The muted sound of butter knives scraping over cheap cardboard was all that filled the apartment. In the dim glow of a mulberry-scented candle, Eunice and I were seated at her dining table, focused intently on our meals. My chair was soft and well-upholstered while hers was made of plastic. She insisted I had her better seat, despite my protests.

“So, were you saving those candles for your girlfriend?” asked Eunice softly. “It’s a shame you had to waste them on me.”

“It’s not a waste, believe me,” I replied, eyes still locked on the Salisbury steak. “We actually broke up yesterday.”

“What?! How could that happen?” she exclaimed, looking up at me.

“I caught her cheating on me with another man.”

“I see, so that’s why you came here instead of going to her place. I’m sorry that happened, you two looked so happy together. And after you spent so much money on these gifts for her…”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve already moved on. I think Mi- I already knew it was over but didn’t want to admit it. Our relationship wasn’t going anywhere, and all of these presents are better off with someone much more kind and deserving.”

“Do you really think so?”

I looked up from my meal to see Eunice blushing heavily. My eyes widened and I began to sputter. “I mean, you’ve been a great landlady, and are even letting me use your microwave!”

“It’s the least I can do. But what good hostess doesn’t offer their guest a drink? How about some wine? I have a nice bottle I’ve been saving for a good occasion.”

“No!” I shouted.

Eunice froze.

“I mean, no thank you. Water’s fine.”

“Well alright, let me get us some.”

I let out a sigh as my landlady went to the kitchen.

She soon returned with a pair of fancy glasses filled most of the way with the clear liquid. We each took a sip in thoughtful silence before continuing our conversation.

“Thank you for coming by,” said Eunice. “It’s been pretty lonely these past couple of years since my husband left me for someone much younger. So don’t think you’re alone in that pit of yours.”

I nodded sympathetically. “You deserve better.”

“As do you.”

Another nod.

“Well, seeing as how we’re both pretty lonely, maybe there’s a way for us to keep each other even more company? I’d be happy to give your rent back as thanks, of course, so you’ll be able to pay your bills.”

I froze mid breath.

And there it was. This morning, I was intent on not letting this become a thing for the sake of the long term. But now… I really liked having a working microwave. “I-”

Eunice looked down at the table, her face seemingly softening as age suddenly gripped its features. There was a look of regret in her eyes, coupled with something else. It was fear.

“What’s with that look?”

“Sorry?” she said softly, a look of surprise now added to the mix.

“You looked scared when you said that. What’s wrong?”

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“I mean, I shouldn’t be propositioning my tenets like this!” Eunice squeaked as her face turned an even darker shade of beet red than before. “But we’re both going through a lot, I thought it would make us feel better!”

“No, not that,” I said calmly. “You looked genuinely scared by it. Is something going on? Will you get into trouble?”

“I-You… Yes. I will,” she said with a sigh. A single tear began to roll down her left eye. “I need the money to help pay off some debts with the mob.”

“The mob?!” I blurted out. “I thought you were scared somebody was going to find out or something! You really don’t seem like the kind of person to get involved with them.”

“And it was probably one of the worst mistakes of my life,” she said in a slump. “When my husband left me, I tried to fill the hole in my heart with gambling, down in Atlantic City. But I spent too much and ended up owing a lot of money to them. And I need your rent to catch up on my payments, or else…”

“Don’t say anything else, that check is yours.”

“…thank you.”

I closed my eyes for a few seconds before looking back up at Eunice.

“You know, I wonder if they have some kind of sex-based payment plan? I’m sure you have standards to not have picked it, but it just sounds like something out of a por- I mean, something that they would do.”

“I was expecting the same, and even offered! But these people are something different, they’re not interested in anything like that. They only accept money. It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is,” I said with a shiver. Weird how the first competent people I learned about in this world were criminals. And like hell I was joining up with them!

We both sat in silence, contemplating everything. But at that moment, I came to a sudden realization.

Gambling in Atlantic City was what got Eunice into trouble in the first place, but that could be what I was looking for! [Detect Cheating] was able to identify my old boss trying to cheat me out of my pay, so that meant it wasn’t limited to just relationships. And that meant it could also work on cheating in gambling! There was my new career, casino security!

My face immediately brightened, even catching Eunice by surprise. But something else came to mind that immediately caused my expression to darken.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“When you mentioned Atlantic City, I thought about how I could get a job at a casino catching cheaters. I realized I have a talent for it today, and thought about making it into a career.”

“Well that sounds wonderful! What’s so bad about that?”

“The casinos are what got you into this whole mess with the mob. I don’t want to be a part of that.”

“Nonsense, it was my fault for taking that loan in the first place!” she chided. “But you don’t have to make that decision immediately, you still have a place here.”

I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “The truth is, I actually quit my job this morning and that check I gave you was my last one.”

Eunice looked offended. “If I’d known that, there’s no way I would’ve accepted it!”

“I know,” I shrugged. “That’s why I didn’t say anything.”

Eunice took a long sip of her water as the two of us sat in silence. Eventually, she looked up at me with a smile.

“I think you have a future in Atlantic City. Even if you don’t want to work for a casino, I have an old friend down there who’s been looking for someone to help him run his apartment complex. I could call him and recommend you for the job. You could work for him until you decide to try for the casino.”

I stared back with an open mouth. “A-are you sure?”

“Of course! I’ve known you for months, you’re one of the most dedicated people I’ve ever met! You would be perfect for the job!”

My mouth slowly closed, and my lips began to spread out into a smile. “I don’t know what to say, Eunice. This is huge. Thank you!”

“It’s nothing, we all need some help once in a while, and you helped me out today by giving me company. I’m just returning the favor.”

“That’s not the only favor. At least this way, you’ll be able to rent out my old place to someone who can actually pay on time!”

We both laughed.

“But really, thank you for being such an amazing landlady. I’ll pack up and move out some time tomorrow.”

“I only did what anyone would do,” she said with a melancholic smile. “And thank you again for the company tonight. It might not have been what I expected or really wanted at first, but it was still very fulfilling. I think I’m going to miss you.”

“You’re welcome, I had a good time talking to you as well. And… I think I’m going to miss you too.”

I got up and threw away my cardboard plate, making sure to wash Eunice’s silverware in her sink. With a final nod and thanks, I made my way back to my apartment and got ready for bed. Sleep came to me quickly, pushing away both the apprehension and hope I held for tomorrow.