Hilarious SPA surprise

Chapter 11: The Lesson

Mark sat nervously in front of the vanity mirror, the soft glow of the lights reflecting off the pristine makeup collection Lisa had laid out. It felt surreal. In the span of what seemed like a few weeks, his life had taken such a sharp turn that he barely recognized himself anymore. Lisa, ever poised, stood behind him, her fingers lightly grazing his shoulders as she looked over the array of products.

"Tonight," Lisa began, her voice a mix of firmness and patience, "you're going to learn how to do your makeup properly. I expect nothing less than perfection. If you mess up, we'll start over until you get it right."

Mark swallowed, his throat tight, knowing that Lisa's patience only stretched so far. He glanced at the collection in front of him—foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, and, of course, the deep blue lipstick she had chosen to match his nails. He had no idea where to begin, but he knew he couldn't refuse.

Lisa handed him the foundation first. "Apply it evenly, Mark," she said, her tone measured but commanding. "You don't want streaks or patches."

He squeezed a small amount onto his fingers, hesitating for a moment before tentatively spreading it across his face. His hands shook slightly as he blended, trying to follow what he'd seen her do countless times. After a few moments, he looked up, hopeful.

Lisa frowned, her sharp eyes scanning his face. "Too much on your forehead. And look at your jawline—you missed a whole section. Start over."

His heart sank, but he nodded obediently. She handed him a makeup remover wipe, watching closely as he cleaned his face and started again.

This time, Mark worked slower, more carefully, smoothing the foundation across his skin, trying to ensure it was even. He finished and sat back, waiting for her approval.

Lisa leaned in, inspecting his work. "Better, but now it's too light under your eyes. You look washed out. Do it again."

Mark sighed quietly, wiping away the foundation once more and reapplying it for the third time, feeling Lisa's gaze piercing through him as he struggled to get it right. By the time he was satisfied with the base, his fingers were trembling, and he was sweating slightly from the pressure.

Lisa tilted her head slightly. "Good enough. Now, the eyes. Let's see if you can handle eyeliner without making a mess."

Mark picked up the eyeliner pencil, his hands less steady than before. He carefully traced the line along his eyelids, but his inexperience showed—one line was much thicker than the other, and the right side smudged as he blinked too soon. He cursed under his breath, knowing exactly what was coming.

"No. That's sloppy," Lisa said coldly. "Remove it all and try again."

The process was excruciating, especially as Lisa made him repeat it several times. First, his hands were too shaky, and the lines were uneven. Then, he applied too much mascara, causing it to clump. After each mistake, Lisa remained unrelenting, watching with a critical eye as he started over again and again.

By the time he finally got the eyeliner and mascara just right, Mark felt utterly defeated. His arms ached from holding them at awkward angles, and his frustration was growing, though he dared not show it.

"Good," Lisa finally said, her approval coming in small, measured doses. "Now for the lips."

Mark's hands reached for the dark blue lipstick, the color Lisa had specifically chosen to match his nails. The moment he uncapped it, his heart started racing again. Lipstick seemed like the easiest part, but he knew that with Lisa, nothing could be taken for granted. He pressed the color to his lips and carefully applied it, trying to stay within the lines.

When he was finished, he looked up at Lisa hopefully. For a moment, he thought he had done well, but her slight smile quickly disappeared.

"Look at this," Lisa said, grabbing a small mirror and holding it to his face. "You went outside the lines on the left side. It's smudged. You look ridiculous."

Mark's face flushed with embarrassment. He reached for the makeup remover, but Lisa stopped him. "No," she said, "you're going to wipe off everything and start from scratch."

His heart sank, but he did as he was told, wiping away the hours of effort. The foundation, the eyeliner, the lipstick—all of it removed in one swift gesture. He began again, feeling the weight of exhaustion bear down on him.

This time, Mark moved with more precision. He applied the foundation flawlessly, blending it into his skin with care. The eyeliner went on smooth and even, the mascara was perfectly applied, and when he finally reached the lipstick, he moved slowly, tracing the shape of his lips with a surgeon's precision.

Lisa watched him closely, her eyes never leaving his face. When he finished, she leaned in, inspecting his work. After what felt like an eternity, she smiled.

"There. Finally, you've done it right," she said, her tone softening just slightly. Mark felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He looked up at her, hopeful. "So... you'll keep your promise now?"

Lisa stretched her arms above her head, yawning dramatically. "Actually, Mark, I'm exhausted. All this teaching has worn me out." She reached for a makeup remover wipe, pressing it into his hand. "Take it all off and go to bed."

Mark blinked in disbelief, his heart sinking. "But..."

Lisa's eyes sharpened. "Do you want to question me?"

Defeated, Mark shook his head. He slowly wiped away the makeup he had spent hours perfecting, his hands moving automatically as Lisa watched him with satisfaction. When he was done, she kissed him lightly on the forehead, her lips leaving a soft mark.

"Goodnight, Mark. We'll try again tomorrow," she said, her voice dripping with control as she left the room.

Mark stood there for a moment, staring at his reflection in the mirror, his face bare, his spirit crushed. He realized, once again, how deeply his life had changed, and how much control Lisa now held over him.