Chapter 112: A Gentle Persuasion

"You said you'd call, but it's been days, Claire. Not even a text. Afraid your boyfriend might get the wrong idea?" Blaine Jackson teased, handing over a sleek, leather-bound portfolio. 

Claire Grace blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, no. It's just that work…has been a little hectic lately," she mumbled, omitting that the real reason involved a certain possessive CEO. Taking the album, she opened it casually. Her eyes widened as they skimmed over the images, instantly drawn to their stunning artistry. 

"Wow, Blaine, who's this girl? She's gorgeous!" Claire's voice brimmed with admiration as she admired the outdoor shots. The photos were raw and unfiltered, sunlight casting a golden glow over the lush greenery. But what truly stood out was the model's impossibly long, toned legs—a perfect blend of grace and strength. 

"She was my college junior, Amanda. My exclusive model for window displays and styling projects," Blaine said, his eyes softening, a flicker of that familiar, mesmerizing blue Claire had noticed at Lauren's wedding. 

"Blaine, can I ask you something?" Claire hesitated, then forged ahead when he nodded. "Your eyes—why do they change color? Just now, they were dark, but at the wedding, they were blue, like today. What's going on there?" 

Blaine's lips quirked into a small smile, a mix of amusement and something deeper. "What? You think I'm some kind of supernatural creature?" 

Claire laughed nervously. "No, of course not! I'm just…curious. Does it have something to do with living in France for so long?" 

Blaine's laugh rang out, warm and unrestrained. "Claire, you've got the wildest imagination. No, it's not about the water in France turning my eyes blue," he chuckled, shaking his head. "It's a condition. My eyes change depending on my emotions. When I'm deep in thought or upset, they turn blue. When I'm furious, they're almost black." 

"That's…hard to understand," Claire admitted, brow furrowing as she processed the information. 

"Not surprising," Blaine said with a grin, ruffling her hair playfully. "Now, look at this photo again. What's the first thing you notice?" 

"The legs," Claire answered without hesitation. 

"Exactly. Legs can make or break a look," Blaine said, impressed. "When I hire models, I focus on that. It's why I insist on applicants standing in display windows for minutes at a time. Makeup doesn't matter as much as having the right features—and legs." 

Claire raised an eyebrow. "So, all this time, your assistant search was really about finding a model?" 

"Pretty much," Blaine admitted unapologetically. "It's the last day of interviews, though, and I'm not hopeful anymore." 

"Don't give up! Maybe someone perfect will walk in," Claire said, trying to lift his spirits. 

Blaine glanced at the clock. "It's past four. We have a client session at seven, so by five, we need to prep. No more interviews." 

Claire bit her lip, thinking. "What about Amanda? She was your go-to model, right?" 

Blaine's expression darkened, a shadow falling across his face. The light in his eyes dimmed, and Claire felt the shift in the air. 

"Amanda…passed away earlier this year. She was flying to France for one of my styling competitions when the plane crashed," Blaine said quietly. His voice was steady, but Claire noticed his hands trembling slightly as he set his drink aside. His eyes, now a deep, stormy blue, betrayed the pain he tried to hide. 

"I'm so sorry, Blaine. I didn't mean to—" 

"Don't apologize, Claire. You didn't know," Blaine cut her off gently. He stood, stretching as if to shake off the heavy mood. "So, how about it? Interested in switching jobs?" 

"Huh?" Claire blinked, confused by the sudden topic shift. 

"I mean it. You don't seem like the type who enjoys selling cosmetics in a department store. If you're up for it, why not join my team?" 

"Are you serious?" Claire gaped at him. She liked her current job—or, rather, she liked the proximity it gave her to Lucas Zeller. But Blaine's offer was tempting in a way she hadn't expected. 

"Dead serious," Blaine said. "Look, Claire, life's too short to stick with something you 'don't hate.' Find what you love and get paid for it. Opportunities like this don't come around often." 

Claire hesitated, glancing down at the album in her hands. Blaine's enthusiasm was infectious, but the thought of leaving her comfort zone—and Lucas—made her heart race. 

Blaine watched her carefully, sensing her indecision. "Think about it," he said softly. "You might surprise yourself."