Back in America, Logan James hadn't given up on the search for his mother. Seated in the back of a sleek, black town car, he looked every bit the young heir to a corporate empire, calm, composed, and in control. His headphones covered his ears, soft music playing as he scrolled through news feeds on his phone, hoping for even a hint of her whereabouts. For weeks now, headlines about his mother's mysterious disappearance had dominated the news cycle, and once again, an article caught his eye: "Where is the Missing Robotics Engineer?"The words blinked on his screen, pulling him back into the gnawing worry he couldn't shake.
The car was being driven by one of his grandfather's seasoned bodyguards, a man who barely spoke, but Logan appreciated the silence. He didn't need idle chatter, not when he was so consumed with unanswered questions. The bodyguard, whose name Cole barely knew, occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror, his gaze cool and professional, but underneath the surface, he was always vigilant.
Outside, the busy streets of New York were alive with flashing lights, honking cars, and the muted murmurs of pedestrians. The city had a pulse of its own, one that throbbed with an energy Logan found both electrifying and exhausting. He didn't feel safe here, not entirely, but he knew better than to complain.
In the car behind him, a group of bodyguards was riding in formation, all wearing black suits and earpieces, the very picture of disciplined security. Among them was the head of his grandfather's security team, a man with steely eyes who rarely smiled. He turned to address the group, his voice low but commanding.
"Pay attention, all of you. Having paparazzi run rampant around our client is disgraceful for the MB Group's Security team. Today, we are here to ensure the highest level of protection. If any of you slip up, you're fired. Do you all understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the team chorused in unison.
The leader continued, "You want to keep your jobs?"
"Yes, sir!" came their response, louder this time, echoing with determination.
Two women were among the group, both standing at attention. They exchanged a quick, knowing glance before one of them murmured to the other, "This is intense, huh?"
"Standard for Logan," the other replied under her breath.
The leader handed out a series of envelopes filled with cash, a strange move but necessary for their plan. "Here's the money for the cameras. Break whatever you see, and toss these bills at the scene to shut anyone up if needed. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" they replied, gripping the envelopes with a sense of purpose.
Meanwhile, the security team took their positions around the block, setting up an invisible perimeter before Logan's car even arrived. They blended into the cityscape, but anyone with a keen eye could spot them. One of the bodyguards opened Logan's car door as they pulled up, and he stepped out, sliding his hands into his pockets and glancing around with a calm but watchful expression.
The guards fanned out, scanning the crowd for anyone suspicious. Hazal, one of the female guards, noticed a figure loitering by a nearby building, barely visible but unmistakably suspicious. She quickly alerted her team, and while they escorted Logan toward the entrance, she and another guard made a beeline toward the figure.
The "man" with the camera was faster than he looked, retreating to his car the moment he spotted them approaching. But Hazal was quick. She darted forward, reaching his car door just as he slid inside.
"Where do you think you're going?" she demanded, blocking his exit with her hand on the door. "This piece of junk isn't getting you anywhere."
The so-called "man" turned, and with a conspiratorial grin, they dropped the charade. "Relax, it's me," the person said, pulling off a wig to reveal a woman's face underneath. She laughed as she shook Hazal's hand, their deal understood.
"Nice job," Hazal said with a smirk, producing the envelope she'd been given. She pulled out half of the cash and handed it to her accomplice. "Here's your cut. Now, the camera."
The woman produced a small, discreet camera from her bag, handing it over with a wink. "People would flip out if they knew Logan's own guard was selling photos of him, huh?"
Hazal let out a quiet laugh, keeping her voice low. "Who would imagine that his security team would be the ones exploiting him? This camera's got a new trick, a hidden lens in the necklace. First time using it, so wish me luck."
The woman laughed, stashing her cash and adjusting her own disguise. "Don't mess it up. Remember, you're getting paid double for any close-ups."
Hazel went back and reported to their leader, I destroyed her camera. I have given her the money too. Good job, these scumbags secretly take photos for money. Hazal said, they are trash that can't even be recycled. A decent human being should do honest work! The life philosophy that you always stress. Respect! Respect! Good work. Go over there. Yes, sir!
When left there to where others where standing, she finally release the breath she was holding all this while. The others gave him thomb up for the work well-done but in her mind she was laughing at them. When she took her position, she remembered what the woman said earlier, "he dumpy the actress and moved on to a singer", I will pay double if you get me be face".
Hazal pocketed the camera and slipped back into position just in time to catch up with the others. She blended seamlessly, adopting the usual stoic expression her boss required. As she took her position, another female guard, Maria, nudged her subtly.
"Did you see who's here?" Maria whispered, her eyes widening. Hazal followed her gaze and felt her stomach lurch.
Walking toward Logan was none other than Ophelia Grey, a high-profile pop star and a member of Girl Crush. She was rumored to have had a fling with Logan a while back, but Hazal hadn't realized they were still in touch.
"Oh my gosh, this is huge!" Maria murmured, excitement brightening her eyes.
Hazal suppressed a grin as she took in the scene. Ophelia walked toward Logan with effortless confidence, a gentle smile on her lips as she approached. Logan, who had been sitting on a nearby bench, legs crossed and his eyes fixed on his phone, looked up just as she reached him. A look of surprise crossed his face, followed by a warm smile, and he stood to greet her. They shared a quick, casual hug, and Hazal noticed Maria's eyes widening as she whispered, "Isn't that Ophelia Grey from *Girl Crush*? I thought they weren't a thing anymore."
Hazal shrugged, playing it cool. "It's none of our business. We're here to protect his privacy, remember? Look straight ahead if you don't want to get fired."
Maria rolled her eyes but shifted her gaze, albeit reluctantly. Hazal, however, kept a sly eye on the interaction, carefully angling the hidden camera embedded in her necklace to snap a few close-up shots of Logan and Ophelia. The tiny lens was nearly undetectable, and with a slight tilt of her wrist, she captured their reunion from different angles.
*Perfect,* she thought. *Double pay, here I come.*
After getting a few good shots, Hazal turned to her fellow guard and muttered, "I need a quick break. Bathroom."
She quickly slipped out of the group and headed toward the restroom, her mind racing with excitement. She couldn't help but grin to herself. The payday for these photos would be massive, especially if she managed to leak an exclusive. She tugged the watch camera off her wrist, tossing it into her hand and flipping it as she walked, feeling a surge of pride. She could practically feel the weight of the cash already in her pocket.
But her victory was short-lived.
Just as she turned a corner, a hand shot out, grabbing the watch mid-flip and snatching it out of her fingers. Hazal gasped, taking a step back, her stomach plummeting as she recognized who was standing in front of her.
Logan!.
His expression was unreadable, a mix of curiosity and disappointment. He held up the watch, turning it over in his hand before looking back at her, one eyebrow raised.
"A camera disguised as a watch? That's clever," he said coolly, his gaze steady. Hazal's mind scrambled for an explanation, but she could already tell by the look in his eyes that he knew exactly what was going on.
With a weak smile, she stammered, " Mr. Logan, you… you have the wrong idea. I confiscated that from a paparazzo earlier. Thought it was best to take care of it myself, you know?"
Logan's face remained impassive. Without a word, he gripped the watch tightly and, with a swift motion, crushed it in his hand. The sound of the delicate mechanics shattering echoed down the hallway, and Hazal's heart dropped. The destruction had drawn the attention of several other guards, and people there, who glanced over but kept their distance, too intimidated to intervene.