Veronica gasped as she woke from her dream. It was already quickly fading as she struggled to come to, but she knew whatever it had been about had shaken her more than just a little. A few details remained such as being turned into a robotic version of herself, and feeling like she learned something new about what she wanted in life. She quickly checked to make sure she was still human, laughing at herself for even thinking otherwise, and wondered where Brianna had gone once she finally settled down. “Shit, no breakfast in bed today I guess” she said with disappointment, though she considered that the maid may be off fetching it once she realized it was only 5:30 in the morning.

Normally Veronica would just go back to sleep if she had nothing to do, but normally she would have at least have a job lined up by now. A quick look through her emails and messages from the job website only brought disappointment, and she would stare up at the ceiling for a moment before trying to center herself. “No big deal. It’s only been a week,” she said out loud, “I guess it just feels like so much longer.” She sighed and thought for a moment. It was only 6 now, and aside from some 24 hour markets she wouldn’t be able to trade yet. Even still, she would spend about an hour setting up some promising looking trades for market open. It was simple to her, which was strange, because her methods were actually complex and layered. It felt like playing a mobile game.

”How’s my new ATM?” A text from no other than Caroline read at 7. Veronica felt a rush, but before she could type Caroline would continue. “I guess you really are just submissive in every possible way. Still, if you decide you want more training from me in the world of trade and finance then I am still open to helping you. Rules still apply until then, but they still would if I took you on as something of an apprentice to be honest, so don’t let the submitting to me like that push you in either direction. You look amazing in uniform, but I think a nice suit would fit you too. We could both have a nice office and be colleagues, or maybe you could become my secretary.” 

“Thank you, my Lady.” Veronica sent. She felt grateful that Caroline would still help her choose another path if she wanted to, though she didn’t think much on why she addressed her in such a way, nor did she find it in her to even question what Caroline was really talking about. It wasn’t like she was actually bound to the Porter family, and even if Caroline would obviously indulge if Veronica decided to be of service rather than an equal, it seemed Caroline still wanted to provide a path upwards for Veronica. Still, as long as she had an account that was tied to Caroline’s training and willingness to look out for her new subordinate’s interest, Veronica felt she had to listen to Caroline. As the markets opened she would spend a couple of hours trading, making a smaller profit from timing the right things but not bad for only two hours as opposed to all day. Plus, she had automated most of it to work itself out as the day went on. Her methods weren’t perfect, but she was highly attentive to every little detail Caroline taught her, and felt more like what she assumed an AI algorithm programmed for that sort of thing must feel like than a person in the moment. She was surprised at how good at it she was. Caroline implied that she had immediately started off better than even herself, but even if that meant Veronica had potential greater than Caroline, she felt that she wouldn’t have ever realized it without her help. She owed Caroline for that, and deemed that paying tribute was the right thing to do.

Around 10, having had no breakfast, Veronica would eat a couple of snack bars she had in her bag. She assumed that the upcoming gathering meant Brianna was needed for help. She felt bad for the maids in a way. They just had so much to do. “Hey,” she began to text Evelyn, “do you think they need any help getting ready for that upcoming thing? I don’t want to feel like a mooch, and I think Brianna was reassigned to help with that. I just hope I didn’t take a valuable set of hands away from the staff with my presence. I’d feel so bad.”

”I think they may appreciate the help. You didn’t take away from them though, Veronica. You have to remember that it is their responsibility to serve and to keep the home in perfect working order no matter the circumstances. It’s their entire reason for being. If you help them, please do not insult them by apologizing for taking away from them or whatever it is you think. They won’t get angry, but just don’t do that to them. Serving their Master and Mistress well is everything to the jokes you probably call their minds.” Evelyn’s text read.

Around 11 Veronica found herself roaming the hallways of the mansion glancing at the text on occasion. She wasn’t really sure how to even reply to that. Why would apologizing be considered an insult? Would apologizing by helping rather than talking about it be considered insulting? She scratched her head, and thought about how maids served. Quiet, out of the way, efficient, focused. To call them devoted and loyal seemed like a disrespectful understatement. She opted to begin helping by just handling little things she saw here and there. Making a bed while they were busy with other things. Lightly dusting something. Straightening items on a shelf. Switching over a load of laundry. She found it difficult to be efficient when she had no direction or structure, however, a consequence of feeling she had to hide her help. A maid did come find her to ask about lunch, and explained that she could come to the main hall for all meals and that anything she wanted would be made for her. The maid confirmed that Brianna had to help get things ready for the party and thus breakfast in bed would be paused for now. It wasn’t until the Friday after this coming one, but it was a big mansion, and they needed all guest rooms and places they could entertain those guests to be in perfect condition. She missed Brianna already but understood, and this other maid at least made her something to eat. Nothing as fancy as she’d been eating during her stay here, but she thought nothing of it, and she wasn’t going to complain about a homemade cheeseburger. 

