Taming the Arrogant CEO

"Claire, are you asleep in there?" Sarah called out, her patience wearing thin after waiting over ten minutes for Claire to come out of the dressing room. Her voice echoed across the store, drawing puzzled glances from nearby shoppers.

Embarrassed, Sarah stuck out her tongue playfully and retreated back inside the cosmetic section to avoid further attention.

Another couple of minutes passed before Claire finally emerged, her brow furrowed in discomfort. She wore a white blouse underneath a pink satin vest that hugged her figure, her long black hair cascading down her back in stark contrast to the pale fabric. Her outfit highlighted her slim waist, but there was something off...

"Claire, is that pink skirt too tight? Why are you holding your blazer over your hips like that?" Sarah asked, frowning. The way Claire had draped her blazer around her waist disrupted the overall aesthetic of the uniform.

Claire gave Sarah a sheepish look. "The skirt's too short. I'm not used to wearing something this revealing."

She rarely wore skirts to begin with, let alone one this short, which barely reached mid-thigh. It was the kind of skirt that would expose everything if she so much as bent over to adjust a product.

"Too short? Let me see," Sarah said, swiftly yanking the blazer out of Claire's grip. Her eyes widened. "Wow, Claire, your legs are gorgeous!"

Under the bright store lights, Claire's legs gleamed with a healthy, natural glow, long and perfectly toned. She didn't even need stockings to make an impression—her beauty was undeniable.

Sarah circled Claire, making appreciative noises as she examined her from head to toe.

Feeling awkward under the scrutiny, Claire was about to speak when Sarah suddenly exclaimed, "Claire, if you had a bit more makeup on, you'd look absolutely stunning—like a real-life goddess!"

"Makeup?" Claire pointed at her face in confusion. "But I'm not wearing any makeup right now."

She wasn't lying—she didn't even know the difference between eyeshadow and blush.

"Wait, what? You're not wearing any makeup at all?" Sarah, in disbelief, touched Claire's cheek with her fingertip. "Wow, no foundation either? Your skin is flawless! I'm so jealous."

Sarah's eyes sparkled with envy as she lamented her own misfortune. Then, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm, she dragged Claire toward a nearby chair.

"Sit down! I'm doing your makeup. Trust me, after I'm done, you'll look so good even the mirrors will blush!"

---

*I wonder how Snail Girl will react when she finds out I've had her transferred to the Left An Cosmetics counter at Brighton Plaza,* Lucas mused, leaning back in his office chair.

Would she be stunned into silence? Stare at him with wide eyes? Curse him under her breath? Or would she be so furious she'd start stomping her feet?

The thought amused him more than it should have. There was something oddly satisfying about seeing her pout and fume, too scared to truly lash out at him.

*God, why do I enjoy teasing her so much?*

Perhaps it was just a flaw of his character, the mark of a man who liked having control over situations—and people. Especially when it came to his own wife, a title she seemed to forget all too easily.

*Wife.*

That thought brought a scowl to Lucas's face. How could she call Ran Tao by his title so affectionately, almost like they were close? Did she forget she was *his* wife? The woman who had taken vows with him?

He couldn't announce their marriage to the whole company just yet, which was frustrating. But if he wanted to prevent other men from getting too comfortable around her—especially that Ran Tao—the best solution was to transfer her away. After all, she had a degree in marketing, and the cosmetics counter would be a perfect place for her to gain practical experience.

*More importantly, it would limit her contact with Ran Tao.*

If necessary, Lucas was more than willing to use whatever means were required to keep other men at bay. His wife shouldn't be giving any of them a chance to get close to her.

But wait! Before anyone got the wrong idea—it wasn't because he liked her or anything. He was just fulfilling his role as her husband, making sure to protect what was his.

*Yes, that's right! It's definitely not because he liked her.*