Mrs. Winthrop returns.

Mindy was sore from holding her body in the same position for so long. She was soiled and the paint on her body was beginning to dry and itch. She struggled to keep composure and was about to crumple down and just walk away when the door suddenly opened again. She instantly stiffened up and waited for the person to walk in. It was the familiar clopping of heels on the marbled floor that approach the faux statue. They stopped directly in front of her and stood silently.

Finally the new entrant said, "So, it turns out you can follow instruction after all."

Mindy held her position just in case.

"You can get up now."

Mindy slumped down and breathed a sigh of relief. She rubbed her aching muscles and sat up.

"I was going to come in here after you'd woken up to deal out more punishment, but since it seems you've decided to stick it out, I believe you've been through enough." Sally lowered her glasses to look over Mindy. "To be honest, I'm surprised you let that couple do what they did with you without a word. That's some commitment."

"You mean, you sent them to test me?" Mindy asked.

Sally shook her head, "Those were a couple of potential buyers that slipped away from the group after the showings. They shouldn't have been back here and I'll have to have a talk with security about that, but you played the facade well and so, I deem your punishment paid off."

Mindy felt another waved of relief that she had been let out of the dog house for this, but also a pang of being used by the two strangers. Of course, they didn't know she was a person, but that made the maid feel even more used. It was a strange sensation, since she'd have willingly let them have their fun if they'd ask, but because they simply treated her like a statue, it made her feel more like a toy than she was expecting. She shook her head of the thoughts are started to think about a long hot shower to clean off all the filth she'd been through.

"So... can I go now, Mrs. Winthrop?" Mindy asked.

Sally nodded. "You may return to the quarters, but take the tunnel and use the shower before you head back. You'll want to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow. You're off on your next duty."

"Which will be?'

"Why you've been sold, dear," Sally replied with a straight face. Mindy's heart dropped.

"Sold?!" she remarked in shock. "How can I be sold? I just work here... right?"

Sally smirked. "You were part of the art exhibit on display. And... despite your sleeping through it... there was a silent auction for all the pieces."

"But.. but I'm a person!" Mindy protested, still not over the shock.

"That you are, and the buyers were informed that one of the pieces was a live person. The winner of you gets to keep you as an employ for the week. The others bought some fine art pieces from Mr. Sakamoto." Sally explained. Mindy began to protest again but her boss raised a finger. "You were purchased for the week, end of discussion. It's been a long day. Get some rest and we'll go over the details tomorrow."

With that deciding the conversation was over, Mrs. Winthrop turned and left. Mindy picked herself up and trudged to the tunnels she remember coming through in the morning. It was already late and she'd need to get to bed or go through another bout of exhaustion the next day. The shower was a relief for her. The hot water washed the gold paint drown her body so that her vibrant pink flesh was freely exposed again. It was like melting away her clothes. After she dried off, she realized she had not been wearing clothing all day, so simply wrapped her towel around her and walked back to her dorm. Fortunately she was in the tunnel, which didn't have anyone wandering around and she was able to navigate by following the maps interspersed through the maze. When she finally reached the maid quarters, she went straight to her room and dropped herself onto her bed. It was still a foreign bed to her, but at this point, it felt like home and she quickly fell asleep there.