Chapter 206

Dylan made several phone calls that morning, while Logan worked from home, and I nervously scrolled through some news websites covering the story and the false information spread about me.

The misinformation was detrimental. People were accusing me of purposefully becoming Logan’s secretary just so I could break up his relationship to Tina and ruin both their lives.

If anyone had fact checked anything, they would have seen that I worked for Logan much longer than he’d dated Tina. That didn’t make for as clickable a headline however.

“Good news,” Dylan said as he hung up the phone. Logan and I both look up at him. “I’ve arranged for a meeting with one of my friends in public relations. I’ve talked her through our situation and what we would need help with.”

“She seemed agreeable?” Logan asked.

“Yes,” Dylan replied. “She admitted she heard about Hazel on the news and wondered who would be advocating for her. I think we have the right person here for the job.”

“And we can trust her?” I asked, to be sure. The last thing I wanted was to have the rug pulled out from under me by someone I would have to depend on.

“We’ve been friends a long time,” Dylan said. “I can vouch for her. Plus, she has her own wealth, so she won’t be tempted by any money Hatfield Senior throws her way.”

That was definitely a boon at this stage. I shivered, remembering my time in the holding tank.

“What time are we meeting her?” Logan asked.

“Noon today,” Dylan said. “I figured the sooner the better, with how things are.”

“Agreed,” Logan replied, and nodding, I closed all of my internet tabs.

I’d lost all of my clothes in the travel, so I left it up to Logan and Dylan to buy me something to wear. They returned with piles of clothes, all in the correct size and mostly all my style. There were a few more revealing pieces that I wasn’t too sure off.

Logan pushed those aside and said, “Later.”

Oh. Oh.

Thinking of showing off those clothes for Logan sent my heart racing and helped me cope with my nerves now. No matter how much unpleasantness I would have to face, Logan and I would still have fun later. That kept me going.

One of the outfits they had purchased was a simple pantsuit with a cream white blouse. I’d often worn clothes like this to the office… when I still had my job. Wearing the outfit now felt like I was putting on a suit of armor.

As I checked myself in the mirror, looking from every angle to make sure I was respectable and presentable, Logan came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I watched in the mirror as he looked down at me in my new outfit.

“Good?” he asked.

“Perfect,” I told him.

He smiled. “Good.”

The meeting was to be held at a café downtown. Unfortunately, at the time of day during a weekday, parking was notoriously difficult to find. This led Dylan to having to park in a garage a block away, and for us to walk.

Typically, I wouldn’t mind. Even at first, I didn’t see much of a problem, despite Dylan and Logan’s agitation about it. We could walk a block without getting winded. My high heels weren’t so high that I was going to wear myself out.

It wasn’t until we actually started walking the distance, that I realized they had cause for concern.

My face was on every newspaper and tabloid. People would stop walking when they saw me, just to stare.

Dylan and Logan walked on either side of me, as if to protect me. Still, I felt deeply unnerved.

We arrived at the café without incident, but by now, my stomach was tied up in knots. I didn’t feel like eating anything.

The person we were meeting was already sitting at a table. Dylan spotted her first and rushed over.

“Mabel,” he said. She stood up and they embraced as friends. When they separated, Dylan turned to Logan and me. “This is Mabel Fritz. Mabel, this is Logan Hatfield and Hazel Whitaker.”

Mabel shook Logan’s offered hand quickly enough. She held onto mine much longer.

“The woman in question,” she said while looking me over like she was sizing me up.

“Yes,” I said. After clearing my throat, I add, “Nice to meet you.”

“Professional. Polite. Not at all how the media is portraying you,” Mabel said.

“I already told you not to believe all that,” Dylan grumbled.

“It helps to see with my own eyes,” she said and finally released my hand. “Please, sit down.”

Dylan took the spot beside Mabel at the small four-person table, while Logan and I sat opposite them.

The waitress arrived quickly with menus, but as none of us felt like eating, we ordered coffees all around. The waitress glanced twice at me and then at Logan, but didn’t say anything as she walked away.

Mabel tracked the action, eyes following the waitress. Then she glanced at the table beside ours, just as an old woman leaned over.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady,” the old woman snapped at me. “Splitting up households. Find your own man.”

“If anyone is at fault here, it’s me,” Logan interjected. He leaned forward at the same time, blocking the woman’s sight of me. “I am the one who fell in love with Hazel. No one forced me.”

“Not that you owe any explanation to strangers at a café,” Dylan added, glaring at the woman. “I’m sure you’d like to get back to your meal and leave us to ours.”

The old woman made a harrumphing sound, but ultimately went back to her meal.

Mabel watched the full exchange with a curious expression.

I could only imagine what she must have been thinking. Even I was even being accosted by old ladies in cafes, maybe this was too big of a project for Mabel to want to take on.

I didn’t want to lose her, though, not if she was trustworthy and could help.

“I know saving my reputation is probably going to be a big challenge,” I started, speaking to Mabel, “But –”

“I like challenges,” Mabel said with a small smile. She shrugged. “Besides, this isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever waded through. This is just misinformation spread by a jealous woman and a man hell-bent on scorching earth. It’s not like you actually did anything wrong. Those are the tough cases.”

She was on my side. Realizing that, an overwhelming sense of relief flooded through me and I sank back in my chair. My stomach rumbled. Maybe I was hungry after all. I’d totally skipped breakfast.

“Get the pancakes,” Mabel said. “They put fruit on top, it’s delicious. And stop worrying.” She glanced to Dylan and Logan as well. “All of you. The first step here is to present yourselves with confidence. You haven’t done anything wrong. Remember that. Carry it like a badge of honor.”

“So you’ll help us then?” Logan asked.

“Of course I will,” Mabel said. “I’m used to working for scoundrels. It will be nice to help someone who actually deserves it for a change.”

“Glad to have you,” Dylan said.

Mabel nodded. “Now. I’ll need some time to generate an actual plan, but for now, you must all appear calm and confident. Continue on like nothing has happened. Remember, you are above this misinformation campaign.”

I could do that. I thought.

When the waitress came again, I confidently ordered, “Pancakes, please. Extra fruit.”

Mabel seemed pleased.

“We’ll save your reputation, Hazel. Just you wait.”