The End Of Her Assignment

Two days had passed since Olivia returned to her apartment. During those two days, she kept herself busy by finishing her report about Jove Latimer. If it wasn't for all the information that Matthew passed to her, she wouldn't be able to finish it all off.

Though she was able to find out Jove Latimer's dirty secrets, she needed evidence to convince Bardwell and the public that her report was genuine and not just fake news. At first, she doesn't have all of those pieces of evidence but apparently, Matthew has all those and he gave them all to her.

Internally, she was grateful for that. But there was still a part of her that was pissed because she was working her ass off to get that information and even land herself in danger, all the while Matthew and his friends got them in their hands.

They could have just handed it to her to save her all the hassle.

But then, she could not blame them. After all, she wouldn't have thought that they have that information and that there is a reason for them to be interested in Jove Latimer's case.

Matthew explained to her why they have that information. Apparently, after she told him that her assignment is Jove Latimer, Matthew doesn't feel good about it. And when he told his friends, they felt the same way. So they investigated Jove Latimer behind her back not because they wanted to butt in with her work but because they just wanted to make sure that she will be safe.

And since they do not have any intention to butt in, they didn't tell her what they know and what they found out because they were certain that she would find it out on her own.

Olivia doesn't know if she would be glad about that or not.

In the end, she did find it out on her own but that is because she put herself in danger that Matthew obviously doesn't approve of or appreciate at all.

Then after that, it was all a mess. There are a lot of things that happened that day that Olivia was having a hard time comprehending.

Everything that she found out about Jove Latimer was forgotten. Thanks to Matthew who chose that opportune time to spill all his secrets to Olivia. Though Olivia would not wish for any other time. At least, Matthew told her himself.

Matthew and his friends were the vigilantes that Olivia was searching for.

At first, she was not yet certain of her theory that it was a vigilante who was killing all those criminals as she doesn't have proof. Only the clips of news and photos that are pinned on her board. Who would have thought that she will not only find out proof but also who those vigilantes are?

And on the same day that she found out Jove Latimer's dirty secret.

To say that it was overwhelming was an understatement.

And it looks like Matthew knew that so he gave her time and space.

Time and space that Olivia now used to finish her report about Jove Latimer. And once she's done with it, she will deal with her vigilante board.

Olivia gripped the folder in her hands as she stood from her desk and walked toward her boss's office. She just arrived in her office and just barely sat at her desk but she doesn't feel like sitting for long. Especially when she doesn't have anything to do.

She does have something to do and it was in her hand. She doesn't find any need to wait the whole day to do it and be done with it.

Olivia passed by Sasha's desk but her friend was not there. So she bypassed her and proceeded to her boss' office. She is sure that Sasha will not mind.

Once she reached Miss Bardwell's office, she raised her hand and knocked on the door. She didn't hear her say 'come in'. Either she spoke but Olivia didn't hear because her office was supposed to be soundproofed, or her boss really didn't bother to say anything.

Knowing Miss Bardwell, it was probably the latter. She wouldn't mind making the other person on her door waiting for her response.

But Olivia will not wait, after knocking on the door once, she reached for the knob, twisted it, and pushed open the door. She was immediately greeted by a new scent. Unlike the last time when she was in Bardwell's office, the scent was flowery, this time it was peppermint.

Olivia liked the scent. For some reason, she felt energized.

Putting the scent back in her mind, her eyes went to search for her boss who was sitting behind her unnecessarily huge desk drowning her small physique.

Bardwell didn't even bother to look up as she kept herself busy reading something on her laptop.

Olivia would have guests that Bardwell didn't hear her enter her office but it was Bardwell…she was just living up to her reputation. Bardwell is not that polite to acknowledge the presence of anyone who went through her office door.

Olivia stopped a few feet from Bardwell's table and then without hesitation, she spoke to catch her attention, "Miss Bardwell,"

Seconds later, Olivia was surprised to hear a response as an acknowledgment of her presence. "Bennet," But unsurprisingly, Bardwell didn't raise her head.

Olivia doesn't know if Bardwell was just being sarcastic. She opted to open her mouth to say something but she closed her mouth when she saw Bardwell slowly lifting her head to face her.

"I received your final draft," Bardwell said, glancing at the screen of her laptop. It turns out, she was reading Olivia's last report about Jove Latimer. It was just a draft that is subject to be approved by Bardwell before it will be published on their website.

Bardwell raised her brow in a scrutinizing way as she asked, "Do you swear that it was bona fide? The last thing I need is a libel suit," As she said her last sentence, she leaned on her chair and folded her arms in front of her chest.

