Chapter 127: The Photoshoot
By late September, life grew increasingly hectic for everyone. Lucas Zeller was engrossed in preparations for the mid-October launch event of *Liquid Diamond,* a major milestone for his company. Meanwhile, Claire Grace found herself deeply involved in assisting Blaine Jackson with his all-Asia Styling Design Competition.
To complicate matters, the final competition date had been moved up from December to October—just three days apart from Lucas's product launch.
This scheduling conflict left Claire in a bind. Although Lucas hadn't explicitly asked her to attend the launch with him, she wanted to be there to support him. But would she even have time to join him after the competition? The overlapping events weighed heavily on her mind.
---
Their busy schedules had significantly reduced the time they spent together. Most nights, Claire and Lucas would grab quick dinners on their own, come home, shower, and fall straight into bed, barely exchanging words. Yet, despite the physical distance, their relationship felt stronger than ever. Since Lucas's heartfelt confession weeks ago, their bond had deepened profoundly. A single glance between them was enough to convey their love.
And every morning, no matter how exhausted they were, Claire always woke up nestled in Lucas's arms. It was a feeling of warmth and security so blissful that she felt like she had the whole world.
Still, the timing of these two major events gave her a headache. Could she make it to Lucas's launch after Blaine's competition? She didn't know.
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At work, Claire struggled to stay focused.
"Hey, are you prepping my skin for makeup or trying to paint an abstract masterpiece?" joked a client as she stared at her overly vivid reflection in the mirror.
"Huh?" Claire blinked out of her daydream, her cheeks flushing bright red. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, Miss Lee. I didn't mean to… I…" She stumbled over her words, mortified at how distracted she had been. Blaine had tasked her with applying foundation, but her absent-mindedness had turned the client's face into a colorful mess.
"Claire, you're clearly thinking about your husband, aren't you?" teased Rue, a stylist working nearby, as she blew-dried another client's hair.
"I—I wasn't—"
"We all know it," added Mike with a mischievous grin.
"Miss Lee, don't be mad at Claire. She's just got her husband on her mind!" chimed in Jacob, another stylist, laughing as he joined the teasing.
Flustered, Claire pouted at her colleagues, but their playful banter eventually made her laugh out loud.
"What's going on here that's so amusing you've all forgotten the studio's rules?" A deep, authoritative voice cut through the laughter like a knife. Blaine Jackson had entered the room, his sharp gaze sweeping across the staff.
The room fell silent. Everyone knew Blaine detested unprofessional behavior in front of clients. Without another word, the team quickly returned to their tasks. Claire froze, unsure whether to apologize for her mistake or explain herself.
"Blaine," she stammered, her hands gesturing helplessly toward the client's overly colorful face. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," Blaine interrupted with a calm smile. "I'll handle it. You, on the other hand, should head to the backroom. Try on the outfits I've prepared. In an hour, we'll do a photoshoot for the competition."
"Photoshoot?" Claire's eyes lit up with hope. "Does that mean I won't have to attend the live event?"
Blaine shook his head. "The photoshoot is only part of the competition. The live performance is still mandatory. And as my top window model, there's no way you're skipping it. Also, the closer we get to the competition, the busier we'll be. Brace yourself."
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In the backroom, Claire slipped into the outfit Blaine had chosen: a sleek, strapless white crop top paired with a navy-blue pleated mini-skirt. The ensemble accentuated her long legs and glowing skin, finished off with delicate, handmade flats.
"Wow, Claire, you look amazing!" gushed Amy, Blaine's assistant, as she admired Claire's reflection in the mirror. "So fresh and natural! This is going to turn heads for sure."
"Don't call me Claire here. Just call me Little Claire, like everyone else," Claire said, spinning to inspect herself. She tugged at the crop top nervously. "Isn't this a bit too revealing?"
"Not at all! Trust Blaine's vision—it's perfect," Amy reassured her.
Claire sighed, still feeling exposed. "I don't know how I always end up in shorter and shorter skirts despite complaining."
---
Under the blazing September sun, Blaine stood calm and composed, camera in hand, snapping shots of Claire on a bustling street.
"Relax your shoulders, Claire," he instructed. "Don't cross your arms or legs—it's not a runway walk. This is all about casual, everyday life."
"But I thought we were just doing studio shots!" Claire protested, eyeing the curious crowd gathering around them. "This is so public!"
"The theme is *real life,* so the setting has to match," Blaine replied, unfazed. "If you cooperate, we'll finish in twenty minutes."
Despite her embarrassment, Claire pushed through. The crowd's interest made her self-conscious, but Blaine's calm encouragement and occasional humor helped her loosen up.
When it was all done, Blaine smirked. "See? I told you we'd nail it. Great job, Little Claire."
Claire rolled her eyes, but deep down, she was grateful for his guidance.