Achieving Goals -Chapter 7
It is graduation day. Rory and Logan are getting ready at the apartment. The gang is meeting at the apartment for pre-graduation drinks. Shira, with Honor's help, is hosting a graduation party for the entire gang and their families. Well, if you thought about it, the party is for the families to show off their graduates. The graduates have already devised a plan for a sub-party.
"Ace, are you sure this is going to be okay?" Logan asked. She was packing a bag.
"Yes, I talked with Daddy. He said it was okay. We will stay with him at Grandmother's tonight. We have a meeting with the lawyers in the morning to sign all the paperwork. Are you having second thoughts?" She asked.
"No, never. I am just not used to an adult being so…. so…. accommodating." He said. She laughed. He grabbed his overnight duffle and started packing.
The Sunday they met with Chris in New York was still unbelievable. He was having a hard time wrapping his head around what they were told. They met with Chris before visiting the apartments. To their surprise, Lorelai was with him. It seems the two of them have been in discussion about Rory's future. Or at least that is what they are telling everyone why they have been seen together so often lately. Logan had his suspensions, but he would need to discuss it with Rory before he came to any conclusion.
They discussed, with great care, Logan and Rory living together. Chris sat there with an amused look on his face while Rory and then Logan explained what they wanted. Lorelai just stared at both of them. This made the conversation a lot more nerve-racking.
"Well, sounds like the two of you have it all figured out," Chris said. Logan and Rory sat with anticipation. They had already decided if they were met with resistance about living together, they would do it anyway, just keep it quiet. They would each have their own apartment, but would just take turns spending the night.
"Your mother and I met with your grandparents. We both have been aware of the Trusts that were set up for you as a baby. We just wanted to make sure we agreed with the distribution." Chris told her.
"Not that we could have stopped any of it, but at least they had our opinion on it," Lorelai told her. Chris pulled a folder out of his briefcase that was under the table.
"You are aware of the Trust Fund that Trix, the first Lorelai, set up for you?" Lorelai asked. Rory nodded her head.
"Trix is grandpa's mom," she told Logan. "She is the original Lorelai." Logan nodded. This was getting interesting. He remembered something his dad said about going toe-to-toe with money. Hum,
"That Trust has been managed by Richard," Chris said. That is the Trust that paid for Yale. Well, all but the last year. That was all me." Chris said proudly. Lorelai snickered.
"Your grandpa is a talented businessman. Even with the Yale money that was paid out, your Trust has doubled." Lorelai told her. Rory was still just listening. Logan was watching her.
"That will pay for Columbia," Chris told her. "Your grandpa is going to maintain control of that Trust and the Trust that he set up for you when you were born. The control will be turned over to you upon your marriage or at the age of 30."
"Wow," Rory said. "All this talk about Trust Funds makes me uncomfortable." Logan took her hand.
"That is my fault," Lorelai told her. "I raised you to work for everything you got. You have done well for yourself. You have worked hard these last four years and I am very proud of you, but you come from a wealthy family. You are a smart and intelligent girl."
"Rory, I know you are reluctant to accept any help from family or friends, but you will find in this world, it is not always what you know, or how smart you are. It's who can open doors for you. You will learn that people will gossip, but you just have to prove them wrong." Chris was talking, but Rory's mind was reeling. Was he telling her to accept help to get a job?
"Honey, what I am trying to tell you is, other people will use the people they know, their connections, to get their foot in the door. These people may not be the best fit or the smartest person for the job, but because of their connections, they will get it. You are a smart and intelligent young lady. You are hardworking. You have goals. Don't let your pride or the way your mother raised you, which there is nothing wrong with the way you were raised, stop you from getting your dream job or taking the next step to achieve your goals." Her dad told her. Logan was nodding his head.
"Don't you think there are employees that have been working for HPG for years? Do you think they are more qualified than I am?" Logan told her. She smiled at him.
"Your destiny was set the day you were born." She told him. Squeezing his hand.
"Or before," He said.
"Well, it looks like the two of you, along with grandpa, have everything under control," Rory told them. "Can we go look at the apartments now?"
"Not, Yet. We have more things to discuss." Chris told her. Here it comes. You are too young to be living with a boy. You need to concentrate on your education. She was bracing herself for them to start.
"You have a Trust that was set up for you by my parents when you were born," Chris told her. "And one set up by my grandpa, Edward, when you were born. So we have to discuss those two Trust Funds." Chris told her. She was in stock. This was too much for her to take in. Logan had a hold of her hand. She squeezed it.
"I know this is a lot to take in. Just remember, this is just money. You are still you." Lorelai told her.
"The interest from the last two trusts has just been added back to the accounts. You will have access to the interest." Chris told her. He had her black card in the folder, but he was afraid they had already overwhelmed her. "I will still control these Trust. You will receive them fully when you turn 30. The interest from these should be enough for you to live a lifetime."
"We are going to show you two apartments and a townhouse.. You will need to pick which one you want. This apartment will belong to you. I understand that you and Logan were trying to ask about living together. No offense to Logan, but I do not want her living in Huntzburger property. Whether the two of you live together will be up to the two of you, but Rory will have an apartment that belongs to her. If she chooses for you to live with her, that is up to you and her." Chris told her.
"This belongs to you," Chris told her. He handed her the black American Express. "This will not be activated until the day after graduation. This one," he handed her another American Express, "is to furnish your apartment. This is courtesy of Grandmother Francine."
Rory was sitting there in shock, Logan was sure. They have not mentioned amounts at all. He is afraid if they talk about money, she will pass out.
"Let's go look at apartments," Lorelai said. They all got up and followed Chris to the limo.
"Logan, Logan." Rory was trying to get his attention. "The door. The gang is on the way up." This brought Logan out of his head. That had been a month ago, and he was still trying to wrap his head around it.
Logan went to the door to let his friends in. It was time to start the pre-graduation cocktail hour.