith gripped both of their chairs, channeling the fury she kept trying to keep down. What was she so angry about? That they were meddling in her career? Making decisions for her? Asking her for things she had never had to bestow before? I’ve never had a real boyfriend since starting this career. Would they really be my boyfriends like that? I think I love them… but is that enough? Could two men like them really agree to share her? Could she be content with only them as lovers for as long as this agreement lasted? Possibly years?

  Until she retired? Then what? Would she be so in love with them that it continued until she died?

  She felt like she was being shoehorned into a real relationship, and she didn’t know what to think about that.

  They then launched into more numbers. Judith’s insistence. If they wanted exclusivity, they would pay for it. Judith was going to make sure she was well compensated for any work lost and for any confusion she experienced while she tried to understand her own feelings for them. Without the buffer of her work to guid
e her along, she could become lost, or resentful. These were Monica’s thoughts as they proceeded to discuss the terms of a potential contract.

  The number $125,000 per patron was understood. Monica asked the men to leave the room so she could talk frankly with Judith.

  “You would be an idiot not to take this!” she said as soon as the door closed.

  “You’ve said so yourself before that I am an idiot.”

  “$250,000 a month! Your cut alone is more than the average student debt in this country. They’re even allowing you to keep working here with some of your core clients.”

  “Yeah, but…”

  “Judith.” Monica slapped her hand on her desk. “Stop and think about it for two seconds. These two men aren’t just willing to pay to have you as their girlfriend. They’re willing to do whatever you want. What more could you ask for? Is it really about the money?”

  She wanted to say yes, but knew Monica could counter with so many factors. Like how even losing the submissive clients and men who simply wanted her conversation and flirting would still put her beyond the black every month. Plus, it would give her more time to learn the ropes of the admin side of the business. She wanted to learn more about that, right? No, it couldn’t be about the money.

  By the time Judith sat down where Miguel had been ten minutes ago, Monica said, “You’re afraid of the commitment. I can see the way you look at those men, and the way they both look at you. That’s love, Judith. Love on your terms. Don’t be afraid of it. This isn’t just the opportunity of your career. This is the opportunity of your personal life as well.

  Judith couldn’t look at her. “You make it sound like I’m going to marry them.”

  “So what if you do?”

  “First of all, I think that’s called bigamy.”