Chapter 43: Father and Son

Logan stood outside of his father's office for what seemed like hours. He had tried to rehearse in his head what he was going to say. Yet he knew no matter how many times he rehearsed a speech in his head—there was no true preparation for confronting Mitchum Huntzberger. Logan's father hadn't climbed to the top by being polite and agreeable. Mitchum was an extremely intimidating man. Yet Logan knew that if he didn't do what he had come to do now—it would possibly never happen. Logan finally got up the courage to knock.

"Come in!" the gruff voice on the other end of the door responded.

"Logan. How's Rory?"

"Like you really care," the words escaped Logan's mouth before he could stop them. Things had already gotten off to a bad start.

"Excuse me?"

"She's doing much better."

"Glad to hear that. I'm glad you're here. We need to discuss our travel plans for the summer. We leave for London the day after school gets out."

"Actually, I came here to discuss something with you."

"Fine. We'll get to that later. We need to start going over strategy now for the London trip."

"I'm through with strategy."

"Excuse me?"

"I need you to forget about business for a minute."

"Logan, I have no time for this nonsense."

"This isn't nonsense. I need to talk to you about something that is much more important than business."

"I highly doubt that."

Logan took a deep breath. "As you know, I've lived most of my life without having a father in it."

"And?"

"Do you find it strange that we've never had a heart to heart?"

"Logan, I don't see what you're getting at."

"For most of my life, I dreamed of meeting my father. But you know what these dreams never included? Business meetings. Society functions."

"Logan, dreams are never like reality."

Logan laughed bitterly. "That's an understatement."

"Logan, I'm sorry if I don't live up to your boyhood fantasy. But this is real life."

"You're not really listening are you?"

"Logan, we really need to get back to business here."

"You know Rory's father was never around much for her. But when Chris was around—he never expected Rory to be something she wasn't. He loved her the way she was—unconditionally. The way a father should."

"Logan, I really don't think we have time for this."

"You're going to listen to me and you're going to make time!"

"Logan…"

"Don't you care who I am as a person?"

"Logan, this is ridiculous. I know who you are as a person."

"Really? Then tell me about myself."

"You're a junior at Yale. You're majoring in journalism. You're engaged to Rory Gilmore."

"Those are circumstantial facts."

"Logan, I don't understand what you want from me."

"Maybe it's because what I want from you you're not capable of giving me," Logan said softly.

"Logan, this is a complete waste of time."

"So your son's feelings are a complete waste of time?"

"Feelings get in the way of business."

"You really are a cold heartless bastard, aren't you?"

"Technically you're the bastard," Mitchum shot back.

"Gee thanks father. It's great to know what you really think of me."

"Logan, what's the point of this childish outburst?"

"I needed to find something out."

"Did you find out what you wanted?"

"I needed to find out if you were capable of loving and accepting the whole me. Or if you just wanted me to save your business' future."

"Logan…"

"Save it. You've already said enough. You know why I agreed to be your son, to accept my rightful place in your family? Do you know why I've spent all the time with you here at the office? Do you have any idea why I've done it all?"

Logan let out another bitter laugh. "It's pathetic really. I did it all for your love. Hoping that you would love me and accept me as your son in every sense of the word. How twisted is that? I had it all wrong. Love isn't something you earn with good business performance."

"Logan have you had enough?"

"So tell me Mitchum, have you ever really loved anyone?"

"Enough! What is the point of all this?"

"I quit."

"What do you mean?"

"I think I made myself clear enough. I quit working for you. I quit this family."

"Logan, think about this for a minute."

"I've thought about it plenty Mitchum. It's time I get my priorities straight—once and for all."

"I should have known that you didn't have what it takes. Being raised by that no good slut."

"Don't you ever call my mother that ever again! She's a good person—someone that you should hope to be half as good as."

With that, Logan turned around and walked straight out of Mitchum Huntzberger's office. Yet somehow he knew that Mitchum wouldn't just let him walk away without a fight…