Author: Lady Eliza
Characters: All Characters
Rating: T
Summary: Total AU Rory and Logan Spoiler Warning
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters.
AN: Thank you so much for the review guys. I appreciate each and every one of them. Ok, someone brought upthe factthatmy spelling of G.G. is wrong and that it's spelt 'Gigi.' I have seen it both ways but I don't know which one is the right way, so I will ask my you, myreviewers, tovote on which spelling you prefer and I will gowith the winner. I'm glad everyone enjoyedRory pretending to be 'Mrs. Huntzberger.' I hope this chapter is up to par. Please continue to review and vote on which spelling you prefer.Oh yeah, the link to thepicture ofRory 's dress from the last chapter will be located in my profile.
Chapter 19: Here Comes The Son and Daughter-In-Law
Jess was standing outside of the head office of the Stamford Gazette. He had read that the newspaper was looking for part-time workers. It was a logical choice for him since the pay was good, it was out of Stars Hollow, and he wouldn't have a chance in hell of running into Rory.
The construction job was still a pretty reliable job, but he only worked there three times a week and he needed the other four days occupied or else he would go stir crazy. He had an interview with Harry in less than an hour. He walked in the building and went to the floor that housed the Stamford Gazette.
When the elevator doors opened there were a throng of people walking around and it was so confusing to him. "Hello can I help you," asked a raspy smoke filled voice.
Jess looked up at the woman behind the counter and said, "Yeah I'm here for an interview with Harry. Do you know where I might find him?"
"Hello Stamford Gazette how may I help you?" she said and simultaneously pointed in the direction of the cubicles.
Jess approached the cubicle section and just yelled out, "Harry…are you here Harry?"
"Who called Harry?" asked a guy who looked to be in his late twenties to early thirties.
"That would be me. I'm Jess Mariano I have an interview with you for a position that opened up," said Jess.
"Huh…you're quite early, but since I have nothing better to do I might as well interview you now," said a very bored Harry.
Harry led the way to a small office that housed the ad department and began asking him several questions about experience and such.
Harry was supposed to be a writer for the Gazette. In his five or so years that he had been working at this godforsaken place he hadn't once gotten a promotion. He was the guy that was in charge of the interns and interviewing the new meat. The Gazette had recently been sold to a well-known publishing group and hopefully he would get the proper accolades that had been lacking in the past few years.
Jess couldn't believe a guy like Harry was in charge of interviewing all the new applicants. The man had no social skills and seemed to believe the world was out to get him. But Jess had to give him credit for asking insightful and intelligent questions. The job that was available was basically being a lackey to some big shot head writer at the paper. Jess had to get him coffee, follow him around and pretty much do his bidding. He sure hoped that the guy wasn't a total jerk.
After the torturous twenty-minute interview Jess got the job and was asked to start immediately.
Logan and Rory were running late to meet Mitchum Huntzberger at his latest acquisition. It had become somewhat of a routine, Mitchum would buy struggling newspapers and go through the process of personally checking up on them and Rory and Logan would accompany him. It had become like the handing over of the baton for Mitchum and Logan since Logan was handling more and more of the acquisitions, but then Rory was asked to come along and give her opinion.
Logan double parked in front of the Stamford Gazette and got out of the car. He went to the passenger door to help Rory out of his Mustang. "So Ace, what's the verdict?" Logan asked as the two of them stood looking up at the building.
"Sweetie, I cannot give you a verdict now we haven't even been inside," said Rory.
"Your right, we'll hold our opinions until we at least see the interior,' said Logan.
Rory chuckled and followed him into the building. Rory loved when Mitchum acquired new papers because it allowed for Logan and his father to spend some much needed time together. She knew that Logan didn't have the relationship that she had with her mother but it was still nice seeing the two of them spending quality time with each other. She had warmed to Mitchum after the initial awkward getting-to-know you process.
Logan had never heard of the Stamford Gazette, but he hoped that it had decent circulation and a loyal following. He knew next to nothing about the latest newspaper in the Huntzberger Publishing Group. He grabbed Rory's hand so the could get off on the right floor together. His dad's assistant Carrington Farnsworth was standing near the elevator doors waiting on them, or so he assumed. "Hey Carry, are you waiting on us?" asked Logan.
"Hello Mr. Logan, Miss Rory, I'm actually waiting on your father. He hasn't arrived as of yet," said a very nervous Carrington.
Logan was surprised that he had arrived before his father, which had never happened before. So they had only one option and that was to wait.
Jess liked working at the Stamford Gazette. The man he was working for, Bryce Burns, was pretty easy going. Jess didn't mind getting the man his coffee or running to copy something. He was also helping other people out as well. So as far as he was concerned the job was a success.
When Jess was fetching Bryce his coffee he overheard some of the other employees discussing the new Publishing Group that had bought the Gazette. Jess had no idea that he had begun work during a transition period.
He asked Bryce about it and got a lengthy explanation. "You see Jess, can I call you Jess? The Gazette hasn't been doing so well these past few years, what with subscriptions going down and banal writing, besides mine that is. But even with those particular set backs our little newspaper here has got potentional, this publishing group saw it and scooped it up at a cheap price. The CEO of the company and his people are descending upon our little corner of the world to fix things up. The sad thing is they'll probably be able to fix it."
"I had no idea that the paper had been sold to another company. Nobody told me," said Jess.
"Oh don't you worry about it. The paper is still going to be the same and everyone will still have their jobs," said Bryce.
"So are you going to meet the CEO since you're the best writer around here," said Jess.
"Why I'm offended you would ask such a question. Of course I'm going to meet the big guy. Did you know he has an assistant named Carrington, what kind of name is that?"
"Yeah who would name their kid Carrington? He must have been teased mercilessly as a child."
Jess and Bryce chatted about anything and everything. Jess didn't need to worry about not getting along with the head writer; he was a chip off the old block.
Rory, Logan, and Carrington breathed better when the saw the familiar blond head of Mitchum Huntzberger approaching them.
"Sorry I'm late gang, got stuck in traffic. Can you believe that? The day I decide not to take the helicopter and drive to work there is a pile up on the freeway. So why do you all look worried?" asked Mitchum.
"Sir, we were worried when you didn't show up on time. As well the staff here are looking at us strangely because they know we are here with you," supplied Carrington.
"Dad, you did tell these people that none of them will get fired, right?" asked Logan.
"Of course I told them not to worry about their jobs. But you know they will still worry, everyone worries when a take over such as ours occurs," said Mitchum.
Mitchum turned his attention to Rory. He gave her a peck on the cheek and said, "Hello darling girl, I am told by Logan that the Huntzberger Publishing group is indebted to you. Is that right?"
Rory smiled at Mitchum. He was like a dad to her. When the news about her inheritance broke and headed the six o'clock news Mitchum came to visit her and Logan at Yale everyday. He even brought 'The Sound of Music' on one specific occasion, even though she knew he hated it. "Yes, you do have me to thank for that master plan," joked Rory.
"Well whatever the hell it was I'm happy that you got old man Samson to sell. He phoned me at the office today and told me to disinherit Logan and put my lovely daughter-in-law in charge instead. He also wanted to congratulate me in advance on being a grandpa for the second time," smirked Mitchum.
Logan tried not to laugh out loud but couldn't help it, so he dissolved in a fit of laughter, which was followed closely by a stream of giggles from Carrington. By now Rory was bright red.
"Aw, come on darling this is no time to be shy. You haven't even told me, your husband, the good news that I'm going to be a daddy again," joked Logan.
"I said no such thing to that insufferable man. I told him there would be an heir for the Huntzberger Fortunes and that I wasn't pregnant yet. He twisted my words to get a reaction out of you," huffed Rory.
