Sorry for the delay the holidays always take a lot of my free time I should be back to updating at least once a week after New Years.
Stars Hollow
It wasn't that she fancied herself untouchable, it was the mere idiocy of those around her that ensured she always came out on top. It was laughable really, how much she was underestimated, a french beauty, a debutant a graceful socialite with a charm of je ne sais quoi. She had gone to the finest schools Europe had to offer, expenses were of no consequence and her boarding school days weren't just parties strung together through meaningless friendships and conquests. Unlike their American counterparts that stuck out like sore thumbs her alliances were forged with one end goal in mind: mutual success. Her friends growing up were not just heirs of some family fortune, most were heirs to some sort of thrown or another. Her own lineage tracing back to the Czars of Russian Empire. Her goals and ambition stretched much further than her stupid wedding photos making it to the cover of the September Vogue, so when she was so close to proving her worth and completing her mission she was going to be damned if she was going to let a small town girl ruin it for her. She had completed numerous scans for the cellphone that called Hayden More and it usually came from these exact coordinates she had toured the town, not that there was much search there lefts and you were back where you started. She had originally planned on using the threat of hurting or even kidnapping her son as a way to keep Hayden and Associates out of their plans for the Huntzbergers' however she had hastily shown her hand and Hayden had whisked that snotty brat out of the country before the end of the day and her trail had run dry before the end of the day to where she could have him holed up. So here she was being tailed by her ex boyfriend of hers who was less than covert, in some small dinky town trying to track the phone she had alerted Michale to the second passenger on this trip to Stars Hollow with her, Michale was more than capable of dealing with her little intruder. She parked her car and made her way into the hardware store this was the exact location the last two calls to Hayden's secrete phone, Hayden thought she was so slick, she may have managed to shake her private investigator with her constant east coast travels but the person calling Hayden was here and Odette would not hesitate to exploit any weakness that person would expose.
She entered the hardware store and she was quick to school her features, the hardware store wasn't a hardware store after all, it was a cafe of sorts by the way the obnoxious brunette kept demanding coffee, it had to be some sort of trick. She quickly frowned and took a seat closest to the window, she didn't have her laptop with her so her iPhone would have to do to try and ping the location of the phone and its user. She looked around and was unable to hold part of her disdain from surfacing through her cool mask she had in place, she realized the mistake she had made by coming in to a local diner. The patrons of the local establishment were all looking at her, she knew that if Hayden had any connection to this small town her visit would most likely be featured front and center at the next call from this place. She looked around taking in the aesthetics of the location, the patrons were intently staring at her and conversing with some guy in a baseball cap which he wore backwards. She desperately wanted to leave this place, but her phone took longer to triangulate the source of the mysterious caller. Odette's eyes widen as the guy in flannel and not that hipster cute flannel walked over to her, she saw him reach for his back pocket and she made a reach for the small glock she carried in her purse. He gave her a tense smile and she let go of the hold she had on the gun as she saw him pull a small note pad, she pulled her lip gloss out and proceeded to reapply her gloss as he approached.
He was more stoic than she anticipated his question coming out in more of a grunt "What are you having?" it caught her bit off guard she had yet to pull the menu out for browsing she had been more intent on getting her phone to give her some sort of indication that the phone that had called Hayden was here in the same vicinity as her. "Can you bring me a cup of coffee while I look at the menu? Also what's the wifi password?" The gruff looking man didn't bother using actual words for his response "Mmhmph" and a grunt were her only clues that he would be back with her coffee he pointed at the wall as he walked behind the counter.
