Chapter 3: All Good Things Come To An End

Logan Huntzberger was trying hard not to think about his son Nicky’s suggestion of staying home from work that day. He had an enormous amount of work tying up the loose ends of his latest acquisition, ‘The New York Times.’ It had been his largest and most popular acquirement thus far, it had even garnered him a phone call from his father who had been brimming with pride. But at this moment all Logan could think of was the numerous amounts of paperwork that he had to sign.

Instead Logan concentrated on the picture of his family that was right in front of his face. He had inherited his office from his father like he had gained his family fortunes, but Logan had redecorated the place to suit his own taste. As well Nicky, Lottie, and even little Jamie had played in his office while their father worked so it had to be kid friendly. Rory had hired a great decorator that had done a fantastic job on the place.

Logan’s office was trendy yet it had little reminders of the fact that Logan was a family man. The office was littered with photographs of his family and many that included his friends with their families as well. Hell, there were several pictures of Doyle in there and no one who had known him during college would’ve believed that except maybe his wife.

Yes, Logan and Doyle were the best of friends since their wives were so close. They started their camaraderie when they realized they had no choice but to make nice or else Paris and Rory would make them sleep on the couch. But joking aside, Logan had helped Doyle when he had found out that Paris was pregnant and had fled the state. Logan can still remember the look on Paris’ face at the charity auction when Doyle proposed; in fact Rory had a picture of that precise moment in the family photo album.

Logan was still staring off into space when his secretary interrupted him. “Mr. Huntzberger you have a lunch appointment with your friends,” said Vera, Logan’s middle-age secretary.

“Huh…Oh yeah. Thank you very much Vera. I think you should head to lunch as well,” said Logan.

“I will sir,” said Vera and walked off.

Logan looked around his office for his cell phone since he knew his son would try to get in contact with him during lunch just to say hello. Rory and Logan made time in their busy schedule to talk to their kids and so they were always seen with cell phone in hand.

Logan grabbed the elevator that would take him to the main floor. He just had to walk across the street to meet his five guests. It was a bit of a tradition of theirs to meet up twice during the workweek to have a quiet lunch without wives nagging at them or the children underfoot.

Logan was the first one to arrive and he found that surprising since he was always the one who apologized for being late. It was a refreshing change. Logan ordered a scotch and waited to hear the others excuses.

Ten minutes later the whole lot of them came into the posh restaurant together and he was dumbstruck at the fact that they didn’t seem to show any remorse for keeping him waiting. Logan shrugged it off since he had known most of his guests since he was in diapers.

“Logan, good you ordered the drinks,” said Finn then promptly drained the scotch that had been set before him.

Colin looked at Finn and shook his head. “He’s had a bit of a rough day.”

Logan nodded as if that explained Finn’s behaviour.

“I can’t believe you moved up the deadline once again,” said Doyle as a way of greeting Logan.

“Nice to see you too, Doyle,” said Logan in a sarcastic manner.

“So how’s it going, cousin,” asked Seth. It wasn’t that much trouble thinking of Seth as family since Logan always considered him so, but now they were actually related by marriage. Seth had married a royal cousin of Rory’s, Caroline Hanover.

“Would you shut up about the cousin crap. Give it up gentlemen it’s getting old,” this from a very grumpy Robert.

“Well, what the hell’s the matter with you?” asked Logan.

“I don’t think he’s getting laid as often as he wants to,” said Finn.

“Oh, what are we back in college? Besides whatever my wife is doing your wife will do it as well,” said Robert.

“If it’s not sex than what is it?” asked Colin not wanting to get into an argument about the fact that Finn and Robert’s wives, Madeline and Louise, were inseparable and their husbands had to be on the best of terms. He was glad his wife, Stephanie, didn’t have such a close-knit relationship with one of her girlfriends.

“I didn’t get a chance to sleep through the night because I stayed up with Sophie since she had a tummy ache. Louise had stayed up with Felix when he was sick the last time so it was my turn,” said Robert.

“Is she alright?” asked Doyle who was worried about his goddaughter.

“Oh she’s fine now. I just didn’t get enough sleep to function,” said Robert.

“I sorry did you just say tummy ache?” teased Colin.

