Dr. Jones's eyes darted anxiously in front of the towering figure of the man before her, vehemently denying any knowledge. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about! It's illegal to invade our clients' privacy like this. And with the number of clients I see daily for cosmetic consultations, I can't possibly remember every single one of them.
I've never seen this woman before. Maybe there was a mix-up in the system; she wasn't my client!"
"But she came for a facial tweak, so she must've been under your care," Sammy countered.
Ludwik let his son do the questioning, remaining silent himself, his large hand pressing down on the doctor, forcing her to sit.
In the tense atmosphere, Dr. Jones was petrified, hardly daring to sit down.
Even though Ludwik wasn't holding a knife, his face, once it turned cold, was intimidating enough.
She was on the verge of tears, cursing her stupidity for letting everyone leave. Now, with the doors locked, her cries for help would go unanswered.
Remembering the money and warning she received from Florence, she clenched her teeth, "Client confidentiality is our duty. I really don't remember what she consulted about, and I can't disclose it either.
Please, you must leave. If not, I'll call the police!"
In an instant, Ludwik flicked open her white coat, sending her phone flying to the ground. The screen shattered on impact.
His dark eyes grew colder by the inch.
Sweat beaded on the doctor's forehead.
Sammy approached, playing good cop with his soft tone, "I bet Florence gave you a hefty sum to keep quiet, right?
You can't possibly forget her. She must have made quite the impression on you.
How about we offer you a better deal?" Felix stepped forward, handing her a card, as Ludwik spoke in a chilling voice, "There's half a million in there. What did she consult you for? What was the purpose of her cosmetic surgery? What procedures did she undergo? And did she tell you what she planned to do after the surgery?
Tell us everything, and the half a million is yours. Otherwise, silence has its consequences."
Ludwik menacingly picked up a nose bridge implant and a scalpel from the doctor's display cabinet, chuckling, "You must show your clients how you sculpt bones, right?
How about I give it a try on your nose bridge?"
"No! Put down the knife! Who are you?" Dr. Jones's face turned pale with fear.
"If you hurt me on purpose, I can have you arrested!"
"Emperor City's Ludwik," Felix articulated slowly, "Miss, try calling the police and see if it helps."
Boom—
Dr. Jones's eyes widened in recognition. How could she have forgotten Ludwik, a man whose resurgence had been all over the news?
She collapsed onto the floor.
Ludwik readjusted his trousers, squatting down with the knife close to her face but not intending to harm her, "Say whatever comes to mind."
Trembling, Dr. Jones closed her eyes, her words jumbled, "She... she came for minor facial adjustments. Ms. Sheldon was pregnant at the time, which is why I remembered her. Initially, I refused.
But she somehow knew about my expertise in hyaluronic acid sculpting and insisted on seeing me, wanting me to alter parts of her facial features..."
"Alter her features? Into what?" Ludwik's gaze was piercing.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Love Beyond the Mask