At the Rodrigues residence, Vanessa opens her wardrobe and pulls out a crisp white blouse and tailored black trousers, laying them neatly on the bed. Sitting down for a moment, she runs her hands through her hair, trying to gather her energy. "I shouldn't have drunk so much yesterday," she mutters under her breath, shaking her head at herself.
She stands and starts dressing, slipping the blouse over her shoulders and carefully buttoning it. Her fingers hover over the top button before deciding to leave it undone, softening the look with a delicate silver necklace. She steps into her trousers and slides her feet into a pair of low heels.
At her vanity, Vanessa dabs on some foundation to cover her pallor and applies a hint of blush to bring life back to her cheeks. She brushes on mascara, hoping to make her tired eyes look more awake, and pulls her hair into a neat ponytail. As she glances at the clock on her nightstand, her stomach twists again—it's already 7:40 a.m.
