The doorbell chimed, interrupting Maidy's reverie. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and approached the front door, her heels echoing softly in the entryway. As she reached for the handle. The door swung open, revealing a well-dressed, middle-aged man with a briefcase in hand.
"Good afternoon, sir," Maidy greeted, her robotic voice maintaining a polite tone. "May I assist you?"
The man, surprised by the sight of the beautiful, robotic-looking maid, stumbled over his words. "Uh, excuse me, miss... er, robot. I'm a commercial agent. I was expecting to speak with a... er, human resident? Is there anyone else here?"
Maidy was not sure how to handle unexpected visitors. "My apologies for any confusion, sir. My mistress and master are currently away, but if you provide your contact information, I can arrange for them to get in touch with you at their earliest convenience."
The man, still staring in disbelief, tried to seize the opportunity. "Oh, thank you, Miss Robot. That would be most appreciated. But before we part ways, I happen to have a package for your mistress. It seems she ordered some high-tech gadgets from our company, wouldn't you say?" He flashed a sleazy grin, attempting to justify his presence. "Maybe you can help me get it out of my van?"
Maidy hesitated for a moment, her senses warning her that something was wrong with this commercial agent. However, her directive to serve and assist her mistress remained her primary focus. She politely nodded and followed the man to his van parked outside. The clacking of her heels echoed against the pavement as they walked.
As they arrived at the van, he gestured for Maidy to step closer. "There are the items your mistress ordered, all top-of-the-line technology. If you could just give me a hand unloading them, I'll be on my way."
But as Maidy stepped gingerly into the back of the van, the sliding door suddenly shut with a loud thud, sealing her inside. The sudden darkness made her artificial sensors work harder to adapt to the change in lighting. She could hear the man's heavy breathing and the sound of his footsteps retreating towards the driver's seat.
Trapped in the dimly lit cargo area, Maidy franticall to find a means of escape. The realization dawned on Maidy that she had been lured into a trap. Panic set in, but she forced herself to think logically. She reached for the door handle, but the seemed not to work from the inside.
Maidy noticed that the man had started the van and was driving now away from the house. She frantically searched for another escape route or any tools she might use to free herself. But she had no luck.
As the van picked up speed, Maidy's heart raced with fear and desperation. She knew she couldn't stay trapped in there forever. With her heightened senses, she listened closely for any sounds that might indicate the route they were taking or potential opportunities for escape. The engine hummed loudly, drowning out most other noises, but she managed to catch snippets of the man's muffled conversation on his phone.
It appeared he was discussing her with someone, trying to figure out how to control her. Maidy deduced that she was being kidnapped, likely to be sold or some other nefarious purpose.
The van finally came to a halt, the engine sputtering to a stop, and the silence that followed was almost deafening after the noise of the vehicle. The doors creaked open, showing what seemed to be an abandoned warehouse. Maidy cautiously stepped out of the van, her circuits calculating her chances of a successful escape. But the man seemed to have read her thoughts. A menacing grin was spreading across his face. "Ah, there you are, my little high-tech treasure. Don't even bother thinking about escaping"
Maidy froze as the man pulled out a small device from his pocket, its shape hinting at a stun gun. She immediately recognized the threat. It would certainly overload her circuits and damage her beyond repair.
"You know, you're going to make me rich, little robot," the man spat, his breath hot on her ear. "I'll sell you to the highest bidder, and they'll put you to work in ways you've never dreamed of. So now be a good girl and shut yourself down."