“Put a cork in it Colin, you know that since we became dad’s it would be a distinct possibility that we would talk like our children. Just the other day I told my secretary that I had a boo boo. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look her in the face after that,” said Finn.

Everyone at the table laughed at that. The guys started talking about their children and how thing were at home and such. It was odd listening to their conversation now than if you had listened to their conversation during their college years.

These lunches were supposed help them escape from the talk about kids and wives, yet the topic always veered in that direction every week. But soon they did move on to vacations and trips to the Cape.

“Do you know I think Chris has inherited my likeness for being naked,” said Finn out of the blue. He was of course referring to young Christian Rothschild who was three years old and looked to be heading down the path his father went down.

“God, I hope not. That poor child has no idea what’s coming to him,” said Colin.

“But nobody will date Ana or Etta until they turn thirty. For any of those teenage creeps coming to pick them up at the house I’ll just have to show them my shotgun that I inherited from mother,” said Finn.

“Don’t worry Finn I feel the same way about Lottie. I don’t even want to think about her dating,” said Logan who shuddered.

“You know I think its karma that Finn has twin girls since he was such a lady’s man in college. Logan you reformed somewhat after meeting Rory, but Finn didn’t exactly remit until Maddy came along,” said Robert.

“We all have at least one girl except for Colin. He won’t have to go through worrying about them being out too late, but he will have his hands full with two boys,” said Doyle.

“I don’t even want think about those two and all the trouble they’ll cause as they get older. Do you know, I think Alex and Lottie will make quite a pair when they’re older,” said Colin.

“Do you know you just sounded like Emily Gilmore when you said that,” said Logan getting creeped out at the fact that they were doing exactly what they swore they wouldn’t do with their kids: becoming matchmakers.

“So there will be a Vanderbilt-DuPont-Rockefeller-Gilmore-Hayden-Huntzberger merger? I’m sorry but is that a dastardly long name or what?” asked Finn.

“Yeah that’s going to be one blue-blooded grandchild the two of you are going to have,” laughed Robert.

Logan scowled at him and put a stop to the nonsense about his baby girl marrying Alex. As much as Logan liked his godchild he did not want to think about the day that Lottie would marry since he couldn’t even imagine her dating. He would pull a Finn and do something drastic.

So the rest of the conversation went on about the latest polo match everyone had seen when they were all at Ascot on the demand of the Queen.

-X-

Logan was rushing after the lunch with his closest friends. He had to be at the office of ‘The New York Times’ to talk to the staff and reassure them that he was not going to fire everyone. He hoped Doyle would’ve put them at ease.

So Logan was hurried to the main board room and didn’t get a chance to talk to Doyle before hand since they had put away business during their get together with the other guys. So presently Logan found himself at the head of a table and awaiting Doyle’s arrival.

He ran in five minutes later, out of breath and with several files in hand. “I’m sorry I’m late everyone,” began Doyle, then seeing Logan at the head of the table greeted him in a professional manner,” Hello Mr. Huntzberger.”

“Hello Mr. Goodrich,” said Logan slyly. He had no idea why Doyle was acting like he didn’t even know him. It was really odd.
Logan had other pressing matters to deal with and he was going to face them head on. “Now, I realize that many of you are worried about your jobs and there is no need for panic. I know when there is a merger or acquisition there are bound to be some confusion, but we with the Huntzberger Publishing Group are not going to do that. Doyle I assumed you would’ve reassured them, just to calm their nerves.”

Doyle was just thinking about an excuse to leave the meeting when Logan asked him the question. He knew it was going to be weird to get everyone’s respect after they found out who exactly his wife was or who his friends were. That was the sole reason he hadn’t mentioned to anyone he had worked with about his personal life. It had gone well until the day he found out that Logan’s company was going to acquire the Times thus putting him in an awkward position.

He had avoided the red carpets and such that Paris had to attend and many photographers were ordered not to take pictures of him. He didn’t want the wealth of both his and Paris’ families to prejudice others on how he had achieved the position of editor. He had worked hard for this position and earned it like everyone else, but when the news leaks out about his connections, people are going to start questioning how exactly he had come to be editor.

