Chapter 9 61.54% Across the hall, the apartment fell into an eerie silence. A few days later, 1 headed out for work wearing a mask and just so happened to bump into Vivian downstairs. She had on a wide-brimmed hat, thick black mask, and moved fast-clearly trying not to be seen. Curious, I followed her. She walked into a plastic surgery clinic. As fate would have it... I worked there. I watched the surveillance feed as she entered a consultation room. "I want plastic surgery. A full transformation-no one can recognize me afterward." These days, if Vivian went outside without a mask, someone would recognize her. At a restaurant, someone dumped hot soup on her. At the market, people pelted her with rotten eggs. Someone even doxxed her address-and now she got packages of dead animals and fresh feces delivered daily. She was coming apart at the seams. "Ma'am, this kind of procedure is serious... maybe you should take time to think-" Before the consultant could finish, her phone rang. "Yes, President Winter." "Follow her request. Design exactly what she wants." "Understood." The caller? Me. I was dying to see how far Vivian would go. The consultant went through the designs and printed a quote. "$40,000 ?!" Vivian screeched like a rooster getting strangled. "Well, if you're just doing eyelid reshaping, it'll only cost about $1,300," the consultant offered gently. "No, no-I need a new face..." she muttered, almost to herself. Chapter 9 61.54% The consultant wisely said nothing more. Vivian leaned over the table, desperation leaking from her pores. "Do you do payment plans? Loans? Anything?" The consultant shook her head, awkwardly. That's when inspiration struck. I asked for time off and rushed home. On the way, I picked up a flyer someone had handed me on the street. A high-interest loan business card. This was going to be fun. Chapter 9 61.54%