Crap. Crap, crap, crap. There was nothing for it. He was going to have to appeal to her.

Damn it.

Evan glared down at his phone’s screen, as though through sheer force of frustration he could somehow make his bank balance look different. But the electronic device seemed strangely immune to the young man’s passionate glare, continuing to display the unwanted numbers. He couldn’t pay rent. He wasn’t going to ever be able to pay rent the way things were going. It just wasn't frigging fair!

He carefully put down the phone, resisting the urge to throw it away, and slumped back onto his second-hand couch. If his roommates had stuck around like originally agreed this wouldn’t be as big of a deal. But then again, he grudgingly admitted, none of them had expected a country-wide quarantine either. And so he had lost the two other people who were meant to be paying into the place and, though they had sent along enough money to help out for a couple of months, that had stopped three rent checks ago.

It was time to go see his landlady.

Evan swallowed as he dallied at his apartment door, trying to think of some other way. But nothing came to mind. It wasn’t that she was horrible. Mz. Kim had always been perfectly polite and reasonable the entire time he had lived here, even granting a few extensions early on. No, what he was not looking forward to was her…rental renegotiations…

He opened the door and stepped out. The hallway was blessedly deserted at least for the moment, and Evan hurried towards the elevator that would take him up to Mz Kim’s floor. He waited by the elevator, dancing a little with nervous energy, and let out a squeak of surprise when the doors opened. Inside the elevator were two of his fellow tenants, who he vaguely recognized as living two units down from him. Ulrike and…Dietrich? Two exchange students from Germany here studying for their master’s in subjects that Evan couldn’t recall. But that wasn’t what made him squeak in surprise.

It was their collars.

They were dressed normally enough in all other respects, and Evan knew he wouldn’t have looked at them twice otherwise. But a thick black leather collar encircled each of their necks, with a decent sized d-ring hanging down from them. Dietrich, moreover, had also had a waist belt of leather locked on, with chains linking his cuffed wrists to it. The raven-haired Ulrike was otherwise unbound, and had actually been in the process of kissing Dietrich when the doors opened and Evan let out his squeak. Ulrike calmly finished her kiss and then pressed a ballgag into Dietrich’s mouth. The boy gave a muffled grumble of protest, and Ulrike giggled,

“New rules, yes?” She finished buckling the gag in place and then turned to see Evan blushing about as much as Dietrich was at being seen, “Ah, you are seeing Mz Kim as well hmm?”

“Uh, ye-yes,” Evan stammered, one hand holding the door open automatically as Ulrike urged Dietrich out of the elevator, “Is she, umm…”

“Seeing people?” Ulrike laughed, and gestured at the two of them, “Yes. Renegotiating contracts now. I would hurry.” She winked at Evan, “We left her in a good mood, and you wouldn’t want someone to beat you there, yes?”

Evan nodded, not trusting himself to speak further to the vivacious German girl, and mashed the button to get him upstairs. Ulrike dragged Dietrich away, carrying on a one-sided conversation with him in German. The topic, whatever it was, began drawing muffled protests as the elevator doors closed.

Alone in the elevator, Evan tried to calm his racing heart. He knew this was the sort of thing that might happen. The email that Mz Kim had circulated to all tenants had specified that she was open to contract renegotiation of a…non-monetary nature. Hell, she had even listed some examples of possible services to be rendered. Cleaning, cooking, other methods of helping out around the place. And the notification, right at the bottom, that anyone renegotiating their contract away from rental payments would have to submit to a few…less orthodox requirements. Evan swallowed hard again as the elevator dinged its arrival. There was nothing for it. He had to see her.

The entire top floor of the apartment complex had been converted into a single large suite some time ago, so when Evan exited the elevator it was into a small waiting room. Very much like a front hall sort of area, with a small closet for outerwear and shoes and a few chairs arranged along the other wall. Standing near the elevator, close enough to make Evan jump a little in surprise as he exited, was a maid. A fetish maid. She was a gorgeous blonde, of slightly less than average height, and dressed in a beautiful French maid latex outfit, complete with ruffles and everything. She grinned as Evan jumped, and gave a rather elegant curtsey.

“Good afternoon. Are you here to see Mistress Kim?”

Evan swallowed again. Mistress? But he had come too far at this point. There was no point in going back downstairs. There were no solutions down there. He nodded.

“Splendid! A rental renegotiation, I presume?” The blonde’s smile was understanding, but with the barest hint of…something. Evan couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it made him flush a little more as he nodded again. The maid pointed him to a chair, and left the room. Evan settled down into the seat as best he could, trying to cobble together some plan for what he could propose to his landlady. Nothing too extreme or trying. He didn’t need that much deferred after all. Maybe he could even get away with not being immersed into the kinkier aspects of her rental forgiveness.

