Satyr Boyfriend: Nathan (special preview)

“Could let this be an art studio.” He points out through the windows where the garden envelops on all sides with fruit trees, flowering bushes, and a pond just beyond with swans gliding across the cool water. “Let painters and what not in here and work for as long as they needed.”

“Are you an artist?” I ask him.

Nathan throws his head back and laughs. “Oh gods, no! The only talent I have is money, and that’s not really something to be proud of.”

I smile at him. “I can appreciate the honesty,” I murmur. “But I’m still trying to figure out why you would want my opinion. You sound like you already know what you want to do.”

“I told you, you’re the artist, I’m not.” He lays his hand on his chest and for the first time, I notice how long his fingers are. “Does any of this seem appealing to you?”

“Of course it does. But people are going to want to come here regardless. Advertise this place right and you’ll be overwhelmed with the response, not just because of the artwork.” I watch his confused expression. “Curiosity will get them in, after that, you’ll find a loyal customer base. Word of mouth will spread, rich folks will pay buckets to sleep next to-” I motion back into the museum at Himeros, “the sex god.” I smile up at him. “I think whatever you decide to do with this place, it’ll be a hit. For some reason, people love coming into old mansions.”

Nathan smiles and my heart starts to sputter. “My other idea was a huanted house.”

I snort and start to laugh.

“But people really don’t want to sell their possessed dolls for some reason.” Nathan turns towards me, a glint in his eyes. “So, on a personal level, what do you really think?”

“I think,” I start with a deep breath, “it’s amazing you want to share your home with people.” I wave my hand around. “Most people with this kind of cash in their wallet would never open their home to people, let alone show off their art collection.”

Nathan shrugs. “I think all things should be shared. I plan on making this place open to anyone who wants to see it. Artwork is meant to be seen, to be loved, critiqued, hated, judged,” he smirks at me. “It’s a public spectacle at all times, not something meant to be seen by certain eyes only. That’d be selfish.”

I nod gently as I watch him. “Do you mind if I ask something personal?”

“Depends on what you ask,” Nathan smirks.

“Who are you?” I turn towards him. “I mean--the money you must have put in here already. What do you do? Are you into tech? Born this way?”

“I am just someone with a little too much and not enough to share it with.” He smiles at me and for sure I think his eyes are a weird pink. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Uh-” I’m shocked by his sudden question. “Not since breakfast,” I answer.

“Good!” Nathan grins. “Follow me, my chef is the best in the world.” He leads me downstairs which had once been used as staffing quarters as well as the kitchen and storage. 

“What do you plan to do down here?” I ask.

“Maybe a restaurant one of these days,” Nathan sighs. “But for now, it’s one of the few places in the chateau I like untouched. I did update the refrigeration and kitchen areas, but I like how the basement was practically untouched.” He lead me into the kitchen which is a glaring sterile white. Everything seems high tech brand new yet classic at the same time.

There’s a table in the corner with a window that looks out over a cliff. As I sit down, Nathan opens one of the fridges and takes out a pitcher, pouring ice cold water into a glass. 

“How long are you in town for? I would love to hire you to help me get this all off the ground.” Nathan sits down at the table, handing me the water.

“I don’t know what I could possibly do,” I chuckle. “I wouldn’t know the first thing about leading any of your ideas.”

“You’d know the proper people to get in contact with. Artist friends, old school chums,” he says with a shrug.

“School chums?” I say with a smirk.