Then, at roughly 2:30pm, as she was sweeping the halls she froze as she turned to see the head maid standing in front of her. 

“Miss Williams, please allow me” the maid, Marissa, said as she reached out for Veronica to hand the broom over. 

”Oh, no that will be okay Marissa, I’m just trying to help. I know you’re all preparing the house for the party and I’ve been-“ she paused as the 40 year old maid cocked her head slightly to the side in apparent confusion, “well see I’ve been, um, at least for today I’ve been trying to help you prepare. I really have nothing else to do, and I promise you I’m not doubting the staff’s abilities! You’re all amazing! I admire you if anything! It’s just the least I can do to show thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Porter for letting me stay here while I’m jobless. Plus that gives me a lot of time for it, and if I’ve caused any trouble-“

Marissa’s confusion would cease it seemed, and she would smile. “There is no need to explain any further, Veronica.” Marissa would then snap her fingers.

Something about the switch to the first name and the finger snap made Veronica’s hair stand up straight, and she found herself standing straight as a pencil, handing the broom to Marissa before standing the way a maid does when awaiting orders. She had also just noticed that she didn’t refer to Elias or Sabrina by first name, finding it odd, yet appropriate. 

”Your posture is excellent.” Marissa set the broom to the side before walking around Veronica, inspecting her. “If you are going to help us, however, there are a few requirements. This,” she stood in front of her again and gestured to her clothes, “this simply will not do. You see, cohesion is important, and therefore all maids must be in uniform at all times.”

Veronica gulped. “Marissa I’m not- I-“

”Enough.” Marissa took on a commanding tone. “If you are going to help us, and perform the tasks that it is my responsibility to delegate, then you will do everything I say. You see, we have been confused the last few hours.”

Veronica gulped as she realized she’d been caught. Marissa stood a couple of inches taller than her, and she was known to be a highly strict head of staff. She could have been a Mistress, but it seemed that she preferred being her own Master’s instrument of discipline. Not a speck of dust was to be found when Marissa inspected your work, or a decoration even a millimeter off from where it was supposed to be, otherwise there would be severe consequences. She’d never been face to face with her like this before, but now that she was, Veronica understood the reputation.  

“Many tasks had been done out of order, and clearly by someone other than the maids assigned to them. I can’t have the others confused, Veronica, they’re simpletons. They thrive on structure and repetition. Strict, clear orders, and precise schedules. They aren’t capable of real thought anymore, and I remove the necessity of thought in order to grant them mindless, obedient, bliss. Forcing them to think now is akin to torture, do you understand?” Marissa stepped towards Veronica, their faces practically touching as Marissa gazed down into Veronica’s eyes. “There is a proper sense of order to the way we do things. Now say yes Miss Marissa.”

Veronica was already wet again. More had stuck after the weekend trance, and she wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but couldn’t find herself caring to give it much thought at all. Instead she found herself trembling, and immediately submitting to the head housekeeper. “yes Miss Marissa.”

”Good girl. Now, it’s not too late to back out, but there’s not much risk as this does not make you a permanent fixture of this home. That must be earned.” Marissa smiled, and her tone became slightly warmer, as though she were satisfied with the natural subservience she saw in Veronica. “However, I do have use for you, but it means you will be in uniform at all times. You will also refer to out Master and Mistress as just that. Yes, before you ask, even if you are in uniform when they return. When you are in uniform that is exactly what they are to you, and you will address them as such. If it changes the way they see you? That’s not my problem. You owe us at least a week of service for what you’ve done, wouldn’t you agree?”

Veronica’s breath was slow and heavy, but this wasn’t trance. She felt an odd desire to call them that, and to wear the uniform. “yes Miss Marissa.”

* * *

Veronica’s “first day” on the job mostly consisted of being fitted for uniforms and following Marissa around. As she walked behind Marissa, dressed as one of the maids, she wondered what her friends would think if they saw her like this. If she wondered too long, however, Marissa would notice her not paying attention to her orientation day and smack her with a riding crop.

