AN: Yep, this story is back. And you know you either love it or hate it, lol. I personally love it. Every time I come back to this story I'm like-oh yeah, I forgot how much I love writing this. It's so weird trying to get into Mitchum's head but I welcome the challenge. Anyhoo, enjoy-or be completely grossed out, whatever.
Numbers swam in front of his eyes, pie charts melded into a kaleidoscope of colors, and words barely registered meaning at all. He was supposed to be analyzing their marketing strategy, and while it was clear that they were woefully underutilizing social media, that was all he'd been able to deduce all morning. He wasn't sure if Paris had spoken to Rory or not, but if she had it was only a matter of time before…
"What the hell is wrong with you?" The door to his office swung open and Rory marched in, her eyes blazing with unsuppressed wrath.
"Good morning to you too," he replied with a wry smile. He knew he should feel contrite, but the mere fact that she was standing there talking to him at all gave him a little jolt of pleasure even if she was just there to ream him out.
"You went to my apartment?" she accused. "There are laws against stalking, you know."
Logan leaned back in his chair and shrugged. "I was just looking to catch up with my old pal, Paris," he replied.
"Fuck you, Logan. You can't go messing around with other people's lives like that. Paris may be…Paris but she's my friend and she's been with me through a lot. And now you've got her turning against me."
"What?" he sat up at attention. What did that mean? Had they gotten into a fight? The last thing he wanted was to alienate her from any more of her support system. Although one more person trying to convince Rory her relationship was unhealthy couldn't hurt—unless she wound up cutting Paris out because of it. What if she wound up moving out of Paris' and in with him? Shit.
"Just…" she sighed defeatedly, "just stay out my life and mind your own business." She turned back towards the door to leave.
He couldn't let her go—not like this. Not without knowing what had happened with her and Paris. Not without knowing he hadn't driven her even further into her asshole boyfriend's arms. He was out of his chair before he knew it, he grabbed her by the arm to stop her exit and closed the door to give them a little privacy.
"You have got to be kidding me," she shook her arm from his grasp in a rage. "Are you really serious with this right now? I know you're a rich, white, man so you think you own the world, but you don't own me, and you can't just barricade me in here like a prisoner."
"What? No, that's not…" he held his hands up in front of him contritely. "I just figured you didn't need the entire office seeing us fight." She was the one who said she was worried about what people would think about them and how it would affect her career.
"So you decided that this poor, hysterical girl couldn't possibly know what she needs and you better help her out because you clearly know better?"
"You're twisting my words around," he rubbed his face in frustration. He expected her to be angry but he hadn't expected this. This wasn't what he wanted.
"Let me tell you something, Logan…you don't know the first thing about what I do or don't need. You don't know a thing about me. And you don't get to come sweeping into my life like some white night trying to save me from something I don't need saving from. I'm a big girl. If I need saving, I can do it all by myself."
Was that what he was doing? Trying to be some savior, protecting her from a problem he made up himself just so he could feel important? But no…this relationship of hers was wrong—he knew it. And he wasn't the only one. Clearly Paris had agreed with him. "I'm not trying to be your white night, Rory. But everyone needs help sometimes. I know I do."
"Well I'm not you. You may have spent your whole life getting into trouble and being bailed out by Daddy's money, but I was raised to be independent and take responsibility for myself."
Logan scoffed, taking a step back and shaking his head in disbelief. That was low. "Now who has no idea what they're talking about?" he replied coldly.
"I know more than you think."
He shook his head. Her mother may have found a way out of her life of destiny and privilege, but that didn't mean that Rory could even begin to comprehend what it was like to be him.
"You know nothing. Yeah, I may have been bailed out—quite literally—by my family's money once or twice, but only so I wouldn't embarrass the almighty Huntzberger name. You have no idea what it's like to live without choices. To have your whole life planned out for you before you're even born. You have no idea what it's like to have nobody give a damn about you beyond what you can do for them. But if you keep pushing people away the way you are, you might just get a chance to find that last part out."
The fire in her eyes was replaced by a cold and penetrating stare. "Like, I said," she replied evenly. "Just stay out of my life." She turned and opened the door, walking calmly out of the office. And this time, he let her.
