I squeezed my fist pressing my nails into my palms. This was the worst part about my job, but I knew it came with the territory when I started buying properties around my city. I had worked for about fifteen years in construction management and quickly figured out if I could be the one both building and managing these places, then I could retire early. Now at thirty seven, I had been working for myself the last two years and was already nearly there.
You see, ninety nine times out of a hundred I barely have to do anything. I screen my tenants well, and besides the odd maintenance request, I'm happy to just collect their monthly checks. The problem is with that one in a hundred. They're always responsible for the majority of my headaches, and this new tenant was proving to be no exception.
While parked out front, I reviewed the file; single tenant in a split level townhouse - two months behind on rent, multiple noise complaints, and a gas bill passed on from the city. Just my luck, but I knew it was always cheaper to get these accounts up to date than to go through the hassle of evicting them. Selina Floyd, 28 years old I read on the file. A quick google brought up her LinkedIn. No picture, but it appeared she was a college grad and had been consistently employed as a Product Manager for a few tech companies over the past seven years, some of them I even recognized.
I'd have to go in and convince her just how badly an eviction would ruin her credit and future ability to rent. Nothing like the "E" word to scare these yuppy types. I stepped out of the car and walked over to the front door, my heart quickening. I'd always preferred to avoid confrontation. I wasn't a small man, but by no means was I the intimidating type. Exhaling a quick sigh, I knocked three times.
"Management, is anyone home?"
I didn't hear anything for about a minute, and right as I was about to try again, I heard a muffled woman's voice.
"Coming, I'm coming"
The door opened a crack and she peered out at me.
"Miss Floyd? I'm Dan with the management, I've been trying to get a hold of you."
"Oh?" She said lazily. "Come in, what's this all about?"
The door opened as she ushered me in. She was about 5'6" with wavy brown hair tied up in an unkempt bun and dark brown eyes. She must not have been expecting me, as she only had on a pair of navy blue cotton gym shorts and a cream tank top. My eyes moved down from her face to her lithe, yet toned shoulders. While I initially intended to be furtive while looking her over, my eyes demanded the full picture. Moving down, her tight cleavage peaked out from her tank top. Further still, the thin cloth left little to the imagination on the shape of her body: a small waist expanded into a slight strip of her lightly sun kissed skin between the tank top and shorts. The shorts were fully filled out by her gentle curves at the top leading right down to her exposed, long legs and red toe nails. I instantly looked away when I realized what I'd done, and when I looked back at her she was giving me the tiniest hint of a smirk.
"I, uhm, it's just that.." I stammered. The truth was, this girl was my kryptonite. My type to an absolute T. I was never the most successful with women, I mean I'd had a few girlfriends through the years and was able to get laid on occasion, but never with someone even close to her caliber and I was flustered.
Trying to snap out of it, I moved past her into the unit catching a slight whiff of her perfume. I had to clear my head. I looked around the unit, and it was not at all what I'd expected from a tenant with a wrap sheet like hers. The main entry was orderly and the living room was well appointed with furniture that appeared new even. I eyed her Audi keys laying on the counter.
"Miss Floyd, it's just that you're a little behind on your rent." I blurted out all at once, not even daring to look at her. Where did my plan go? I was going to read her the complaints. I was going to give my standard lecture and assure her that this would not be tolerated!
"Oh, okay. You know, I actually think it may just have slipped my mind. And call me Selena" she said.
I knew I had to look back at her now, and when I turned I almost lost my breath. She was facing away from me on her tiptoes grabbing something from her top cabinet. As she did so, her shirt pulled up and I could see the dimples above her ass flex as she reached. I felt my cock instantly start to stiffen and my face started to flush with embarrassment. You're not some fucking teenager, keep your damn cool. I thought to myself, but it was barely any use. Fortunately I chose to wear black slacks today so I did my best to hide my mostly-hard dick in my pants.
She brought down two crisp purple envelopes. She silently slid them across the counter to where I was standing. I looked down, and in neat handwriting they were labeled October and September. When I looked up she was looking down at my crotch with the same half smirk she gave me before. Without even thinking to open or count their contents, I put them into the breast pocket of my coat.
"So, is that all then?" She said now looking at me with her deep brown eyes and her brows slightly raised.
"Yes Miss - or I mean Selena. Or no, it's just that.. Well, some of the neighbors complained about the noise last week. I'm sure it was nothing but maybe just try to keep it down after hours if you could?"
I looked down at the floor now.
"And then there was this thing with the gas company, they sent me your bill last month instead of it going here but that was probably a mistake on their end."
I was rambling and I knew she could tell. Looking down was a mistake, as I looked straight at her perfectly pedicured red toe nails. I felt the heat returning to my face as I looked back up.
"Well, now that sounds very serious Danny!" She said while half laughing, the smirk returned to her face. "They sent it to you? So you're the actual landlord then? What are we going to do about it Mr. Landlord?" She asked mockingly.
"It's.. it's fine this month I can fix it with the gas company." I offered meekly.
"Now that would be quite generous of you." She said walking past me into the main room, another whiff of her perfume increasing the heat in my face and the swelling in my pants. She walked over to the couch in the living room, a massive white L shaped couch fit into the corner that opened up towards the kitchen where I stood. She sat down on the couch facing me and put one leg out on the ottoman and the other figure four across it. Her position pulled her shorts further up her body and tightened around her crotch. For a second, I just stood there dumbstruck but I knew I had to stop staring and try my best to remain professional as she looked back at me flatly.
"Thank you for your time, I'm sorry to have to bother you." I said as I slowly turned to begin leaving. With some effort, I pried my eyes off of her and started to walk towards the entryway. My body and my brain were caught in a fierce battle. My brain wanted to run out that front door and to drive away as fast as I could. My body was telling me to find any possible reason to stay there with her. I was trying to decide which side would win when I heard her voice calmly and clearly behind me.
"Dan." I froze.
"Dan, I think you may want to stay for a bit." She followed.