Chapter 4: Everything is figureoutable

[London December 2016]

Rory and Logan went to stay in Logan's flat, since Odette had left for Paris to be with Pierre. They had a lot to talk about. A lot to do. A lot to plan. Colin and Finn stayed to work in their London offices to be around to help talk things over with Rory and Logan, and also for Colin to look at all the legal problems.

When Logan told Odette about Rory and the baby, they decided that they should tell their parents together. They planned a dinner in a fancy restaurant in London, since their parents could hardly make a huge scene in a public restaurant. It would be on the tabloid front pages within the hour, if they did make a scene. They decided to bring Rory and Pierre to the dinner, hoping that the future grandbabies would smooth it all a bit.

To avoid any unnecessary pressure on anyone, Odette and Pierre came to London. They came to spend some time with Rory and Logan and to get to know each other, before the dinner with the parents. But also, to talk over the potential reactions from their parents and potential legal complications to that.

Logan and Odette talked everything over with Colin and made sure that both Logan and Odette could part from the family companies without any major economic problems, even if their fathers decided to disinherit them.

- And like this all my assets are 100% free of HPG and mine to spend no matter what my father says and does?

- Yes. This apartment, your house in Manhattan and this cash are all your assets. Your shares in HPG, the fonds that are made by your father and your inheritance, those I cannot legally guaranty. Even though you potentially could lose hundreds of millions of dollars, I can guaranty that you will not be poor, and you can more than provide for Rory and the baby with your assets.

- Odette, you have three apartments in Paris, Cannes and New York in your name. Your trust funds and the cash in your accounts are also secure. From what I can see French law will make sure that your father can not disinherit you, even if he wants. So, my answer will be the same to you: You could live a comfortable life on your assets, no matter how many millions your father might take from you.

- But we will still need my French, English and American specialists to look it over one more time.

Let's send this to the McCrae Law offices in London, New York and Paris, and wait for the final verdict.

And like that, they wrapped it all up and send it to Colin's specialists.

- I really need to get out of this apartment today, Rory looked at Logan with an exhausted face, - I need to put something into my brain that is not connected to money or law.

- I really need to do some work, but we could go somewhere this afternoon. Would that work? What do you want to do? Logan felt bad, but he needed to finish some paperwork for HPG. He had been very busy since Rory arrived in London.
- I was thinking to go see that troy-exhibition at the British Museum

- I heard that it is magnificent. I would love to see it too. Maybe we should let the men work at just go together, Odette suggested.

Logan looked at Rory to see if the needed to be rescued from Odette's suggestion. The two women had been together for 3 days working on all this legal stuff, and they seemed to get along, but they had not been interacting a lot in the process. Rory had been looking into Logan's situation and Odette had been working with Pierre and Colin about her situation.

- I don't mind going this afternoon, Rory, Logan assured her.

- It's okay, Logan. Odette is free now and we haven't had the chance to talk one-on-one at all. I would like to go with her.

And like that, waiting to get It all checked up, Odette and Rory went to see the Troy-exhibition at the British Museum and have lunch, and let the men do some actual work in the meanwhile.

Walking through the exhibition on Troy with Odette was fabulous. Odette had majored in fine arts from the Sorbonne and she was a goldmine of knowledge and interesting reflections on the discoveries and the arts. Rory knew the literary works on ancient Greece and Troy, and they could just talk for hours about any little thing in the exhibition. And so, they did.

A bag of almonds and 6 little boxes of raisins later, the two pregnant ladies decided to go rest a bit at have lunch, before going through the rest of the exhibition.

They choose a small Italian restaurant Odette liked. They were seated by the window in the small restaurant and the owner recommended the Osso Bucco, which they both accepted.

- From what I understand you have been dreaming of being a career journalist all your life? Odette asked Rory, as they waited for their food.

- Yes. I always wanted to report the news as a journalist. So somehow, I will always write something. Right now, I'm writing a book on me and my mother's relationship. I grew up alone with her, maybe you didn't know that. It's called "Gilmore Girls". But I don't know what exactly I will do. I guess it all depends on a lot right now.

- What would you do if nothing depended on anything. If anything was possible?

- I'm not sure. What we did today? Make great minds go together and discuss interesting subjects and then convey the great thoughts to people who would be interested. Let things be complex, let paradoxes exist, let questions stand enlightened, but not necessarily answered.

That was a very interesting thing coming from a sentence that started with "I'm not sure". Odette couldn't help exploring this idea, - I'm intrigued. What kind of subjects would that be?

Since this was all forming as Rory spoke, she decided to improvise, what was the worst that could happen? - I guess it could be anything. All the grand stories. Politics, history, fine art, social and cultural phenomena. Anything that could potentially be something else or nothing.

- If you would go home and do something right now. What would it be?