She ate dinner with the maids that evening. The meal wasn’t anything like the cheeseburger she had earlier. Instead it was purely for sustenance and function. Flavorless beans and veggies with a little bit of unseasoned boiled chicken. Yet, despite this, she enjoyed eating with the maids. They were all so simple, so happy, and expressed being so grateful to those they served for taking away the burdens of thought, choice, and the rat race outside. As Veronica listened in, many of them discussed their training and conditioning, with the topic of their intelligence coming up. Veronica learned that they went through regular hypnosis sessions  meant to dull the mind and affirm that they weren’t capable of anything but serving. That they weren’t failures in life, because they didn’t even have potential to waste, and that they’d merely experienced a cruel contradiction between their true purpose and society’s expectations. It wasn’t their fault they were stupid. They were supposed to be so that they could be trained and controlled more easily. Veronica felt good hearing the conversation, like someone understood the way she’d been feeling lately, and Marissa smiled when she asked if she could join in on one of the sessions to see what it was like.

After dinner Veronica would clean up, and then line up with the maids while awaiting Marissa’s approval of their work throughout the day. Fortunately she had no punishments to give this night. From what Veronica understood most of them were done in front of all maids, humbling the one receiving the punishment, and teaching them all a lesson as a collective.

The uniform felt really nice. Nice enough that she didn’t want to take it off. It was high quality, as if the Porters wanted their maids to radiate luxury as they did. There was something about how plain yet elegant it was, and the way the maids worked in perfect cohesion to ensure this luxurious home never knew even the tiniest speck of dust. Her imagination ran wild as she laid in bed, but when she began to try and touch herself to thoughts of serving her best friend, but as her strict Master, she would find herself hindered by a new chastity belt. “Oh, shit, I forgot to ask Marissa for-“ she paused and touched her neck. The metal collar was still locked on as well. She understood the reason for each. Full uniform meant full uniform, but these made her feel owned, like she was no longer friends with Elias, but had become his property. They felt so natural that she hadn’t even thought to take them off. She also wasn’t sure Marissa would oblige unless she was done playing maid, and Veronica wasn’t ready for that yet.

The following day she was up bright and early, with the full intent of lining up alongside the other maids to wait for their daily orders, but her room was so far from the servants quarters. She walked fast in her uniform, desperate to make it on time even if she didn’t truly have an obligation to this.

“Who do you think you are?” Marissa said with a glare. 

Veronica struggled to get a single word out as she saw a nearby maid, who was not in line but rather in the corner, step forward. The maid carried a large serving tray with numerous toys and tools. Veronica began to shake as Marissa grabbed a paddle.

”Answer carefully. Hurry up.” Marissa’s tone cut like a knife. 

“I am Veronica Williams, Ma’am, and I,” she bowed her head. She wasn’t sure what to do. If she denied this then she wouldn’t be allowed to help anymore, her fantasy would be cut short and she’d feel like a mooch. A loser. When everyone saw her again at the gathering, they would just see a perpetual failure who lived with Elias and Sabrina while offering them nothing. She couldn’t do that to them, and at least a servant wasn’t a loser. At least a well trained maid could be taken seriously. “I am a maid. I am a Porter family servant.”

”Are you, girl? I’ll have you know that your uniform is not a costume, and this is not a game. Your time does not belong to you, but to your Master and Mistress, and you are required to be here on time. If that’s too much effort for you, then go back to being a loser, but then ask yourself how much you really love your friends to take advantage of them like that.” Marissa would sit down on a large chair. “I would feel horrible about embarrassing them in such a way. A servant is not a failure, Veronica, or a loser. We represent the Master’s home, his achievements, his wealth, we are all of that and we scrub his floors so he can soar even higher. We are the Master’s home, do you understand? We are extensions of his home, maintaining itself, making it comfortable for him. Look at this luxurious place, let it soak in, and it will set the standard for you. We are luxury items. Act like it.”

Veronica bowed her head. For Marissa to just confirm what she was thinking meant it had to be true, and she was right about everything she said. Veronica felt that she was finally thinking like a servant, and she didn’t want to think like a loser anymore. “I understand. I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a mooch. I don’t want to be a loser. I just don’t know how to be anything else.” 

