Chapter 65

Olivia's influence and popularity was on the increase in all facets, most of the decisions in the contract office was left on her table, her absence not withstanding. She was beginning to recieve various calls from interested men who for one reason or the other want to marry her. Some had gone ahead to meet with her father to state their interest, although few of them were genuine, most were really for the sake of the connection. Olivia did not allow it bother her, she was still with Mike and hadn't seen a reason to end the relationship. Sometimes, she wished Pat was not involved in all these, as that would have given her the freedom to explore freely and possible see the true color and nature of Mike. She felt that the space was not enough for Mike to prove himself. She would soon get the kind of space she wanted, she told her self to be patient. Her mind was that if all her plans worked accordingly, she would use the opportunity to experiment and discover some hidden things about Mike if there was any.

Olivias initial plan was to travel to the US with Lucy, leaving Mike behind, it wasn't as if she wouldn't be able to afford the cost of taking him along, but she felt they were going for business, not pleasure. The new development has changed the entire plans, now that Mike was also to handle a business in the US too. She was bent on sorting out the contract issue before the trip, that was all that preoccupied her mind. Now that the evidence was strong enough to deal decicively with Crusoe, she felt very comfortable that she would be the first to give him the first shocker. 

When the mail got to the Nelly, the first thing she did was to call on Senator to verify what was going on. The senator never knew that the contract had been withdrawn from them. He promised he would get back to her. He tried making some contacts, but everyone kept referring him to Olivia, that is the office that gives the final authorization for a contract to be effective. He never knew who was in the office, and had no idea that his supposed competitor, was in charge. While he was reaching out for possible contact so as to know what happened and how he could handle it, the contract was being re-drafted to include Bills company. He got back to Nelly and advised that she proceed on a trip to Paris, particularly the contract office so as to get first hand information on what happened. It was on that trip that Nelly figured out that Olivia was in charge. She couldn't believe it, she had to reach out to Mary's office and got a confirmation on it. This threw her off balance, to her, all hope is lost. There was no way to remedy it because as far as she could recall, her first encounter with Olivia was a total mess. Even if there was something to be done, she knew she wasn't going to be at the forefront. She would allow the senator to handle this one. When she called the Senator and told him that Olivia Hart was in charge, the line went dead silent for almost a minute. She was saying hello repeatedly without response, although she heard some sounds on the background, indicating that the call was still on. Senators voice finally came back alive, the first question was to confirm the particular Hart she was talking about. When she confirmed to him that it was the Hart he knew, he suggested to her that she should follow up on the case as his presence would destroy alot of things. Nelly insisted that she was exonorated reminding him of her encounter with Olivia when she visited Africa and how she had threatened her. Senator recalled the event and understood her, so he old her he would look out for a contact person that would be of help. 

As soon as  the call was dropped, Nelly remebered Pat, she felt so bad, how could she have forgotten Pat. So long as she was concerned, Pat being Olivia's beat friend, was enough influence already. She felt it was time for Pat to reciprocate the good and nice gestures she had been sending her way. She decided to put a call across and possibly book an appointment, for her to come over to Paris so the senator would influence her to help. She called Pat many times, the phone rang but it wasn't picked, she became scared assuming that something wrong may have happens. She had never called Pat twice, everytime in the past that e called, Pat would pick the first call. So she sent a message to her. Meanwhile, Pat saw her calls and felt it was no longer neccesary having anything to do with her, she saw her as an enemy to Olivia and by extension her enemy too. When the text came in, she read it, and thought it wise that Olivia would see it. She called Olivia and told her, then she forwarded the message to her. Olivia whose level of alertness on anything that had to do with the Crusoe's, was on the high side, told her to respond to the message and make sure she accepted the deal and make the trip. Olivia did as she was told and as soon as her reply message got to Nelly, she called back. Pat picked the call and they spoke for a while before she handed the phone to Senator. Nelly had moved from her location to where Senator was. She had put a call through, and suggested Pat, that made the senator to ask that she meet up with him so he would heat her one on one. When she got there, and told him the entire plan, he asked that she call Pat. The senator introduced himself to Pat and asked that she joined them the next day in Paris. She was to take the next morning flight, Nelly would handle the logistics of her trip and the hotel accomodation. He added that any inconveniences would also be factored into the payment to be made. When Pat told Olivia, she laughed and told her to make sure she enjoyed herself, but be careful too. The only task she gave her was to record whatever she felt could help in destroying the Senator. Pat dropped the call, she went into her room to pack a few things she would be needing for the trip the next day. 

