While the world was staring at the photo of Julian in a lace mask, the atmosphere inside the "Inner Circle" was far less poetic.
Chloe was pacing Maya's living room, three phones ringing simultaneously. "I'm getting calls from Vogue, The New York Times, and a guy who claims he can get you a private island in Fiji for the 'wedding of the century.' Maya, my career just went into hyperdrive because of you!"
Sarah, meanwhile, was sitting on the kitchen counter, looking significantly more stressed. "It's not all islands and interviews, Chloe. I've had three 'old friends' from high school message me asking if Julian has any single bandmates. And someone tried to follow me home from the gym yesterday."
Maya, finally able to breathe without a mask, looked at them with a pang of guilt. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think about how this would hit you guys. You were just trying to get me to have a vacation."
"Hey," Sarah said, hopping down and squeezing Maya's hand. "We forced you into that lion's den. We're not leaving you now. Besides..." she smirked, "that 'hot guy' I met at the party? Turns out he's Julian's lead guitarist, Leo. He's been texting me. He wants to know if the 'writer's friend' is as fierce as the writer herself."
Chloe stopped pacing, her eyes widening. "Wait, Leo? The one with the tattoos and the vintage motorcycle? Sarah, if you're dating the guitarist and Maya is with the lead singer, I'm basically the manager of the world's most powerful polycule. We are building an empire."
The Announcement: Paradox & Prose
A week later, they didn't hold a press conference. They released a video on a newly created platform.
The screen showed a split-screen: On one side, Julian in a recording studio; on the other, Maya at her typewriter. They were working on something together.
The title card read: PARADOX & PROSE.
It wasn't just a book or an album. It was a Multi-Media Production Company. Their first project? A visual novel and soundtrack called The Masked Heart, written by M.K. Thorne and performed by Julian Cross.
But the real shocker came in the credits.
Lead Publicist & Creative Director: Chloe Mitchell.
Head of Security & Logistics: Sarah Jenkins.
"We aren't just a couple," Julian said into the camera at the end of the video, his arm draped around Maya's shoulder. "We're a team. And we're bringing our family with us."
''''
The announcement was a triumph, but it put a target on all their backs. That evening, the four of them—Maya, Julian, Chloe, and Sarah—sat on the floor of Maya's apartment with boxes of cheap pizza, hiding from the world.
"So," Sarah said, nudging Maya. "How does it feel? You're not a 'ghost' anymore. You're the CEO of a media empire."
Maya looked at Julian, who was currently arguing with Chloe about the font for the new logo. "It's louder than I thought it would be," Maya admitted softly. "But for the first time, I don't feel like I'm hiding. I feel like I'm finally participating."
Suddenly, Sarah's phone buzzed. She looked at it, her face going pale. "Uh, guys? Cynthia Vane just posted a video. And she's not talking about the Cabo photos anymore."
"What is it?" Julian asked, his voice dropping into that protective tone.
"She found out about the fansignings," Sarah whispered. "She found a video of Maya's first-ever fansigning four years ago... before the masks. Before the 'M.K. Thorne' persona was fully built. She's claiming Maya's whole 'shy' backstory is a lie because she found a clip of her... well, looking very different."