Lauren could hear the noises from the workmen setting up the ice sculptures as soon as she started down the stairs. Subconsciously she walked faster, forgetting all about her heels, as she wanted to give them a piece of her mind. This was so not okay. Had they been ten minutes later the guests would already be arriving. She stumbled slightly at the last step, but caught herself, barely avoiding crashing into her father's back.

"Hello Lauren. Gracious as ever, I see." Her mother smiled and leaned forward to give her a half hug and a peck on the cheek. She was apparently starting early with a glass of scotch firmly in her other hand.

"Mom, Dad."

She smiled at her dad, not really sure if she should shake his hand or how they did greetings nowadays. After all, this hug thing with her mom was new, but she settled for a nod and a smile.

"Lauren, you look very nice. So somber though. Did somebody die? A little color wouldn't kill you, you know."

"Why thank you, mom," she rolled her eyes at the obvious dig, but couldn't help smiling. Her mother really hadn't changed much in the years that had passed, "I wasn't going for the funeral look, but you never know what might happen before the night is over."


Bo and Kenzi tumbled through the service entrance, obviously late and each one emphatically blaming the other. Their boss for the evening, a tight faced woman with a severe bun, gave them an epic scowl and demanded to know which agency had sent them. "You two are late. I don't see your names on the list, which agency did you book through?

Bo stared daggers at Kenzi, who unfazed, covered for them with the resolve of a true con artist pulling a snobby sounding name out of her butt, "Uh, we're not from the agency. My uncle, Lyle Winterfeld, got us the job."

The woman maintained her expression, raising an eyebrow to convey her skepticism, "I wasn't aware anyone associated with the Winterfelds knew how to work."

"Oh you know, we're trying to earn a little extra for skiing at Vale since mummy and daddy are busy overpaying for Spencer's wedding at the Plaza."

The woman turned to her assistant, "Get me the guest list; I need to clear these two with Mr. Winterfeld." The assistant nodded and scurried off to rummage through the pile of papers on the desk in the outer office.

Bo stepped forward grabbing the woman's bare arm pulsing her influence, "Surely that's not necessary, is it?" The woman instantly softened, opening her mouth, but not really saying anything. "Don't you think we have honest faces and you clearly have your hands full?" The woman hummed in agreement, closing her eyes as pleasure coursed through her. Bo leaned into her, purring, "How about you just give us our assignments and we'll be out of your hair."


"Is everything ready?" Lauren's mother eyed a few of the wait staff now busily working to place vodka shots on the bases of the two big, slug-shaped ice sculptures before the guests arrived. "The ice sculptures are lovely. I would have had them delivered a bit earlier, of course."

"Oh, you know me; I like to live on the edge." Her mother glared at her, signaling that she was absolutely not amused. Lauren rolled her eyes again and sighed, "Yes, everything is ready, mom. I was here extra early to breathe down everybody's neck and micromanage everything. I'm sure you would have been proud."

"I do not do that, Lauren. Some people just need a little more supervision and motivation." Her mother sighed before continuing, "I assume you're here alone?"

"Except for you and dad and the staff of a gazillion, yes, I'm here alone."

"Must you make everything into a joke, Lauren? I was simply inquiring if my daughter was bringing a date."

Lauren was tempted to roll her eyes again at this pointed line of questioning, but was afraid they might get stuck. "No mother, I am here alone." It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her mother about Bo, if for no other reason than she wouldn't have to play twenty questions about her love life later. Thankfully, before she could summon the words, the sound of the outer door opening caused a much needed distraction and both women turned their attention toward the sound of voices. It was time to get their schmooze on.


Bo stood behind the bar getting the lay of the land, so to speak. She frowned, all of her effort was for naught, her view of the party was obstructed. "Kenzi, you are going to have to be my eyes, I can't see past the damn ice sculptures."

Kenzi set her serving tray on the bar with a deliberate thump and sighed loudly, "Well maybe you should have chi sucked the boss lady until she gave you a table down front."

"Do we have a problem?"

"Yeah, way to keep things low pro, what if someone had seen that crazy Agent Orange love touch shit?"

Bo leaned forward, "Keep your voice down, and besides if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have had to use my succubus on her. What happened to you calling in a thousand favors, and this was all arranged, don't worry about a thing, Bo Bo?"

"Did I say that?"

"Yeah, you did." Bo began filling the tray with champagne flutes; they had to at least try to look the part. This evening was not off to a good start; lying their way in, stuck tending bar off in Timbuktu, and still no sign of Lauren.

