Chapter 145

Even though the MIS had created doubt in the mind of the populace over the story, it somehow only sorted out the part that had connection with Olivia. The writer had connected Olivia to the story and introduced her as the lady that Mike was engaged with to marry. It gathered a lot of traffic because of her, though her saving grace was that most of the readers didn't know her most recent status, and the writer wasn't aware too. As such news normally goes, some of her readers were being sentimental and took side with Olivia while some felt Margaret must have manipulated Mike to change his mind.

What would have been to Lizzy's advantage, turned out to almost ruined her career as a blogger. Initially the traffic was amazing and the news was trending as she was almost gaining a good position amongst the most searched on Google. As soon as the story was flagged, as fake by fact finders, based on Olivia Hart's inclusion, the traffic began to nose dive. Readers began to call the writer out. Some even suggested that she be sue for damages, while others felt her licence should be withdrawn. Few of Lizzy's friends especially those who were aware of the story reached out to her asking if she actually confirmed the authenticity of the story. 

Lizzy was shocked to the marrows, it hadn't been that long she delved into the career, it would be a huge loss if she lose her license. She had got several opinion, one of such being, how sure was she that she wasn't being set up by the friend who contacted her. Even though she knew Lucy quite well, some element of doubt filtered into her mind as she took time to think things through. She had to search her mind to know if there was any way she had hurt Lucy in the past that could warrant such act. When she couldn't find out any thing of a sort, she decided that she would call Lucy and be double sure that what she told her was true, but before that, she felt the urge to do a background check on the name Olivia Hart. 

If only Lizzy was smart enough, to have done what she was doing at last initially, she would have avoided a lot of mistakes. She obviously did not get things right from the onset. She had only fixed her eyes on the money and fame she would enjoy from the story that she took all Lucy told her hook and sinker without asking questions. The background check she was finally running on the names, would have been the first thing. 

She couldn't believe her eyes when she typed Olivia Hart on the search bar of the search engine online, what she saw, made her feel she was asleep. She ran into the bathroom where she splashed water on her face to wake herself up. She then returned to her room, took the iPad again, this time around, she slowly read through. How could she have done this, she thought. It wasn't as if she didn't know that such people of that status were to be contacted before they were included in any story. Their reaction determines whether the story was true or false, even when it's true, the would somehow negotiate that it shouldn't be made public.

Lizzy called Lucy severally, but she didn't pick, so she dropped her a message. Meanwhile, while she was calling, Lucy was in a meeting with Mira, Olivia and Chase. It was also for the blogger that wrote the story that the meeting was called. Lucy had left her phone in her room while attending the meeting, so she never knew that someone was calling her. Olivia and her sister had got the detail of the blogger, and felt the need to reach out to her so as to warn her on the implication of her action. While Lucy listened to them speak one after the other, it was obvious to her that Olivia wasn't aware, that the name she mentioned was the same person she contacted to help her in the undercover job. Luckily for her, she was chosen to make the call and if possible, make the trip to meet with Lizzy.

Lucy came back to the room, the first thing she did was to exhale and relax her body on the chair. She had been holding her breath in the meeting, afraid of how Olivia and her family would feel when they found out she had a relationship with the writer. Although Olivia knew her and can vouch for her to some extent, it would take a lot of explanation and time to prove her self innocent. She counted it lucky that she was asked to do the job which she saw as an opportunity to clean up the mess she unknowingly created. When she checked her phone, she saw many missed calls, from same number. Then she saw the message that was sent, this she read, the last line asked that they speak at a particular time in the night. 

Chase would have loved to let things be as discussed, but for Olivia's Dad. He knew how he would react when such news got to him, the first question would be to know what he (Chase) did about it. He was not ready for such interrogations from Ben Hart. Everyone of them that worked under him, both in the head office and other offices knew quite well, what it was like not living up to expectations in line of duty. Chase took it upon himself to follow up on Lucy so as to make sure she handled the job the way it was expected. 

When Lucy was trying to reach Lizzy, and it failed, she didn't know it worked for good. What she never thought and wasn't aware was that her entire room had been wired. That meant that she was not having any privacy anymore as regards calls. Although her instinct kept hinting her to take a walk when she was ready to discuss with Lizzy, she never listened nor pay attention to that inner voice. All that was in her mind was to clean up the mess and possibly nip any troubles that would have emanated from it on the bud. 

It was exactly 7pm when Lizzy's call came through on Lucy's phone, luckily for her, Pat hadn't come back from work. It was a very quiet and cool environment perfect for such interaction, except for the unseen ear that listened. As soon as the call came in, Chase also got alerted. He moved to a quiet place where there wouldn't be interference nor suspicion. Lucy was first to talk, she told Lizzy how sad she was when she got the news about the story, she asked why she would do such a thing without asking questions. She also asked if it was a bad idea asking her for a favour which was paid for. While she spoke, Lizzy kept silent, she knew that whatever Lucy was saying stand out true, so there was no need to interrupt her. She would rather wait for her to pour out all that she had in mind. Lucy was able to do exactly that, and ended with the fact that she would have left the Harts out of the story as she had enough to write on Margaret and Mike. 

When she landed, Lizzy kept mute for close to twenty extra seconds before she spoke, from her voice, Lucy could see she how remorseful she was. She had started with apologies for delving into the story without thorough check on the background of the people involved. She told her how shock she was when she finally checked and found out that Olivia was actually a Senator in her country. Lizzy asked if there was anyway Lucy could be of help as she wouldn't know what next to expect from the family. Already, as she said, her career was in a serious trouble. 

Chase listened while the conversation was ongoing, he could only understand that these two knew each other, but from the discussion so far, it doesn't seem like Lucy in any way divulged the information to Lizzy. More so, for Lizzy to sound apologetic in fear, it was really, all her fault. He thought of how to handle such a person, he had recorded the discussions, and would use it to do a follow up on her. He would make her do a Laundry story on Olivia as a payback for the damage s would have done. 

The remaining part of the discussion was on the assignment giving to the chefs girlfriend, Lizzy promised to do a proper follow up on her so there wouldn't be any mistake. This ending part, made Chase change his mind on the earlier planned punishment, having known what brought the two together. He understood how Lizzy got to know about the story and why she apologized for going the extra mile in writing it online as gossip.