The virtuous Meta, misled to the wrong “boarding house,” has been offered a job. A the bordello!

Smiles, genuine and kind, surrounded me. Never in my life had I met others who so easily accepted a bookworm like myself and appreciated my talent as a pianist. I was a grown woman capable of making independent decisions. Besides, I came here to Discover a world full of new possibilities.

I swallowed my apprehension, hoping I wasn’t about to make a grave mistake. The brothel madam continued smiling, her expression framed with hope.

I unhinged the teeth biting my tongue. “Do you think we could have the piano tuned?”

From The Last Bordello.