Life and Times of a Socialite
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls. It belongs to WB/CW and Amy Sherman Palladino.
Chapter 10: Nepotism Makes the World Go Round
Jess was used to waking up in the early hours of the morning due to necessity, but today he was up early due to insomnia. The dinner at the Gilmore's had exhausted him beyond belief. He needed a day or two to let all the information that he had gained the night before sink in.
Jess couldn't believe that Rory was dating a man like Logan Huntzberger. She didn't seem like the type of girl to date a guy like that, but on the other hand she seemed to be a whole different person. Watching the couple interact during the dinner portion of the evening made him wince because as much as he didn't want to admit it they seemed to suit one another.
Jess hated having no prior knowledge of Rory's relationship with the Huntzberger heir. He was rather in awe of having met Mitchum Huntzberger; the man was a legend in the news business. And the fact that the blond pretty boy was set to take over the business when papa was ready to retire made him just so damn sickly. He loathed nepotism with every fibre of his being and the fact that a party boy like Logan Huntzberger was set to inherit a huge chunk of the news industry just made him rather depressed.
The whole night he couldn't sleep so he went online and googled Logan and Rory. And low and behold there was the golden couple. Jess didn't realize how many pictures of them there were. He even downloaded an interview that was done by Oprah just a week ago. Apparently Logan and Rory were in Chicago last Friday, which would have been the day that Jess and Rory had seen each other for the first time in two years at the diner.
He didn't appreciate the fact that Rory hadn't told him she was dating someone and the fact that their relationship was apparently very public. He'd probably read so many articles on the pair that he knew more information about them then he was comfortable knowing. Jess knew that he couldn't be mad at Rory for not mentioning her boyfriend since technically it was none of his business.
Jess was still brooding when Luke walked into the apartment and saw Jess in some sort of trance. "Hey you in there?"
"Hello Luke, so nice of you to join me this morning. Now where have you been all night young man?" joked Jess.
"Ha ha very funny. I just wanted to give you time to get your thoughts in order. I hope you're not mad at me or Lorelai for that matter since we didn't mention that Rory was dating someone or the fact that she would eventually come into an inheritance," Luke asked cautiously.
"Relax Luke, I wish you could have told me from the beginning so I didn't get the information in bits and pieces. But I know it wasn't your place to tell me someone else's secret," said Jess.
"Well that's quite mature of you Jess. I've always known that Rory was a special girl who was bound for bigger and better things. But I guess I was just like the rest of the people in this town, we always saw Rory as a little girl and not as a mature young woman. She was always meant to be a part of her family's world, that was always a given, but we just never assumed how much she would enjoy that world or how it made her happy," Luke said solemnly.
"She seems to fit right in with the society set. She's matured beyond her years and it seems like her grandparents are really proud of her. But there is just one thing I don't understand; I got the distinct feeling that Lorelai and Rory don't have the very best of relationships. How did Lorelai not know that Rory had gone to New York?" stated Jess.
"Yeah that's the sad part of this whole ordeal. Lorelai has certain preconceived notions about upper class men and she felt that Rory and Logan didn't belong together. She thought that they were from different worlds and it would be hard for them to mesh their lives together."
"Wow! I knew Lorelai disliked me but she seems to really hate Logan," said Jess.
"The ironic thing about what Lorelai said is that she can't use that comment now. Ever since Rory was named heiress she's gotten just as much publicity as Logan did before. The two of them combined make one hell of a couple. So as I was saying, Rory and Lorelai have grown farther apart they only talk about the superficial things in life and don't delve deep into their feelings. I find it quite sad," stated Luke.
"I don't get it those two were the poster children for mother-daughter relationships. A guy couldn't be the only cause of this rift. I know a man can come between them, but not enough to completely obliterate their relationship. It seems to me that there is more to the story then just Logan," said Jess.
"I think that Lorelai hates the fact that Rory's a socialite and she enjoys living that life with all its perks and privileges. For as long as I have known Rory, this is the only time I've seen her truly happy and bursting with confidence. It seems that Lorelai feels hurt that Rory's chosen to lead the life that she ran away from, but mostly Lorelai is disappointed that her little girl is not confiding in her anymore. To Lorelai it would seem that Logan has replaced her, which is absurd because Rory loves her mother."
"It does make sense that Lorelai would resent the man who has occupied so much of her daughter's heart and time. Did you know that Rory was interviewed by Oprah a few weeks ago?"
"Yes I did know about the interview with O magazine. I actually have an advanced copy around here somewhere" at Jess' raised eyebrow Luke said, "Perks of knowing Rory Gilmore."
"It seems that you're taking advantage of Rory's new financial status and connections. What's up with you going to Friday night dinners? Are you now an honorary Gilmore?" teased Jess.
"I go to Friday night dinners to support both Lorelai and Rory and no I'm not an honorary Gilmore far from it last night was just an act," at Jess' look of confusion Luke said, "Jess you do realize that last night was a very well orchestrated play where you were notified of the existence of the relationship between Rory and Logan."
Jess just looked at his uncle with utter perplexity, "Luke why would you assume that the whole get together be for my benefit?"
