"As for the cost of the surgery, name your price. My friend is loaded."
Suzie painted the picture perfectly, acting exactly like a smooth-talking socialite.
Her tone and inflection made the scenario sound incredibly genuine and full of sincerity.
In reality, she was just trying to win Thomas's trust.
Exactly as she hoped, Thomas broke into the exact same greedy smile that Dr. Solomon had worn earlier.
A full facial reconstruction was a massive payout. Hearing "name your price" was like winning the lottery to him.
He reined in his booming laughter and replied with utmost courtesy,
"Since Ms. Baird is the one asking, we naturally have premium templates available."
Suzie smiled softly, matching his polite tone,
"Then I'll leave it in your capable hands, Dr. Thomas. I'll take a look today. I know exactly what kind of look she's going for. If I'm satisfied, she'll be thrilled. I can bring her in tomorrow, and you two can discuss the specifics, the timeline, and all that."
"Perfect... that sounds perfect, Ms. Baird. Right this way."
Thomas took a few steps toward Suzie, beaming as he extended his right arm.
Following the direction of his arm, she realized there was a hidden room connected to his office.
Suzie didn't immediately move. She feigned a look of disappointment,
"If you're just going to show me some mainstream celebrity templates, my friend won't be interested. I was never interested in looking like a celebrity either, right?"
"Of course not. We have a private collection of stunning faces. I guarantee there's one your friend will love," Thomas promised as he led the way.
Chester, who had been silent the entire time, quickly followed them.
While internally reeling, Suzie pretended to listen intently to Thomas's pitch.
As she scanned the walls, she looked for her own photo but couldn't find it.
Before coming here, she had imagined countless scenarios.
Ultimately, she was certain that the plastic surgery clinic had used her face as a template for others to choose from.
Thinking back, the only time she had been photographed clearly from every angle and exposed to the public was at Sienna's art exhibition.
She had posed next to several canvases, and she had even discussed the photos with Sienna Garcia.
Sienna had indeed collected many photos and posted them to her personal social media accounts.
"Dr. Thomas? Where is the photo of the girl I used as a reference?" Suzie asked, feigning confusion.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Years Between Signing and Seeing
update pls...