Chapter 111: The Newly Crowned Sharp-Tongued Master

The lounge was a curious space, but it wasn't the room itself that made it feel odd—it was the man sitting in it. Sarah couldn't help but steal glances at him, a strange mixture of awe and irritation bubbling within her. Blaine Jackson, or "Master Jackson," as Claire had called him, was both strikingly handsome and, in Sarah's opinion, profoundly weird.

What was his deal, anyway? She had barely brushed against him, and he reacted as if she'd shoved him down a flight of stairs. But then, minutes later, he had no problem holding Claire's hand? Was it because he thought Claire was prettier than her? 

*No way!* Sarah huffed internally. Sure, Claire had flawless skin even without makeup, but still—Sarah had put in effort! Her expertly crafted look was wasted here.

Sarah's eyes darted around the lounge, taking in the decor. It was tastefully done, the pale blue walls giving off a calm, seaside vibe. The plush orange leather sofa she was perched on was so comfortable she felt like sinking into it and never leaving.

"Claire, you mentioned your friend brought you here. Are you also interviewing today?" Blaine asked, handing them both bottled waters before settling into the sofa across from them.

"Interview?" Claire blinked, clearly caught off guard. "No, not exactly. My friend just thought I should—"

"She's interviewing?" Blaine's voice rose slightly at the end, his tone oozing condescension. His gaze shifted to Sarah with a hint of disdain.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sarah's back straightened as she felt his words like a slap. "Are you saying I can't? I've got two eyes, a nose, and a mouth just like everyone else."

Blaine let out a low, amused hum. "Tell me, did you even bother to read our company's guidelines? It seems you missed the part about coming in with a bare face."

Sarah bristled. "What's wrong with makeup? It's perfectly normal for women to wear it. If you ever see a woman without makeup, it's probably because the sky is falling or pigs are flying."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "So... have you seen any flying pigs today?"

"Excuse me?" Sarah was stunned, staring at him like he had grown a second head.

Blaine didn't answer, his eyes drifting to Claire's naturally radiant face. Understanding dawned on Sarah, and she shot a glare at Claire. "Claire, why don't you ever wear makeup? Not even a bit of lipstick! No wonder I lost."

Claire gave a small, apologetic smile. "You look great with makeup, Sarah. It suits you."

Sarah smirked triumphantly, turning back to Blaine. "See? Makeup isn't just about personal beauty—it's about giving others something nice to look at, too."

"Makeup?" Blaine chuckled darkly. "Sure, makeup can be an art form. When done right, it enhances beauty. But…" He let the word hang, his gaze lingering on Sarah's heavily painted face. "When it's overdone, it's like slapping on a disguise. The most captivating look is clean and balanced, highlighting your best features—not drowning them in layers of product. Right now? You look like a character from a bad horror movie."

Sarah's jaw dropped. "You—you arrogant—!"

Blaine leaned back, sipping his drink with the air of someone completely unbothered. "I'm not here for validation or approval, especially not from people like you. If you're here to interview, though, let me save you the trouble. It's not happening."

Sarah shot up from the sofa, practically vibrating with rage. "You—you're insufferable! What's so special about you anyway? Just because people say you're good at makeup doesn't mean you're all that. For all I know, you could be a hack who makes people look worse!"

Blaine chuckled softly. "Believe what you want. I do what I love, not to impress others, especially not judgmental people like you."

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "And what about you? You think I'm fake? I'll have you know everything about me is real."

Blaine's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Really? You're telling me those eyebrows aren't drawn on? Or that you didn't layer mascara like it's going out of style?"

"Everyone shapes their brows! And, okay, maybe I added a little extra mascara—but that's it!"

Blaine's gaze dropped pointedly, and Sarah's cheeks flamed. "Stop looking!" she shrieked, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's wrong with you?"

"I wasn't looking at *that*," Blaine drawled. "I was just going to point out... your button is undone."

Sarah froze, glancing down in horror. Sure enough, a button on her blouse had come undone. Her face turned crimson, and she bolted toward the door. "I'm leaving! Claire, come on!"

Claire stood to follow but felt a gentle tug on her wrist. Blaine's dark eyes met hers. "Let her go. She's just embarrassed. She'll cool down."

Claire hesitated. "How do you know she's just embarrassed?"

Blaine smirked. "People like her and you wear your emotions on your sleeve. It's not hard to tell."

Claire sat back down, her gaze wary. "You've changed. You're not as easygoing as I thought."

Blaine chuckled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "That's because you're just now seeing the real me. Not everyone can handle it."