“Then I shall teach you.” Marissa patted herself on the knee loudly. “This is a lesson you need, whether you stay here or not. Perhaps you can something of yourself after you learn discipline.”

Veronica hesitated for a moment, but when Marissa loudly smacked the paddle against her own hand, it felt like someone had cracked a whip near Veronica, and she found herself stepping forward immediately. She expected the others to comment, to laugh, anything, but they stood perfectly still, at attention and remaining silent. It was nice in a strange way. No judgement. They still remained that way even as Veronica received the paddle for each minute she was late. At first it was only ten, but she lost count at six due to the pain, as the chastity belt was temporarily removed to exposed her ass. She still owed 4, plus an additional 10, only to lose track at 8. Her total grew to 18. Then it doubled because she couldn’t even begin to count. Just one smack from Marissa felt like ten to begin with, and after so many, the pain was so unbearable Veronica couldn’t stop crying.

Marissa waved the other maids away early into the punishment. “Go on. I know it’s the middle of the week but a casual, Sunday style routine will do today, since the house is in excellent condition. If you finish early you are to do a conditioning session and repeat mantras. I think the new maid and I are going to be here awhile.”

Eventually Veronica found herself up to 100 owed and begging for mercy, only for Marissa to require an additional declaration after each one was counted. “One. I am a maid.” Smack. “Two. I live to serve.” Smack. “Three. The Porters are my Masters.” Smack. “Four. I must obey.” Smack. “Five. I am inferior.” She began counting and giving declarations without thought, her head feeling empty as she stopped crying and embraced her punishment. Her head empty enough to be filled with these statements, pairing well with the programming Evelyn had the reinforced in her throughout her 20s, further transforming her into someone who was hard wired to serve. She lost herself in it entirely, and while she’d forgotten most of her recent dream by now, the image of the robotic version of herself was burned into her mind. She felt like the robot now. 

“That’s one hundred.” Marissa smiled. As the new maid rose and stood at attention, no longer crying, her movements would be stiff and mechanical. “Now what time are you to be here and ready to serve?” Marissa asked, basking in Veronica’s behavior.

”6am, Miss Marissa.” Veronica said clearly, monotone, robotic. She felt like she dropped into a heavy trance, and she certainly didn’t want to go through punishment again, nor disappoint Marissa. However, most of all? She didn’t want to disappoint Elias and Sabrina. Mr. and Mrs. Porter. Her Master and Mistress. She felt warm and tingly thinking of them that way, and if she was going to be a maid for a little while then she wanted to do it right. 

”That’s right, Veronica. If I were you I would seriously consider staying in the servants quarters with us. I won’t make you do that, because this is just treating you as any maid would be whether temporary or not, and ultimately you are my Master’s guest.” She sighed with disappointment, as if she wished she could make this arrangement permanent. “However, it would help you truly feel like one of us and you would get here on time, thus granting you the true experience of serving in this home.”

“Yes Miss Marissa.” Veronica stated.

“Make sure you’re here on time tomorrow, or it will be one hundred for each minute. Today you’re on bathroom duty. Start with Master and Mistress’s personal bathroom, and then you will finish every bathroom in this home. Due to your failure today you will not be allowed a break. I will make you drink water and a protein shake during my routine check ins. Tomorrow you will be allowed to eat with us in the servants hall, because you are one of us now.” Marissa smirked.

Veronica gulped. A small part of her still felt worry, but she had no resistance left. She’d just been claimed. She’d just been broken. She would remain a maid for the rest of her life. “Thank you, Miss Marissa, it is an honor to be one of you. All glory to the Porter family.”

Marissa would give a small, satisfied chuckle. “Well, at least you are until you snap out of this and take that off, or until Master commands me to stop this.” She stood and stepped in front of Veronica, placing her hand on the side of the new maid’s face and admiring her work.

“Yes Miss Marissa. I live to serve.” Veronica said without thought. Her mix of feelings were there, but still her head remained silent. She had become mindless, and her responses and behaviors controlled by her training and programming.

“That’s right. I see it in you, that you really are one of us, but it’s all up to our Master isn’t it? It would be a shame if he said no. Oh well. There’s no point in worrying about it right now. In fact, don’t worry or think at all. Just get to work, maid.”

