Chapter 109: The Man’s Fury

The taxi came to a halt at the corner of **Redwood Avenue**. 

Sarah rummaged through her purse, pulling out a colorful flyer, and grabbed Claire's hand, eagerly leading her along the marked path. 

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"Mr. Jackson, what about Miss Taylor? Is she suitable?" a timid designer asked, his voice barely audible as he glanced nervously at the man standing in the shadows, whose expression was as dark as storm clouds. 

"Are you blind or just recently went nearsighted? Didn't you notice her eyebrows and lashes are all fake? Tell her to get lost!" Blaine Jackson's voice was cold and biting. The man's patience had run dry. "I don't care if it's the last day or the last minute. I'm not settling for less." 

"But, sir, she's the last applicant today. And, well… it's already late in the afternoon. I was worried you might—" 

"Quality over quantity." Blaine's four-word verdict crushed the designer's shoulders like a boulder, forcing him to slink away and deliver the bad news to the hopeful candidate standing in the window display. 

Miss Taylor's hopeful smile evaporated in an instant. Her voice, sweet and delicate moments ago, now turned sharp. "Are you hiring an assistant or a supermodel? Your standards are ridiculous!" she snapped. "What kind of styling genius refuses to show their face? Maybe you're just hiding because you're ugly!" 

The collective gasp from the designers was palpable. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, mentally bracing for the inevitable storm. Blaine Jackson's reputation for sharp words was legendary, and they knew Miss Taylor had just triggered the worst of it. 

The tension in the room thickened as Blaine stepped out of the shadows, his presence commanding attention. His tall, lean frame exuded power, and his wild, tousled hair gave him an air of untamed elegance. He wore a crisp white shirt, slightly unbuttoned to reveal a toned chest. His smile, though handsome, was laced with a hint of danger. 

Miss Taylor's bravado faltered as she took in the sight before her. She swallowed hard. "Y-you're Blaine Jackson?" she stammered, her voice trembling. 

Blaine's lips curled into a wicked grin. "The very same. The one you just called 'ugly.'" His voice was smooth, but his eyes burned with icy intensity. 

"I-I'm sorry! You're—you're the most handsome man I've ever seen," she blurted, her face flushed with embarrassment. 

"Do you know why I rarely show my face?" Blaine's tone softened, but his words were sharper than a blade. 

Miss Taylor shook her head, unable to speak. 

Blaine's eyes darkened. "Because I'm afraid people like you will die of shame the moment they realize how far beneath me they are." 

The color drained from Miss Taylor's face. Blaine's words cut deep, leaving her speechless and humiliated. She stumbled back, clutching her purse to her chest before bolting out the door, her heels clicking frantically against the marble floor. 

The designers exhaled in unison, relieved that Blaine's wrath had found another target. 

A sudden burst of applause broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention. 

Sarah strolled in confidently, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she gazed at Blaine. Her expression betrayed both awe and infatuation as if she had just encountered a mythical being. Without thinking, she reached out, her hand hovering dangerously close to Blaine's face. 

Another collective gasp echoed through the room. Blaine's eyes narrowed, and with lightning reflexes, he caught Sarah's wrist mid-air. 

"Mr. Jackson, please don't be angry!" Claire's voice rang out, urgent and sincere. She rushed forward, placing her hands over Blaine's to pry him away from Sarah. "She's my friend. Please don't hold it against her." 

Blaine's expression softened at the sight of Claire. "Claire? What are you doing here?" he asked, his grip loosening but not releasing her hand entirely. 

"She dragged me here," Claire admitted sheepishly. 

Blaine's gaze flicked back to Sarah, scrutinizing her with renewed interest. "Your friend, huh? Well, I hate it when people try to touch my face," he said coolly, releasing Sarah's hand with a flick of his wrist. 

The designers, still frozen in place, snapped back to reality as Blaine's voice thundered through the room. "What are you all standing around for? Get back to work!" 

They scattered like leaves in the wind, each scrambling to avoid further confrontation. 

Blaine turned to Claire, his voice softer now. "Come with me." He led her toward a private lounge, his hand still gently holding hers. 

Sarah, now recovering from the shock, trailed behind, her eyes wide with fascination. "Claire, I think I'm in love," she whispered dramatically. 

Claire sighed, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable."