AN: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm sorry this took so long. School got really hectic, so that's why I didn't have time to write. The next chapter should be out sometime this week. I hope. Also, this is NOT going to be an arranged marriage fic!

Chapter 7

"Our children?" Chris asked, taking a seat.

Mitchum nodded. "Yes, our children. My son, Logan, and your daughter, Rory."

"What about them?"

"I'm not sure if you're aware of their… relationship. They dated for a while, but it just didn't work out." Mitchum told the other man, avoiding the details. He certainly didn't want to tell Christopher Hayden that the Huntzberger's told a Hayden she wasn't good enough.

"I'm not sure what this has to do with me. Or with you, for that matter." Chris pointedly told Mitchum.

"I'll cut to the chase here. Our children dating, and hopefully eventually marrying would benefit both our families immensely."

Chris looked at Mitchum and nodded. Perhaps creating an alliance of sorts with the Huntzberger's would be beneficial. The Hayden's were very, very powerful, but Christopher knew he needed to make connections of his own. The Hayden family connections came from what his parent's set up. With his parent's being gone, Chris knew he had to make some of his own for the Hayden family to carry their prestige and power, not to mention financial success into the next generation. Yes, a marriage between the Huntzberger family and the Hayden's would benefit everyone involved.

"I'm listening." He told Mitchum, not even considering his daughter's feelings. After all, she was his child, his pawn. She would do what she was told. It was her lot in life to be a socialite, and Chris was damn sure she would become one, whether or not she liked it. It was what she was born to do.

-GG-

"Are you ready?" Jake asked several hours later, waiting for Rory to finish dressing for the DAR memorial.

She opened her bedroom door. "How do I look?" She asked, spinning around.

Jake couldn't say anything. He felt like the air was knocked from his lungs… he always knew Rory was beautiful, but this… this was beyond beautiful. She was utterly stunning.

"You…" He started to whisper before stopping and wetting his lips, beginning again. "You are the very image of beauty. Perfect. Absolutely perfect."

She smiled at Jake, walking over to him and hugging him. "I am so glad you're here for me." She whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.

"I'm here for you Rory. Always. Now let's go fool everyone."

-GG-

Clem bit her lip, pondering the current situation. A friend of hers, Paul Johansen, had been at the country club earlier with his father and grandfather. Apparently he overheard a conversation between Mitchum and Christopher. Clem didn't like what she heard about the conversation one bit. She knew she had to do something, anything, to help Rory out.

"Shannon, Shannon, wait up!" Clem called over to Shannon, hurrying to catch up with the fiery red head.

Shannon turned around and watched in amusement as her blonde friend attempted to run in heels. Clemency was not athletic. It took something big to make her run. The last time Shannon saw Clemency run was when she walked in on Taylor Boss and Aaron Oakley in the coat room at a Christmas party. She took it upon herself to spread the news to everyone by the end of the party- especially to Taylor's boyfriend and Aaron's girlfriend.

"What?" Shannon asked, thoroughly excited. Clemency was slightly out of breath. She wouldn't get all worked up over nothing.

"We need to talk privately. No one can overhear us." The blonde told the red head, leading her to an empty room.

-GG-

Logan's breath caught in his throat as he watched her walk into the room. She was stunning. He had never in his life seen a woman look more beautiful, more graceful, more perfect than she was.

He ignored the man whose arm was around her. Logan wasn't sure what exactly was really going on with her and Jake. He didn't like seeing them together, but it wasn't going to stop him. Nothing would. He wanted her back, and there was no way he was going to allow anything- or anyone- to get in his way.

To hell with anyone who didn't want them together.

-GG-

Rory had her fake society smile plastered on her face. She walked into the room with Jake's arm around her. She nodded and said a polite "Thank you," to a woman expressing her condolences. They made their way around the room in a similar fashion, making small talk and thanking people for their condolences. Rory could hardly wait for it to be over. She wanted to go home and go to bed. She wanted to grieve. She wanted to not worry about Logan or anything. She had too much stress this week. She wasn't sure how she was going to take it much longer.

"Rory," Chris said, gaining her attention.

"Yes father?" She flatly asked, keeping the fake smile on her face as she inwardly cringed. Just the person she didn't want to have to deal with.

"Someone needs to speak with you in the office." He informed her, walking away quickly.

Rory shot a curious glance at Jake, who just shrugged.

She sighed. "May as well go get this over with."

Jake sympathetically smiled. "Sorry."

"Duty calls." She shrugged, assuming the person needing to speak with her was a member of the DAR.

She walked away from Jake towards the office, wishing this night was over. She needed to find Shannon desperately and get a sip of her flask.

Rory pushed open the office door, walking in. The person standing at the window turned around to look at her in shock.

"What are you doing here?" Rory asked testily.

Logan sighed, shaking his head. "My father said I needed to speak with someone in here."

"Same here." She muttered, clearly annoyed at having to deal with Logan. She turned to leave but his hand closing on her arm stopped her.

"What's going on?" He asked, no longer able to fight his curiosity.

She rolled her eyes. "My grandmother's memorial."

Logan fought the urge to glare. "I'm aware of that. I mean with him."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "With Jake?"

"Yes, him."

Rory smirked. "Jealous? Too bad, really."

"Rory." He said flatly, getting impatient.

She stopped and looked him dead in the eye before answering with the reply she and Jake decided to give everyone. "We're back together."

Logan fought the urge to double over. He swore a knife had just been plunged into his heart.

"Together?" He finally managed to croak out.

Taking a deep breath, she went on with the lie. "Yes, together. I love him, and he loves me, and we're together. End of story. Now goodbye." Rory walked out of the office, leaving a stunned and heartbroken Logan behind her.

He swore he just felt the knife in his heart twist.

-GG-

Rory walked back over to Jake, her footsteps heavy. Revenge wasn't as sweet as she thought it would be. Somehow it hurt her to hurt Logan. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to feel great. She was supposed to feel free, happy, and victorious. She wanted him to hurt. But damnit, she just hurt herself in the process.

"Are you ok?" Jake whispered, seeing her stormy face.

"Fine." She testily replied, letting him know to drop the subject.

Jake raised his eyebrows, watching her closely. He wasn't sure who she just spoke to, but he had a feeling it was a rich blonde heir who wanted her back.