When Abigail and Bill woke up the next morning, they hurriedly took their bath and breakfast, then they rushed to the Cyber cafe in the Hotel. There they were able to access the internet and print the new company profile. The staff helped them to package it the way it would look presentable, when they wanted to pay, they refused the money, it was then Bill recalled they were obeying instructions. They rushed back upstairs and calls Olivias room via the intercom, Mike was the one that picked, when he heard that Abigail was on the line, he knew the call was for Olivia, so he ndethe phone over to her. Olivia did not waste time, she asked that they bring the profile to her room immediately. The couple quickly left their room to that of Olivia, they got to the door and knocked, Olivia sensed they are the one at the door, so, she went and opened the door, and asked that they come in. Bill was surprised at what he saw, he noticed that there was no difference between the room they were staying and the one Olivia was. He wondered the more what kind of person she was, ordinarily, their room would have been a regular one but here they were in the same VIP room at the same class with hers. Olivia have them seats, while she say on the bed near Mike. She took her time flipping and reading throughout the profile. While she read, the room was very silent, except the low voice of the Quest the presenter on CNN. It was his program, 'Quest means business' that was on, Mike and the couple moved their attention to that giving Olivia the much needed time to read through. In a little while, Olivia turned to them and told them that the profile was perfect and that if was a good job. She asked the couple how they felt now that both of them were directors in the company. Abiga8 could only smile, while Bill confessed truely that he was ignorant of the implication, he thanked Olivia for the correction. Olivia, immediately called Mary her aunt, and asked her if the contract paper were ready, she turned on the speaker of the phone allowing both the couple and Mike hear what was discussed. Marys response was that the only thing remaining was her signature. She mentioned that the cheque for the execution was ready too as she directed. Mike couldn't but hold his curiosity, what he was seeing baffled him, had it been he knew her this way he thought, he would have done whatever it took to marry her. Olivia asked that a soft copy be sent to her for her signature, while letting her know that a hard copy of the company profile was with her, and a soft copy would sent to her immediately. She told Bill and Abigail that they were free to stay a little more in the hotel if the felt so, although she was sure it was necessary as the entire contract would be sent to their office address via UPS courier service. she, Mike and Lucy would be leaving for the US the next day she added. Abgail and Bill were happy and appreciated her, they promised to deliver diligently on the contract. They would also love to leave the next day they added. Olivia wrote down Mary's email and asked them to forward a soft copy of the new profile to her immediately. They couple left the room to do the needful.

The next day, while Olivia, Mike and Lucy were moving their luggages down to Bruno's car, Abigail and Bill were also moving towards the booked cab that was to take them to the airport for their onward trip back to their base. All the cost the accumulated, was cleared up by Olivia, including their return trip expense. Pat was not left out too, she had booked a ride to the airport and was also moving her luggage to the cab. Bruno who was already waiting on the car, was a little bit relieved, he was to get home and socialize. He had missed his friends. On the other hand, he would have also loved that Olivia returned back soon, she treated him much more like a brother and private agent, she pays him at will not minding that he was on official duty. He had told her the previous day when she announced the trip, that he would miss her. He came down and loaded the luggages into the trunk of the car, he opens the doors, Olivia got behind with Mike, while Lucy sat in front. The car carrying the couple followed them behind as they headed to the same airport. Although their flights were not same neither were they of same time schedule, coincidentally they arrived the airport same time. Olivia, Mike and Lucy were to board the British Airways to JFK, enroute Heathrow, they booked their flight and chose to seat together in business class. Abigail an her husband Bill were to board an economy class Ethiopian airlines, while Pat took first class Air France. Pat ticket was booked by Nelly as instructed by the Senator, when Pat saw her ticket, she could only but laugh, having understood that all they wanted was to impress her and possibly bribe her enough to do their bidden. 

Pat was first to land Paris, she was picked up by Nelly at the airport, and they proceeded to the hotel where reservation was made already. She was to spend three days there awaiting Senators return from an emergency trip. When she was told, all she could remember was Olivia's advise, which is to enjoy herself. So she did, the hotel was a five star standard one, and she was given a VIP room, at the fifteenth floor, with a front view that faced the beach. once she entered her room, that was first thing she noticed, she threw the window open and allowed fresh breeze inside a little bit, before she took her shower and came out refreshed. She checked her fridge, lo and behind it was stock with her favorites drinks, so she took a bottle of wine, popped it and hd a fill, before she lay down on the bed for rest. She noticed that Nelly booked a separate room, which was kind of weird, she had known her for sometime now and the usual thing was both of them sharing same room and having fun including sex. She persuaded herself not to be bothered, as her mission was more of enjoyment and investigation. Whatever it would take to keep her friendship with Olivia tight, she would do it. As she lay down on the bed thinking of how the meeting would go, she didn't know when she slept off.

Olivia slept all through the flight to Heathrow, while Lucy was busy with playing games and watching movie. Their sitted position didn't give her room to try anything funny, Mike was sitted on the window side, with Olivia in the middle while she was close to the aisles. While in the flight, Mike took time to look at the various contract papers, especially the list of equipments they were to supply. Olivia who was now awake began to plan how her stay would be with Mike. She had decided already that it wouldn't be business as usual, after all, America is far away from home and there wasn't anyone to avoid or be careful of, Pat who they were giving respect was also far away Paris. It was time to share a lot with Mike and find out more about him. She took time to write out various places she would love them to visit, while she was makingte entire plan, Lucy was not included, so long as she was concerned, Lucy was on her own upon arrival to the US. Her plans was for herself and her man period. This was her first time of going on a trip with a man she was in love with, so she wasn't going to allow anyone ruin the fun for her, moreover, it would take her a long time to have such again, since her return would be for serious political consultations and campaigns. This, she would let Mike know when she must have confirmed him and certify him okay.