It's Thursday. Logan looked out of his office window from his seat. The world went as it is, as if nothing happened, while he had been feeling hollow the whole week.
Friday last week he'd found his Rory only to have lost her again the next day. The week passed by so fast with him spending his whole time working and every spare time he got thinking about Rory. He could almost swore she still has a feeling to him. But then again it wouldn't be the first time he misread the signs. But the chemistry was so tensed between them, and he caught a glimpse of longing in her eyes a few times, it was obvious.
But why was she so determined to severe all connections between them? What could've happened to make them impossible to be together again? How could he let her go when he had spent ten years pining over her? How could he move on when there were still a million of unanswered questions in his head?
His intercom beeped breaking all thoughts he had in his head. He groaned and answered. His assistant's voice came through, "Incoming" that's all she said.
Logan sat a little straighter bracing himself for the incoming that was his father. His office door opened and his father barged in.
"What can I do for you father?" He smiled politely.
"Did you forget our business meeting this afternoon?"
"I didn't . And it's not in another hour,"
"Well, I need to brief you before we meet them so I figured we'd leave early, traffic's mad around this time so we'll probably arrive on time anyway," he didn't even bother to sit.
Logan sighed. "Okay," he doesn't have anything more to do anyway, he'd already finished his tasks for the day and this meeting would be the last work related stuff he had to do today.
A brief would be nice, he liked to come prepared. Besides, it's better than sitting around analyzing his relationship with Rory, or the nonexistence of it. Logan grabbed his phone and wallet and put on his jacket.
"Shall we?" He led his father to the door.
Since Mitchum came to California to beg Logan to come back after his Grandfather died, Mitchum had became softer in some way, and more accommodative to Logan's needs and suggestions. He had admitted that Logan had some innovative ideas that would be useful for the company and that he needed Logan back. So Logan came back to the family business with pride and Mitchum treated him with respect this time around.
The first year in London was challenging for both of them. Mitchum learned to share the burden with him, not micro managing and questioning every decision he made, and Logan learned to deal with his father again and consult him in major decisions after several years of liberty.
The next few years were more comfortable as they'd formed the new habit of Mitchum trusting Logan with the power to direct the European Quarter after Logan showed him his capability and ensured him that he will consult all the major decisions.
Logan thought that moving back to the States would be a serious setback in their relationship, with two Captains in one ship, but turned out Mitchum's trust and respect on him was already pretty big. He's still challenging Logan in some ways and his decades of experience provide lots of precious inputs, but he was more than happy to let Logan lead, much to the younger Huntzberger's surprise.
"So, what was this meeting for again?"
"We're meeting my old friend,"
"Who?" It was never just a friendly meeting for Mitchum, especially not in business hours.
"Adam Steiner,"
"Of the Time?"
"That one,"
"Why would you meet a partner editor of the Time?"
"It can't be because I wanted to catch up?"
"Please," Logan rolled his eyes.
"I wanted to do a feature of myself, I was thinking of an autobiography, or maybe a book. I'm not sure yet, we'll see how this meeting goes,"
Logan raised his eyebrows.
"With the Time? Why don't just choose one of our Publishing Company?"
Mitchum just chuckled as the car stopped.
"I wanted one of their writer," he said while stepping out of the car.
They made their way into the fancy restaurant and Mitchum led him to the table where Adam Steiner sat with his writer, Logan guessed.
"What's so special about this writer?"
"I have worked with her long time ago, and I recognized talent. I have been following her works over the years and I genuinely believe that she would do this story great. Plus, she's a family friend," he stated as they reached the table.
"Adam, my old friend. Meet my son, Logan. Logan, Adam Steiner, and my lovely Miss Gilmore, I believe you know each other,"
This must be a joke.
"Mitchum, good to meet you again. Logan, I didn't know you would be here," she addressed him.
"Logan will be your main partner of the story. He will guide the research, and facilitate the interviews. You know, the usual stuffs," Mitchum replied.
"Oh, I didn't know I needed a babysitter,"
"I'm most certainly not going to treat you as a baby," a heavy double meaning there.
"Ah, young people. So sharp and hostile. I like it! But I expect this project to go in a friendlier manner. So it would be greatly appreciated if you forget your history and hide your claws," Mitchum said directly earning a hearty laugh from Adam.
