Logan Mason woke up to the steady hum of the city outside his penthouse. The faint glow of sunlight seeped through the heavy curtains, casting shadows on the walls. He pushed himself up, the silk sheets pooling around his waist. His body still bore faint aches from the ordeal of the past week, but his face betrayed none of it.
He was back. And the world would know it.
Liam, Logan's overworked assistant, was already waiting for him in the dining room, his phone glued to his ear. The table was was set with an extravagant breakfast spread, croissants, fresh fruit, and a steaming pot of coffee.
When Logan entered, Liam ended the call abruptly.
"Good morning, Mr. Mason," Liam said, his voice carefully composed, though his tired eyes gave him away.
Logan raised an eyebrow as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"You've been gone for a week," Liam said, exasperated. "Do you have any idea how much damage control I had to do?"
Logan took a sip of his coffee, savoring the bitter warmth. "Enlighten me."
Liam begin pacing the room dramatically, listing everything that had gone wrong.
"I had to cancel three exclusive interviews, reschedule two shoots that are meant to be done overseas, and personally apologise to the studio executives. They were this close to pulling you from the project," Liam said, holding his fingers a hair's breafth apart.
"And Samantha—" Liam hesitated, his face clouding frustration. " I had to beg that bitch to tell me if she knew where you were. She laughed in my face."
Logan's lips curled into a smirk. "Sounds like you've had a busy week."
Liam stopped pacing and glared at Logan. "Busy doesn't even begin to cover it. Do you know how many rumors are circulating online right now? People think you've been kidnapped, eloped, or joined a secret cult!"
"Let them talk," Logan said dismissively. "It keeps me relevant."
*******
The Manhattan skyline sparkled like a jewel as Logan Mason's sleek black car cruised through the bustling streets. Camera's flashed, and crowds buzzed with excitement as the man who had been the center of speculation for over a week finally reappeared.
Dubbed the "National Husband" by his legion fans, Logan's return was nothing short of an event. Clad in a perfectly tailored black suit, his presence was magnetic, commanding the attention of everyone around him.
Fans screamed his name, holding up signs that read, "Welcome back, Logan!" and "We missed you!"
"Mr. Mason! Where have you been?"
"Logan, look here! Smile for us!"
"Is it true you were hiding from a scandal?"
"Logan! We love you!"
Logan ignored the paparazzi frenzied questions, his expression unreadable as he adjusted his cuffs and strode into the towering studio building. Behind him, his assistant trailed, juggling an overstuffed folder and a phone glued to his ear.
Inside the building, the chaos of the outside world melted into the controlled environment of a high-profile photoshoot studio. Stylists, makeup artists, and photographers bustled about, preparing for Logan's arrival.
As Logan entered the studio, the hum of activity paused momentarily. His presence filled the room, a wave of relief washing over the crew. For days, rumors has swirled about his disappearance, and now, seeing him in the flesh, they couldn't help but stare.
Liam, however felt no relief. His face was pale, his posture slouched from exhaustion. He had spent the past week juggling damage control: cancelling Logan's appointments, feeding the press carefully crafted half-truths, amd desperately searching for his missing boss.
The memory of finding Logan unconscious at a remote location haunted Liam. He was kinda worried, who could have told him to come pick his boss? And why did the person remain anonymous? The cryptic message the person sent had provided no comfort.
"Sir, after this photoshoot, you have a meeting with the studio executives," Liam began, flipping through his schedule. "And dGlamour is pushing for an exclusive interview."
Logan raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Should I cancel the interview?" Liam asked cautiously.
Logan nodded curtly, his expression cold. "I don't have time for their nonsense."
Liam chuckled. He already expected that reply.
Stylists swarmed him, adjusting his suit and fixing his hair, while the photographer barked orders. Logan stood in the centre of it all, unbothered and radiating confidence.
The photoshoot began with Logan exuding his trademark confidence, delivering poses after poses. His sharp features, his piercing blue eyes, and effortlessly sexy expressions made every shot a masterpiece. The camera loved him, and the crew watched in awe as he moved seamlessly through the session. Logan Mason was back and he was as captivating as ever.
But beneath the facade, Logan's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept drifting to Aura, the woman who had saved him. Her enigmatic nature and fearless determination had left a lasting impression. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was watching him, even now.
As the shoot continued, whispers spread among the crew.
"Did you hear? He disappeared for a whole week! Did something happen to him? He seems fine."
"Or maybe he was with a secret lover." A girl replied.
Logan caught snippets of the conversation but ignored them. Rumors where an inevitable part of his life, and he had long since learned to brush them off.
Meanwhile, Liam sat in the corner, furiously typing on his laptop. He had done everything in his power to keep Logan's absence under wraps, even after his appearance, some crazy reporters didn't give up. They were demanding for his whereabouts, and articles about it were gaining traction and fans were demanding answers.
After the shoot, Logan headed to a private meeting with the studio executives. The room was tense, the air thick with unspoken concerns.
"Logan," one executive began, his tone cautious, "we need to address your recent disappearance. It's causing some... complications for our projects related to you."
Logan leaned back in his chair, his expression indifferent. "I'm here now. That's all that matters."
The executives exchanged uneasy glances. Logan's star power was undeniable,and they couldn't afford to lose him but his unpredictable behaviour was becoming a liability.
"We have invested heavily in your image," another executive said carefully. "If something like this happens again, it could damage your brand."
Logan's lips curled into a smirk. "You worry too much."
Later that day, Logan told Liam to accept the interview because he felt kinda bored.
At the interview
Logan was ushered into a private room for the exclusive interview with dGlamour magazine.
The interviewer, a sharp eyed woman named Grace, wasted no time.
"Logan, the world wants to know, where have you been?"
Logan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say I needed some time away."
"Time away?" Grace pressed. "There are rumors you were kidnapped. Is there any truth to that?"
Logan's lips twitched to a smirk.
"Kidnapped? That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
"So you are saying the rumors are false?"
"I'm saying people love a good story," Logan said smoothly. "But the truth is far less exciting."
*****
That evening, Logan sat alone in his penthouse, staring out at the glittering cityscape. A glass of whiskey rested untouched in his hand.
The world saw him as invincible, a man who had everything. But in moments like this when cameras are gone, Logan felt the weight of his solitude.
Aura's face flashed in his mind. Her fiery determination, her sharp wit, she was unlike anyone he had met.
But she was gone, leaving only a cryptic message behind.
"Don't forget I saved you."
Logan smirked bitterly, swirling the whiskey in his glass. He didn't need saving. And yet, he couldn't stop thinking about her.
Why did she save me? He wondered as he quietly sipped his whiskey.
He needed answers, but he had no way to contact her.
******
Across the city, Aura watched Logan through a secure feed. Her hideout was dimly lit, the glow of multiple monitors illuminating her face.
"Back to being the National Husband," she muttered, a hint of amusement in her voice.
She had expected to feel relief after ensuring his safety. Instead, she felt an unfamiliar ache, a pull toward the man she had saved amd a strange emptiness..
"He's just another mission," she reminded herself. "Nothing more."
But the memory of his defiance, his arrogance, and even his vulnerability lingered in her mind.
But as she watched him, a part of her couldn't help but wonder if their paths would cross again.
******
Just as Logan began to unwind, his phone buzzed with ana anonymous text.
"You owe her your life, Mason." Don't waste it."
His eyes narrowed and he immediately called Liam.
"Trace this number," Logan demanded.
Liam groaned on the other end. "Do you know how many anonymous messages we've received this week? You can't take them all seriously."
"This one feels different," Logan said, his voice firm.
Liam sighed but agreed to look into it.