Then he walked over. "Kristy, honey, how're you feeling?"
She stared at him blankly. Kristen had been a vivacious blue‑eyed blonde who’d had her own showbiz gossip show on the E! channel till it was canceled during a scheduling shake‑up six months earlier. She had a nervous breakdown, declaring to Bartlett that her show had been canceled because she looked like a crone.
He’d told her it wasn't true, but if she was so distraught about her appearance, then maybe there was something he could do for her. Van de Vliet had once mentioned an experimental skin procedure. . . .
Bartlett turned back to Van de Vliet, feeling the horror sinking in.
"Karl, goddamit, we've got to reverse this."
"Let's talk outside," Van de Vliet said.
Bartlett kissed Kristen's forehead in preparation for leaving. Her lifeless blue eyes flickered something. He thought it was a flash of some old anger.
Who could blame her? he told himself. But back then, who knew?
He'd wanted to give her a gift like none other. Not quite the Fountain of Youth, but maybe a cosmetic version. Her skin would begin to constantly renew itself.
And he'd been right. The promise of having her skin rejuvenated was just what she'd needed to get her self‑confidence back.