The Shield Spa – Midday
The clinking of tools and soft hum of the blow dryers filled the tranquil air. The scent of essential oils danced around the warm-lit spa lounge.
"Hello everyone, please wrap up all the work within 20 minutes. The courtesans are coming to the spa."
"Yes ma'am!" the staff responded in unison, quickening their pace as they began tidying the space.
A refined voice called out, slicing through the flurry of motion. "Excuse me, Miss Addison."
Addison turned, smiling politely. "Yes, Mrs. Dylan?"
"Are you clearing the spa?"
"Yes ma'am. We're booked for the whole day. We only have a few minutes left to spare for the other clients."
"If the courtesans are coming to the spa, they should stay outside," Gianna said with visible disdain, arms folded tightly.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. The courtesans only use the VIP lounge for their services. They don't mingle with regular clients."
"And I'm not a VIP here?" Her tone sharpened.
"You are! That's why you're here. They're almost done with your nails and toenails. Your session is over."
"So what if it's over? Does that mean I should exit the lounge for those prostitutes?"
A heavy silence followed. Addison stiffened, then inhaled deeply. "Mrs. Dylan! We serve all our customers equally, and we do not put one over the other. Please don't use such words, ma'am."
"You—!"
"We have a schedule, ma'am. We fit in your time, and we have to fit in others as well. We didn't close the whole spa for them—it's just this lounge. And your session is complete."
"Do you know who I am?" Gianna stood now, her tone icy. "You're not afraid of me getting you fired?"
Addison exhaled softly, her lips pressed "I know who you are, ma'am. But this place belongs to the courtesan house. Only by offending them would I get fired."
A tense beat passed.
"It belongs… to the courtesan's house?"
"That's why it's glamorous. Madam Fransisca owns it."
"Fransisca?" she sneered. "That old witch? I'm not leaving then."
"Mrs. Dylan—"
"Do whatever you want. I'm not going to leave."
Just then, a sharp, curious voice rose from the opposite side of the lounge. "Mrs. Dylan, did your husband take on a courtesan?"
Gianna's head snapped toward the speaker. "What's your problem with that?"
"I guess he did. That's why you're mad. The courtesans are quite the beauty, Mrs. Dylan. You might have to step back for a year or two."
"Me? Step back? Never!"
Addison turned abruptly and left the nail bar, retreating into her office. She picked up her phone and dialed swiftly.
"Madam."
Fransisca on the other end with a cool voice "Yes?"
"Your daughter-in-law is at the spa and refuses to leave, even though her session is over."
"My daughter-in-law? Do I have one?" The line went quiet for a beat.
"Gianna, ma'am."
"Gianna Rivers is not my daughter-in-law. And please don't address her as one."
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"Why won't she leave? Y'all didn't attend to her well enough?"
"We did! In fact, her hair and nails are done. She just refused to leave because I said the lounge is fully booked from 12 PM."
"Because of the courtesans?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Throw her out."
Addison hesitated. "Alright, ma'am."
"No, wait," came the voice again. "She probably wanted to see Blue. Let her be, then."
"But ma'am, what if she tries to harm the courtesans? She always walks with tons of guards."
"And the courtesans don't? She should worry about herself. Addison, I have something important to do. Just make sure they don't destroy my spa."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Take care."
Just then, a staff member poked into the office. "The courtesans are here, ma'am!"
"Are we almost done with the other jobs?"
"Yes, ma'am. All the regular courtesans came yesterday. Only the noble courtesans are here today."
"Cool. Ask what they want to do and share their services around."
"Yes, ma'am."
The spa door opened wide. "Welcome to the Shield Spa!" the attendants chorused, bowing slightly as the glamorous women entered in elegant procession.
A gasp rose from one of the clients. "Oh my! The courtesans are here!" She rushed toward the entrance, eyes sparkling. "They look so beautiful and glamorous!"
Gianna scoffed silently, watching the women file in with practiced grace. The scent of expensive perfume filled the air.
The women filled the VIP lounge, taking up each space with quiet entitlement. Gianna side-eyed each of them, her chest tight with indignation.
"Hello ladies," an attendant said brightly. "Your escorts will have to stay downstairs until you are done."
"Sure," one of the courtesans replied casually. "They can leave."
"Is everyone here now so we can start?" another asked.
"Blue's not here yet." Olivia says while looking around
"Blue is the new courtesan?" Addison asked.
"Yes, Addison," Olivia chimed in, with a sly glance toward Angel. "The flower of the courtesan house and the best courtesan, if I may say."
"She must be very capable."
"Guess! She's the first and only permanent noble courtesan. She's even the youngest one right now. Madam Fransisca held a grand ball just for her."
"Wow. I wonder what she looks like."
"She's pretty, though."
"Why is she late then?"
"She's probably worn out. Quincy never leaves her alone," Jade said playfully.
Addison laughed nervously, throwing a glance at Gianna, who was glaring at them with sharp, resentful eyes.
"So that Blue is your husband's courtesan, Mrs. Dylan?"
All heads turned as the room echoed, "Mrs. Dylan?"
They looked over at Gianna, who sat up straighter and raised her chin in pride.
