Rory sat at a discreet table off to the side of the impressive dining room of Finn's hotel with Hugo.  She nervously toyed with the crystal water glass. Hugo eyed her suspiciously and asked again why they were there.  Rory said, "I may be committing career suicide tonight, but I thought this was a meeting I should encourage you to take.  Please keep an open mind when they get here."

Hugo looked at her and said, "When who gets here?  You still haven't told me anything.  Who are we meeting? Are you quitting?"

Before Rory could say a word, Logan and Mitchum approached the table.  Hugo looked stunned as he stood and shook hands with both men, "Mr. Huntzberger and Mr. Huntzberger, it is a great pleasure to meet you."

Mitchum gripped Hugo's hand with one of his own and patted him on the shoulder with his other.  "Please, it's Mitchum and Logan. Good evening, Rory.  Shall we sit?  The food here is excellent.  Logan here knows the owners and the head chef.  We should be in for a treat tonight," he said as he sat down and called over a waiter.  Everyone ordered drinks.  Before the waiter walked away, Mitchum said, " Why don't you chill some champagne for us.  We'll let you know when we want it."

Hugo raised an eyebrow and asked, "Will there be a celebration this evening?"

"We are hoping so," Logan said with a grin at Rory.

"So, you are aware we have some history with Rory.  I have to commend you for hiring her.  Obviously you are a man that knows quality when he sees it," Mitchum began to schmooze. "I also had the pleasure of working with her.  Do you know that after interning with me, she went on to be the editor of The Yale Daily News,"  Mitchum grinned as Rory internally ground her teeth.  

"Yes, I know of Rory's background and impressive skills.  Are you regretting letting her go?" Hugo asked.

Mitchum laughed and said, "I am a big enough man to admit I was hasty in letting her go, yes.  And I am a business man enough to know when to try to win something,"  Mitchum leaned in and began his pitch, "Hugo, you have started and grown an impressive small online paper.  I follow the smaller companies.  They are a great source of talent and dedicated people.  Yours has a good, solid reputation and has produced fine work."

"Thank you, Mitchum,"  Hugo replied.

"I am coming to you tonight with an offer that many others would love to hear.  Logan and I would like to buy your business, make it a part of Huntzberger Publishing Company.  Now before you speak, listen to how it would work," Mitchum surprisingly turned the conversation over to Logan.

"Hugo, we understand it is a difficult time for many of the smaller companies in our business.  Everyone is scaling back because consumers are scaling back.  You need to get the biggest bang for your buck you possibly can.  That bang isn't much for the smaller guys.  If you sold to us, you would get a lot for your buck.  We would like you to continue running the daily business as you do.  But you would have international access.  Every story you run would run on a global market, not the limited one you have now.  Your name would become very well known in the publishing world. You would have resources and opportunities you have only dreamed about. The only real difference would be the addition of our name to yours on the letterhead," Logan summarized the proposal.

"I don't understand why you are interested," he said.  "Is it for Rory?  Because being quite frank,  her contract with me expires after the election. You wouldn't have to buy my company to get her."

Rory sat uncomfortably in her seat.  She didn't like feeling like a bargaining chip.  She mumbled her thoughts quietly to Logan.  He just nodded and winked.  Mitchum answered, "Partly, yes.  We are interested in Rory, or more specifically we are interested in the story Rory is about to release.  But I was speaking truthfully, I have followed your work.  I see potential in your company.  You have a niche market with younger readers in the online market. I want Rory.  And I want that market."

Hugo blinked at his blunt answer.  "So I am assuming you would want this deal to go through rather quickly then?"

"If we shake hands, I will have the paperwork to you in the morning making you part of HPC," Logan said. 

Hugo sat back in his chair and thought for a minute.  Then he offered Mitchum his hand.  Next he turned and offered it to Logan.  "I guess you can tell the waiter we are ready for that champagne."