Lima, June 1963, Barrios Altos, a neighbourhood whose glory days had long since passed. The wealthy had already moved to the "new rich areas", some to nearby districts such as Lince and Jesus Maria little by little, while a few others venture farther, settling in Miraflores or Barranco. The centre areas had begun to sink into crime and poverty, and dogged by the massive centralization of the country, when waves of migrants from the provinces arrived in Lima in search of a better live and opportunities for growth, became those areas gloomier, with dim streetlight which barely illuminate the old colonial architecture, piles of garbage stood by the poles and homeless people slept on cardboard boxes scattered along the sidewalks.
However, several proprieties remained in the hands of well-off, though many of their owners had either died living behind heirs uninterested in such old-fashioned "abandoned" houses, or had gone abroad convinced that Peru has no longer the same. Among those "abandoned" buildings, no far from the place known as "Cinco Esquinas", stood a large colonial residence. It was two-story house, much deeper than it appears at first glance, with a wide carriage gate and a small door within it for pedestrians. Inside the house lay a small garden with a fountain at its centre. That imposing house, with such a monumental high and beauty, was eventually sold – at an inflated price – by the youngest son of Mr. Montel, affectionately called Montelito, to a "new rich", people who were poor and has recently acquired a quiet considerable amount of money by low social class activities like selling fruits or vegetables in the markets.
That man was known as papasito, an Ica native, mockingly nicknamed for having his fortune selling potatoes, and wherever he went, he carried himself as if he were the more handsome and wealthiest in the room. Papasito came to Barrios Altos, with the intention of buy a building he could profit from – to rent it to a procurer, turning it into a hotel, or use it as a textile warehouse. Fortunately smiled for him, only a week after his purchase, in front of it, a brothel called El Placer Culposo opened just across the street. Papasito didn't waste a second and went to the brothel and approach its owner, an old woman called Doña Pepa, in order to strike an agreement: she would send some of her ladies to work at his building at night, ensuring his rooms were occupied, and in exchange, he would give her a weekly share of the profits. Doña Pepa agreed.
Three months after the agreement, seems that everything works in perfectly order. But as neighbouring houses were turned to "abandoned" ones and strangers moved into others. Papasito became increasingly dependent of nocturnal clients. To compensate, he had to increase his prices. That day at night in Octuber, after setting the new prices, he went drinking with some friends at one of the tables in a crowdy, noisy bar three blocks from his hotel. Peruvian creole music played in the background. He drank one beer, then two, then three, enough to get him dizzy. Despite his tough, broad-shouldered appearance, the dark-skinned man, was a cheap drunk. Before ordering a fourth glass, he stood up and slurred
– "I'm burned everyone calls me papasito, since today I'll be known as hotelito"
His friends burst into laughter. With beer foam still clinging to his chin, his gaze suddenly caught a glimpse of a young woman slipping the crowd. She was dark-skinned, in her middle's twenties, big slanting black eyes, thick curly black hair, small breasts and wipe hip. He saw her only for a second before she vanished, but was enough, for him, at least. He tried to stand up, but he stumbles to his feet, nearly falling backward, he leaned on a friend to help him stand and shoved his way outside, inadvertently pushing one of his friends. But just as he reached the street, he saw her getting into a taxi. He tried to hurry, but his stomach lurched and he vomited. By the time he wiped himself clean, leaning on against a lamppost, he tried to look for the taxi, but it has already disappeared.
The next day at night, Doña Pepa was walking through the hall of El Placer Culposo when she noticed a man, unlike the rest of her clientele. He was an eye-catching man, tall, with a square jaw, brushy eyebrows, and a garish flowered shirt. His face flushed with alcohol, his smile bright provoked from the endless flattery and kisses of the ladies around him. Spotting him, Doña Pepa immediately called Ana, one of her most stunning girls, 26 years old, with dark skin and, seductive and irresistible charm. She sent her to capture the man's attention.
All night long, Ana and the man flirted, till they decided to go to papasito's hotel to finish the evening. In the room they had a talk
– "Was looking for girls like you", he whispered, giving her a kiss
– "like me?", she asked kissing him back
– "Yes … beautiful, and far away all the stress", he answered unlocking his belt
– "Will I see you again?", she asked slipping off her breeches
He carries her and when he throws her on the bed, he said – only for you. That night, the employees whispered about on the moans echoing from room 205.