She looked up and on the sign she read Luke's Diner Wifi: LoreleiWifeExtrodinaire2011. She didn't take too much time to ponder on the meaning behind the password, she wanted to use the wifi access to hack into the users in the last few days and potentially narrow down the potential callers to Hayden's private line. She was met with surprising amount of resistance to her attempts to infiltrate the modem and rewrite the current code, try as she might she couldn't get the code to allow her access to its past users. She thought about getting up to get her laptop it wouldn't look too out of place there were several customers with laptops out and headphones in no one even bated hem an eye, but she was out of place these customers had already worn out their novelty, she didn't have time to make decision before her phone buzzed alerting her to a message from Michale
'He's in our custody, let's see how much Hayden values her employees'
Odette looked up to see a small Asian woman pointing at her out to the noisy brunette in confusion, she weighed her options at staying to find this mysterious caller, but all she needed was leverage with Hayden if Mark didn't work she would just come back here. Her presence here would be enough of a warning. She grabbed her purse and made her way to the counter. She flashed a smile to the gruff man who was dealing with a man named Kirk who was perched in front of the register, Odette threw a twenty down on the counter while making a show about getting on her phone. She saw lumber man blush at her as she leaned forward to give him ample view down her shirt. "Darling could you be a doll and put that coffee in a to go cup I've got to go make someone an offer they can't refuse." She winked at him before returning to her phone she did have a few emails to go through in regards to one of the bankruptcies they were pushing through to topple the Huntzberger Publishing Group. Out of the corner of her eye she saw flannel man quickly grab a coffee cup and she turned around to survey her surroundings, her father hadn't answered his flight should have landed by now. She would give him twenty minutes to return her call before she started to make her way into Boston to investigate she didn't think Petrov would betray them but she also knew better than to underestimate Hayden's reach. She could feel the waves of hatred been directed her way after her show to diner man, she narrowed her eyes and gave the older brunette a smirk as she turned back to retrieve her coffee. She let her hand linger on diner mans as she took the cup from him. "Thank you" she said lowering her voice to purr as she walked away sashaying her hips as she exited the diner. Odette got her kicks in where she could get them, she was willing to bet several thousand, that woman was the wife mentioned in the password. She looked down to get the address where Michale had taken Mark, she wasn't needed, Michale could definitely handle Mark on his own. She made a call instead to her mother, to see if she had heard from her papa.
San Francisco, California
Marty glanced at his phone for the umpteenth time that early afternoon, he had no recollection of the last time Mark had gone completely black, his phone, his car laptop all of it was showing Hartford International Airport as its last known origin. He also normally wouldn't care except for the fact that he had an angry Huntzberger, and now an MIA Hayden and a very uncooperative Kate. She refused to tell him where or what Hayden was doing, which never bode well for the associates. He had told Hayden from the beginning, back when he still found himself calling her Rory, that she couldn't just leave them in the dark while she ran off and did god's knows what while somehow still accomplishing more than the associates in her back door secret deals. She would laugh it off and assure him that he was still needed and that whenever she was unavailable they were to run with business as normal. Which Marty would normal agree with except that the client that they were currently so wrapped up in was her ex-boyfriend who recognized him but flat out refused to give any indication other than a snide remark here and there. Marty and Hayden for that matter, had expected him to be inquisitive, ask about his time after Yale, to dig in to find a trace of Rory Gilmore, however he had yet to utter a single sentence that wasn't in regards to the current situation. Marty also knew that part of it was that he was being elusive as well, he would conveniently only assist Jo or Kate after they had finished bringing up his ex-girlfriend, the story of a nut job of an ex-girlfriend who turned down the sweetest marriage proposal of the year. Unfortunately, that was the story Hayden wanted them to spin and none of the other associates had any issue with that, granted none of the other associates had any knowledge that the social ladder climbing ditzo they were painting to the media was their boss.
If anyone asked him he would deny it, but deep down inside Marty felt bad for the Huntzberger heir. Marty had seen first hand how self destructive he could be, even after everything Rory and Logan had gone through she had trusted him completely and he would often betray that trust with a blink of an eye. Marty knew that this new Rory, the Hayden More the team had come to respect and fear wouldn't take a second glance at Huntzberger and from the way things were shaping it looked like Logan was getting a clear understanding of how inconsequential he was in the world of Hayden More, it would most likely break him once he met who she really was. Knowing her now in the limited capacity that he did know Hayden, he came to see some reasons as to why she never agreed to his proposal she trusted very few individuals and even then she didn't trust anyone entirely, she was guarded and it was clear to him that she picked and chose certain individuals to see certain parts of her life. Her mother was her friend, her confidant only for the fun and light hearted days of her life, Paris well Hayden couldn't get rid of Paris if she tried so she only visited her and called her to avoid suspicion and because she clearly still had a soft spot for the tyrant. In the short years that they had brought Kate on board, Hayden confided in her most of her relationships that Rory had as Hayden all the others to his knowledge had remained off limits. Marty wasn't sure why she remained so guarded but he had an inkling it had to do with her father, and his very limited influence in her life, she only confided in him out of obligation and maybe also because it was convenient he was one of very few people that knew of her past and he had his suspicions that she kept him close but from afar. She let Mark take him in their split and she kept Huck, who Marty knew was Hayden's man through and through. Hayden loved and trusted Huck the most out of all of them of that Marty was sure, he didn't pry and would prefer not to know the intricacies of their past that made Huck stand by her side without explaining herself and with no regard to his own safety or consequences.