She was in the bathroom trying to calm herself. The warm air whooshed through her lips as she leaned on the counter and exhaled another deep breath. She couldn't believe she'd confronted Logan that way. That she'd screamed at him like that right there in his office. It was a good thing Mitchum wasn't in the building today. If he'd caught sight of that scene, Rory could only imagine what he'd think. There was still the possibility that someone could mention it to him though. Not that they would have any reason too; as far as anyone knew, she was a nobody on Mitchum Hutzberger's radar. Although Logan wasn't. What if someone told him Logan had gotten into a screaming match with a staff writer? She couldn't worry about that now though. What was done was done. She'd just have to explain it to Mitchum—that she was telling Logan to leave her alone. That's what he wanted after all.
The clutching tension in her chest and jaw was starting to subside along with her anger but there was still an emotional tug of war going on inside her.
Logan had been completely out of line—in his office and by going to her apartment over the weekend. Of course she'd said some things she regretted too. But mostly she meant what she'd said—she wasn't some damsel in distress. She didn't need saving.
Her relationship wasn't perfect—Mitchum wasn't perfect. But he was smart and funny and he loved her, which was a marvel all on its own—that a man like him could love a girl like her. It wasn't like she was the girl who normally had boys falling all over her. Her past relationship history was beyond pathetic. There was Dean, the towny ex who married someone else but whom she'd slept with anyway. Then there was Jess—the man she'd originally dumped Dean for who had literally skipped town on her when he'd flunked out of high school. College was a string of bad dates and short term relationships…and Grant, the son of one of her grandparent's friends whom she'd started a no-strings thing with her sophomore year—until she wound up drunk on her mother's bathroom floor crying her eyes out over the fact that he hadn't called her back. She'd given up on boys for a while after that—until Mitchum.
She had resisted at first. He was her boss. He was an icon. And it wasn't that she lacked self-esteem but honestly, what could she possibly bring to a relationship with a man like him? But he had wooed her; made her feel desirable. He saw something in her—personally and professionally. If Mitchum Huntzberger thought she had something—thought she had 'it', then who was she to argue? He made her feel like she was worthy of greatness; worthy of him.
Not every man could handle a successful, independent woman. Like Logan, they wanted a woman they could take care of. A simpering girl who would swoon at their feet when they saved her from whatever big, bad, danger was out there. She was too strong for most men. Mitchum on the other hand was too busy and important already to need a woman who would be clingy and co-dependent. He didn't have to feel threatened by her strength.
But then again, when she really stopped to think about it, she wasn't feeling so strong or independent lately. She was mostly just feeling alone. She looked up into the mirror in front of her and she barely recognized the person she'd become.
It used to be fun and exciting between Mitchum and her. It used to be exhilarating. But there came a time when fun just wasn't enough anymore. And she wasn't sure they could ever be more. This relationship could ruin her career before it'd even begun. The whispers of her trying to sleep her way to the top would follow her everywhere. Her reputation would be ruined. And Mitchum didn't just have his reputation to think of, he had a billion-dollar international corporation to consider. Coming out with their relationship could cause a huge scandal. And if the company took a hit because of it, there were thousands of people's jobs on the line; there were untold numbers of stories that might never be broken; and there was his family, which would be even more broken than it already was.
So how much longer could things stay like they were? She loved Mitch—but did she love herself anymore? Did she love her life? She'd given up so much for him. And she wanted to believe he was worth it, but lately, a part of her wasn't so sure. Especially with the way things were currently going between them. The man she'd fallen for was still there, but there was another side of him she was seeing too. Of course, hadn't she brought it on herself? By lying, and hiding things? By kissing someone else—not that he knew that. But she did, and as much as she tried to convince herself it was meaningless, she knew the truth—her feelings for Logan were complicated at best.
She was as mad at herself as she was at him in that room. Sure, she was right to be angry with him. His actions had been unacceptable. He'd grown up in a life of privilege and with that privilege had come a sense of entitlement. But she truly believed he was a good person. After all, when she'd called him out on his inappropriate behavior in the past he'd shown true remorse and a real attempt to change. She hoped he would this time too.
The only problem was, it didn't change a thing. Whatever he did, she couldn't go back to being friends with him. And not just because Mitchum wouldn't like it. And not just because it might affect her chances at that promotion. She couldn't go back to being friends with him because she cared about him too much. And Paris had been right—when he found out who her secret boyfriend was, he would hate her. It was a betrayal that was unforgivable. So she had to put a stop to their friendship now before things got any worse than they already were.
