Chapter 2

"Chloe, oh my god, your skin looks amazing! What kind of miracle treatment are you getting?"

Vivian’s face was almost touching mine, her eyes burning with envy.

I had just finished a season-long treatment package at the MedSpa, and my skin was visibly glowing and smooth.

I leaned back slightly, trying to avoid her overbearing enthusiasm, and said casually,

"Just a clinic I go to regularly. I have a VIP membership there."

"Which one is it? It must be super expensive, right? Are they really that good?" she pressed.

The office was crowded and noisy, and I didn't want to gossip, so I brushed her off with a few vague answers.

To my surprise, while I was scrolling through my phone over the weekend, a Snapchat message from Vivian popped up:

"Chloe, is that MedSpa you always go to really that good?"

Before I could reply, she sent another one:

"Hey, can I use your membership ID just to try it out? Just once. I really want to see if it works."

I hesitated.

My membership was a top-tier pre-paid Platinum card with over twenty thousand dollars loaded on it. You could charge services to it simply by giving the phone number associated with the account.

But then I thought, we are coworkers. We see each other every day. Refusing would make me look petty.

"A basic facial is only about fifty dollars. Letting her try it once won't hurt," I told myself.

So, I sent her the membership number and the clinic's name, adding a specific note:

"Just give them my number. Just try a basic facial first."

She replied instantly: "Omg thank you so much! Love you, Chloe!"

I forgot about it almost immediately.

The following weekend, I booked a body massage and arrived at the clinic early.

Just as I changed into my robe, I heard a loud, familiar voice outside my room.

I pushed the door open and froze.

Vivian was lying in my exclusive VIP treatment room.

She had a luxury gold foil mask on her face, holding her phone up to take a selfie with her other hand flashing a peace sign.

The aesthetician next to her looked incredibly awkward when she saw me.

"Oh, Miss Chloe, you’re here."

"This lady said she’s your best friend. She checked in using your membership."

Seeing me, Vivian didn't look embarrassed at all. Instead, she sat up excitedly, her mask almost sliding off.

"Chloe! You're here!"

"Look at this! Is this the 'Imperial Youth Gold Therapy' you guys have? It feels amazing!"

Anger flared up inside me.

That "Imperial Youth" treatment cost three hundred dollars per session. It was definitely not the fifty-dollar basic facial I had agreed to.

Vivian kept babbling.

"Wow, your VIP card is incredible. The moment I walked in, they brought me straight to the VIP suite. The service is top-notch!"

Forcing down my rage, I squeezed out a stiff smile. "I'm glad you liked it."

The aesthetician asked cautiously, "Miss Chloe, about this lady's bill..."

"Put it on my account," I said through gritted teeth.

Whatever. Just this once. Consider it a lesson learned.

Vivian happily finished her session and even packed a bottle of high-end serum to go. She smiled warmly at me.

"You're the best, Chloe! I'll come hang out with you here next time!"

I watched her walk away. I felt like a heavy weight was suffocating my chest.