The editor of the Stamford Gazette unfortunately ended everyone's laughter at Rory's expense. "Mr. Huntzberger, it's nice to finally meet you in person. I would like to welcome you to the head offices of the Stamford Gazette. Oh…my name is Louis Freemantle," said the very nervous editor-in-chief.
"It's nice to meet you Mr. Freemantle. I would like you to me my assistant Carrington Farnsworth, my son and the future CEO Logan Huntzberger, and my future daughter-in-law Rory Gilmore," said Mitchum with a straight face.
"Dad was that really necessary," asked an annoyed Logan.
"Mitch, really that was uncalled for," replied an embarrassed Rory.
Mitchum looked at his son and Rory and shrugged his shoulders. He turned to the shocked looking Mr. Freemantle and asked him for a tour.
Louis Freemantle had assumed that he would only have to face Mitchum Huntzberger that very day. But boy was he wrong. Louis was now fidgeting with the present and future CEO walking beside him. The fact that the daughter-in-law was Rory Gilmore made him want to throw up his breakfast. Everyone knew about her and her recent inheritance but the journalistic world knew her even before that and the fact that she was accompanying the Huntzberger men didn't bode well with Louis. It didn't bode well with him at 'all.
Jess and Bryce Burns were heading to lunch when they heard that the boss was in the building. Harry came running towards them and said, "Huntzberger's here, and apparently he's brought the heir and a spare."
Jess was grinning at Harry's predicament until her heard the name Huntzberger. "Huntzberger, Mitchum Huntzberger is here?" asked an astonished Jess.
"Yeah, he's our new boss. I don't get the whole heir and spare reference though," said a very confused Bryce.
Harry was still breathing heavily after the workout he got running around like a chicken with its head cut off. "He brought his son Logan and get this…his future daughter-in-law Rory Gilmore. That was his phrasing too. Apparently that's how he introduced her to Louis," said a very informative Harry.
Jess could only listen and think bitterly, 'It's not like there going to be together their entire lives like there family wants them to. Rory wouldn't want to get married so young.'
Jess watched as the staff at the Stamford Gazette stood at attention to welcome the new boss and his cronies. Jess had to remind himself to breath as Rory walked in on the arms of Logan. She looked so professional dressed like a businesswoman. Jess had never seen her dressed for success before and he had to say she looked incredible.
"Hello everyone, before we begin I would like to assure you that the Huntzberger Publishing Group does not want to replace any of you. We want to make the Stamford Gazette a more successful paper with a higher circulation rate. I am here to get the ball rolling. So please rest assured that we don't want to change everything. Let's start with having a meeting with the heads of every department. Thank you," said Mitchum.
Jess had heard that Mitchum Huntzberger was an intelligent man but the way he took over the room was pure skill. He was one of those people that make others feel at ease with just a look.
Logan was looking around the room at the people who seemed to be enamoured with his father's speech. He was looking past a guy who couldn't stand still when he saw a familiar face in the crowd. If Logan had been alone he would have cursed. Why is it that everywhere he and Rory went Jess seemed to show up? He turned to Rory and whispered in here ear, "Look straight ahead near the guy who can't stand still and tell me if you recognize someone."
Rory had been listening to Mitchum's speech when Logan whispered the request in her ear. She looked in the direction that Logan had asked her to and she swore. Nobody heard her except Logan, but she said many unladylike things about Jess, several with four letters that she seemed particular to.
Jess knew the minute that Logan recognized him. The blond actually had the audacity to lean towards Rory and tell her something. Rory was saying something that only Logan could here and it seemed to be amusing to him. Mitchum Huntzberger was being led to the main room where all the department heads would convene. Mitchum passed Jess, Bryce, and Harry.
"Here comes the son and the daughter-in-law," said Bryce as a way of telling Jess of the approach of Rory and Logan.
Rory was still steamed about Jess' appearance and she didn't even attempt to hide the fact that she was snubbing him. Rory wanted to go somewhere and not run into Jess or Dean. She was mad and Logan knew how she reacted when she was mad so he put his arm around her waist and followed his father.
