Chapter 183: Wandering Thoughts

"Seriously? Are you kidding me?" Sarah's eyes widened as she stared at Claire. "You're telling me the CEO is our neighbor?" 

Claire gave her a long look, trying to gauge her reaction. "Are you really clueless, or are you just pretending? Don't tell me you and Lucas coordinated this whole move?" 

"Claire! I swear to the heavens, I'd never scheme something like that!" Sarah raised her hand dramatically, almost as if taking an oath. 

"Still, it's all just a bit too coincidental," Claire said, closing Lucas Zeller's door and gesturing for Sarah to unlock their apartment door. "So much so that it feels unbelievable." 

"If you don't believe me, we can move out. Just say the word, and I'll pack up and leave," Sarah offered sincerely, her face devoid of any hint of deceit. 

"Move?" 

"Yeah. If you're uncomfortable living next door to the CEO, we can relocate. It's a hassle, sure, but not impossible." 

"Forget it." Claire sighed. She had considered moving before but had been shot down by Lucas. 

Now, thinking about it, she felt foolish. Why had she fallen for his blatant taunts? She had played right into his hands, and his smugness was still grating on her nerves. 

"Claire, you said the CEO had a high fever yesterday?" Sarah asked as she opened the door, letting Claire step in first. "No wonder he looked so pale and out of it." 

"How do you know that? Weren't you coming straight from home?" Claire headed to her bedroom to change clothes. 

"I was coming from the office. Just as I left, I saw him entering with Tara. To be honest, it was shocking—Lucas, who usually looks down his nose at everyone, seemed unusually approachable today. I guess it's because you spent all that time with him last night?" 

"Don't even mention last night," Claire snapped, her irritation flaring up again. "Don't you have a shift at the jewelry store? If you don't leave soon, the rush hour will start." 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way. But what about you? Where are you off to in such a hurry? Want to tag along and work with me at the store?" 

"No, I'm going to check on Blaine." Since they parted ways at the airport, she hadn't reached out to him, and she felt she should see if he needed any help. 

"You're going to Blaine's place?" Sarah stopped at the door, then leaned against it, watching her. "Claire, I'm just saying—what's Blaine's deal with you anyway?" 

"What do you mean by that?" Claire fastened a heart-shaped brooch to her blouse and turned to Sarah. "Does this look good?" 

"It's gorgeous... But seriously, you don't see Blaine that way, do you? How about him? You're single now, so he's—" 

"I found out yesterday that I'm not single after all." She cut her off, her voice carrying a bitter edge. 

"Huh?" 

"Lucas never signed the divorce papers. Legally, we're still married." 

"Are you serious?" Sarah's jaw dropped. "Our CEO actually kept that card up his sleeve?" 

"You seem awfully happy about this," Claire accused, stepping closer. "I'm starting to suspect you and Lucas are in cahoots." 

"Come on, Claire, you know I've never supported your separation. Hearing that you're still married is like music to my ears." 

"Uh-huh. Well, are you leaving or not?" Claire asked, now fully ready to head out. 

"Fine, fine, let's go downstairs together." 

--- 

"Boss, the final step in a makeover is contouring, right? But, uh, you're holding an eyebrow razor," whispered Blaine's assistant, Adam, leaning close enough so only Blaine could hear. 

Snapping out of his daze, Blaine frowned at the razor in his hand. 

"Right," he murmured, handing the razor to Adam and signaling him to fetch the contouring pen from his makeup kit. 

"Sorry, I'm late!" Claire's bright voice echoed through the studio, snapping Blaine's attention away from his thoughts. His previously dull gaze lit up as he turned toward her. 

"Blaine, you've already reopened for business today? Why didn't you let me know?" Claire approached him, glancing at his client. "Looks like you're almost done here. Need the contouring pen? Let me grab it for you." 

Without waiting for a response, she reached into his makeup kit, found the pen, and handed it to him in one smooth motion. Blaine didn't even have time to blink. 

"What are you spacing out for? Get back to work," Claire teased, leaning in and widening her eyes dramatically. 

"Stop distracting me if you want me to work," Blaine retorted, his tone slightly awkward as he turned his face away. "If you're free, help me organize the makeup kit. Sort out anything that's empty or expired and replace them." 

"On it, boss!" 

"Blaine, did you switch assistants?" asked one of his regular clients, Joel, who had walked in unannounced. "What happened to the last one? What was her name? Oh, Shauna? You two used to be such a great team. Did she dump you after making it big at that Asian styling competition?" 

Claire couldn't help but chuckle at the comment. Turning to Joel's wife, she joked, "Mrs. Lin, who'd dare dump someone like Blaine? See? I'm back here working for him, aren't I?" 

"Wait, what?" Mrs. Lin stared at Claire, blinking in disbelief. "You're telling me you're the same Claire from last year? The one who was so plain and unassuming?" 

"Mrs. Lin, even we, her colleagues, got duped by her transformation," Adam chimed in. 

"Exactly! I've been waiting for Blaine to reopen this place, hoping I could one day shine as brightly as Claire here," Mrs. Lin added wistfully. 

"Mrs. Lin, you're already radiant," Blaine said with his signature charming smile, earning a delighted laugh from her as he pulled Claire toward the lounge area.