”yes Miss Marissa.” Veronica felt her heart pounding as she obeyed. She felt bliss in being called one of the servants, and had no thought or concern about losing her mind or her freedom. She did not bother returning to the guest room that night, mindlessly following the maids into the servants quarters and falling asleep immediately. She’d been worked to such exhaustion that she found no discomfort in her tiny room, more like a cell than a space meant for comfort, but found more than enough comfort in knowing she had found her place.

***

     The next day, Thursday morning, her schedule was planned out in microscopic detail, with her as a maid being seamlessly integrated into the existing structure of the home. Awake and lined up by 6am. If all were on time, with their uniforms and behavior meeting Marissa’s standards? Repeat some mantras, in unison, about being a loyal and obedient servant and some mantras about the glory of the Porter family. Veronica was then given a long list of mind numbing, menial tasks. Completing them all with efficiency that truly seemed to impress Marissa.

”I knew you had it in you, maid.” Marissa smiled as she lightly smacked Veronica with the riding crop.

Veronica quickly corrected her posture without resistance. Everything about the maids and their behavior was controlled. Micromanaged. Perfect. Veronica felt less like a person and more like a machine, picturing herself and the other maids as robot versions of themselves just like in her dream. At least machines weren’t expected to do more than what they were designed to do. “Thank you Miss Marissa.” She even spoke like a machine. 

”So yesterday wasn’t a fluke after all. You are one of us after all. Tomorrow evening I want you to join us, maid, for mental conditioning.” A command. Not a request.

”Yes Miss Marissa.” Her responses were still automatic, but her thoughts were coming back some. She felt broken, in a way, but she just wanted to help. She wanted her Master and Mistress to be impressed. She wanted to earn the right to wear their uniform and stay in their home, not as their loser friend, but as the loyal servant she was always meant to be.

“I would tell you to enjoy the final moments of being able to think, but let’s be honest, you were never going to be a rocket scientist.” It was less like an insult and more matter of fact, with a hint of compassion being included in Marissa’s voice. It was the first time Veronica had seen her express anything like that. “Go back to sleeping in the the guest room tonight. Be on time tomorrow.”

***

Early Friday afternoon Veronica would be cleaning in the main entry of the mansion. After sleeping in the guest bedroom she began to feel like herself again, but she found a small smile would often form on her face as she scrubbed floors, and found herself hoping that her friends would be pleased with her if they knew. The only things she was missing? Sleeping alongside her fellow servants. A week ago she would have questioned that desire, but today? It was true. It might only be true until they get back, or true until after the party, but for now she was their servant. However, was she completely, and truly their servant if she was not sleeping in a proper room? She needed it. Just one more time. There was nothing like waking up and stepping out of the cells in perfect uniformity. There was nothing like turning on command and then parching to the lineup. There was nothing like being nothing. She was nervous about the conditioning session, but she thought it may finally confirm whether or not this was just a desperate need for release or her true place. If it was her true place she never wanted to be able to question it again. It wasn’t enough for her to accept it. She needed to be incapable of anything other than simple, servant thoughts, if you could really categorize them as such. 

A knock at the door broke her thoughts. She would set the broom aside and immediately scurry towards the door, but as she answered her gut dropped. She couldn’t believe who she was seeing, and it snapped her out of her trance for the most part. It would have disappointed her, but she was experiencing too much flooding back into her previously empty self to really process her desire to return.

Serena, a former friend she’d lost touch with over the years, stood in the doorway. She was a year older than Elias and Veronica, and her friendship with Veronica had been pained with tension and turmoil. They liked each other, but there was a personality clash which resulted in a fight they’d never really talked out. Veronica didn’t even remember what it was about. She just remembered calling her a bitch, and Serena saying that she’d never amount to anything. They slowly drifted apart after that, having never taken the time to heal, and Veronica was still upset about it. She felt angry and wanted to slam the door in her face.

Maybe Veronica was just upset because Serena was right. Veronica was unemployed, pretending to be a maid in her best friend’s home to fulfill some perverse fantasy, and her life hadn’t gone much of anywhere at all. Her bank account would be deep in the red without Mistress Evelyn’s help, and she didn’t have much of a social life outside of hanging out with Elias these days.

Meanwhile Serena had become a pop star early after graduating, having built a small fanbase by releasing a few songs online beforehand, with her fame erupting the summer before her first semester of college started. Now she even owned her own label, a clothing line, and most recently had started a small luxury hotel chain. 

It was clear who was meant to lead and who was meant to follow. Who changed the world to their liking and who conformed. Who should give commands and who should obey.