"She is Mrs. Dylan?" Violet squinted. "She ain't even all that." She burst into laughter.
"I'm not all that?" Gianna snapped, enraged.
"Oh, sorry, my bad. I thought Blue would have some interesting rivals."
Suddenly, someone gasped. "Oh my! Look at that luxury van!" She pointed out the glass window. "Quincy just bought that. Spent a fortune on it!"
Gianna stood abruptly and pushed through the gathering to peer outside.
A lady stepped out of the van and extended her hand to a second figure—young, elegant, almost ethereal. She looked like a teenager, but there was something fierce in her quiet poise.
"She's your husband's courtesan, I guess," someone whispered. "Since she's driving the van he bought."
"Have you seen that van Quincy bought for Blue? It's stunning."
"I still can't get over it," Jade giggled. "When they first brought it to the house…"
"Quincy really likes Blue a lot."
"It's so obvious! He spends a fortune on her."
There was a silent agreement among the courtesans. As tradition dictated, they would never fight legal wives. But when wives disrespected one of their own, especially outside the house, all rules vanished. Courtesans protected courtesans.
Harper entered the spa, her short hair decorated with playful accessories. She wore a brown free dress over shorts, cinched with a chocolate-colored belt and matching boots. She looked powerful, calm, radiant.
"Wow! Isn't this our diamond of the season? Flower of the courtesan house!" Violet shouted.
Harper tilted her head slightly, blinking at her. "What is wrong with this girl…"
"You are Blue?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm Addison. I'm in charge of the spa."
"Oh! Madam already told me about you. She said you'll take care of me."
"She flatters me! Come with me."
"Okay." Harper followed her to a plush seat and sat down.
"What do you want to do?"
"My hair and my nails."
"The hair salon's busy right now, so we'll start with your nails."
"No problem. Thank you!"
Suddenly, a shrill voice pierced the calm. "Miss Addison! Why did you give someone else my seat?"
Addison turned slowly. "Your seat? You are already done here, ma'am."
"Did I tell you I'm about to leave?"
"You can stay downstairs if you're not ready to leave."
"Are you chasing me out?"
"I'm not, ma'am."
"If she wants to sit here, she can sit." Harper stood up abruptly, grabbing her bag.
"No, no, Blue! It's your first time here. You have to relax. I don't want Madam Fransisca to be mad at me."
"So the old witch favors her, huh?"
"Excuse me, ma'am. What do you mean?" Harper snapped clearly irritated
"Madam? Who's a madam?" Gianna raised an eyebrow
"You, ma'am."
"Why do you address me as a madam?"
"I'm trying to be respectful to an elderly person."
"Elderly person? Do I look older than you?!"
"It's obvious, ma'am. Probably 12 years older than me, I guess."
"What?! Look at this bitch calling me old!"
"Bitch?"
"Yes, bitch! Trying to seduce people with that little face—I'm gonna scratch it off!"
She lunged forward but was blocked by Sage, who stepped firmly between them.
"Please move back, ma'am."
"And who the hell are you?"
"I'm her bodyguard."
"She even has a bodyguard, this prostitute!"
"Excuse me, ma'am! You don't address my courtesan that way!" Freya snapped, her face flushed with anger.
"There's another one?"
"Yes. And who do you think you are?"
"Excuse me," Harper said calmly. "Why are you making a scene over a seat? I already told you to have it."
"She's not fighting you because of the seat, Blue," Violet and Jade said, stepping closer. "She's fighting you because of your companion."
"Quincy? Is she Quincy's elder sister? They don't even look alike!" Jade burst into laughter.
"What elder sister?! I'm his wife, okay? I'm Mrs. Dylan!"
"Oh, you are? Didn't know."
"You don't know? Look at this little bitch—husband snatcher!"
"What do you mean husband snatcher? Your husband came for her and paid quite a fortune to have her!" Violet snapped back.
"You think you can have Quincy just because he's following you around?! I'm his wife! I know him best!"
"Mrs. Dylan, don't pressure yourself," Daisy said, stepping closer. "You need to learn to live with Blue peacefully. She's not going anywhere."
"Even before your one year is complete, he'll get tired of her," Gianna spat.
"What? One year? Who said it's one year?"
"Mrs. Dylan, you don't seem to know—Blue belongs to your husband for a good ten years."
"What?!"
"Yes, ma'am. After she leaves the courtesan house at 30, she might even become a legal wife."
"Who said she will live up to 30?!" Gianna hissed, grabbing her bag and storming out of the spa.
"Bye-bye, Mrs. Dylan! Be careful while driving, please!" someone called mockingly.
"She is so annoying," Daisy muttered, moving beside Harper. "Don't worry, Blue. She can't do anything to you."
"Why are you all fighting for me today? I thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore, Daisy."
"Well, I don't want to! But as courtesans, we protect our own outside. Only we can bully each other—we're sisters."
"Thank you so much. I hope you won't be mad at me anymore."
"It's fine, baby girl. Don't think about it."
Across the room, Angel watched the scene unfold, a sly smile curling her lips.
I almost forgot about Quincy's wife, she thought.
What a great weapon to use.