He wondered what the point of all this was. The wild parties, the flashy cars and the easy women. His life was a huge drunken debauchery and he failed to see any point in it but to piss of his dear old dad. Yet at the end of the day, he was right back to where he started: in his father's control.
Since the day he was born, his fate as the Huntzberger heir was sealed. His every decision was already made for him and his every action was monitored. He felt like a robot marching to a pre-recorded tune. Family honor and responsibility are two words that have been drilled into him since he could barely walk. Instead of his high birth opening doors, every door has been shut in his face but one. And he is being firmly pushed through the golden frames of that one door to a place he did not want to be.
Being opinionated by nature, he thus rebelled the only way he could. He went wild. Having to squeeze a lifetime of experience before his college graduation, he lived every moment to its fullest. He wanted some memories of freedom and exhilaration before he was saddled with a high power job and a smiling trophy wife. Before he was forced into a cold marriage similar to that of his parents.
And thus since the beginning of high school, his life has settled into a routine. He would wake up with a hangover, go to class to keep up appearances, go to at least two parties and hit every bar on the road in between and end up with a new girl in bed. Once he started college, he even stopped keeping up appearances and his entire time was dedicated to seeking pleasure.
However, instead of feeling happy with his carefree ways, he has reached a state of contentment. He supposed that this was the closest to happiness he was ever going to feel in his life.
"Logan…." The blonde beside him purred seductively. He sighed. Oh how he hated these awkward confrontations on the morning after. This is why he often made it a point to leave well before his bed partner woke up.
"Hey babe," Logan greeted in his usual charming way before getting up. Hangovers no longer affected him that much. He began to gather his scattered clothes and dress methodically.
"Where are you going?" The blonde pouted.
"Back to my apartment to change. I have an early morning flight that I can't miss."
"When can I see you again?" She asked while playing with her hair. Logan hated that hopeful look in her eyes. That look that wanted commitment but knew better. Logan Huntzberger, the reigning playboy of Yale, did not do commitment. He ran the other way.
"I'll give you a call." He replied after putting on his shirt and heading out the door. "Bye Vanessa."
"Its Veronica!"
"Right, just checking."
(Break)
"Where've you been mate?" Finn called from his doorway as Logan closed the door to their apartment.
"Overslept." Logan replied while pulling off his shirt.
"Well hurry up, the jet leaves in an hour." Colin demanded from the couch.
"Right, wouldn't want to disappoint dear old dad by missing the flight." Logan responded dryly as he headed for the shower.
"It's so bloody early!" Finn groaned. "Damit Logan, the next time your parents decide to hold a party, tell them to do it closer to Hartford! This way, I wouldn't have to get up so bloody early to get on a plane to Florida."
"I'll make sure to mention it during our next family discussion around the dinner table." Logan remarked sarcastically before closing the door to the bathroom.
"I need a shot" Finn whined.
"Not till we get on the plane" Colin chastened.
(Break)
"Tell me again why I'm here?" Finn asked for the umpteenth time while taking another sip of his champagne.
"Because your parents demanded your presence at the annual Huntzberger Christmas Ball." Colin answered.
"Oh right. So…when does the sub-party start?"
"Not till a couple hours later." Logan replied. "First, I have to greet the parents and let them parade me around for a while. Probably take some press photos too."
"Logan!"
"Shit, was that my dad?" Logan asked in panic while ducking his head quickly behind Finn. Both Colin and Finn nodded. "I wasn't ready to face him so soon! Shit! Is it too late for me to hide?"
"Yep, he's heading our way now" Colin answered cheerfully. "Well, as much fun as standing around and making awkward conversation with Mitchum Huntzberger is, we're going to go now."
"Traitors…" Logan muttered, glaring at his two best friends.
"We'll be at the bar," Finn added with a smirk before walking off with Colin. Logan sighed and prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation.
"You're late!" Mitchum greeted his only son with a frown.
"I'm sorry dad, but traffic was bad." Logan answered in monotone. Mitchum narrowed his eyes.
"Don't lie to me boy. I know you hit every bar between here and the airport." Mitchum scolded quietly. "My office, now!" Logan sighed and followed his father obediently while wondering which one of his stunts the old man has caught wind of now.
The Huntzberger Estate in Florida was a considerably large property and the long trek to the other side of the mansion allowed Logan time to formulate a plan of defense. Of course, when it came to Mitchum Huntzberger, no defense was good enough. Soon, the voyage came to an end and Mitchum let Logan into his study.