“Wait?” Serena looked her up and down. “Oh my god, Veronica? It’s been ages!” She immediately hugged Veronica tight. “Oh my God I’m so sorry I haven’t kept in touch. I’m so happy to see you!”

Veronica returned the hug, caught extremely off guard but caught in Serena’s grip until the latter let go, and would step back before bowing her head. “Please, right this way Ma’am.”

”Are you sure? Is your Master home? Oh who cares!? I really just dropped by to drop this off,” she said of a large box on the porch. “and I’d hate to come in if he doesn’t want guests while he’s gone but,” a mischievous smile spread across her face, “he’ll understand I’m sure.”

”You are welcome in his home, Miss Jones, you are a friend of Eli- erm, my Master and therefore a guest.” Veronica didn’t really want to do this, but she knew the rules. If she was going to help as a temporary maid she needed to follow them. Plus, Serena’s tone was unexpectedly kind. Veronica was ashamed to admit that she’d always held a bit of a grudge. Serena didn’t seem to even remember anything but a friend. It made Veronica feel pathetic, immature, and stupid.

“Fetch my box, dear.” Serena smiled as she walked past Veronica, who quickly obeyed the command. “Be careful with it. It’s a very special gift, and you owe me if you break it. Then I’d really make you work.”

Veronica moved the box inside and closed the door. “Yes Miss Jones. My Master is not home right now but I would be happy to make you feel as if his home were your own.” She wasn’t sure where that came from, saying it as she gave a bow, but she spotted Marissa walk by and nod in approval. She was happy that she was good at being a maid at least, unlike all the jobs she’d been fired from, and even if she thought a part of her was doing this more out of a selfish and perverse desire than a genuine desire to repay her friends. 

Serena smiled “What a lovely maid you’ve become. I had a long flight back into town and could use some coffee, and a foot rub if you don’t mind.” Serena would walk to to living room with Veronica following her. “It’s obvious you’re new but you’ll get used to calling him your Master. Don’t take this the wrong way but I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. I’d like tea and some sweets as well if you have any.”

Veronica bowed her head. She had been so angry seeing Serena again. Now here she was, following her to the living room like a good maid. “Yes Miss Jones. Thank you Miss Jones.” She felt like Serena held an invisible leash.

Veronica found herself serving tea, coffee, and a variety of pastries to Serena. She would set them down and give a bow before dropping to her knees. She couldn’t believe what she was doing as Serena smiled and kicked off her designer heels, but she began giving the requested foot massage without hesitation.

“You really do have amazing potential. Have you had training?” Serena smiled and sipped her tea. “Like, are you new just to serving Eli? It must feel awkward to call him Master. It’s probably much easier when it’s not your best friend, you know? It seems like that probably changes things between friends. How does serving his wife feel? I know you feel a certain way about him, or did all those years ago. I’m so sorry. I’m asking you so many questions!” Serena shook her head.

Veronica continued rubbing her feet and began to speak, but struggled for a brief moment. “To be honest, Miss Jones, I am beginning to feel like I have always served him. I do so much for him and ask for nothing in return. Yet I feel that anything I can offer and do for him is nothing. That I am a pathetic loser he takes care of and gives attention out of pity. As for Mrs. Porter, I am why he is with her. She really deserves him. I was even one of her bridesmaids.”

“Yes right there, God you’re so good at this, what a perfect little maid you are!” Serena said. Her tone felt genuine, as though she were giving Veronica a sincere compliment.

For a moment Veronica felt her answer had gone ignored or dismissed, but she continued to massage. It seemed like an eternity passed before Serena spoke again.

“You kind of have always been eager to please him,” Serena finally said, “just at his beck and call as long as I’ve known you two.  What made you decide she deserves him more? I’m not starting anything. Maybe you’re better as friends, and they’re really happy together. I just want to wrap my head around all of this. Are you happy, and I mean like actually happy in servitude?”

”I am just trying it, Miss Jones, if I may be honest. I am being allowed to stay here because they cannot bear to see me keep failing, potentially being on the streets,” she sighed. “I am a failure. Everyone else has gone so much further in life. I can’t even keep a fast food job. This is the least I can do until I figure something out.”