- Well, our discussion. I would do a video with us talking. I would write articles on different angles. I would talk to people who could put other perspectives into the issue. I would use the media that was best suited: video, audio, photo, writing. I would mix it and let it come to people where they spend the most time in an app on their phone or tablet.

Odette couldn't believe that this brilliant idea was just something Rory made up as they talked. IT was perfect. The entrepreneur in her was already making the business plan as they spoke, - Let's do that, Rory. Let's go back to the museum, take talk it over. Then go home and we will remit what we talked about and put it out on the internet, for someone to respond to it.

Rory just looked at Odette in disbelieve. If she didn't know that she was extremely intelligent and an extraordinary businesswoman, Rory would have thought she was crazy.

- Odette! I don't know how to do that. I'm a journalist, I write. I don't know about video, audio nor apps. I don't know anything about marketing or websites.

- Everything is figureoutable! And with that statement, Odette completely dismissed all Rory's objections.

- But Odette. I'm … we are pregnant. We have no idea if your father and Mitchum will disown you all in a few days. We can't do this.

- Rory. You are a talented journalist. You are marrying into the Huntzberger Publishing empire. I was born into the Duprés Media empire. We have the money. We have the Knowledge. We have the Network. We can get nannies. Logan knows tons of tech people in Silicon Valley. Colin will do the law-things, Steph is a marketing major, isn't she? We will hire people to do tech.

We have the idea and content. The rest is buyable. And from what I hear, it doesn't even take that much money. Think big. Think like an entrepreneur, Rory.

Rory just sat there to be overwhelmed by hurricane-Odette. She made it sound so easy. Or at least, so figureoutable. Maybe she was right.

In the taxi on their way home that afternoon Odette was still brainstorming and planning this new media with Rory as her audience. When she started to talk about execution and how to pitch the idea to Logan when they were home, Rory felt like her head was going to burst. On their way into the building, Rory told her, - Let's sleep on this, Odette.

- Slow down and you die, Odette said pulling Rory to the elevator by the hand.

- Yes, and when you run in heels, you kind of die also.

As Odette opened the door to the apartment, where she used to live with Logan, she was already rambling, - Oh my God, Logan, Cheri. You cannot believe the day we have had. Rory is absolutely magnificent; She has the most splendid idea. We cannot wait to pitch it to you.

Logan was sitting on the couch watching the news and drinking coffee, - Odette? Did you totally ware her out? I am sorry, Rory, Odette is quite that energizer bunny. You look ready for a nap, Ace. Go lay down, I'll get you a blanket. Is there anything you need?

- Maybe some water and an apple.

- Coming up! Odette?

- I am good.

The girls settled into the couch, as Logan went to the kitchen. Getting down next to Rory pulling her into his embrace, - So, tell me about today? Logan encouraged Rory.

- Fantastic. I don't remember the last time I talked to someone, who is this inspiring. I can't believe how much Odette knows about ancient Greece and Troy. And how inspiring conversations we had about it all. Actually, the only thing we didn't cover today was Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, Rory joked, smiling to Logan.

- So, I guess I know what tonight's movie will be?

- Yeah! So, I guess the only questions left to answer is, whether we will fall asleep to an episode of Friends or Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

- I always end up with the brunette, Logan answers with a smirk.

- Mrs. Jolie and Miss Rory, Logan I must say, you do have style, Odette joined in on the conversation.

- I like her, Rory says looking at Logan, she even gets our American far out pop-culture references.

- She's one of the good ones, Logan agreed with Rory.

- Oh, you two are too sweet! Well Logan, Rory had this really good idea today, I need to talk to you about it. 'caus she won't. I think she has got something there. We were having lunch, when I asked Rory what she wanted to do with her life. And from this very simple everyday question, this absolutely brilliant mind, came up with a Nobel Prize-winning answer. Now we just need to get her to execute on it.

- Oh no, you have that all wrong. It is my stepsister who is the future Nobel prize winner of the family.

- Well, why not go for two Nobel prizes within the family, Ace? While April takes it for the Physics, you could go for literature, or even peace if you'd like. Think big, Ace, Logan wink to Rory.

That was the second time that day, someone told her to think big. That was kind of annoying, and like that Rory decided to cooperate with Odette, to pitch the idea to Logan. What was the worst thing that could happen?

- So, tell me, what is this Nobel prize-winning idea?

Odette started to tell the story about how they talked through the exhibition earlier that day. How Odette had told Rory all about fine arts of ancient Greece. And how Rory talked about the great literary pieces on this subject. Between them, they had come up with new questions and perspectives that they had talked through and ended up with several paradoxes and unanswerable questions. They both felt very inspired and uplifted with this process.

When Odette had laid out the circumstances, she asked Rory to present the idea in her own words. Then Rory explained, how she would give this experience to people vicariously. How she as a journalist would provide the nerds and the experts to enlighten a subject, without simplifying or pretending that there is one answer to any question. Different media could work together within an app and how this would contribute to intelligent conversations.
- This is the opposite Twitter, clickbait and fake news. This is slow, complicated and not for everyone, Rory explained to Logan.