Jess wasn't allowed into the all-important meeting so he went to the break room to make some more coffee and await Bryce's return. It was a half an hour into the meeting that Jess saw a shadow cast its way in front of what he was reading. He looked up and saw Logan looming over him.
"Huntzberger," was Jess' way of greeting.
"Mariano, it's about time that you and I had a chat," said Logan. He had thought long and hard about this conversation.
"Is that right? So what do you want to talk to me about Logan."
"You sure as hell know what I want to talk about. I want to know why you keep following me and my girlfriend around everywhere we go?"
"I'm not following you around. I keep ending up every place that you are and some of those situations I was forced into by Rory's grandmother and your mother, might I add."
"Fine, if they are coincidences then I want you to stay as far away from Rory and I from now on."
"Why is that Huntzberger, afraid she might leave you for me?" taunted Jess.
Logan was speechless for a second before he started laughing. "You've got to be kidding me. Is that what this charade is all about? You keep showing up everywhere Rory goes so you can get back together with her, is that it?" laughed Logan.
Jess didn't appreciate the fact that this pampered little playboy was laughing at him. He hated when people made fun of his predicament. "You do know Rory chose me over Dean when she was dating him. Why wouldn't history repeat itself?"
"Have you ever thought about the fact that Rory's not the same girl that she was all those years ago? She now has a life that she loves and a man that she loves."
"People can't change all that much. Deep down Rory is still the same person that loved me two years ago."
Logan couldn't believe that someone could be so delusional. "Your not in high school Jess. Get over yourself. Your not hot stuff. In the real world women want a man of substance and charm that won't walk out on them at the first sign of trouble. Rory is not the same girl she was two years ago but you are still the same Jess who wants her. I want you to get something through your thick skull moron; Rory is not an eighteen-year-old naïve child. She is a twenty years old woman who loves her family, friends, and significant other."
"I knew Rory then she wouldn't have done half of the things that she does now, I'm sure that's your influence."
"Rory makes her own decisions, she's a grown up. You seem to be so delusional when it comes to Rory."
"It's not like you guys are going to be together forever."
"I want to make something crystal clear to you Jess, Rory and I are going to get married and have a family of our own. We were happy before you and will continue to be happy after you have left. She and I are well matched in every way. We have become a unit these past nine months and I'm not going to be stupid like you were and leave here. I love Rory Gilmore with all my heart and I will not let her go."
Jess just looked at Logan and wanted to punch him but knew he couldn't since he was the boss' son. He just glared at him and Logan glared back.
Mitchum Huntzberger had been standing in the doorway the whole time. He had told Rory to continue on with the meeting while he went in search of Logan. Mitchum hadn't realized whom Logan was arguing with until the name Mariano and Jess came out. So this is Rory's old boyfriend that Shira and Emily were trying to manipulate. He hadn't realized that Jess was working for the Gazette.
When Logan had said that he was going to marry Rory and have a family with her Mitchum was so happy he could dance or sing. But he won't since his singing voice was virtually nonexistent and dancing would have been embarrassing. So Logan was finally admitting what the papers had been speculating since the beginning of Rory and Logan's courtship. Mitchum couldn't have picked a better woman for his son to settle down with and to appease his father Elias, Rory had good breeding and would bring in a substantial amount of money to the union.
Mitchum decided that he would end this stalemate and said, "Logan your future wife is about to take the CEO spot from you if you don't return to the meeting immediately."
Logan and Jess broke their staring contest. Jess wanted to throw something and Logan was grateful for his father's interruption. "I don't mind sharing the CEO position with her dad but she can't steal that spot away from me," joked Logan.
"I don't know son, she seems to have her audience in the palm of her hand. I would get a move on," joked Mitchum. He slung his arm around Logan and the father and son duo went back to their meeting.
Jess watched enviously as Logan Huntzberger had the two things he wanted most in his life: Rory Gilmore and a great relationship with his father.
AN: Please, Please, Please Review.