”Are you happy accepting that though? Accepting this? Giving up? No offense but, like, I thought you’d find your thing and now you’re just really cucked. I mean extremely. First off? You love him so much you can’t connect with anyone else, but then you hook him up with someone you met first instead of going for it, then you’re a bridesmaid at the wedding, and now you’re considering this as a serious prospect? A lifetime of servitude? I was joking when I said I thought it would happen sooner than this. I really had no idea this was a real possibility for you.” Serena seemed concerned. “You really handed Sabrina everything, but why? What hold did she have over you? I just think you need to question that before you commit to this.”

”She is his equal. I never was. He has tried to uplift me in status and I have felt unworthy, so much so that I did not accept payment for profitable ventures I have assisted him with. I could have been a millionaire had I accepted pay for those, but I chose serve successful people in stores and restaurants. Even Mistress Evelyn Porter, his sister, helped me pay rent until recently. It doesn’t feel right to be their friend sometimes. I just don’t know why they care so much about me, even if I am grateful.” She would bow her head and try not to cry. “I owe them for even speaking to me.”

“Veronica, stop. Why wouldn’t they be your friend? Girl, you’ve always been at their side! I guess you were always more like a loyal lapdog than a friend though, in hindsight, but I mean that’s really on your end. Elias talks about you all the time, but he’s never mentioned wanting this. He actually thinks highly of you. If anything he’s disappointed because you have more potential than you seem to realize.” Serena would lean forward and wipe a stray tear away from Veronica’s eyes. “It’s more the way you behave towards him, you know? You’re just so eager to be at his beck and call. That’s why I made that joke.” Serena began to enjoy a pastry as she relaxed into her seat. “My feet feel better. I still want you on your knees though.”

”I-,” Veronica choked on her own voice for a moment, “I tried to amount to more. I really did, but this seems to be what I’m best suited to. You were right, Miss Jones, and- and-“ she dropped to all fours, kissing Serena’s feet. “I am so sorry. I was still angry at you. I wanted to slam the door, and I called you a name back then, but you were right that I never amounted to anything.”

Serena cocked her head to the side as she took a quarter of a pastry she’d been eating. She would then hold it in the palm of her hand towards Veronica.

Veronica obeyed, eating out of the palm of her hand. She felt warm as Serena used the same hand to pet her. “Thank you, Miss Jones.”

”Girl, listen. I can’t even remember what that fight was about, and I haven’t been upset about it since then. That was a long time ago, and if I barely even remember it then it couldn’t have been that serious. Come on, rest your head in my lap?” Serena would lightly guide Veronica to do so.

Veronica obeyed. Obedience just felt natural now. Like she was meant to serve anyone who was better than her. “I should have reached out, Miss Jones, I shouldn’t have stayed so upset. Please, how can I repay you for your kindness?”

”No. I really should have reached out to you. I know we had a bit of a personality clash but, you know, like that was a long time ago and we were immature.” She sighed as she stroked Veronica’s hair. “I think what I said really stuck with you. I think I may have actually said worse than what either of us seem to remember. I’m really sorry for that. I had no idea it would do this to you. I should have apologized before we drifted apart at least. I guess I thought we were over it because we seemed to be fine when we saw each other here and there before we lost touch.”

Veronica took another bite as Serena fed her more pastry. 

“I’m so sorry, Veronica. I should be the one on my knees begging you for forgiveness! I’m not even above apologizing to my own servants if I’m wrong about something, and you’re a friend! I should have called.” 

“You have servants too, Miss Jones?” Veronica perked up. 

“Honestly it’s only because I’m too busy not to, but I like to think I’m a pretty kind Mistress. Maybe I could have beaten him to you if I’d known you felt this way.” She gave that mischievous smile again. “Just call me Serena again for now, okay?”

“That actually sounds nice, Serena. I wish I had known you still liked me. I could have just messaged you but I’m such a coward.”

”What were you supposed to do? I became a big pop star and you thought I disliked you. At best you probably thought I’d ignore you. What if I’d made fun of you or twisted the story to humiliate you in front of millions? Avoiding that isn’t cowardice. You’re smarter than you think you are.”

Veronica didn’t know what to say, and would wrap herself around Serena, at least what she could from a kneeling position.

“Then again, I think you’d be so cute. Just like that. Begging for my forgiveness all the time, and I’d remind you that you should be grateful I’d even consider being your friend at all after that whole mess, let alone allow you to serve me drinks and keep my house clean! That would definitely keep you in line. I’d even show you how brutal Evelyn’s training is just to make a point that others aren’t as kind as your bestie Queen Serena is!”

