[interesting]

The apartment where August Rand had taken Justine was more than presentable, at least compared to her current living quarters. For the past ten years, they'd lived in a two-room arrangement, a shared kitchen-living room and a shared bedroom. It was odd now for Justine and Tina, mother and daughter, to be sharing the same bed. Their intimacy was challenged every minute. And it was worse since Ludmilla had died.

The place had three rooms, already an improvement. The kitchen-living room space was still shared, but it was twice as big as what they had at home. It was fully furnished, stove, microwave, fridge and freezer, a toaster oven, a full pantry, set of ustensils, plates, glasses and cups. There was no table but one could easily eat at the large counter. The place came with an old-style television, not a flat screen.

The bedrooms were of equal size each, although one didn't have a window.

"You could use it as an office otherwise," August said.

The place was clean, freshly washed, and it didn't smell of rot, decay, mildew or abandon.

"Previous tenant left about three months ago. I had a new coat put in. She had been here for three years."
"And where is she now?"
"As far as I know, back on her feet, back East."

It was easy for Justine to forget what the price was for the place. But it was so much better than what she had...

"The previous tenant... you... had sex with her."
"Yes."
"You have sex with all your tenants?"
"I have to say... no, but most of them. I have had sex with each tenant at least once."
"And?"
"Well, most are pleased with the arrangement."

He smiled, a bit presumptuous.

"I'm a great lover."

Justine lowered her head.

"After a while, others start providing services which are, let's say it like that, worth more than sex."
"But... why do you do this?"

August had expected this question earlier.

"Truly? There are a few reasons. I'm... a sexaholic. I used to be a pornstar, but then I got old."
"Okay..."
"Second, I have money. Lots of money. And I can't use it all, no matter how much I spend, so this seemed like a good fit."
"So you can afford to let us stay here without paying?"
"Building is mine, I pay the taxes, that's it. There's no official paperwork here, though..."

Justine understood why. She wasn't sure how the business bureau would handle this kind of transaction.

"Any other reasons?"
"Well... I was down on my luck once, and a former flame helped me out, a bit like this actually... so, when she died, I decided to return the favor."
"oh! I'm sorry."
"Don't be... she died over fifteen years ago. Left me everything. She was a pornstar, you see, but she was wealthy before... that's how we met."
"You were in love?"
"We were in lust..."

They had gone over the apartment twice. Conversation was starting to go in circles.

"Listen, Justine, I'll be blunt. You're very beautiful, and you're smart, talented... apparently inquisitive."

She laughed.

"Bottom line is, you are welcome here. I need to know that you can commit if you're going to stay here."
"What about my daughter?" Justine asked.
"She can stay here too, of course... and no, I don't touch her, at least, not until she's an adult. Once she's of majority, it will become her decision, if she stays or if she goes."
"And she doesn't know about us? About... how I pay?"
"No. Not unless you tell her."

It all seemed perfectly reasonable. Justine closed her eyes and pictured her old apartment, the one she so wanted to leave, and she pictured her daughter growing up there for two more years, until she finished high school. There had been enough sacrifice, she thought.

Suddenly, a question popped into her head.

"Wait... we'll have lodging, but what about food? Home maintenance?"
"Two options there... either you fend for yourelf, get a job to supplement your missing revenue or..."
"Or?"
"Or we extend the contract to include money for food."
"How much?"
"For two hundred a week... we have sex once a week."

Justine gave the mention some serious thought. It was prostitution, a form of it anyway. And yet...

"What will I say to my daughter?"
"You don't have to tell her anything. Say the money comes from work."

Justine marked a long pause, then forced herself to stare directly into August's gaze.

"When can I move in?"
"As soon as we seal the deal... I'll pay for your move, if you need it."

It seemed to Justine that this was too good to be true, too easy, but she couldn't act any other way. She knew her other options, and only this one seemed to offer some kind of hope to let her get back on her feet.

She grabbed the straps of her dress, ready for what came next...