“To Bill,” Justine said, clinking her glass to Claudia’s, celebrating their first sale of the Living Toy line. Celebrating the sale of Miriam.

“To Miriam,” The executive added, “our pioneer. And to you, Justine. Thank you for taking lead on finding a buyer for it.”

They sat down, drinking to their victory. The once-marketing employee was on its way to a specialty store catering to collectors and afficionados. While Justine had done that, Claudia had worked with Bill  down in R&D, figuring out how to make sure the toy didn’t blab on about its former, human, life; there was a certain amount of secrecy involved in this project.

“The buyers were already interested in our next Living Toy at the sales meeting,” Justine said. “Do you think you can give me a sneak peak of our next products? Is it another Galactic Gem?”

Claudia smiled, “Actually, no. We’re trying to establish a variety; not everyone wants a fully-featured action figure. Bill whipped up some prototype designs. There’s an adorable plush catgirl, a trendy beach fashion doll, and I hear he’s trying to perfect the tech for a proper windup ballerina. I keep trying to tell him to keep things simple, but you know Bill…”

Justine smiled slyly. “Oh, I do…” she said, taking a sip of champagne.

Claudia looked at the newly-promoted Sales & Marketing employee curiously. “Is there something I don’t know?” She asked.

“Let’s just say…I may have asked Bill for some of his special tech before that planning session with Miriam.”

“You didn’t!”

“Well, there was only one Senior Marketing position available, and two clear frontrunners…”

Claudia threw her head back and laughed. It was the kind of move she would have pulled decades ago. Hell, it was the kind of move she would pull now. “You utter bitch!” She said, still laughing, and Justine joined in the laughing, feeling a bit…lighter.

“Oh, I just remembered.” Claudia said, opening a drawer, “Bill’s working on a Victorian doll design. That one’s closest to completing. He even shared a piece of its costume.” She pulled out a red satin choker with medallion. “Would you like to see it?”

“No, thank you,” Justine said firmly, taking another, longer sip of her champagne, only then noticing that Claudia still had not taken a drink herself. Now, she definitely felt a little swoony. More than what the alcohol should have done.

“I really think it would look pretty on you, Justine. Try it on, please.” Claudia handed the choker across her desk, and Justine curiously accepted it, staring. She wasn’t drunk. She wasn’t even drugged. This felt different.

Pretty, she thought. I would look soo pretty in this. Claudia’s smile broadened as Justine slipped the choker on and closed its fastener.

It was one thing to see what Bill’s tech could do. It was another to feel it rush across her body, wrapping  her in a scarlet Victorian-inspired dress with doll-striped tights. “Ohhh,” she whispered, loving the feel of the tech dressing her up. Then, she came to her senses. Just a little.

“W—why?” Justine asked, now that she understood what was wrong. She wasn’t woozy or lightheaded. She was becoming a doll, and she sat there, stiff, frozen, and smiling like the sun.

“We have to keep this technology a secret, since, as you know, we project a very curated, wholesome image to the public. It wouldn’t do The Company any good if people knew just how our Living Toys were made, or what they required. So, a list was made; a list of all the people who needed to know.”

Know? Know. No. No! Justine thought.

“And, unfortunately, Justine, your name was left off the list."

But…but! Justine thought, and could not say. At least, not while she had to maintain the vacant, bright smile on her lips. She wore that smile just as much as she wore her dress and tights.

"Bill told us that you helped trick Miriam. It’s that kind of corporate politics we can’t have here at PlayTrends Toys.”