Marty looked at his phone one more time before entering the conference room, he saw the Huntzberger men huddled in a corner, looking ready to mutiny at any second. Marty walked over to Kate who was busy typing away at her computer at the conference table he took a seat next to her but at an angle were he was almost directly behind her and out of sight from the Huntzberger men.
"He's missing Kate. This team is too spread out we need to regroup. I think its time we take those two back to the east coast." Marty spoke in a tone barely above a whisper he knew that they had to thread lightly the Huntzberger men still had no idea how large of a threat they were facing, Marty himself knew the fallout that was to come would create tsunami sized waves for months to come.
"Our orders are to stay put and continue with the press conferences."
"That was before people started to go missing, highly trained associates at that"
"People aren't missing, they aren't missing until we say they are missing got it." Kate said in an angry whisper without a glance in his direction. Marty came to the decision that he wasn't going to sit here and discuss semantics with Kate any longer, at the end of the day she wouldn't go against Hayden's orders unless she had concrete proof of foul tampering. Marty prayed that this next call didn't cause Hayden to fire him all together. As he moved to take the call he saw Kate narrow her eyes at him for the first time actually acknowledging him.
"Hello"
"Hey it's Marty, Hayden and Mark are missing I think this has Russian ops written all over it."
"How long?"
"His last update and cell location was the Hartford Airport and as for Hayden I don't know."
"AND You're just now calling this in?"
"Kate said Hayden was fine and to give Mark time." Marty looked at Kate pointedly when he said this into the phone, her eyes narrowing in disbelief that he had thrown her under the bus so callously.
"Put her on the phone." Marty handed his phone to Kate who's eyes widen as she took the phone from him. Marty only heard Kate's side of the conversation, he looked over at the Huntzbergers' who were now looking at their interaction with some interest to their phone call.
"Kate here."
"No. She's fine."
"No it's none of our business, she's fine."
"That's not necessary."
"Why? Because out of all of us she's the safest at this time."
Marty heard Kate sigh "She's with Christian."
'Great just who we need snooping around this case the former head of the NSA.' Marty was sure they would all end up getting charged for treason at the rate they were going. He looked back to where Kate was continuing her conversation.
"Mark can't be missing he's well Mark."
"I know but Hayden isn't available."
"Fine but you get to be the one that tells her." Kate snapped into his phone handing it to Marty only muttering "traitor" towards him. Marty gladly took the phone from her he knew that Huck would have agreed to them regrouping it was the only way to ensure everyones safety along with keeping the Huntzbergers' happy for another day. He walked towards the two men who had been quitely observing this entire time to hopefully give them what they would perceive to be good news.
Logan POV
Logan wasn't an idiot he could see the look of frustration mixed with concern on Marty's face along with the occasional glance towards him and his father. He was tempted to get up and grab a scotch from the mini bar Mark had pulled a Macallan for him just two nights ago for him but he had a feeling it wouldn't be appropriate given the state of things.
"Looks like Hayden's gone missing." Logan whispered to Mitchum.
"While we're here in San Francisco with god knows what happening back at HPG."
"Stock is up somehow, I took a peak at the computer on Kate's desk. It made a front piece on Wall Street this morning."
"We should have never gone through with that IPO." The statement was small as it was painful.
Logan stared at his father in shock, he was never one to admit to a mistake.
"After all this is done I doubt we can go back to private investors."
Mitchum scoffed "after this is done I'm selling my shares and moving on I'm too old to be playing these games."
Logan was sure he was now officially in a parallel universe even after he had come back to the fold and been named junior CEO to be groomed as the next head of the company Logan had little to no say in the direction the company was headed which was partially the reason why they were in this mess. The merger had always been a dynastic plan schemed and plotted behind closed by Mitchum and Francois, or so he thought now it looked like the really planning had happened long ago before he had even come back to to HPG.
