The mention of piano reminded Claudia of her upcoming performance on the 20th. After some hesitation, she decided to give Bennett a heads up. "I've got a show on the 20th, by the way.”

“Where?”

“Pegasus Avenue," she replied without a second thought.

“ALL right," he said, setting his coffee cup down. “We'll have the chef prepare lunch. Let them know your preferences. As for the afternoon..." he trailed off. "Never mind.”

Rising to his feet, Bennett retreated upstairs. Soon after, he emerged in a shirt and suit pants.

His flawless skin contrasted starkly with a conspicuous scratch on his neck. Claudia's eyes were instantly drawn to it.

She longed to mask it.

Mustering the courage, she asked, “Is the scratch too visible?" Bennett shot her a cryptic glance, remaining silent.

Claudia's face heated at the thought of him going to work with that glaring red mark.

She couldn't even entertain the idea!

Summoning her resolve, she suggested, “Would you Like me to cover it with some concealer?"

Worried Bennett would decline, she quickly added, "It won't take more than thirty seconds!"

Bennett glanced at his watch. "I'll give you five minutes."

“Okay! Let me get my concealer.”

Afraid that Bennett would go back on his words, Claudia hurriedly made her way upstairs, despite her injured right leg.

Moving with a Limp, she clung to the handrail for support and hopped on each step, unable to walk at a regular pace.

From his position downstairs, Bennett observed Claudia's ponytail gracefully swaying with her every movement, causing a smile to gradually spread across his face, growing wider with each passing moment.

She reminded him of a rabbit.

Upon her return, Claudia was relieved to find Bennett still present. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have gone to such Lengths to hide his mark, but this was a different occasion where she herself was also involved.

“Please sit on the couch."

Bennett wordlessly obliged, seating himself on the couch.

Claudia then set to work, blending the concealer onto the back of her hand and meticulously applying it to his neck with a brush.