Right. Totally possible.

He didn’t have long to wait. A couple of minutes after she left him the maid returned, all smiles, and beckoned him to follow her into the main suite. It was tastefully done up in quasi modern style, with flourishes of Asian art and craftwork scattered about. Refined opulence was the watchword for how Mz Kim, or Mistress Kim, had decorated, and it added just a touch more to Evan’s feeling of intimidation as he walked along. The woman was clearly quite wealthy, and the sort of wealthy that didn’t need to flaunt it in gaudy spectacles. Evan did his best to quiet his doubts, to not stare at the swaying latex covered rump in front of him, and to concentrate on how he was going to explain his situation to his landlady.

That was the only thing he needed to think about.

The blonde maid led him to a doorway that she then waved him through. It led into a comfortably elegant office dominated by a dark wooden desk with several comfortable armchairs before it. A few more pieces of tasteful art were arrayed along the right hand and rear walls, while the left hand side had a nice large window looking out over the nearby woods. But all that was merely a flash of acknowledgement for Evan. His eyes were drawn to the figure behind the desk like a lodestone.

His landlady. His…potential…salvation.

Mz Kim was shorter than him by about a foot, with long black hair that she kept neatly stowed away in a tight bun. She wore glasses that enhanced her allure for Evan, which were now perched slightly down her nose as she looked up from reading something as he entered. Her lips curved in a small private smile as Evan entered, though he wasn’t certain if it was meant for him or for the paper she held in her hand. Regardless, it lit her face with an appealing light, and Evan couldn’t help but grin his nervous smile as he came to stand in front of her desk. In contrast to the overtly kinky maid that urged him into the room, Mz Kim was dressed in relatively normal looking attire. Though admittedly it did highlight her beauty in such a way that hinted at…more carnal thoughts.

“Ah, Evan,” Her voice was warm. Welcoming. It cut off further thought from his partly panicked brain, and he gratefully slumped into the chair she pointed to, “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company in my home?”

Evan twitched a little as he sensed the maid come to a halt directly behind his chair. It felt like all he would have to do was lean back and his head would be touching her latex frills. He swallowed and tried to sound as grown up as he could, “Mz Kim, it’s…um, it’s about my rental situation.” He resisted the urge to squeeze his eyes shut, though he very much wanted to and continued, “I, ah, I’m having some employment difficulty right now.”

A raised eyebrow was all the response that got. He bulled on through.

“It’s just, with all the restrictions and so forth going on, not many places are hiring in my field. And so, I need…that is, I was hoping…”

“A stay on your rent?”

“Yes,” Evan flushed, “Just until I can get back onto my feet. I just need some time.”

“Don’t we all,” Mz Kim noted, her tone a bit whimsical as she leaned back in her chair. She stared at him for a few moments, her eyes coolly calculating over a still warm smile, and then sat back up to inspect a file folder in front of her. She flicked it open and pursed her lips before her eyes came back up to meet Evan’s own, “It seems, as I thought I recalled, that you’re already somewhat behind in payments Evan.”

“Yes, but—”

“By a couple of months too. Tell me,” She steepled her hands overtop what had to be his tenant file and leaned towards him, “What are your employment prospects over the next six months? Is there a likely job or position somewhere awaiting you?”

Evan gave a helpless shrug, and Mz Kim’s smile seemed to widen just a fraction.

“I thought not. It’s nothing to be ashamed of dear boy, many of my tenants are in similar positions. The way the world is these days, all these restrictions and so forth,” she shook her head a bit regretfully, “But we must all make our way in the world as it is, musn’t we?”

Evan opened his mouth to respond, to make another plea for clemency, but she rode right over his partly thought out request.

“I don’t want to simply toss you out on the street Evan, far from it.” She tapped his folder again for a few moments, her eyes looking through him it seemed, “You’ll have seen one or two of my other tenants with their own…unique rental renegotiations?”

Evan nodded, his throat suddenly going dry. He had hoped that somehow this sort of thing could be avoided. But the fact that he was so far behind, that she seemed to know the likelihood of him finding new work, the face that he had always needed roommates to have a hope in hell of staying here...

His case was not a strong one.

“Well, their cases were comparatively simple.” Mz Kim’s lips parted as her tongue darted out for a moment. She stood from behind her desk and came over to sit on it in front of Evan, forcing him by dint of her new position to look up to meet her eyes. He found himself blushing slightly at the sudden change, and became freshly aware of the maid behind him as he felt latex brush against his neck and head.

“A month, perhaps two. And both of them have steady income prospects. So a little light fun, some additional chores and other tasks around the place. Not too bad, all things considered.” Mz Kim smiled, and then leaned in a little towards Evan, “For you, it will not be so…simple. What you seem to require Evan, unless I miss my guess, is a somewhat longer lease on my goodwill. Greater care requirements that would include not just rent but sustenance as well. All the material needed to keep a strapping young boy such as yourself in good health.”

