Contrary to how one would expect an office to be furnished in a luxurious bordello for rich clients, Dean's boasted only the bare essentials.

The furnishings consisted of an antique desk, two chairs for visitors, a few oil paintings of classic cars, a comfortable couch, and a huge flat TV.

Although ostensibly a workplace, Dean saw it as his man cave. When he entered this room, he wanted to escape everything. Relax for a while before getting back to business.

He sank onto the couch and undid his tie. He liked to present himself in as professional a manner as possible where work was concerned. It was easy to give out the wrong vibes in an establishment that dealt exclusively with sex.

Dean didn't partake of the employees' charms, though some of the girls had seriously made him want to rethink his golden rule of 'no tasting.'

But he'd resisted temptation.

:

He had an ongoing relationship with Cassandra, a feisty aspiring journalist who worked out of Sioux Falls. She was often away on the paper's business, never refusing an assignment in the hope her hard work would get her to the top of her profession, which suited Dean just fine.

The last thing he needed was a clingy relationship.

She didn't know his true occupation.

He'd presented himself as a car salesman, which was factual. He'd invested some of his money in selling luxury cars, even if he hardly ever went there himself, leaving the day-to-day running to a manager.

Sighing happily, he threw his head back on the sofa's cushions. Life was good. He had everything he could desire.

:

Bobby loved him like a son. Ellen, although once a prostitute herself, had been like a mom to him, listening to his problems growing up and giving him advice which, he mused wryly, he'd rarely acted on. However, he'd taken to life at Hot Springs like a duck to water.

Glancing out of the window, he noticed Lisa with her baby walking across the garden.

The girls were provided by the house doctor with all the latest contraceptives, but despite that, once in a blue moon, an accident happened. Lisa had been offered an abortion, but she'd wanted to keep the kid.

Ben was a year old now, his dad probably one of Lisa's clients, though she insisted she didn't know who.

She was back at work, her body toned up again after sessions in the on-site gym, She was popular with the clients who found her 'bendy' body an extra perk.

However, the standards were high at Hot Springs. If Lisa hadn't been up to scratch, she'd have been pensioned off. Business was business, after all.

:

Dean had a soft spot for little Ben.

His memories were still hazy of the 'before' time, but he was convinced he'd held a baby in his arms who meant something to him.

Recently, he'd decided to stop trying to remember the past, accepting that he'd probably never get those childhood memories back, though it rankled no end that he'd lost them.

He hadn't even been able to recall his last name. Not that it mattered now. He was Dean Singer now. Bobby had adopted him years ago.

The trill of his phone jolted him out of his reverie. It was Bobby.

'Did the shipment arrive okay, Dean?'

'Smooth as silk, Dad. Eight in all. Good-looking girls, or they will be when Ellen finishes prettying them up.'

Bobby's gruff voice gave a harrumph. 'Best thing I ever did hiring that woman. She keeps those girls in line with an iron fist.'

'When are you due back?" Dean asked. Bobby was off on a tour of his other establishments, dotted all over the country.

'A couple of days yet. San Francisco is the last on my list. See you then.'

Dean closed the call. Ellen was a godsend for the business, not to mention the fact that she and Bobby were a couple and had been for years.

:

Sam sat on the edge of his seat, waiting for the Ellen woman. He'd been lucky to have gotten away with his ridiculous tale of looking for work. Strangely enough, the guy at the door had believed him.

'Very nice,' Ellen said as she breezed in and began sizing up the boy waiting in the hall. 'Stand up and turn around.'

'Uh...,' Sam stuttered, rising to his full height, uneasy with the woman's assessing glance.

She strode forward and gripped his chin, examining his features. 'A real treasure,' she murmured. 'Handsome, cute, and…. vulnerable. Perfect for the job. Too bad we don't deal in guys here, but I'm sure we can fix you up in another section.'

By this time, even Sam, in his naivety, understood she'd mistaken the type of chore he was looking for, and he corrected her.

'You've got it wrong, uh... Miss. I'm looking for a different kind of work. Odd jobs, gardening. Whatever you need.'

:

A frown came over her still attractive features. 'I can't believe Dean let you stay to do odd jobs. How did you get here anyway?'

'I came in the van with the girls. The driver said you might take me on. I really need the money. I'm a hard worker. Just give me a chance.'

The kid's eyes were downcast yet totally appealing, much like a downtrodden puppy's. Ellen felt her maternal instincts rearing their head.

With a sigh, she capitulated. They did need someone to fix odds and ends, though the bulk of the maintenance was done by professionals.

'Fine, if Dean said you can stay, okay. But I refuse to let you walk around in those rags you're wearing. Come with me and we'll see what I can find. Anything's got to be better than those.'

With a relieved sigh, Sam trotted along behind her.

Half the battle had been won, now came the hard part.

TBC