Chapter 77

As things stood, Brains had counted his losses as it concerned the ladies in his life, he could only boast of one person for now, even though they hadn't gone so deep into whatever they share to ascertain her level of interest. But without doubt, she was the last one standing. That person being no other but Lucymang. There togetherness before he left for the US, made some sense to him. She presented a good image of herself both in her attitude and in the handling of house chores. She was also respectful on the real sense of it, as her words were carefully chosen and none sounded derogatory nor did any insult him. He initially attributed it to her level of exposure in the profession she had found herself and felt it would be nice to give her time probably her real self might surface. But if his trip ends the way it was right now in the US, coupled with the experience he had, he wouldn't know if he would wait that long for her to prove whom or what she is or represented. Lucy obviously had moved on from the look of things, one being that James to his best of knowledge and from the look of things out there at the pool side, had won her heart. Although he also had played a role in pushing her away from himself, in that he chose to be on his own in the hotel even when she insisted. He thought that, probably she was trying to avoid James closeness and had wanted using him to push him away. If that was the case, then it would be right to say that he indeed contributed immensely to what happened. There was also the third factor, which cannot be thrown away easily, that being what led to his cautious decision of staying in his own. The dream he had on the airplane and the confusion therein. He had seen in reality, that the confusion was already playing out, but for his prior decision to watch out for it and possibly avoid it. Mira was one that he may never forget nor forgive easily, the memory might be too tough to erase, this was because he couldn't say why or what led to the end of that relationship. All the effort he had made to reach her, including the text messages he sent, did not get any response. He had applied some wisdom on his ex ladies who he reached out to, and tried finding out if they ever met Mira, but none of them knew her, nor have they heard about her. He would have preferred to know his crime, at least with that he would tender apologies and  have a rest of mind not minding the separation. The last piece that he just picked being Olivia, he didn't know where and how to explain that, he wouldn't have believed Mira was not the lady he left his job to go in search for, all the while he was making effort in Paris, he couldn't imagine what Olivia might have been doing. He had heard how hard heartened ladies or women could be, but this was the height of it. Recalling the near death experience he had in the hospital due to the accident, it seemed justifiable to kill or at least harm her. He also recalled that while Mira was around him, he had always had that feeling that somethings weren't adding up. There was that missing link that he sensed, but he was handicapped when it came to pointing it out. Miras positioning of herself as Olivia and behaving in like manner was also something he couldn't understand the reason. He would have thought that Mira in such time would let him know where the sister was, and at least facilitate their reconnection. Having known she want the one though he knew late, he could understand it better now. One thing was certain, he needed to move on since all of them had moved on. These and more were what occupied Brains mind through the night. He was able to make up his mind and take decisions in certain thing and ways to live and handle issues. 

As it was with him in his room, so it was with Lucy after she and James departed to their various rooms that night. She had suddenly realized that although James was very handsome, his level of maturity cannot be compared with that of Brains or Mike. This bordered her so much and made her think back to Mike's and Brain's experience at Paris. Recalling that Brains refused to share room with her, made her think he must have somethings in mind against her or maybe he had began hugging her from what she does then. She felt that there was no way she would get close to Mike again, the condition on ground wouldn't in any way permit that. Whatever she was having with Sam, was more of a fling and a side chick affair, which may stop any day, her only joy being that she would have made a lot of fortune financially within the period. Aside that, Brains still remained the free man standing. How she would get him back to herself became a huge task, this being that she was not the kind of lady that brings her self low to any man. Assuming Brains hadn't made that choice of abandoning her for a separate room, all that were happening wouldn't have happened. She finally decided to find a way around the entire issues, while making sure she close the deal they came for very well. 

Olivia was not left out in the night thoughts, hers was basically on Mike, she wouldn't want anything that would come between them, she must reach out to Mike first, and make sure  he knew the truth, before any other person goes behind to speak out. Although Brains was a handsome and easy going young man, his quick connection with Mira somehow affected her judgement of him. To her, Brains hadn't stayed long on Paris to engage closely with a woman. Also, no matter what happened, he was too quick to make up his mind to date Mira, even though he felt she was Olivia. She felt that if he could be smart enough to follow through on the relationship,he should also nad been smart enough to know they were twin. Miras attitude would also have had areas that would give her away as not being Olivia, and he would have noticed them, and withdrew himself. She included that he purposely initiated that relationship with Mira and that it was for an ulterior motive. She concluded that there was no looking back towards him, rather her focus on Mike would remain. One other thing she had added to her thoughts was Pat's visit. She was concerned because since Pat had lost out of the marriage with Nelly, they hadn't spoken like they use to, and wouldn't know how she was feeling about it. There might be possibility she was planning a come back to her husband. She may have turned a new leaf and decide to have Mike back, she thought. If that become the case, she would be on the lose out, and that wouldn't tell good on her person and career. She recalled her Dad telling them that such times, as the political periods, the press would become a veritable tool for campaign against opponents, especially when they saw dirt in ones profile. They would dig them out for the public. She resolved to apply immense wisdom on Pat.