"Well, I mean I tried, but it was so last minute…"

"So you figured what, we would just show up dressed as waiters to the social event of the season and nobody would notice?" Bo shoved the tray towards Kenzi, "Get out there and serve the champagne."

"I'm going, I'm going."

Bo watched as Kenzi picked up the tray and almost fell over. She cringed as she waited for the inevitable crash, but thankfully Kenzi righted herself and shrugged it off. Bo sighed to herself, "This is never going to work."


Half an hour later when everyone had arrived and were mingling and drinking champagne, Lauren took the opportunity to catch her breath for a moment in solitude behind the giant marble staircase. She sighed and closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax a little for the first time today. If only there was a way she could slip away unnoticed…

"Lauren, darling?!"

So much for solitude, her mother's far too cheery voice was heard over the buzz of voices. For a brief moment, she considered staying in hiding, but chances were her mom would find her sooner or later. Instead, she downed her glass of champagne and stepped out of the shadows with a smile.

"Oh, there you are darling." She gripped Lauren's elbow and practically dragged her towards a busty brunette in a green dress. "I want you to meet the daughter of an old friend of ours. Louisa Sutcliffe. You remember the Sutcliffes, don't you? Her mother and I are both members of the Wildlife Preservation Committee."

Oh God, who were the Sutcliffes? Lauren smiled at the luscious brunette and frantically tried to remember.

"We used to see the Sutcliffes at Martha's Vineyard when you were a child. Oh, you do remember their youngest daughter, Louisa? She is around your age, and single. I'm sure you must have met?"

"Oh, yes, of course." Lauren lied. "Ms. Sutcliffe, how are you?" She took the woman's hand and smiled her best fake smile. She reminded herself that tonight was about the money and she could pretend with the best of them.

"Please, call me Louisa." She smiled brightly and placed her hand on Lauren's forearm.

"Oh, there's the De Beauchamps, excuse me please." Her mother offered a quick wave to someone across the room and hurried away.

Lauren turned back towards the woman she had been thrust upon, the woman who still had her hand on her arm. Nonplussed, the woman leaned in maintaining contact, "So tell me Dr. Lewis, are you particularly interested in the blue-grey tail dropper slug?"


The party was in full swing by the time Kenzi made her way back to the bar. Bo was practically going nuts not being able to be involved with the action. She barely let Kenzi set down her tray before bombarding her with questions, "Did you see Lauren? Did she see you? Does she look amazing? I bet she looks amazing. What is she wearing?"

"Damn Bo Bo, cool your jets. Yes, I saw Lauren and no, she didn't see me."

"And?"

Kenzi hesitated, "She looked uh, fine. Great, even."

"Kenzi?"

"It's nothing, Bo Bo." Kenzi shrugged, trying to downplay the situation as much as possible. The last thing they needed was to have Bo go hard charging through the party ready to cut a bitch. "I saw Lauren talking to this woman and it looked like they knew each other."

Bo was incensed, "So they were flirting?"

"Uh, I don't know, maybe." Kenzi tried to recover, but it was too late, "I'm sure it meant nothing."

"That's it!" Bo made her way out from behind the bar and grabbed the half-filled tray.

"Bo Bo, what are you doing?"

"We're swapping. Go play bartender for awhile." With that, Bo walked away into the crowd to find her girl. It didn't take long to spot Lauren looking fucking amazing and standing way too close to some snooty brunette. Bo tried to rein in her temper, but once the woman had the temerity to put her hand on Lauren's arm, she was lost to the fray. She butted herself between the two, ignoring a stunned Lauren, simply asking, "Would either of you ladies care for some
champagne?


"Would either of you ladies care for some champagne?" Bo asked again and thrust the tray at Louisa, pushing her away from Lauren in the process.

"Bo?" Lauren was instantly pulled from her boring conversation with Louisa and was so floored she could hardly get the words out, "What... What are you doing here?"

"Do you know this person?" Louisa asked confused, looking at Bo like she was something stuck under her shoe. While Bo was looking at Louisa like she was ready to pounce.

Lauren shook off her fog and grabbed Bo by the arm. "I'm sorry Louisa, please excuse us. Give my best to your parents." She offered a quick apology as she searched for an escape route. Spying a refuge, she pulled Bo away from the banquet hall towards the empty conference rooms. She hoped they had soundproofing because she was not in the mood to be quiet.