"You can't just walk away from the business after all the mess yo-we've made." Logan said correcting his slip up of who was to blame.
"No you is right, I allowed all of this which is why it will be better for everyone if I walk away. Elias would have disowned us both if he saw what we allowed to happen to the family legacy."
Logan wasn't sure how to respond and was saved from trying to console this twilight version of his father due to the arguing between Marty and Kate. They both hadn't really paid them much attention since no one seemed to be forth coming with new information but it seemed Kate and Marty were just as frustrated as they were with the entire associates.
Logan watched on as Marty spoke to someone of the phone getting equally tense as his conversation progressed then immediately handing the phone over to Kate who had jumped up at his accusation of her being at fault. He could see the exasperation come off Kate in waves her answers short and not really giving anything away. She practically shoved the phone back at Marty, looks like Marty had just won the match against Kate. Logan saw him pocket the phone and walk over towards them.
"Good news fellas we're all making a trip back to the east coast." Marty said to them before quickly exiting.
Logan stared up at him in disbelief before jumping up and turning to Mitchum. "Let's get out of here."
"Not so fast you two." Logan groaned and turned around to face Kate who had come over after Marty had just told them they were going back home.
"You aren't going back to Hartford you both will be stationed in D.C. until we wrap this up, I'm going to warn you now these next few days will be extremely dangerous and fast paced we're filing a complaint with several agencies along with a lawsuit in the Supreme Court on Friday. The press will be all over you we want you both rested and secure until then, you'll be staying at one of our penthouses in D.C."
Logan couldn't help but be shocked at the revelation, he thought they were going to be playing the innocent gullible route for the next few days.
Kate read the shock on his face as well as Mitchum's responding to their clear question.
"We're ready, we have everything in place and today a few key players were brought in you both will publicly announce your disappointment in the infiltration of your company, Logan you will publicly wish you could apologize for preemptively announcing your candidacy for senate but it brought these transgressions to light and your simply thankful you can perform your patriotic duty to protect this nation from wolves in wool clothing. It will be simple and to the point we're at the home stretch and you better believe the Du Bois are starting to panic." Kate said this last part as more of a fact rather than triumph.
Logan felt that there was something missing from this equation 'it couldn't be this easy could it?' He knew better than to question them so he chose a different approach.
"What about our meeting with Hayden?"
"We're working on that, which will be easier once you're both in the same state. It may even be tonight but don't hold me to that." Kate said while waving them to follow her.
Logan and Mitchum looked at each other before following after her. They made their way to the elevators ready for the onslaught of media that was sure to find them as they exited the building, only to find that the doors opened to a private under ground parking garage.
Logan turned to Kate for further direction finding himself once more annoyed at the lack of control over his every move. Kate simply walked ahead of them making her way down the aisles of parked cars they finally reached a sleek black Mercedes as she waved at him to enter, he could barely make out that there was a driver in the car. Logan let himself in the left side of the vehicle as he saw his father had already entered the car. Upon entering the car he realized that Marty was up in the drivers seat.
"Let's get this show on the road." Marty said with a smile.
Logan looked around at the interior having forgotten that Marty wasn't the same struggling college student and part time bartender. He had clearly spared no expense on his AMG-E63. He was about to comment on the car when he heard Kate beat him to what he was sure would have come across condescending in retrospect.
"I thought you were kidding when you said you lost the Audi."
"I didn't lose it simply haven't really had time to go looking for it."
"That makes what, five cars this year?"
"I don't know maybe, I haven't misplaced them all."
"Oh yeah how could I forget about the crashed and burned cars, the totals probably around nine or ten."
"They're just cars Kate."
"You change cars more than Hayden
changes purses."
"That's not fair, it's not my fault cars are so easy to use as a bomb when we're.." Logan saw Marty freeze at Kate's dirty look whether he was serious he couldn't tell.
"I think it's best you just focus on driving Marty." Was all Kate said before Logan saw her pull out her laptop to work. Logan shared a look with Mitchum, they both knew in theory the type of work this firm did but to hear it so callously thrown about reminded Logan of his own looming threat. He just wanted this all to end, he looked out at the San Francisco skyline from the backseat of the car as the car raced down the freeway. It was in that exact moment that he made a promise to himself that if he made it through this he would track down Rory and do everything in his power to get her back.
