Courtesan
Heep Yunn School , Chong , Kylie – 14
I’ m not just in it for the money .
It ’ s the heady , intoxicating rush of power , the knowledge that I hold someone ’ s heart in the palm of my hands , bending men to my will with a pout and flutter of the eyelash .
The money ’ s certainly a factor , though . People pay you surprisingly well for breaking their heart .
Making people fall in love with you is addictive . It ’ s almost like a game- the initial eye contact from across the room , the coy smile and feigned blush , the courtship , the clink of copper , the broken heart . I make it a point to ruin all other girls for my clients , and besotted earnestness is proof that I ’ ve done my job . Some of them even become outright delusional , convinced I ’ m in love with them and expecting me to spend time with them for free .
I flash an insincere smile at the man opposite me as he wrings his hands , clearly holding back tears .
“ Sorry , love , but I don ’ t do freebies .”
It ’ s not my fault he went bankrupt and can ’ t afford me anymore . Without a backward glance , I walk into the foyer and swing the front door open .
Being desired really is flattering , but I ’ m a courtesan , for goodness ’ sake . Loving and leaving is quite literally my job . Why would I tie myself to one man ? I only made that mistake once , and look where that got me .
***
Life here passes in a swirl of glitter and dances , and the courtesan house exists in another world , providing men with a break from reality . I ’ d been hearing about the war for a while , but as long as there were men to bewitch and money to earn , I couldn ’ t have cared less about who controlled the city .
The Japanese occupation meant an influx of foreign clients , but Japanese officers were prone to violent outbursts and got away with almost any crime , especially committed against a courtesan . Still , I wasn ' t worried- I could look after myself .