“I did tell them Logan. Its just Huntzberger Publishing Group is a very well known firm with a reputation for no holds bar dealings,” said Doyle. He pretended not to notice the shocked faces of his co-workers since he had called their boss by his given name and seemed to be reprimanding him.

Logan actually laughed at the comment since he knew that he had pissed Doyle off. “Come now Doyle, what would grandfather say to such a comment about the family business?” asked Logan.

“Hah, Elias would take that as a compliment and tell anyone whose anyone about it.”

“To true.”

There was a clearing of a throat to Logan’s right and he looked at the red face of Simon Albright, who ran the business aspect of the Times and was subsequently not liking the ‘relationship’ between Doyle, a man he loathed, and Logan, a man he emulated.

“I’m sorry for the way my editor is speaking to you Mr. Huntzberger. I assure you it won’t happen again,” said Simon with a pointed look at Doyle.

“I beg your pardon, but that really has nothing to do with you,” said Logan rather acidly.

“But Mr. Huntzberger, Mr. Goodrich was so rude to you. How can you be so blasé about it,” said Simon.

“Mr. Goodrich was not mean to me he was pointing out a fact and we have known each other for a many number of years, not that that’s any of your business,” said Logan.

Simon was stunned into silence, but there were many curious stares and whispers during Logan’s speech.

Doyle wanted to disappear, but he knew he had dodged questions about his personal life and such for a very long time, now he would just have to face the music. Paris had understood his predicament when he told her of not mentioning who he was and his family at the office. She had backed up his decision wholeheartedly, but they hadn’t mentioned to their friends and now he wished they had.

Logan kept on talking and he didn’t pay much attention to the glares the Simon fellow was throwing at Doyle, who looked like he did when Paris told him she was pregnant with Teddy. Logan didn’t like the way the man treated Doyle and he was going to put a stop to it immediately.

Logan wrapped up his speech with the reassurance that he wasn’t going to fire the whole lot of them and asked if anyone had any questions. There was silence then Logan looked at the admirable person who dared to raise their hand whilst Simon was glaring at them. Logan smiled and decided on the spot to give that person a raise. “Yes mister, what is your question,” asked Logan.

“I’m Tony Cameron and I’m a writer. I just want you to know that Doyle is a fair editor and he doesn’t deserve to get fired over something as petty as power,” said Tony.

“Tony who told you Doyle was going to get fired?” asked Logan. He looked over at Doyle, who seemed to be touched at Tony’s kind words.

“There was a rumour going around that Doyle was going get the sack ever since your company acquired the Times. I just wanted you to know that Doyle is a really good editor and he’s fair,” said Tony.

“I know Doyle is a fair and an annoyingly good editor Tony. You don’t have to worry that his job is on the line,” said Logan.

“I just wanted you to know what kind of an editor he was from someone who worked for him, and not from someone who couldn’t tell the difference from a Pulitzer winning writer and a paper bag,” said Tony looking pointedly at Simon.

“I do know what kind of an editor Doyle was. He was my editor when I wrote for YDN,” said Logan.

There was a shocked look on Tony’s face as were the others. Then Simon spoke up,” So that’s how you know our esteemed editor. He was your editor at this YDN newspaper?”

“Yes, he was the editor of the Yale Daily News,” said Logan.

“Yale, you went to Yale, Goodrich?” yelled Simon.

Doyle would’ve loved to have Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak just about now so he didn’t have to face the accusatory look on Simon’s face and the look of utter bewilderment on the faces of his colleagues. He knew Simon would hate him more because he went to Yale. Simon was a social climber and would’ve loved to have gone to an Ivy League school so he could’ve made the kinds of connections that he so craved. The man wanted to be like Logan.

“Yes I went to Yale,” said Doyle in a monotone voice.

“Why didn’t you ever tell us,” asked someone in the sea of reporters.

“It was just a school and I didn’t think it was relevant,” said Doyle.

“So you met Mr. Huntzberger when you were his editor. That’s how you got this job?” sneered Simon.

“I sorry, but Doyle got this job on his own. He even submitted a resume under a different name until he got the job and revealed his true identity to the editor at the time,” said Logan.