Veronica gulped. She didn’t want to explain her fuzzy memories even if she could find the words.

”It’s a shame you’re practically owned by Eli and Sabrina already. I’m loving that idea the more I think about it. You know what, maybe you even wanted me to humiliate you the way I said earlier, and that was the real cowardice. You were too scared to admit it to yourself?”

“If they don’t want this from me?” Veronica couldn’t tell if it even mattered who she served anymore. Veronica wondered if she just wanted to be a maid, regardless, or a slave. It could have been that they still got along, but it also seemed like Veronica would melt down and start obeying anyone who decided to boss her around. 

”Veronica I know that must sound so appealing for such an adorable, submissive thing like you, but we made up five minutes ago and you’re already this desperate to serve me?” Serena laughed, but it seemed more from a place of finding Veronica cute as opposed to making fun of her. “I’m sure you would serve me extremely well, but it wouldn’t be an acceptable apology. You see, I never needed an apology from you, but I accept it and appreciate that you cared enough to do so if you felt you were in the wrong.”

Veronica nodded.

“If I were to take you in, you precious thing, your submission to me has to be out of devotion. Not guilt.”

Veronica silently enjoyed more pastry being fed to her. 

”I really do want to apologize again. I said you’d never amount to anything, but I was wrong.” Serena would guide Veronica back up and look directly in her eyes. “You achieved becoming one of the best servants I’ve ever seen. You haven’t been doing it long, and you aren’t even official, but you’re already just so fucking perfect.”

Veronica wasn’t sure if she’d just been successfully manipulated with kindness or if Serena just thought this was perfect for Veronica. It didn’t matter. She was learning to accept her inferiority by now, that she was easily molded to the will of others. Veronica didn’t want to be free. She wanted to be owned. She wanted to be controlled. It didn’t matter who her Master or Mistress was. She just wanted to be domesticated and trained. Veronica would melt, and begin to look at Serena like a devout worshipper.

Serena giggled. “So cute. You know what I think? You should think about what type of maid you are. Personally? I think you should be a Lady’s maid. If you’re already this good then you’ll prove yourself worthy of that quickly! My last one was more or less at my side from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. It’s probably less demanding to be a kitchen maid, like realistically, but you get to be the Mistress’s most beloved servant. I trusted mine more than I even trust my best friend, or my own sister. It’s special. It’s like, you become more than a friend but you aren’t really romantic. You’re not really anything close to an equal because you’re just a cute little accessory who can do all of my chores, but you’re also more beloved than most equals, sometimes even more than a partner!” She thought for a second as she ran her fingers through Veronica’s hair. “Because it’s like you are them. You are your Mistress. Not like, literally, and not like you’re anything close to equals, but you’re like an extension of your Queen’s will. Your every breath being to make sure she looks her best and achieves her dreams. You answer only to her though, and I think you want to answer to Elias too, but if you’re into being a cuckquean then Sabrina taking you from the man you love sounds fun.”

Veronica was too excited to speak, too worked up, she struggled to avoid desperately trying to rip her chastity belt off and began to drool as her eyes silently begged for commands. She was so pathetic, and she loved it. 

”I assume you’ll be serving at the up coming get together.” Serena played with Veronica’s collar. “That will tell you for sure. Your peers will see you as a maid and you’ll decide if you want to be more or if you’re happy being inferior to everyone you’ve ever known. Except Brianna I guess. She makes such a lovely maid too.”

Veronica’s heart raced. She had been seen by someone who would be a guest. Now it was expected. “yes Miss Jones.” Could she really let so many see her like this? Then again, what if Serena told everyone, just because she wanted to see how cute Veronica’s reaction was?

“Great! I think some of the other guests are going to love seeing you and Brianna! Don’t worry, it’s not like, everyone. It’s more like a get together between some old friends and colleagues. It’s more of a networking thing than anything. I’ll be there, Evelyn will be, and a handful of others but most won’t be people you actually know. Some of our friends will be but I think they’ll be happy for you.” 

”You really think so? What if they make fun of me?”

”Then I’ll stick up for you and tell them that serving in such a lovely home is actually a skilled and respectable position. Some see it as an honor.” Serena smiled like she was up to something again. “I really don’t think it’s fair that he gets to have Brianna and you. Two people from our friend group? Seriously? How many is he going to collect without telling the rest of us? Maybe I should steal you for myself. Doesn’t that sound fun?”