She didn't know what to do. She didn't know how she'd gotten herself into this crazy mess. She didn't know how to get out of it. Most of all, she didn't know if she wanted to. All she really knew, standing there in that bathroom looking at the drawn, conflicted reflection in the water-spotted mirror, was that she wanted her Mommy.
She laughed at the irony of it. She was standing here, pissed off at Logan for pointing out to Paris how broken her relationship with her Mother was-a relationship he knew nothing about—and all she wanted to be able to do was vent to her mother about it.
Maybe he and Paris were right. Maybe it was time to go home. Maybe it was time to open up to Lorelai and tell her the truth. Of course, that only infuriated her more because it felt like giving in; like admitting she was wrong. Like agreeing there was a problem. And she wasn't sure she was ready to do that.
Besides, she'd promised Mitch she'd spend the holidays with him. He wouldn't be happy if she told him she'd decided to go back to Stars Hollow instead. She was pretty sure he'd understand about the going home part—he still just wanted her to be happy, right? The part about coming clean to her mother, though—that he would never agree to. But maybe she could go home anyway. She could go and spend time with Lorelai without telling her about Mitch. It wouldn't be easy not to spill her guts, but it would be worth it, just to reconnect a little.
She pulled her phone out of her blazer's pocket pausing for just a moment before hitting the speed dial—it would be better to ask for forgiveness than permission…right?
"Hey Mom, it's me. I was thinking I might be able to make it home for Christmas after all."
The Denver Press was a promising publication. Sure, they were slightly over staffed and the balance of fluff to substance was a little skewed but overall it looked like a good buy. Just a little bit of a deeper dive into their operations and he'd be ready to fly to Colorado in two days and make a deal.
Of course, finishing his work was easier said than done when Rory was in the next room reading. He loved the way her whole face would squint up in concentration. And the way she would chew on her lower lip in anticipation when the suspense started to build. He was never going to finish his work if he didn't stop thinking about those lips and all the things they could do.
Maybe it was better just to…take a break now. He'd probably get more done in the long run if he had a little release.
With a relenting sigh, he pushed his chair back from his desk and stood up. God he was weak. He didn't get to where he was today by spending his time fawning over a woman. Not that he hadn't spent plenty of time enjoying the company of women over his lifetime. They were just drawn to his power and influence—who was he to deny them their pleasure?
But at the end of the day, he always knew what his real priorities were. He had discipline and self-control when he needed it. But not with Rory. With Rory all his restraint went right out the window. When was he going to grow tired of her?
He walked into the living room of his penthouse apartment to see that Rory had given up on reading and was currently watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She was in a pair of leggings and a t-shirt, her legs curled up under her on the couch as she stared intently at the screen. He loved those leggings on her. Not that he would object to a little more sexy lingerie, but still, the way those leggings hugged her ass was impeccable.
"Finish your book already?"
"Hey!" she looked up in surprise. "You done for the night?"
Mitchum shook his head. "Hardly," he sighed. "I'm definitely planning to make an offer, but I have no idea what it's going to be. I need to look deeper at the financials and the management team. Some staffers are going to have to get let go which I hate, but I don't see any other way…" Letting people go was always the worst part of any new acquisition. It didn't curry him any favors with the remaining team—although it did keep them on their toes around him.
Rory stood up and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "You'll do the right thing," she assured him. She leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips. As she started to pull away he wound his hands into her hair and pulled her back to deepen the embrace. She obliged him for a couple of minutes before pulling away again.
"You need a little coffee jolt?" she asked. "Or a snack? You've got to be hungry; you barely ate dinner. How can you expect to do your best work without proper sustenance?"
Mitchum chuckled at her. "I think I'll manage." She was cute when she was concerned about him and his eating habits.
"Oh, I know you'll manage," she laughed back. "You could be starving on a desert island and you'd still get more accomplished than any mere mortal man."
"Although now that you mention it, I could use a little dessert," he winked at her.
"Miiiiitch" she scolded teasingly. "You know you don't get dessert until you've finished dinner."
"An appetizer then?" He suggested with a mischievous smirk. "A sorbet palate cleanser?"
"Oh you think you're being cute, do you?" she asked with a smile.
"I do," he acknowledged.
"You know…" she trailed off. Her eyes darted around nervously, though she was clearly trying to hide it, keeping her voice light. "I think I'm a bad influence on you."