She tapped her chin, that smile of hers somehow robbing the words of any hostility or mockery. Then she reached back onto her desk and pulled a five page form towards her, keeping a hand on it while she turned back to Evan, “What I am proposing Evan is a more intensive rental arrangement. I will waiver all rental fees for a one year period, as well as covering all of your utilities, groceries, and providing a small stipend on top of that for any non-essential expenses you might want to incur.”

Evan blinked in surprise, “Oh. Wow Um, thank you Mz Kim, I—”

Her next words rode right over him, “In return, you will be my slave.”

Evan choked on what he had been trying to say, “Ah, um, What…I’d be what?”

“My slave.” Mz Kim still projected that cool calm demeanor, as though they were discussing nothing more interesting than the weather for the next week, “For a similar one year period I would own you. Completely. I would be free to train you how I wish, and use you how I wish, within certain parameters spelled out here.” She tapped the form with one elegant finger, “There would be no escape once you’ve signed. No safe words, or withdrawing after a day or a week. You will be locked in my collar, restrained in my bondage, for the entire year.”

“I…uh…”

"I would train you of course, so do not fool yourself to think there will not be times where you will experience pain. Frustration. Perhaps even a healthy dose of fear of the unknown. However willingly, perhaps even secretly eagerly you sign this form...you will have hours, perhaps even days where you want to desperately be out. Free. Away from your bondage, your collar...from me." Mz Kim's lips curved further in a smile, "But you will not be released. You will suffer in your bondage. You will endure your training. And you will strive every day to please me, or you will endure my exacting corrections. And you will emerge from the other side as a confident, pleasing submissive male. Eager to serve and be of use for your Mistress."

Mz Kim scooted off her desk, to stand now in front of Evan who shrank back a little in his seat in response. She placed a hand on the armrests to either side of him and leaned in so that her face was mere inches from his own. Behind him latex gloved hands settled firmly onto his shoulders, thumbs pressing at the back of his neck. Making certain he couldn’t look away.

“At the end of the year,” Mz Kim’s voice had settled into a purr, “I’ll set you free…if you want to be freed that is, Evan.” He shivered as he felt her warm fragrant breath steal over him, “A life of slavery is nothing to turn one’s nose at, especially as a slave to me.” She smiled and flicked her eyes behind him, “Klara could certainly attest to how wonderful her life is in its simplicity these days since she became my maid. Three years now. She hasn’t worn a stitch of normal clothing, nor been out in public without obvious bondage and her collar.” Mz Kim’s eyes bored back into Evan’s own, “And in return all she needs care about in life is pleasing me.” One cool finger slipped under Evan’s chin, tilting his head up. Her lips mere inches from his own now.

“Choose Evan.”

Evan swallowed. More than anything he felt a powerful desire to be away from this situation and this room. Hell, a not insignificant voice in his brain was screaming at him to just bolt. Find someone else to take him in. There had to be another way. Somehow.

But the rest of his mind had been made up long before he set foot in Mz Kim’s apartment. Even if…even if what was on offer was way, way more than he had thought. Some part of him had hoped that it would be like Dietrich. Some bondage toys, some on call play with his hot landlady, and perhaps bits and pieces of service.

He opened his mouth, summoning what intestinal strength he had left, and in a small, small voice, managed to croak out, “I’ll…I’ll sign.”

Mz Kim straightened and stepped to one side as the maid behind him propelled him upright and towards the desk. In a shaky hand he picked up the pen. He blurrily read the text, though didn’t take it all in. How could he, when the thought of a year’s service was hanging before his brain. A small enough victory that when he signed his signature wasn’t shaky or illegible. It was manifestly his, right along the dotted line for SLAVE. He backed away from the document to let Mz Kim inspect it, and sign it herself, and as he did so he felt the maid’s slick hands on him once more. She pulled his arms behind him, and locked a pair of leather cuffs around his wrists.

Evan gave a surprised grunt and opened his mouth to say something, only to have his question cut off by a ballgag that was swiftly drawn taut. Sealing away his ability to speak.

“Mmmmffggh!”

“She’s doing you a favour, slave.” Mz Kim noted dryly from where she was signing the document, “a new slave like you isn’t allowed to speak unless I give you permission. I am more than happy to hear your moans, your muffled pleas, and any other sort of gag talk. Rather sweat and endearingly reminding of your place. But actual words? Sentences? Those are for people.” She turned back to face him. In her hands was a thick red leather collar, “And you are just a slave now.”

Evan moaned in trepidation as the collar was wrapped around his throat.

Just what the hell had he gotten himself into??