Pat had received her visa and passport from the courier officer, although it was a sealed envelope, she had confidence in the Harts, that the embassy wouldn't deny her visa. So she hurriedly ran I to the room where she tore the nylon and the envelope housing then passport. To her surprise, her wish came through, it was not only the passport and visa that was in the pack, rather, there was a return ticket already paid for on her name for the trip. She couldn't hold her joy, she called Mira and thanked her so much. Mira who accepted and welcomed the appreciation, informed her that a driver is be taking her to the airport and gave her time the driver would be there in he guest house. When pat dropped the call, she tried reaching out to Olivia, but her number wasn't reachable, so she dropped a message. On the day of her trip, she woke up early, had a shower, and dressed up, even though she hadn't a much to arrange or carry. The driver was there before the scheduled time, he waited a little at the parking lot for Pat who finally came out, then they proceeded to the airport. When Pat boarded the airplane, she was filled with a lot of thoughts, which included Mike and Olivia her friend. She thought of the implication of getting back with Mike, and the effect it would have on Olivia. The possibility of this happening was what she couldn't say, she wouldn't even know if Mike would forgiven her for all she had done to him, and he haven known she was into her gender, might never want to have anything doing with her. She would just get there, see them an let them be, while she take her fate and move on. The next thing that came to her mind was Nelly, she never thought in her widest dream, that Nelly could hurt a fly, she was so calm, looking so innocent and had a very kind heart, or maybe she was pretending so as to get her to do her bid. On very many occasions, she had given her juicy contracts that were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, these had changed her financial status. In fact she missed her so much, she would have loved to live with her forever, but for the things she involved herself. 

Ben Hart could not hold his happiness when he got the news that the senator has been picked by the authorities,he called Chase to verify, Chase did not waste time in picking his call and passing the information to him. Ben thanked him and promised he would soon be back. That was when he passed the information that no one was permitted to see the senator until he got back and saw him first. His plan was to speak to him as his old time friend and to possibly warn him to attacking his family, to avoid an aggressive response. He called the directors of the secret agents, and told him what to do. He had gone out of the country for an official assignment, though he had planned coming back the next day, something came up and delayed his trip. This in turn kept the senator longer in the cell. When he finally returned, he decided to pay a visit to the senator in the agency. As usual, though this time they were many, the security detailed that follows him were all well dressed and there were more cars than the three they went out with that day. They rushed into their vehicles, when they spotted Ben jump onto his, and immediately the driver's, zoomed off, the other cars followed. It took them just few minutes to arrive at the agency. The director, Chase and Alicia were already waiting for him the moment his car and others packed in front of the office, the P.A rushed out and opened the door for him. Hart didn't waste time he jumped down from the car, and walked towards the door, with his security details following. Once they got into the office of the directed, the officers, who include Alicia and Chase stood up and gave him a salute to welcome him. They then Proceeded to the cell where the senator was kept. When Senator Crusoe saw Hart, he couldn't look him on the face, rather he bent his face and was looking downwards. Hart tool a seat and sat down, he was inside to unit cell with Chase, director and Alicia. Senator was busy looking at Chase, he wondered how he fell into the trap, he had always been a smart man, and he wondered what happened to his smartness. On a very good day, he would have checked out everything he needed to know about Chase by profiling him before accepting him into his security fold. He had come to know he was part of the people that sold him out. Hart looked at him for a while, he had wanted to ask him all that he had in mind, but he felt there was no need, rather he would allow Chase and his boys to handle him. So he stood up and left the room. While he was leaving Senator Crusoe, looked up and asked him;

Are you leaving me here? 

I didn't bring you here the first place, Hart answered.

He did not wait for him to say something again, as he walked to the directors office where he asked the to commence investigation and interrogation. He needed everything to be done and dusted within the week as the primary election for the party was for the next week. The evidence he was searching for against Crusoe, was to knock him out of the contest. Both of them belong to same party, including Olivia, and from what he was seeing so far, Crusoe's remain as the senator representing that constituency might cost him votes there, hence his plans to fix his daughter who the people love and needed. As a president, he needed to win majority of the vote in his constituency, in a landsliding margin. He was so happy with the evidence he had gathered so far, all he needed was Crusoe's testimony to crown it all. Although he knew how stubborn he could be, he also believed that when he sees the evidence and how overwhelming they were, he wouldn't have any option than to succumb. He wasn't interested in putting him behind bars,  he wasn't also ready to give him room for him to see his lawyer, atleast not for now, all he wanted was hia confession and a gentleman agreement to step down his aspiration for Olivia. It was only when he insisted, that he would proceed with the case.  He believed that removing him from.that seat and position was already enough punishment.when he was through talking to the Director and his team, he entered his vehicle and they left not without the usual display of the agents show of smartness. As soon  as they left, the director instructed Chase and Alicia to map out plan on how they would go about the interrogation so as to achieve result within the given time. They saluted him and left, accepting to do exactly as he said.