"And how would that be?" he asked, his voice even, not giving away that he could sense the shift in her.
"Well clearly, I've become a distraction," she replied. His eyes narrowed suspiciously; was she a mind reader or something?
"A welcome one," he assured her, though based on his previous inner monologue, he clearly wasn't so sure. Still, that was his decision to make. He didn't need his girlfriend taking pity on him and his lack of work ethic.
"Still," she continued on. "Maybe…maybe you could use a little break from me. You know, like a sabbatical from me to concentrate on your work."
He felt his nostrils flaring and tightness building up in his chest. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? She wasn't trying to break up with him was she? "What's that supposed to mean?" he ground out, trying not to lose his cool.
"It's just well… I was thinking of going home for Christmas…" She paused for a split second but then hurried on before he could say anything. "I think it would be good for both of us. You could use the time to catch up on work stuff without any distractions. And I haven't seen my Mom in over six months. You know how much she means to me…"
He took a deep breath in to try to calm himself. She wasn't leaving him. He should be happy. But still, they'd made plans to spend the holiday together. Breaking them was completely unacceptable.
"What about our Christmas plans?" he asked her.
"Well, I mean, we spent Thanksgiving together, and besides, we were just going to go out to eat. We can do that anytime, it's not Christmas specific…"
"And yet we made the plans for Christmas. I made reservations at Antonio's and those aren't exactly easy to come by.
"I know, and I'm sorry, it's just…I really need this, Mitchum."
"And I need a girlfriend whom I can trust. Considering how many issues we've had with that lately, I'd think you'd be a little more cognizant of keeping your word."
"That's not fair!"
"Isn't it? Because it sounds to me like you want to back out of your commitment to me to—go home to your Mommy?" He shrugged. "You're a grown woman Rory, don't you think it's time you started acting like it?"
"If I'm such a grown woman, maybe you should stop treating me like a child."
"Maybe you should stop acting like one," He snapped, he was tired of this self-indulgent, irrational behavior she was displaying lately.
"I already called her and told her I'm coming," she huffed.
"So you went behind my back again?"
"I made a decision for me, about my life. I don't have to run everything I do by you."
Mitchum rolled his eyes. Did she need to be so dramatic? "I never said you did. I was just pointing out that you made a decision that included me, and then unincluded me without even talking to me about it."
"You know, I'm sick and tired of you acting like I'm your property. I'm my own person. And I'm sorry I changed our plans, but this is something I need to do for me, and I would like to think that as my boyfriend you'd be a little more supportive of my needs instead of sulking over being left out."
"I'm sorry that you feel that way," he said to placate her. He was pissed about this, but he hadn't come out here to fight.
"Excuse me?" she asked, eyes wide and incredulous.
"I said 'I'm sorry you feel that way.'"
"Yeah, no I heard what you said. I'm just trying to get my mind around the fact that you said it."
"I apologized, what the hell is so wrong with that?" He replied, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"You apologized for me. You're not sorry you're acting like an inconsiderate jerk, you're sorry 'I feel that way.' Well fuck that. I'm not sorry I feel this way. I happen to think my feelings are completely justified."
"Of course they are, but so are mine." Rory rolled her eyes and turned around, heading for the foyer. "Where are you going?"
"Back to my place."
"Oh come on," he replied. "Is this really that big of a deal? I'm leaving for Denver tomorrow and I won't be home until Tuesday."
"I know."
"So that's the day before Christmas Eve. If you're really insistent on going home for Christmas that means this is the last chance I have to see you."
She stopped walking, her back still to him, and he saw her shoulders slump. She was going to stay. He felt simultaneously relieved and annoyed. He didn't want her to go but he knew the only reason she'd conceded on that was because he'd essentially conceded on her going to her mother's. He hated that…hated giving in. Giving in was weak. It gave her power. But he didn't see how he had any other choice. Sometimes you had to forfeit the battle to win the war.
So, he'd forfeited. He'd act contrite and play the good, supportive boyfriend—for now. He had a war to win. It was time to admit, he was in this for the long haul.
AN: So, Rory's finally going home to Lorelai, yay! But what do you think of the men? They were both letting their rich, white, male privilege show and Rory let them know it. How do you feel about how they handled that? What do you think about how Rory handled it? Do you think she'll spill her relationship woes to Lorelai? How will her mother take it if she does? How will Mitchum take it if she does? So much drama!