Exhibition for investors

The day was a long agony of anticipation. Every tick of the clock was a reminder of the debt and the power May held over her. When the time came, she dressed in the previous night's outfit, feeling the fabric like a foreign skin, glued to her by humiliation.

She decided to take a taxi, a luxury she couldn't afford, but her psyche couldn't endure another bus ride. The driver, a man with hawk eyes and jeweled hands, didn't hide his interest.

"The aquarium at this hour is a peculiar place for a young woman so... glamorous," he commented, his gaze in the rearview mirror a physical weight. "A ride like this is worth its price. I'm sure a smart girl like you has creative ways to pay."

Magi, feeling dirty just from the thought, rummaged in her purse and took out the bill from the young man on the bus. She handed it to him in silence. The driver let out a low, mocking laugh before pocketing it.

"Have fun at your party, honey."

May was waiting for her at the private entrance, impeccable in a dark suit. His smile was that of a shark smelling blood.

"Excellent punctuality. The hallmarks of a true professional," he greeted her, his voice a silky whisper. "And congratulations. You've caught the attention of our main benefactors. Tonight isn't a massive event; it's an intimate dinner. They've specifically requested the charm of our... star mermaid for a personalized experience. 'Aquarium Mermaids' has its privileges." The name resonated like a condemnation, unleashing a torrent of shameful memories.

He led her down an unfamiliar hallway to a discreet door that led to a small, cold room. In the center, on a rack, hung the new costume.

"The design has undergone... a few upgrades," May announced with a gesture of false solemnity. "Optimized for visual impact and fundraising."

The new "costume" was a cruel mockery of a mermaid fantasy. The two metal shells, cold and smaller than her palm, barely covered the essentials, and the thin silver chains dug into her skin with every movement, leaving red marks and a constant prickling sensation. But the worst part was the tail: the iridescent fabric only reached her knees. From there to her waist, the material was a rigid, transparent plastic that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, molding and showing every curve of her hips and crotch with obscene clarity.

Magi felt the little courage she had left slip away like water through her fingers.

"May, this is... I can't..." she managed to stammer, feeling the blush burn across her face and neck.

"It's the new design," he replied with an imperturbable voice, like an engineer evaluating a prototype. "Studies show that transparency generates 30% more engagement in fundraising campaigns. Now get in. The donors are almost here."

With clumsy movements, as if handling **** instruments, she put on the shells and the transparent tail, feeling the cold air directly on her skin where the plastic exposed her completely.

As she submerged into the cold water of the auxiliary aquarium, the sensation was devastating. The transparent plastic became completely invisible, transforming the lower part of her body into a stark, obscene exhibition. Every bubble from her respirator seemed to scream her shame. Under the spotlights that suddenly turned on, there was no illusion, no fantasy. It was just her, reduced to a naked specimen in a fishbowl, ready to be dissected by the gazes of whoever paid for the privilege.