Olivia refused to be intimidated by Bardwell. Not this time. Not after everything she has been through in the past few days just to find out Jove Latimer's secret to be finally put into words. Although her distress in the past few days cannot be solely blamed on Jove Latimer. But still, it was all where it started.

Olivia took a few steps closer to Bardwell's desk and placed the folder in her hands on the top of her shiny and spot-free desk. "Here is the evidence. If you want to ensure that it is true, wait until next week before you publish it. Because the police will publicly issue an arrest warrant to Jove Latimer," Her voice held firmness in it as if she was ready to justify her words if ever Bardwell expressed her doubt which she likely will.

And she was right.

Olivia saw Bardwell open her dark red lips to speak but Olivia beat her into it. "It's in there," She pointed at the folder.

Matthew told her about the warrant. She doesn't know how he knew but she trusts him and his words. And as if Matthew knew that Bardwell would doubt her words, he sent Olivia a copy of the arrest warrant on Jove Latimer.

Olivia saved a copy of the arrest warrant for her while she also put a copy in the folder that she gave Bardwell so that she would not doubt her words.

Bardwell raised a brow but her eyes were already on the folder that was sitting on her desk. She looked back at Olivia and asked, "Publicly?"

Olivia stood her ground as she nodded her head. "Because currently, Jove Latimer is already in hiding," She said. That is why the police enforcer will announce publicly that Jove Latimer is under arrest for economic sabotage, human trafficking, abuse, rape, and other crimes that the police found he committed. They will announce it publicly so that in case anyone knows where Jove Latimer is or sees him, they will report it to the police.

But Olivia doubts if anyone would see Jove Latimer because he is not in hiding. She is certain that like Talon Boneville, Franklin Amudsen, and Jacobi Roone, Jove Latimer will never be found until weeks or months later.

As of now, Jove Latimer is in an underground facility.

Olivia wondered if Matthew or any of his friends had already started torturing Jove Latimer. Because after what they found out in that farmhouse, Matthew assured Olivia that they will.

"Are you–,"

Olivia doesn't know where she got her courage to interrupt Bardwell while she was speaking twice now. "It's also in there," She said, glancing at the folder.

Olivia also knew that Bardwell will doubt if Jove Latimer is really missing, so she also attached proof that currently, Jove Latimer's assistant had hired a private investigator to find where Jove Latimer is and why he went missing.

In fact, she is already expecting that Jove Latimer's assistant will announce that he is missing. She just thought that it would be wise for Jove Latimer to be announced missing before the announcement that he has an arrest warrant. Or else, law enforcement and the public will assume that he was just hiding.

Bardwell kept her tattooed eyebrows high as possible as she stared at Olivia as if calculating whether to trust her words or not. After a few seconds, her hand reached out for the folder and said, "This will be published in tomorrow's issue," As expected, Bardwell always bypasses the law enforcers which always pisses them off.

Olivia internally sighed in relief. Although she was certain that her report is bona fide and she had provided Bardwell with all evidence, she still cannot tell if Bardwell would be satisfied with it. Because Bardwell has always been unpredictable and was keen on finding faults in everything she does.

Olivia watched as Bardwell finally took the folder and opened it to read its content.

"You may go," Bardwell said without looking at her.

But while Bardwell had already dismissed her, Olivia is not yet done. She still has an agenda to talk with Bardwell, so she stayed rooted on her spot contemplating how to open another topic.

Until Bardwell noticed her unmoving. She peeked from the folder she was reading. "Is there anything else," She asked in an annoyed tone.

Olivia takes a deep breath and thought, it is now or never. So she opened her mouth to speak. "I…I want to request a break,"

Bardwell put down the folder and leaned her back. "A break," She drawled out her words as if the very idea was far-fetched.

"Jove Latimer's case has taken a toll on me and I wanted to take a break," Olivia immediately tried to justify her request. Though Jove Latimer's case was not the sole reason, it was still enough. She believed that what she uncovered could make a headline and will probably become the talk of the town in the coming weeks. So it was enough for her to earn if not a promotion, at least a break.

Thankfully, it looks like Bardwell thought that she deserved that as well because she finally tore her gaze from Olivia and said, "I'll give you one week,"

But Olivia thought that it was not enough. "Two weeks," She tried to bargain. "This is the first time I am going to ask for a long break. So I am requesting a two-week break," It is true though. Ever since she started working for Bardwell, the longest break she had was three days despite her job being stressful and dangerous.

Bardwell seemed to contemplate and for a moment there, Olivia thought that Bardwell being Bardwell will become unreasonable and will lessen her break into just three days. But she was surprised when Bardwell said, "Okay,"

Though Olivia was surprised and for a moment was dumbfounded in disbelief, she quickly regained her composure and said, "Thank you," Before Bardwell could take back her words.