"Taking a joy ride in a professor's car!" Mitchum burst without further ceremony as soon as he shut the door. Logan sighed. Oh yeah, that stunt. "What the hell were you thinking Logan?"
"I brought it back safe and sound dad." Logan tried to argue. "It was even parked in the exact same spot."
"But you still got caught!"
Logan did not reply. He knew better than to mention that it was only because Finn left his wallet in the backseat. His father was not Finn and Colin's biggest fan. In fact, the only thing that prevented him from forbidding Logan's friendship with them was that both Finn and Colin also came from prestigious families.
"You're lucky that Yale was willing to overlook this with the amount of money I donated this year. I'm tired of pulling you out of shit Logan! My lawyers are tired, the authorities are tired, and most of all, I'm tired! It's time you shaped up son! I thought that letting you take a year off would calm you down, but instead it just riled you up more! Not only did you waste all your free time partying, you managed to sink a yacht in the process! And I'm hearing from your professors that you're still not attending class!"
"But I've always brought home good grades." Logan interjected. "Give me a break dad, I have a 3.9 GPA!"
"That's not the point!" Mitchum countered, his face turning red. Logan decided to keep his mouth shut for the rest of the conversation. He knew better than to interrupt his father on one of his rants. "The point is that you're not living up to your potential Logan! You're in your junior year at Yale and you continue to make a mockery out of your life and the family name! Take some responsibility already!"
"From now on, I'm going to start reining you in harder. You're starting a new semester in January and I'll expect you to go to every class and score in the top 5 percentile on your finals. If these conditions aren't met and if you decide to fuck up again, I will cut you off Logan!"
"Fine" Logan replied with gritted teeth at the old purse strings threat. "Is there anything else dad or can I go and greet mom now?"
"Yes, you also need to find a suitable girl Logan." Mitchum stated bluntly. Logan narrowed his eyes. "Your present choices are disastrous. The last girl you brought to a party could barely keep up with a conversation." Logan tried to think back to the girl his father was talking about, but came up with a blank. There were just so damn many that he kept loosing track.
"She was good at other things." Logan replied vaguely. It was probably true.
"No doubt," Mitchum snorted. "But the fact remains that you need to find a suitable girl that can potentially live up to the Huntzberger name. Now, your mother has several suitable young ladies she wanted to introduce you to at this party, so I suggest you don't disappear anytime soon."
"Dad," Logan began in a clear and even voice while barely controlling his rapidly growing anger. "I will live up to the conditions you set about school, but I absolutely refuse to marry a girl that you and mother pick out for me! I will find a girlfriend on my own terms and on my own time. When I'm ready to commit, I will find someone without your help!"
"Because your choices have been so great up to now." Mitchum replied dryly, but before he could continue, the door burst open.
"Mitchum, Christopher Hayden is here." Shira Huntzberger announced. "He's looking for you."
"I suppose he's here with his family?" asked Mitchum while walking towards the door.
"No, only his son." Shira replied, holding the door open for him.
"Ah, Miles, a fine boy." Mitchum nodded. "Come along Logan, you should meet the Haydens. They are a powerful family in the judiciary and a lot of people look up to them, including the current governor of Florida, who is also here by the way. It's time you got a proper handling on society."
Logan sighed for the umpteenth time that night and obediently followed his parents to be put on display. He could really use some alcohol about now.
"Congratulations on your nomination to the supreme court!" Mitchum spoke while shaking Christopher Hayden's hand. "I see that you're following in your late father's footsteps."
"Thank you Mitchum." Christopher replied. "I plan on doing my best. Congratulations on acquiring yet another newspaper. I heard this one has a lot of potential. When are you expecting a return on investment?"
The man was a tall blonde with a distinct manner that spoke of intelligence and good breeding. In his early forties, Christopher Hayden still retained his good looks and natural command for respect. Logan got the immediate impression that this man was not someone to trifle with.
"Oh, I'd give it half a year." Mitchum answered flippantly. "You remember my wife Shira?"
"Of course. Another successful ball you've managed Shira." Christopher complimented with a charming smile while placing a kiss on her hand. "You're quiet amazing at these things." Shira blushed prettily.
"Oh, you're still quite the charmer Christopher." She laughed.
"And this is our son Logan." Mitchum continued.