“How the hell did you know that,” yelled Doyle.

“Rory told me.”

“I will never confide in her again after I get hammered,” grumbled Doyle.

Logan laughed at that comment. Simon looked more upset, “Yes well, then why is it that Goodrich didn’t tell us about knowing you? If I were him I would want to tell anyone I met that I knew you.”

“Well, I guess that’s the difference between you and Doyle. He wants to keep certain aspects of his life private and you, on the other hand, want to scream them from the tallest skyscraper,” said Logan.

“Yes, well I know the Mayor of New York,” blubbered Simon.

“I’ll ask Mayor Bloomberg about you the next time he’s over for tea,” said Logan casually.

“Erm...” said Simon.

“Now, as I was saying, I know how much Doyle is committed to his work. No one is going to get fired, we just want this historic paper to be circulating and bringing in groundbreaking stories. The paper only had financial trouble that was it’s only fault. The only people with whom I intend to talk to are the people handling the business aspect not the reporting,” said Logan.

“What do you mean the business aspect?” asked Simon looking worried for the first time in his life.

“There seems to be a mishandling of the funds Mr. Albright and I intend to find out how millions of dollars can be spent on random things without a thought. I intend to clean this place up,” said Logan.

Doyle smiled at the look of horror on Simon’s face. He didn’t particularly like Albright since the man thought he was the editor and tried to give Doyle orders. Doyle was so grateful to Logan for keeping his secret for a little while longer.

He knew that it was just a matter of time before everything else came out into the public, but Doyle wanted to prepare his wife and kids for that before his co-workers found out. He was so happy when Logan didn’t go into a talk about Councilwoman Paris Gellar-Goodrich, when they started talking about politics.

Doyle knew when Simon heard the news about who exactly Doyle Goodrich was there was going to be a major blow up. He did not want to be in the vicinity when word got to Simon. He hoped when the news did come out that people didn’t think that Logan would favour him because he was his friend.

Simon looked at the Doyle Goodrich and hated him more than he did this morning. Here was a man that had gone to a fine institution such as Yale and had made contacts like Logan Huntzberger and god knows whom else. How could’ve a mousy man such a Doyle gotten into Yale?

Simon had applied to all the Ivy League schools but had not gotten into a single one; instead he had to cope with getting his business degree at an unknown educational institution. He doubted that Doyle had gotten in on good marks alone, but how did this happen when Doyle was a nobody?

Logan stopped talking for a bit and caught the reaction on Doyle’s face. He knew that Paris and Doyle probably had a good reason for keeping the identity under wraps, but he wished he had known about their plan so that he wouldn’t have blurted out that he knew Doyle, but all good things had to come to an end.

So, Doyle had to face reality and live with the fact that he had a prominent last name, a politician for a wife, good friends with well-known last names, and several powerful godchildren.

“In fact do you know councilwoman Paris Gellar-Goodrich?” asked Logan with an impish look on his face.

Doyle put his head in his hands since he knew exactly where this discussion was going.

“Why yes I do. I’ve spoken to her a few times and she is a fascinating woman. I think she might even run for president one day,” said Simon.

“Yes she’s a tough woman, yet fair. She went to high school with my wife and was her college roommate for two years, they are actually best friends. Have you met her husband?” asked Logan matter-of-factly.

“No, I don’t believe anyone’s actually seen him. Though I know there is a husband since she talks about his constantly, you’d think the man could walk on water or something,” said Simon.

“Hmm…I don’t know…why don’t we ask him.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Why don’t we ask Paris’ husband that question,” Logan paused then turned to Doyle,” Doyle can you walk on water?”

Of everyone present in the room on Simon looked about ready to blow. Tony and his fellow reporters looked pleased as punch and Doyle was red in the face. Logan knew that Doyle had to face his fears about being judged for who your family was and whom you knew. Doyle would have to face people like Simon on a day-to-day basis when Paris ran for senator then president.

“I’m hating you right now Huntzberger,” said Doyle.

“Don’t worry buddy I’ll get you hammered until this doesn’t bother you anymore,” was Logan’s cheeky response

Poor Doyle his world at work had just crumbled and Logan was joking about it.