Mindy was sold to an affluent art collector.

"I was what?" Mindy asked in disbelief. She was following the head maid down the hallway and doing her best to keep up while trying to absorb the news.

"You were sold to an affluent art collector," Mrs. Winthrop reiterated with total seriousness.

"You can't sell me! That's slavery!" Mindy protested.

"You were part of the art installation the other day."

"Yeah... so?"

"So... your piece was bought by an art enthusiast. At a hefty sum at that. You're obligated to go."

"You sold me as an object?" Mindy said, blinking and not believing what she was saying. Her shock caused her to lag behind even further so she had to pick up her pace to catch up again.

"It's only for a week," Mrs. Winthrop conceded. "That was the agreement for the buyers buying live models. You are to head to their display room and do as asked for the week and then return. This is a part of your job too. If you had read the fine print on your contract, you would know there would be outside venues that you would have to work when requested."

Mindy stopped her complaints and tried to think of the document she had signed. At the time all she cared about was the salary that was promised. She really should have looked that thing over more carefully. She sighed and said, "But I don't know if I can stand still for that long."

"You shouldn't worry about it really... In the past. the buyers were kind enough to let the models do as they pleased and only set up for scheduled showings. I'm sure it'll be the same for you," Sally replied.

This still didn't assuage Mindy's fears. She worried that she was going to get shipped away to a foreign country without a way to get home. They continued on until they were back at Mr. Sakamoto's art studio.

"Mr. Sakamoto, Mindy here needs a fresh coat of paint for her delivery today," Winthrop explained to the artist. Sakamoto bowed and nodded to the two ladies and went to fetch his paints.

Mindy frowned. She still had gold paint flecks in her hair and nails from the day before. "Will I have to do this every day for a week?" she moaned to her boss.

"That's up to the buyer. For now, you are going to be delivered as you were shown."

The paint process was the same as it was before, so there was no shock to Mindy this time around, though she still felt a little shy stripping naked in front of the two with her and the cold paint applied to her skin still gave her a strange sensation. Once painted up, Mindy was guided by Mrs. Winthrop to the shipping area. There were a few workers there that took notice of her presence, causing her to become even more self conscious. She looked at the ground the whole time until she was loaded up on the back of a truck along with the set piece she had been on the day prior.

"I don't even get a chair?" Mindy pouted.

Winthrop sighed, "There's a seat in the front if you must. The drive won't be long."

"Next to the driver?" Mindy muttered. She thought of the driver staring at her naked body and getting distracted on the road and getting into an accident. She would be taken to the hospital looking like this. "I can wait inside..."

"When you arrive, you will be exactly as you were presented the other day. So, when this box is opened, you better be in position. When your week is done, the truck will return to pick you up along with the installation. Everything understood?"

Mindy nodded. She could feel that Sally's patience was wearing thin, so didn't push her for details like where she would be sleeping or who was going to feed her. Winthrop directed some of the workers to seal up the box and they closed Mindy inside. She could hear the whirring of drills sealing her in and suddenly imagined them abandoning her in here to waste away like a forgotten prisoner. She was thankful that there wasn't a ceiling or she would suddenly become claustrophobic.

"Good luck and see you in a week, Ms. Potts!" Mrs. Winthrop said, then pat on the wooden wall between them.

A few minutes later, Mindy could hear and feel the rumbling of the truck engine and they were off. She sat down and waited for them to arrive at their destination. She hoped it wouldn't be a bumpy ride.