- Isn't this just brilliant, Logan? Nobel prize, ha? Maybe the Pulitzer? Odette beamed.

Logan was captivated by what he was hearing. This was interesting, - What would the subjects be?

Rory told him about the grand stories-theme. How any phenomenon that could potentially be something else, or nothing, could be the subject of matter. How exploring Troy was the perfect theme. Rory quickly brainstormed a few other ideas;

What is the role of the family to modern-day man?

What is the difference between choices motivated by dreams and choices made in fear?

What is the function of literary people and phenomena to respectively men or women?

What could be the significance of a future female president of the United States of America?

Except for money, what are the most life-defining things children do or do not inherit?

- Well, well, well. Leave it to Rory Gilmore to come up with a Pulitzer-worthy idea in a public museum, on a day that started with her crying on the bathroom floor from her morning sickness.

- Do you really think that this idea is Pulitzer-worthy, Logan? Rory asked in surprise not knowing if he was sincere or mocking her.

- Trust me, Ace. Any big phenomenon in history has always had backslash. After Twitter, clickbait and fake news, there will be a time for all the grand stories. My gut tells me that this time will not be far off. It is even possible this idea of yours will push the coming of this new era.

Rory couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew that both Logan and Odette were great businesspeople. And they both believed in her idea. She didn't have a big concept or a business plan, she didn't even think this through. How could they've just jump on this idea this easily?

Rory was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of the knocking on the door. It was Colin and Finn, they came over to have dinner and see how their friends were doing.

Before long they had been introduced to the idea, and like that they all spend that evening brainstorming and collaborating on it.

It was quickly evident that between the five of them, they already had most of the contacts they would need to make this happen.

Colin would draw up the legal work. Stephanie could do the marketing. Finn would provide the concept to all the Morgan hotels across the world. Logan new just about any tech-savvy person in Silicon Valley.

Logan joked, that he would even call Mark Zuckerberg if needed, even though he is a Harvard-man.

When Rory raised the question on how to get the funding, she was met with four faces of disbelief. It was Finn who finally broke the silence, - Rory, Finn started calmly, - Even without our parents or businesses, the four of us in this room would personally be worth more than 75 million dollars. And then you add the assets we cannot cash right now; Our inheritance and our businesses. I'm guessing that Logan could fund this project by swiping his AMEX Black Card, Finn looked at Logan and Colin who nodded to confirm what Finn was saying, - This is not a question of money, Love. What this project needs, is your brain, Logan's leadership, our network and a whole lot of hard work.

And with those words, The Magna was born.

Since they were still waiting for the legal papers from the broken engagement to come back, they had a lot of time on the hands to work on the Magma-project. In the process of developing the concept, it became clear that both Logan and Odette were passionate about the project as well.

Even though Odette wasn't a journalist, she had brilliant project management skills and a cultural network in the European elite in addition to her graduate degree in fine arts. She would, together with Rory, be the perfect team to create the content needed.

Logan had been managing media and newspapers for the last 10 years and would be more than qualified to take on the job as a CEO.

Before they knew it, they had drawn up, not only The Magna, but at whole new future for the three of them.

Now they only needed to let their parents in on this change of life.

After a few days all the specialists had looked into the papers Colin had drawn up. It all confirmed that Logan and Odette would be able to walk away with each several estates and enough millions in cash to live a good life with their families, and fonds to start The Magna, no matter what happened.

They had decided to work together on Rory's idea and make it reality. Logan and Odette would both leave the family companies and go all-in on "The Magna" together with Rory. They would move into some New York City-offices, in the building where Finn had the administration for The Morgan Hotels, as soon as possible. Stephanie had offered to do the marketing, one day when she had been to London to see her husband. The plan was getting there. All they needed was to get started.

And like that time passed and it was time for the big announcement-dinner with the parents.

All four of them; Rory, Logan, Odette, and Pierre, where is seated at the table when the elder generation arrived at the restaurant.

- Rory? That was a surprise, what are you doing here? Shira said shaking Rory's hand, - I haven't seen you in ages. How are your family doing?

- Hello Rory. Nice to see you. Did you get that meeting with Condé Nast? Mitchum asked politely

- Shira, Mitchum. Nice to meet you. I did meet with Condé Nast, thank you Mitchum.

- Rory, this is Francois and Marie Duprés. Odette's parents. This is Rory Gilmore, Logan introduced, - Mom, Dad. This is Pierre DuBois. You know Odette.

Mitchum and Francois ordered the food and wine for the table. When Rory and Odette both were about to ask for something none alcoholic, Logan smoothly had them supplied with water, so no one would start asking questions too early into the dinner.

