"She's my co-pilot."
Logan rolled her green eyes at the idiotic patronising words from the arrogant man, when she'd accepted the job as photographer for Catco World media she was not told about working with such an odious man, in her career she'd met countless like him each one grated on her she could never seem to ignore their blatant ignorance.
She watched his gaze fall down to the woman hanging off his arm as though she were an expensive accessory and not a powerful insanely intelligent woman, Logan shook her head taking a long sip from her glass of brandy the sting hit the back of her throat came as a welcome assault to her senses. What the hell is she doing with him?
"And what about you Thurol?" He asked looking to her expectantly.
Logan fluttered her long thick eyelashes, faining her best Scarlet O'Hara impression she could manage. "Why Mr. Olsen I must simply abide without a strong powerful man to help my soft gentle weak feminine self, I just can't sleep at night for my want to be someone's co-pilot." Rolling her eyes again she ignored the amused chuckle that sounded around them.
"Maybe it's that attitude." James shrugged.
" Hmm, you could be right, but I'll give you this anyone who can't deal with me at my worst does not deserve to have me at my best, your mistake is thinking as a woman I'm in need or want of a man, when I can assure you no woman does, that's a myth created by society, I prefer strong women they are far more interesting and definitely more fun." Logan winked a sly smirk covering her mouth. "Tell me Mr. Olsen how much would it damage your ego if you lost your little woman, or are you worried no one here will know or care who the hell you are and with the delightful Ms. Luthor near you, you can at least pretend to yourself that they care about you."
Logan watched as he leaned down to whisper in the woman's ear, I told you we shouldn't employ her, she's too much trouble.
Logan chuckled loudly. "Some men are threatened by strong independent women with minds of their own, but James, you are not my employer and nor do you have any say over my work, so I would say taking any power away from the true 'boss' is rather a huge dose of misogynist crap on your behalf, and I'm sure that the infamous Cat Grant would have put her stiletto stud up your ass for daring to try it on her, I think Ms. Luthor you should adopt such a policy."
James ground his teeth. "Or you are the arrogant one here."
Logan laughed turning to face her adoring audience, when it was learned the infamous Logan Thurol would be working at Catco there had been a huge rise in interest, investors were flooding to take a bit of the company, stocks were rising. "Oh, honey I'm as arrogant as the day is long, but I acknowledge it and have the talent to back it up, you, however, got lucky from a picture of Superman flying, I earned my arrogance in war zones shooting were angels fear to tread."
"Ms. Thurol." An adoring fan called.
Logan smiled. "Call me Logan please."
" Logan, I was simply blown away by the emotional series of photographs you took of the Palestinian children playing near the border as the Israeli troops patrolled and marched towards them, it filled me with such awe that so young a human being could be filled with such defiance and also such a sadness that such a young child would consider that treatment as normal, I saw your exhibition at the Met. "
Logan smiled sadly, yet the memory of her trip to Palestine was not filled with happy memories she'd encountered oppression and wars many times, but it never got any easier. "I spent many wonderful hours with those children I had never met anyone so wise as they were, I was truly filled with such admiration for them, and I knew I needed to tell their story."
"And you did." They all chimed smiling at her as though she held all the mysteries of the universe in her hands.
" Thank you, I'm so happy you think so. "
Another jumped in. "I simply adored your series about the drag queens, backstage at the Cabaret Michou, they were simply breathtakingly wonderful, just so magical."
" Drag queens. " James grimaced.
Logan turned frustrated eyes back to him. "Yes it's a club in Paris, it is home to some of the most talented drag artists ever known, I was actually invited by the owner to do a few sessions there in celebration of Pride last year, it was a lot of fun." She laughed again. "And I got to watch the shows for free, which is always a bonus for me."
"It's not my cup of tea." James brushed aside the subject that was making him feel uncomfortable.
" I'm sure Mr. Olsen they couldn't give a crap about your thing, as I certainly do not. " Logan shrugged, wishing the night was over so she could escape his presence, then a feeling of sympathy hit her, her night would end but Lena's would continue with the jackass.
Lena let her eyes rest on the profile of the woman, her raven black hair pulled up letting only slim spirals dance down her neck, her full red lips stretched out in a proud smile as her golden skin glowed under the glow of the crystal chandelier above her.
A thousand things flowing through her mind that she wanted to say to her, there was none she ever could, not what her heart really wanted to say.
"Come along Lena, we have business to see to." James pulled her along, not waiting for her to accept the invitation.
Logan frowned, there were so many things about their interactions with each other that unsettled her, she willed the woman she pulls away and asserts herself, pull herself away from his shadow because she had a pretty dominant one of her own, she didn't need anyone.
"I think I'll stay here I wish to discuss something with Logan," Lena said moving her hands from around James's arm ignoring the stare of disbelief he sent her, before finally shaking his head and walking away.
When he was out of earshot Lena moved in closer to the woman, she seemed to have attracted more of an audience it was hard to get her alone, she had a way about her that was almost as though she enchanted people. They watched her as though she were an ethereal mage come to grant all their greatest wishes.
"Logan I wanted to talk to you, you haven't worked with her but I'm sure you've met her, Kara Danvers I want you to pair with her on the Marconi story."
Logan pursed her lips. "You really think this guy is part of this alien prostitute ring?"
" It's what our informant says, the fact that he is in Congress only adds to the drama and unethical stance. " Lena cringed, she'd had the dishonor of meeting the man himself and it had not been pleasant.
"Most of these politicians who stick to their I love God propaganda and vote against helping the poor are all in some evil pocket, it's not surprising at all." Logan shrugged realizing her glass was now empty.
Lena nodded, she didn't mention that Kara had specifically been requesting to be paired with Logan Thurol for weeks, ever since she first arrived at Catco a month ago.
"Are you serious with that guy?" Logan frowned as she pointed across the room at the man who stood to watch them, mapping every move they made.
Lena felt her face flush. "Yes, I... we get along very well."
"You get along very well... Err okay I'm just going to say it, but that guy is not a positive influence on anyone, least of all you, did you see the disgust on his face when drag queens were mentioned and pride?" She'd also met people like him before, homophobic and hugely bigoted hiding behind a veil of righteousness and fake wokeness that actually people bought very easily, but they showed themselves eventually, their game of hide, and seek was usually found out and no longer could they hide. "All I'm saying is this, it seems to be the new thing now, where it's romantic for a man to do things, take control, it's not, being in a relationship should be about being in an equal partnership be there for each other but don't take over, don't demean the other person James does all those things and also Ms. Luthor if I may say the talk around the office is he was pretty much a jerk about you and to you, that's not affection, let's not go down the route of saying a woman must take the negative abuse because the guy likes her, that's not anywhere near being true, and if it is then damn girl don't you deserve better than that? I saw you bringing his laundry into the office yesterday, are you for real why can't he get his own things, aren't you busy with two businesses?"