Chapter 84: Adding Fuel to the Fire

"Mr. Jackson, isn't transforming someone's appearance like magic—turning an ordinary person into someone dazzling—a lot of fun?" Claire Grace asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. 

"Fun?" Blaine Jackson pressed his lips together in thought, then nodded slightly. "For most people, yes, it's exciting and enjoyable. But for me, it's about the challenge. My family has been in this line of work for generations. My parents and older brother are exceptional stylists and makeup artists. I can't allow myself to fall short of their standards. That said, I admit many stylists enter the profession because they find it fun." With that, he handed her a business card. 

Claire accepted the card with a look of admiration. "You're all amazing! Unlike me—I'm hopeless at everything." She sighed, remembering how Lucas often berated her with terms like "idiot" or "blockhead." It made her question whether her friend Sarah's compliments about her intelligence were merely placating words. 

"Would you like to learn? You don't need to model; you could work as my assistant. You'd learn a lot," Blaine offered unexpectedly, raising his brows as if surprised at his own words. When did he become so warm and approachable? 

"But I have a full-time job," Claire murmured, her lips pursed in thought. Then her eyes lit up. "Could I learn from you in my free time? That way, I could work and learn without conflicts!" 

"Well—" Blaine began, but his words were interrupted by a sudden, loud grumble. 

Both of them froze in surprise. Claire's face flushed crimson as she lowered her head, pressing her hands to her stomach. She peeked at Blaine through her lashes, her voice small and embarrassed. "Mr. Jackson, I... I'm sorry..." 

Blaine chuckled, arching a brow. "You must be hungry. Let me take you out for something to eat." Without hesitation, he took Claire's hand and started leading her toward the door. 

"What do you think you're doing?" A thunderous voice stopped them in their tracks. Claire jumped, her eyes snapping upward. Lucas Zeller stood before them, his face stormy and his dark eyes blazing with fury, as if trying to bore through her. 

"What do you mean, 'what am I doing'?" Claire asked, genuinely puzzled. She felt waves of anger radiating off Lucas, heating the air around her. 

"I've been looking all over for you, and here you are, holding hands with another man?" Lucas snarled, his tone accusing. "And you're asking *me* what you're doing? Are you stupid, or do you think I am?" 

Claire followed his gaze to her hand, still held by Blaine's. She frowned. Blaine was just taking her to eat—what was wrong with that? 

"My apologies," Blaine interjected smoothly when Claire didn't respond. "You've misunderstood. Claire was hungry, so I offered to take her to get something to eat. That's all." 

Lucas's expression darkened further, his anger visibly intensifying. 

"'Claire,' is it?" Lucas sneered. "You seem pretty close, don't you? How familiar are you two, exactly?" 

"Although this is only our second meeting, we've connected quite deeply," Blaine replied with a deliberate smirk, glancing at Claire as though sharing an inside joke. "Not only do our names share a common syllable, but meeting twice in such a short time—it must be fate." 

"Mr. Jackson?" Claire blinked at him, taken aback. She forgot to pull her hand away, a detail Lucas noticed immediately. To him, it looked like they were exchanging affectionate glances. 

"You've lost all sense, haven't you? Anyone can just hold your hand, and you let them?" Lucas snapped, his frustration boiling over. He strode forward and yanked Claire's hand from Blaine's grasp, enveloping it in his own. 

"Lucas! What are you talking about? I didn't do anything wrong!" Claire glared at him, completely confused by his outburst. 

"Claire, your boyfriend is jealous," Blaine quipped, stirring the fire further with an amused smile. 

"Jealous?" Claire repeated, her voice overlapping Lucas's sharp, "Are you blind?" 

"Lucas, how can you speak to Mr. Jackson like that?" Claire frowned, then turned to Blaine with a polite smile. "Mr. Jackson, I'll think about what we discussed and get back to you. Goodbye for now." She yanked her hand free from Lucas's grip and strode down the hallway, leaving the men behind. 

Lucas stared after her retreating figure, stunned. After a moment, he snapped out of his daze and hurried after her. 

--- 

"What did you mean when you said you'd stay in touch with him?" Lucas finally broke the suffocating silence in the car. 

"Nothing," Claire replied curtly, unwilling to engage further. 

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you mad at me?" Lucas pressed, his voice rising. "You let another man hold your hand right in front of me, and now *you're* upset?" 

"I already explained! I was hungry, and he was taking me to eat. That's all," Claire insisted defensively. 

"Did he really need to hold your hand to do that? And what's this about 'fate'? Calling you 'Claire' so casually—it's nauseating!" 

"Better than you calling me 'Snail Girl'!" Claire retorted, a spark of defiance in her tone. "Mr. Jackson is a renowned stylist. I'm honored he even bothered with me!" 

"You're married, Claire. Don't forget that. You're my wife. Don't embarrass me by crossing boundaries," Lucas snapped, his anger reaching its peak. 

"No one knows we're married, Lucas. Even if I misstep, it won't reflect on you." 

"Are you kidding me right now?" Lucas growled, swerving the car to a sudden stop by the curb. 

Though her seatbelt kept her secure, Claire lurched forward, startled and pale. Before she could protest, Lucas leaned over, pulling her firmly into his arms. Her shock grew as his lips claimed hers in an urgent, fiery kiss, silencing every word she might have said.