Chapter 38: A Surprising Rescue

Claire's back throbbed as she turned around, but her scream caught in her throat as she froze, watching in horror as the heavy display counter tilted toward her. She couldn't move, trapped in shock, just as the weight of it began to bear down.

"Watch out!" 

In an instant, a strong pair of arms wrapped around her waist, yanking her back out of harm's way.

*Crash!*

The counter slammed to the floor with a loud crack, sending a shiver through the bustling superstore. Claire blinked, trying to steady her breath as she glanced at the hands still holding her. She turned her head, only to be greeted by a pair of steady, intense eyes—belonging to none other than the woman from moments ago.

"Th-thank you…" Claire stammered, clutching her chest to calm her wildly beating heart. She hadn't expected such a bold rescue, and the adrenaline still made her knees feel weak.

Sarah, who had watched the entire scene unfold, was equally stunned. Her wide-eyed gaze shifted from Claire to the mysterious woman's hands around Claire's waist.

Then, as if summoned by some unseen force, a new figure strode into the scene.

"What's going on here?"

The authoritative voice cut through the stunned silence, drawing everyone's attention. Claire looked up to see Lucas standing there, his expression hard and cold. His eyes were locked on the woman still holding Claire, and there was a dark, unmistakable flash of anger in his gaze.

In a swift motion, Lucas reached out, grasping Claire by the shoulder and pulling her away from the stranger's grip, almost as if reclaiming her.

"What do you think you're doing?" His voice was low but brimming with barely restrained fury, his intense gaze fixed on the woman who had rescued Claire.

Caught off guard, Claire swallowed nervously, feeling the tension radiating from him. She quickly tried to explain. "It's not what you think, Lucas. She was just… helping me," she said, pointing toward the stranger.

The woman, however, simply shrugged, her lips twitching with a faint smile as she backed away, seemingly unfazed by Lucas's harsh tone. With a cool glance in Claire's direction, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving as mysteriously as she had arrived.

Sarah finally snapped out of her daze, glancing between Claire and Lucas in confusion. *Why had Lucas shown up at Brighton Plaza? Was he just checking in—or was there something more to his sudden appearance?* She couldn't help but notice the possessive way he held onto Claire, as if silently staking a claim. The dark intensity in his eyes was impossible to ignore.

Feeling Sarah's inquisitive gaze, Claire's mind cleared as she quickly shook Lucas's hand off her shoulder and took a step back, trying to regain her composure.

"Uh, Lucas, you misunderstood," she began, hesitantly, as she pointed in the direction the woman had left. "That woman… she's not… interested in me. She was only helping me out of the way."

Lucas's frown deepened, his gaze dropping pointedly to her legs. "And who told you to wear such a short skirt?" His voice was laced with irritation as his eyes lingered on her bare legs with a mixture of frustration and something unspoken.

"I… it's the company uniform," Claire answered, surprised by his sudden change of subject.

Lucas's gaze sharpened. "You call this appropriate? What are you thinking, dressing like this in public? And who let you paint your face like this?" His scowl deepened as he took in her carefully applied makeup, which, despite being modest, had been crafted to highlight her features beautifully.

Claire glanced at Sarah, who shifted uncomfortably under Lucas's gaze. Sarah quietly piped up, "Actually, Mr. Zeller, it's part of our department's marketing strategy. We designed the uniforms to be bold and eye-catching for a reason."

Lucas's expression darkened, though he directed his annoyance back at Claire. "Enough of this nonsense," he said firmly. "Change out of that uniform and come back with me to the office."

"What? Right now?" Claire replied, stunned. "But I haven't finished my shift yet!"

Lucas's jaw tightened. "Don't argue with me, Claire. I said now."

Sarah recoiled, sensing the tension escalate, as Lucas's imposing presence seemed to silence the entire department.

Claire stared at him, caught between frustration and shock. She knew Lucas was her boss, but he couldn't just order her to drop everything and follow him around like this. She had a job here—one she was proud of.

Finding a bit of courage, Claire straightened, meeting his hard gaze. "Lucas, you can't just pull me away whenever you want. I have my responsibilities here."

Lucas's brows shot up, a spark of surprise and slight respect in his eyes, but he quickly hid it with a dismissive glare.

"Fine," he muttered, casting one last heated glance her way. With a final scowl, he turned and stormed out of the store, leaving Claire to wonder what had ignited his uncharacteristic jealousy.