It won't be like this for long: Chapter 5
Chapter 5
After Rory met with Whitney, she headed to Logan's office. When she got off the elevator, she could see Logan's office door closed. That's not a problem. I will talk with Logan's assistant MaryBeth. Rory thought. When she reached her desk, she wasn't there. Maybe the meeting is with MaryBeth. Rory took a seat outside Logan's office, pulled out her Kindle, and started reading. She loves the feel of a book in her hand, she loves the smell of an old musky book, but when not at home, a Kindle would have to do.
Rory was so into her reading, that she didn't hear the voices in Logan's office get louder. This is nothing unusual. Rory often gets caught up in her imagination while reading a book. But she could not mistake the raised voice on one Mitchum Huntzburger, her father-in-law, retired CEO of HPG. Mitchum is 75 years old. He should be on the golf course or in Europe, but no, he had to be breathing down Logan's back. This just started back up about this year.
When Rory and Logan got married, Mitchum had just stepped down as CEO. He was on Logan's back, always questioning Logan. He didn't disagree, just questioned it. This did not help with Logan's self-esteem. After all the Jaylan debacle, Mitchum backed off. For some reason, he is at it again.
Rory turned off her kindle, put it in her bag, stood up, and walked to the door. She knocked one time, then opened it and stepped in. Logan saw her first. His face was red, his blood pressure had to be up. When he saw her, he began to calm down.
"What is going on?" Rory asked. Mitchum swung around facing her. The look on Mitchum's face was the look she has seen in the boardroom many times, usually directed at someone else, not her or Logan. It was the face he used to intimidate and control.
"I am talking business, you need to leave," Mitchum spits out. Rory's eyes never left Mitchum. She could feel Logan start to defend her. She put her hand up.
"In case you have fallen into some sort of time-altering machine, let me remind you that it is the year 2029. My husband, your son, Logan Elias Huntzburger is the CEO of HPG. It is my job as his wife and lifelong partner to make sure my husband lives to a ripe old age….." She stopped and looked at Logan. He was leaning back on the front of his desk with a smile on his face. He has seen this Rory once or twice. Mitchum was in for a ride.
"I don't know what business you would have to discuss with Logan that would cause this type of reaction from either one of you. But I am here to tell you as someone that loves you both, this is not good. If whatever this is can not be discussed reasonably, that I suggest it not be discussed at all." Mitchum opened his mouth, but Rory shut him up. "Sit down Mitchum." She told him, pointing at the chair in front of Logan. Rory was using her boardroom voice and stern look.
She whirled around to Logan, "Wipe that smirk off your face and sit down." Logan didn't argue. He learned a long time ago, when she is like this, she is not to be messed with.
"Now, one of you tell me what the problem is?" Rory said, sitting down and waiting.
"Rory, I do apologize for my behavior today. But this is something that Logan and I need to discuss in private." Mitchum said. Rory looked at him then at Logan.
"Is it possible for the subject to be discussed calmly? Because if not, I am going to be your mediator." Rory said. She watched Logan and Mitchum. They both looked like they were trying to decide how to handle this.
"Ace, sit down," Logan said, before he could say anything else, Mitchum jumped up.
"Logan, I just don't think she needs to know right now," Mitchum said.
"Dad, I know that you and Mom did not in any way have a traditional marriage, but married couples talk to each other. I may not have gone home tonight and told her, but at some point, this would be weighing on my mind and she would ask me what the problem is. I would tell her because that is the kind of relationship we have. Rory is smart, intelligent, she knows this business as well as I do, or in some cases better. Sorry, Dad." Mitchum sat down, defeated.
"Dad ran into an old friend of his on the golf course last week and again today," Logan said. "This friend alluded that Honor was not Mitchum's child." Rory was in shock, She wasn't sure what to say.
"Why all the yelling. If Honor is not aware of this," Logan shook his head indicating she was not, "I don't see the problem." She looked at Mitchum. "Is this going to change the way you feel about Honor or your grandson?" Rory looked at him, waiting for an answer. She then realized what all the yelling had been about.
"You are afraid you will not be able to hide your reaction and you don't know what that reaction would be. Am I correct?..." Rory looked at Logan who gave her a slight nod. Rory took a deep breath. Then let it out.
"Mitchum, I am going to ask you a question. You do not have to answer that question, but if you chose to answer, you better think long and hard about what that answer will be." Rory said. She was still watching Mitchum. He nodded his head.
"Do you feel any differently about Mia, than you do about Hayden and McKenzie?" Rory was watching. She wanted to see the micro expressions on his face. Logan was also watching.
"No," Mitchum said. "Mia is a part of this family regardless of the bloodline." He sat back down and looked up at Rory then at Logan.
"That's what I have been trying to tell you for the last hour," Logan said. Mitchum nodded. "Now that we have that settled, there will be no paternity test. I don't think this should be mentioned to Honor." Logan said. Rory nodded her head.
"I don't want her to know, I didn't want her to know when I thought I needed a paternity test, but I am worried that someone will say something to her," Mitchum said. Rory could tell he was worried. The expression on his face was one of hurt and concern.
"Why do you think this is just coming out now? Shira has been dead for a while now. So why now?" Rory asked. Mitchum and Logan just shook their heads. "Well, I think someone should find out. Mitchum, maybe you could question your so-called friend." Mitchum nodded his head. He wasn't good at things like this. He demanded and got. He didn't know how to pussy foot around to get his answers.
"Well, I stopped by because my handsome husband invited me to lunch." Rory said looking at her watch, "Did you make a reservation, or are we going to wing it?" She asked Logan. Before he could answer, "If you made reservations, call and tell them to add one more."
Logan picked up his phone, but Mitchum shook his head. "I've got a lunch meeting. I will check with you later." He got up and headed for the door. "Rory, I am truly sorry. This is not how I want you to see me. The last thing I want to do is bring Logan to an early death." Logan, Mitchum, and Rory laughed.
Rory and Logan entered the elevator to go to lunch. There were several people in the elevator, both Logan and Rory talked with. When they stepped off, Logan took her hand.
"Can we walk?" Logan asked. "It is still a beautiful day, even if it is getting a little chilly." Rory nodded.
"I need to tell you something," Rory said. "But I think I would rather wait until we are seated. I wanted to tell you before we went to lunch, but I had to be a mediator. Do you think I should go to learn to be a mediator? I could take on some clients…" Rory was laughing because Logan had a look on his face. He wasn't sure if she was joking.