"Rory is my prodigy for a reason. I'm lending her to you due to our good history, Mitchum. But why do I have a feeling that I might not get her back after this," Adam added.
"Ah, that will all depend on my son here,"
Logan raised his eyebrows. He could almost swore Mitchum was implying something else other than that Logan is now in charge of the company. But it couldn't be. His father has always had ulterior motives, but Rory was never in his good list, so... what is his plan actually?
"Let's order something before we get too deep into the business talk, shall we?"
They busied themselves placing their orders for the next few minutes and making small talk. Logan ordered a plate of fingerfood and Rory ordered double pancakes. This is four in the afternoon, just a couple hours before dinner and her plate was that heavy, and he was sure he would be welcoming her to share his food, guess some things would never change after all.
Their food arrived. As Rory customizing her pancakes, Logan subconsciously handing her over the items; marmalade sauce, chocolate sauce, and...wait, where's the sprinkles? He signaled the waiter to come over and asked for some sprinkles, also some honey mustard sauce for the finger food, as that's what she prefers to dip the snacks in. Apparently he wasn't the only one remembering preferences, because Rory also subconsciously handed him two blocks of sugar and two lemons for his iced tea. As soon as they finished with their food, Logan ordered Rory a cup of black coffee and they continued with the heavier and more detailed talk.
This will be a long project, Logan thought. Somewhere along the conversation, the simple autobiography to mark his fifty years in the business had turned into a book of memoir and Mitchum wanted them to be thorough and precise.
"This will take around four to six months to write, Mitchum. Maybe more depending on our daily workload," Rory voiced his thoughts.
"I'm okay with that." Mitchum stated.
Adam also nodded.
"I will pay you per hour, all expenses will be covered including plane tickets and accommodations should you have to go out of town. Of course you could always use the company's jets,"
Adam whistled. "You're making it harder for me to keep her later, Mitch."
Rory smiled nervously.
"Why me, Mitchum?"
He smiled mischievously at her, making the suspicions in Logan's gut grew stronger.
"As I told Logan, I worked with you before, I know what you're capable of, and I have followed your works. I liked your writings of the campaign trails and you wrote some excellent features, that's what I want in my book,"
"You told me I don't have it,"
"And that made you work harder. Truth be told, I think you're not meant to be a journalist who chases stories like your idol Christiane Amanpour. That's just not you. Your specialty is reporting. You can depict everything anything you saw and heard into an accurate but interesting piece and you saw details that not everyone could see. You don't want to stand in front of somebody's lawn waiting for an interview with someone who avoids you like a fly, or digging and snooping around places you're not welcomed, that's not you, that's not what you're good at,"
Damn this guy is good. But it doesn't legitimate the harsh things he'd said to Rory many years ago on her internship.
"You interview people, you sit in their living room making them comfortable and pour their hearts out for you and you translate it into writing. You attend an event, enjoy your surroundings and go back to your apartment and write a story so that people who missed it can feel like they were there," Adam added.
Rory inhaled, her eyes were glistening. She cleared her throat before speaking, "You don't know how much it meant to me hearing things like that from you both,"
Her hand snaked to find his under the table, he took it and squeezed lightly. This is an emotional moment for her, to hear that two of the media magnates think so highly of her, and she leaned on him for support. Maybe there's hope for them after all.
"You don't think that I chose you because of our history, do you?" Mitchum smirked.
"Of course not. If anything I would think said history would not work in my favor," she said and looked down at their intertwining hands, surprised. She quickly retracted her hand.
Logan smirked.
"Well, all is good now. Let's not think about the past and move along with the future. I can see a really bright future for Miss Gilmore here it's blinding my eyes!" Logan said cheerfully.
"So I take it you accept my offer?" Mitchum addressed Rory.
"Yes, yes of course," she answered beamingly. Logan did a little dance inside his head too. She must realized that accepting this offer means spending time with him for the next six months, mustn't she?
"I propose a toast, even though it's only five o'clock in the afternoon," Logan said calling the waiter.
"It's ten o'clock somewhere," Adam agreed.
Logan ordered the most expensive champagne and they toasted for the project, and the happiness and success. Logan secretly toasted for his luck having a six month time to find out the reason behind Rory opposing them together. If only he can get her guard down, he might be able to persuade her to share her story.
Fingers-crossed.