"Please, hear us out." Vanessa interjected. "Our future depends on it. It means everything to us."
Dr. Richard shook his head. "I can’t condone any form of medical fraud. I don't know who you guys want to exploit money from, but I can't. It goes against everything I stand for, and the hospital management would never support it."
Sylvester leaned forward. "We are not asking you to do this for free. We are prepared to compensate you generously for your cooperation."
"No amount of money is worth compromising my ethics and risking my career," Dr. Richard replied. "Please leave my office."
"It's not what you are thinking. It won't put you into trouble." Vanessa said.
"You don't come here and teach me my job. I can't falsify a medical condition." Dr. Richard insists.
Vanessa looked at Sylvester, and he nodded, then reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. He placed it on the desk in front of Dr. Richard.
"Five thousand dollars." He said quietly. "Think about what this kind of money will do for you and your family. It’s a one-time thing. No one will ever know. When done successfully, you will also receive a hundred thousand dollars.
The doctor glanced at the envelope but didn't bother to reach for it. "You don’t understand the risks involved. This isn’t just about money; it’s about my reputation, my license, and the trust management places in me."
Sylvester leaned back. "We are not asking you to perform the surgery, just to create the paperwork and give us a bed. That's all. The actual transplant will never happen. We just need something convincing enough to secure the funds. It's not that risky."
Dr. Richard sighed. He was torn between his principles and the temptation of the money. The temptation was undeniable, but so were the risks.
Vanessa saw the hesitation in the doctor's eyes and thought of seizing the moment. "Please, Dr. Richard," she pleaded. "No one is getting hurt. We just wanted to get money from someone. That's all. And this is the best option we have."
Dr. Richard found himself considering it even though he knew it was wrong. He was about to take part in a scam. He stared at the envelope, knowing it will go a long way. He will also get a hundred dollars after the job.
"Five thousand dollars and a hundred thousand. Besides, I don't see any risk in this," Sylvester repeated, "It won't even take much time."
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Dr. Richard reached for the envelope. "All right," he said. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I’ll do it. If anyone finds out, I’ll deny everything."
Sylvester and Vanessa exchanged relieved glances. "Thank you, Dr. Richard. This is between you and us. Nobody will gonna know." Sylvester said, standing up. "You won’t regret this."
The doctor nodded, still grappling with the gravity of his decision. "I’ll prepare a fake liver test result and reserve a private room. You pay five hundred dollars daily."
"Alright. We will pay for it." Sylvester accepted, and Vanessa smiled. "We really appreciate it, Doctor. We will come tomorrow morning."
"You are welcome." The doctor said, arranging his files. "I have other patients to attend to."
Sylvester stood up and shook hands with him, then left his office with Vanessa.
As they drove away from the hospital, they looked at each other and smiled. They were one step closer to their goal, and with Dr. Richard's cooperation, their plan was well on its way to success.