Legitimate escort business seems like it has its place. More common in Asian cultures from what I gather, as a way to show status or meet expectations rather than indulge hedonically. But yea it is sort of an odd business.

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There's that, but even aside from 'pretend to,' depending on a particular type of gathering, if many others around you are married, you're sort of an odd one out. Making you, and depending on the culture, others around you uncomfortable. Having a paid companion gives you someone yo interact with during the portions of the event that couples interact while being present for those other larger group (or business) parts. That's how I understand it anyway. Seems more of value in more collective cultures, which is where we seem to see it more often.