Celia’s brows rose. “You think I’ll object? Not now that I know that Hu Chang has reason to trust you. I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done in my life. Go ahead, ask me.”
“Did you sleep with Hu Chang?”
She threw back her head and laughed. “I knew that was coming. You’re as curious about me and I am about you. No, I did not. Though I did offer and was refused. I think that, in spite of the fact that he’s very worldly and the wisest man I’ve ever known, he’s burdened by a conscience. I couldn’t convince him that I wasn’t offering out of gratitude.”
“Why did you offer?”
“He’s exciting, like a mystery that has no end. He’d be a very good lover. I wanted to try him…” She shrugged. “But it’s probably better that I didn’t. I have a tendency to try to control men. That wouldn’t work with Hu Chang. And if it did, he would no longer be my friend.”
“I don’t think you’d need to worry. Hu Chang can’t be controlled.”
“I don’t think so either. But sex is everything, sex rules the world. I’ve only met two men since I discovered that truth who I wasn’t able to control with sex.” She grinned. “It was a devastating blow to my ego, but I recovered.”
“Who were they?”
Celia shook her head. “I don’t reveal names. All my clients are confidential. They can trust me.”
Catherine was silent a moment.
“Ask it,” Celia said softly. “It always comes down to this question. Ask it.”
“Why are you doing this? You’re obviously very bright. Hu Chang gave you money. You could have gone to school and become anything you wished.”
“This is what I wish,” Celia said quietly. “When Hu Chang took me away from that bordello in Calcutta, I was very grateful, but not for the reason you would think. I didn’t consider myself a victim whose body was raped and ravaged, a helpless sex slave. Yes, I felt that way when I was sold to Li Pradka. The first month was hell. But then I discovered something that I hadn’t known about myself. I didn’t hate what was being done to me anymore. I was liking it … I was loving it.”
“What?”
“You’re shocked. I can’t help that I don’t think like you. I’m intensely sexual. I need sex. I learned to divorce myself from the individual and just enjoy the act. The only thing I hated was that I had to take, not give.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I had to submit and respond. I don’t like submission. I wanted to be the one in control. I wanted to be so good at what I was doing that my partner would do anything to keep me from stopping. So I took another step and began to learn how to be that good. I talked to prostitutes at the bordello, I experimented, I read books. From the Kama Sutra to Marquis De Sade. I studied sexual pleasure in all forms. Some I liked, some I didn’t. But I learned them all, and in the end, I made them my own.” She got a tray down from the cabinet. “I wasn’t a victim by the time Hu Chang decided to rescue me. Any man who went to bed with me played by my rules because he knew the rewards. He was eager to let me guide the play. Occasionally, I was sent someone who was so twisted that I had a few problems, but I found a way to keep him subdued.” Her tone was without emotion. “But it pointed out that I had to get away from Li Pradka. I was very grateful when Hu Chang took me away from Calcutta.” She took out an exquisite teapot of Chinese origin. “Isn’t this lovely? It was a gift from a sheik from Kuwait. I usually don’t accept gifts. A sum is just paid into my bank account for a designated period. Additional gifts sometime makes the client feel that he’s the giver. But this pot is very old, priceless, and it pleased me.”
“It’s amazing.” And so was Celia. Her frankness was only matched by her cheerful matter-of-factness. “And did the sheik please you?”
She chuckled. “When I schooled him a little. One of the reasons I enjoy the first time is that it stimulates my mind as well as gives me release. By the second time, I know to what lengths of excess I can drive him that will make him mine.”
“You speak as if your clients are stallions.”
“They all think they are. And if I can make them go away believing that they’re the greatest stallion in the barn, then I’ve done my job.”
“And you actually don’t mind being—”
“A whore?”
“Hu Chang calls you a courtesan. But I’m having trouble distinguishing the differences.”
“Most people do. Economically, it means that I’m paid enormous amounts of money. I can demand a price for a night or two that would buy an apartment building. For a week, the price is enough to enrich my investment portfolio to the tune of over a million. I’ve slept with some of the richest and most influential men in the world.” She poured water over the tea leaves. “The difference for me is that I have a vocation and a skill and that I enjoy my life. I enjoy sex.” She paused. “And I can’t do without it. I need it frequently and varied. I tried to slack off for a while after I came to San Francisco. I even went to a therapy group. But they were all too gloomy and troubled. I wasn’t either. So I figured I could make a better life without them. And I did. I’m doing very well. I hired a private investigator, who is also my agent. At first it went slowly, but then word spread.” She made a face. “Don’t let anyone tell you that men don’t talk if they’ve found a fantastic lay. I made sure it was discreet, and my investigator checked out every client to make sure that I wouldn’t run into something I couldn’t handle.”
“Which doesn’t appear to be likely.”
“It wasn’t. After these last years, I have a fat stock-market portfolio that assures me security and I’m very, very wealthy.”
“But still not tempted to retire.”
“Why should I? I told you, it’s my vocation … and my pleasure. I love every minute of the sex act. It’s hard to explain to you—” She searched for words. “I’m … superb. You can’t imagine the power. There’s no one better at what I do. Sex means everything to men. It’s like being a queen.”
“Just so you don’t abuse that power.”
“I’ve never been tempted. I don’t need to play those games.” She set lemon, cream, and sugar on the tray. “I’ll take the tray. You get the door.” She glanced at Catherine as she picked up the tray. “How do you feel about me now after our little chat?”
“What do you mean?”
“Pity? Disgust? Threatened? Some women feel antagonistic toward my profession.”
“I don’t feel any of those emotions. I still don’t understand, but I’m trying. My mother was a whore, and I grew up on the docks where she and her friends plied their trade. All I knew was despair and drugs and men who hurt my mother. The life killed her when I was a little girl. She was a true victim. I’ve never run across anyone on the other end of the scale.”
“I’m sorry,” Celia said gently. “I know that was hard for you. I’ve been there. It tends to scar…” She moved toward the staircase. “Do you have trouble with sex now? I’ll help if you like.”
Catherine blinked. “What?”
“You saw only the women around you as sex slaves. I’ll teach you a few tricks and moves that will ensure that will never happen to you.”
Catherine chuckled. “A queen, not a slave?”
“Exactly. It won’t take long. You won’t be anywhere near as expert as I am, but you’ll be extraordinary.”
“Thank you for the offer,” she said solemnly. “But I believe I’ll pass.”
“If you change your mind…” She started up the stairs. “I was troubled that your husband was a friend, not lover. I thought that there might be a problem. I know Hu Chang wishes only the best for you. I thought I might help give it to you.”
“If I decide I need to be queen of the bedroom, I’ll let you know.” She was silent, then said, “I’m truly not unappreciative. You have a good heart, Celia.”
“That’s true,” Celia said. “And I think you may, too. We will become good friends and give each other many gifts.”
“But you don’t accept gifts.”
“Only from friends. Knock on that first door. We will let Hu Chang set up this tray and call Erin Sullivan and your Luke. We have labored enough.”
“But I’m certain you took your reward,” Hu Chang said as he opened the door. “Is your curiosity satisfied?”