In the show Lois is seen as a loner. She has sources and Perry and Jimmy. But otherwise tends to not have close friends of either sex.

So change this, yes Linda King did some bad things, but this Lois survived them and she and Linda over came their problems. Both grew up and remain close trusted friends.

Yes Cat Grant is 11 years older than Lois and but Lois discovered that Cat's slutmode is a result of her husband cheating on her with their nanny and he left her and got custody of their son Adam and Cat went off into self destructive patterns. Lois gains her trust and the two become friends.

Add in Mayson Drake, Maggie Sawyer, Lucy, other female characters from elsewhere such as Vicki Vale, Polly Perkins and so forth.

Now with her team of trusted and close friends she takes down Lex Luthor before Superman arrives.

If Cat and Lois are friends Cat might tell her about some rumors she can't confirm or use about Les to start the ball rolling.

Bump