When the polite small talk was done, Logan gently put his hand on Odette's hand, and she nodded for confirmation that he could introduce the first bomb of the night.

- We have something business-wise, that we want to share with you tonight, which is also why Rory and Pierre are here. Logan had everyone's full attention, and Rory was amazed how calm he appeared, - We are working on a new type of electronic media. An app that gives the user the experience of being in discussion with big minds about different relevant topic. It is our response to twitter, Click Bait and Fake News. This is slow and complicated information.

I'm the CEO, Odette is project manager, Rory the content manager and Pierre the Art director. We will operate from New York City.

From all the parents could have expected from this night's dinner, this was not it. They were all just baffled from what Logan was saying, and not responding at all.

- That sounds interesting, Cheri. But it is not anything that fits into our strategy, Francois said to his daughter.

- The same thing goes for HPG, Logan, Mitchum added.

- We know that. It means, that I'm leaving my position at Duprés Media and Logan is leaving the HPG, Odette corrected them.

Logan repeated the very effect full move from earlier, putting his hand on Odette's, giving her a warm look, - We are going to be parent's in June, and we want to live in New York and not travel the world.

Shira and Marie only heard the word "parents" and both of them jumped to the obvious and indented, conclusion that it was with each other. They were ecstatic and somehow, Logan succeeded with having the "leaving the family companies" drown in the baby news.

When the buzz doze off Odette decided to break the big one. Odette places her hand in Pierre's and said, – But since the father of my baby is Pierre, the wedding with Logan is off.

Odette, Pierre, Logan and Rory pulled all their strength to look calm and await the reaction. And like always, Shira was ready with just that, - Logan, don't you just sit there and smile. Did you just hear her? The baby is not yours! Mitchum, do something! Shira demanded.

Mitchum didn't say anything, just like Odette's parents, he was floored from the absurd scene in front of him.

But Shira didn't stop. She was working herself up to being hysterical when Mitchum reminded her that this was a public restaurant and that they didn't want to be the tabloid frontpage-content tomorrow.

When Logan knew that Mitchum had himself and Shira under control and that the public space and the potential presence of the tabloid press was top of mind, he turned to Rory and took her hand when he announced calmly, - And the mother of my baby is Rory.

At this point Francois, Marie, Mitchum, and Shira were all so overwhelmed by the hurricane of unexpected news that hit them, that no one said anything. The main course was served, and they all eat in silence.

Mitchum emptied his wine glass and looked at Logan, - Could we talk in my office, tomorrow first thing? He asked Logan, Odette, and Francois. They all nodded in confirmation. And like that the subject was abandoned.

Somehow the strategy planned had worked. They had told their parents and there was no yelling.

The next morning had Francois and Mitchum gone over it all with Logan and Odette, trying to find out what had happened and how this had become the conclusion.

Both Logan and Odette stood firmly on their decision to leave their positions in the family companies as soon as possible, no matter the consequences.

Both Mitchum and Francois agreed that there was no way that Logan and Odette could have financial interests in either HPG nor Duprés Media, if they intended to own and run a competing media. But since they both knew that this would leave both HPG and DM with no plan of succession, they stayed calm.

Both Logan and Odette were surprised, how they had managed to keep the upper hand until now. They were both clear with the choices they made. They had been paralyzed in the engagement for years, now they felt free despite the unknown future they were facing.

But no matter what the future would bring, it would be with the love of their lives and working with something they had passion for. That couldn't be too bad.

December was spent making arrangements for moving to New York. Logan had a house in Manhattan that was fully furnished, and Stephanie was already busy decoration the offices at The Magna.

Mitchum had Logan released from his job, his position at the board and deposited his shares in HPG. He didn't want to lose his son and his grandbaby, but Logan would be biased if he had any financial interest in the HPG and that had to be taken care off. Logan would legally be the heir, but for now, he had nothing to do with HPG.

Since Duprés Media had no American activities, Francois had offered Odette to stay the heiress and to stay on the board of Duprés Media as long as someone else had the majority of the shares in the Magna. Due to that demand, it was decided that Logan and Rory own each 30%. Colin, Stephanie, Odette, and Finn would have each 10%.

Logan would be CEO and Chairman of the board. Odette would be the Vice President and project manager. Rory would be Editor in Chief. Stephanie would be Head of Marketing and Colin and Finn would be ordinary board members.

Sitting around the table where this was all drawn up, Rory felt something between overwhelmed and in panic. Logan, Odette, Stephanie, Colin, and Finn were all so calm and familiar with this process. Rory had never owned a business, and all this was new and frightening.

It seemed like this was just routine, and depositing millions of dollars in a startup business was nothing to worry about. Rory was quite stunned when she learned that Logan had invested 6 million dollars with a swipe of his Black Card, and that half was legally in her name.

She could not believe that Logan and their friends had this much faith in her.