"Jess you are an innocent when it comes to women like Emily Gilmore and Shira Huntzberger. Don't ever underestimate those two, ever. You were involved in a relationship with Rory for a while and when they hear that you arrived in Stars Hollow ahead of schedule for your mother's party they decided to show you the kind of life Rory is now leading. We all know that you would love to get back together with her, but Emily and Shira do not want that," said Luke.
"Come on Luke. Get real. I am the furthest thing from the minds of Emily and Shi-"
He was cut off before he could say another word, "You would be all they think about until you have been successfully manoeuvred out of Rory and Logan's life. Jess this situation isn't like it was two years ago, Logan is not Dean and Rory is not the same girl. You would be stepping on the toes of many a powerful people," Luke stated solemnly.
"Whose toes would I be stepping on? And so what? What exactly can these people do to me?" argued Jess.
"Don't be dense Jess. Richard Gilmore is the patriarch of the Gilmore family with a bucket load of cash and a name that goes all the way to the Mayflower. Emily Gilmore is on all the foundations and charity boards and also happens to come from a very powerful family of her own. Mitchum Huntzberger is a powerful media mogul that has friends in very high plac-"
Jess interrupted, "Luke those are just facts, how exactly would they stop me if I tried to fight for Rory?"
"Do you happen to know who the Honorary Straubert Hayden is?"
"Yes I do. He was a supreme court Justice who died a few months back," replied Jess.
"Yes Justice Hayden did die a few months back. In fact President Bush attended his funeral along with the other surviving president's as well as foreign dignitaries. The man lived, breathed, and bred power," said Luke.
"All right but I have no idea why this has anything to do with the topic at hand," said Jess.
"Jess do you have any ideas who Justice Hayden's son is?" as Jess shook his head Luke continued, "His name is Christopher Hayden who just happens to be the father of one Rory Gilmore."
Jess stood there stunned. The punches just kept on coming. How could he have dated Rory for so long yet not know the name of her father?
"Elias Huntzberger, grandfather of Logan, plays golf with former President Bush every other weekend. Mitchum and the current President Bush went to Yale together and have been known to go fishing every month. Justice Hayden was an adamant supporter and friend of both President Bushes so the first family looks upon his granddaughter with high regard. For god sakes Jess! Rory has brunch with the First Lady every other Sunday. These people will not like you taking an interest in Rory and whatever they don't like they have the power and money to remove," said an annoyed Luke.
"Don't worry Luke I won't do something stupid like anger the president or anything. But I just want to explain myself to Rory and I want to be her friend. Nobody can say I have ulterior motives if I want to be her friend," Jess replied coyly.
"Are you even listening to what I've been saying? I know you want to get back together with Rory but you would be making the biggest mistake of your life if you do that. Logan and Rory are a powerful couple and their families won't take lightly to the fact that you want to interfere in their plans for the two of them."
"Luke, just let me do things my own way. I just want to start out as friends and if she wants more afterward then we can have more. We have history and not even her fancy family can take that away. I'll be careful."
Luke just looked at his thick-headed nephew and sighed. He was tired of trying to warn Jess that there were consequences to his actions. It seemed this was a lesson that Jess was going to have to learn on his own. It seemed Jess thought that he can just go in and woo Rory without anyone interfering like they did yesterday, but boy was he going to be in for a surprise.
Jess walked out of the apartment and headed down the stairs to the diner. He knew he had a lot of work to do if he was going to be friends with Rory again. He would simply start out as her friend and then maybe become something more. They would be good together and maybe this time he wouldn't screw it up. Jess was smiling and thinking up ways to see Rory again.
-GG- -
What Jess didn't know was that in Hartford two very determined women were setting into motion a plan that would give him an opportunity to see Rory but not in the way he was imagining.
Emily Gilmore picked up the phone said, "Hello Liz this is Emily. How are you?" she smiled at the response then continued. "I was wondering if you knew anyone with a truck that can deliver a piece of furniture. You see I bought a nice bookshelf for Rory's dorm but the imbecile deliveryman dropped it off at my house instead of Yale and I need to get it to Rory as soon as possible."
"Why Luke's truck would be perfect but wouldn't he be at the diner the whole day?"
"Yeah that's sounds like a sensible idea. I don't know why I didn't think of that."
"Yes it would be perfect to send Jess. Rory lives in Brantford College."
"It would be nice if Jess could come to the house immediately so he can deliver the bookshelf as quickly as possible. Thank him for me would you Liz. Goodbye."
Emily hung up the phone and looked across the table at Shira. "It's set he'll be here within the hour and arrive at Yale before noon."
"Perfect he won't know what hit him. He seems to have delusions of grandeur that I would like to knock out of him," said Shira.
"I'm glad things went off without a hitch the night before, but I know that boy won't give up when it comes to Rory. So now we must show him how inappropriate he would be in Rory's world and how close Rory and Logan really are," smirked Emily.
The women raised their glasses in salute to their plan. They were thinking about the future when they would raise their glasses to congratulate a newly married Mr and Mrs. Logan Huntzberger.
Revised: June 9, 2009