"Nice to meet you sir." Logan greeted with a plastered smile while obediently shaking the man's hand.
"I hear you're at Yale." Christopher remarked. "How are your studies coming along?"
"It's a lot of work" Logan replied politely.
"Yes, so I keep hearing from my son. He just graduated from Harvard Law School. Miles!" Christopher called.
Suddenly, a dark brunette approached the group. The first thing that everyone notices about the young man are his piercing blue eyes. Eyes that spoke of a cunning intelligence and a ruthless power. He had a commanding air about him that drew people's attention. It was the same imposing presence that others often accused Logan of having. However, instead of forming an immediate connection with the brunette, Logan felt weary of him.
"Hello, Mr. Huntzberger, Mrs. Huntzberger." Miles Hayden shook Mitchum's hand before bending to kiss Shira's. "A fine ball this evening."
"I keep telling you to call me Mitchum, Miles." Mitchum greeted warmly. "We don't stand on formalities here." Logan inwardly snorted at the blatant lie. If nothing else, his family was based upon formalities. "Have you met Logan?"
"No, I haven't had the pleasure yet." Miles replied with a charming smile before extending his hand to Logan. "I'm Miles."
"Logan." He replied while shaking the hand of the man that his father clearly wished him to be. A member of the new generation has to have impossible standards of perfection to gain Mitchum Huntzberger's approval and Miles Hayden seems to be one of the few that has achieved this impossibility. However, Logan got the distinct feeling that there was a lot more to Miles than what appeared on the surface.
"Now, where is your darling daughter Christopher?" Shira asked. "I haven't seen her since her since her eighteenth birthday party."
"I regret to inform you that Lorelai could not make it today." Christopher immediately answered in an apologetic tone. "Something came up at the last minute. She sends her greetings and sincerest apologies."
"Oh, I hope everything is okay." Shira answered, barely able to contain the disappointment in her tone. "I had hoped for Logan to meet her."
Suddenly, Logan felt relieved that the Hayden heiress was a no show. He could just see the matchmaking scheme in his mother's head. And his father wouldn't object too much at having a Hayden as a daughter in law from the way he talked about the family. But the last thing Logan needed was a spoiled debutante hanging off his arm.
"Well, Mitchum and I were discussing how our family could vacation together this summer while we were golfing last Sunday," Christopher recounted. "I'm sure they could meet then."
"Oh my, that's a wonderful idea!" Shira exclaimed in delight. Oh shit, the matchmaking scheme has just intensified. Logan groaned inwardly. He figured that there was no way his parents would let him weasel out of this if it did happen. Looks like his summer plans have just been shot to hell. Logan sincerely hoped that Honor would come too, despite her soon to be married status.
"Yeah, maybe Logan can talk some sense into her about her current relationship with that hooligan." Miles remarked.
"Oh really Miles, he's not that bad." Christopher began, but before he could continue, he was bombarded with a hearty congratulation from the senior senator of California.
Soon the group around them swelled and Logan felt it was the prime time to make his escape. Inconspicuously slipping out of the group of influential men in a heated discussion about the new bill being introduced while their trophy wives kissed each other on the cheek, Logan headed to the bar.
"What's going on guys?" He greeted Colin and Finn who were whispering to each other secretively.
"Hey Logan," Finn answered with a smirk. "You'll never guess who we ran into, mate."
"Who?" Logan asked in intrigue.
"Mark Lawrence. He just issued us a challenge from the Crimson Challenge Brigade." Finn announced giddily. "A scavenger hunt in Mexico City during spring break!"
"Really…" Logan smirked. "This is quite unprecedented. The societies from different schools don't usually mix."
"I think this is more of a personal challenge issued to you, Logan." Colin commented with a frown. "Guess who their new leader is." Logan furrowed his brow in confusion while Finn squirmed, unable to take the suspense.
"It's Tristan DuGray!" The Australian shouted after barely five seconds. Logan's eyes immediately narrowed and hatred settled over his features.
"Then we will accept this challenge." Logan stated firmly. "And we will kick their ass to hell."
"Well, it looks like you just volunteered to be our temporary leader." Colin remarked. "We need someone to organize this whole thing and make sure the funding is on track."
"I'll have to be elected by the group." Logan frowned.
"Oh please, " Finn interjected, " It's not like you'll have trouble being elected. You're practically the unofficial leader anyway…"