Disclaimer: I do not own Lost Girl or any of its characters, except the ones I created. All dialogues extracted from the show belong to their rightful owners. The following story has been written for entertainment purposes only.
CHAPTER 10
Halima's Diner was everything anyone would have expected from an establishment of that kind. It had that typical long service counter dominating the interior with its floor-mounted chairs and a classic row of booths against the glass front wall. Adding to that, at the end of the aforementioned counter, there was an old oak pie and cake display case, ensuring the casual, homelike atmosphere that Bo had always loved so much about those types of restaurants.
"I like it here. It's nice," Lauren said as she slid into their booth.
Bo's face lit up at the blonde's comment, "It was Kenzi who introduced me to this place a few years ago," she grinned animatedly while her eyes wandered around, easily recognizing amongst the other customers some of the guests that had been at the club earlier. "Kenz will never admit it, probably to not hurt my feelings, but I know she would trade any food in the world for Halima's. Especially her famous meat and potato soup."
"Good evening," a young waitress approached them with a notepad and pen in hand. "May I take your order?" She asked while chewing her gum.
"Actually, could you give us a moment, please? I'll call you when we're ready to order," Bo smiled cordially.
"Oh, okay. My name's Betty, by the way," she pointed to the name tag attached to her chest.
"We won't forget. Thanks, Betty," Bo nodded with a faint smirk. As soon as the young waitress walked away, she turned to Lauren with an apologetic smile, "I hope that's all right with you, I think I prefer talking first..."
"Of course. Take your time," the detective replied kindly.
Bo took a deep, cleansing breath and silence engulfed them for a while. She observed Lauren calmly lean back in the brown leather bench, waiting in silence as an encouraging smile stretched the corners of her mouth.
When the brunette's voice came to life at last, it sounded hesitant at first, "As far as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a writer," Bo spoke with her eyes down, glued to her folded hands that were now resting on the booth's table. "My Nanna Lottie used to read stories to me almost every night when I was little. She was the best at doing that, always making funny voices and all..." She smiled affectionately. "As I grew older, the desire to create my own tales flourished fast and my Nanna once again was there, supporting me all the way. She bought dozens of notebooks for me throughout the years and I happily filled them with my many crazy ideas. Stories of magic kingdoms, warrior princesses, dragons and witches and even distant planets with names that no one, including the author herself, could pronounce correctly," she smiled shyly before looking at Lauren and the dazzling smile she found gracing the detective's face made her own lips curl up.
"One day," Bo continued, "When I had just turned eleven, my Nanna finally showed me the contents of a mysterious large box she had been keeping secure for years in a corner of her garage and, to my surprise, it was my dad's precious vinyl record collection," she grinned at the memory. "He had all the greatest represented there. Zeppelin, Hendrix, Bowie, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone... Just to name a few," Bo said while finally relaxing against the bench's backrest. "It was then, in that precise moment, that something I can only classify as magical happened inside of me. I discovered the incomparable power of music. From that day forth, those vinyl records became my treasure and as time went by, every single one of them, for the most diverse reasons, helped me to connect with my dad in a way that I'll never be able to fully explain," the brunette's dark chocolate orbs glistened with unshed tears, but her gorgeous smile never wavered.
The unmitigated fondness radiating from Lauren's gaze warmed Bo's heart and she spoke again with renewed confidence, "When I turned eighteen and left Grimley for good to find Trick, I was determined to pursue journalism as a career and then, eventually, become the writer I've always wanted to be. At that point, writing about music felt as natural as breathing to me, so, when I was in my second year of college, I decided to launch a blog and named it 'Tales from a Music Lover'. I knew I had my studies and my work at the Dawning to worry about, but I didn't care. I worked day and night, as hard as I could to make the blog well-known, even at the risk of exhausting myself in the process," she admitted in a serious tone and a heavy sigh escaped her lips. "Can't say the effort didn't pay off though. After a year, my blog had a pretty decent number of followers and I even managed to get some minor freelance jobs because of it. I also gained an interesting group of fans and among them was one of my college professors, Salvatore Lich," Bo looked at the detective more intently and a smile pulled up the corners of her mouth, "Do you remember the friend I mentioned, right before the concert started?"
"Yes, of course I do," Lauren answered with a nod, smiling back, "The one who could tell by the first song if a concert would be a blast or an epic failure. So you were talking about your Professor, then?"
"No, not exactly. That friend is Vex, the self declared, last living true rock'n'roll critic," Bo chuckled. "It was Professor Lich who recommended my blog to Vex and it was because of Vex that I called the attention of the editor-in-chief of the Morrigan magazine, Evony Fleurette Marquise," she said earnestly and for a second there, Bo could have sworn that she had seen Lauren's body tense up at the mention of Evony's name.
"After my graduation, I quit my job at the Dawning and accepted Vex's proposition to assist him in his new book. I knew it wouldn't pay much, at least in the beginning, but I was thrilled at the prospect of learning from a living legend of music journalism," Bo smiled. "So, eight months later, the book was released and to my utter shock, critically acclaimed worldwide. Job offers started to pop up on me here and there and one night, I received a phone call from Vex saying that Evony had invited us for a visit to the Morrigan's editorial office the next morning," the brunette's smile weakened and her gaze drifted off in deep thought. It didn't take her mind more than a second to transport her to that pivotal day...
Bo's eyes remained fixed on the elevator panel while she watched the floor numbers go up a little too fast for her liking. She swallowed hard, suddenly feeling her stomach twist as her right heel kept tapping the floor continuously.
"Just knock it off, will ya? It's fucking annoying."
Bo turned to look at the only other person inside that elevator with her, a man with a short, gothic hairstyle wearing black clothes. "I'm sorry, Vex..." She sighed embarrassed while trying to stay still. "I guess I'm just a bit nervous," Bo admitted sheepishly.
Vex lifted his eyebrows and studied the brunette for a moment, but before he could say anything, the double steel doors in front of them opened with a ding. Bo had barely taken three steps away from the elevator when she felt her friend's hand gently hold her arm, "Oy, wait a second, cupcake," Vex pulled her to the nearest wall. He initially shot her a disapproving frown, but then, his expression softened, "I want you to close these gorgeous eyes of yours and take a long, calm the fuck down kind of breath."
Bo huffed stubbornly, but soon complied with her friend's instructions, inhaling and exhaling slowly with her eyes closed.
"Good," Vex put his hands on his waist, "Now you listen to me, very carefully. Evony may be the queen of all hell bitches, but she's also good at her job. It's quite obvious to me that she's seen something special in your work. In all these years that I've known her, I've never seen Evony taking the initiative and actually asking instead of demanding for a meeting like this. Ever. She's used to have people literally begging for a few miserable minutes of her time every fucking day and yet... Here you are, darling," he looked keenly at Bo with what seemed to be a proud smirk. "I'm aware of how much being here means to you, but it's bloody time to put on your sexy big girl panties and own your shit, Dennis."
Vex was right. He was right about everything.
Once Bo had made up her mind to become a journalist, working at the Morrigan had always been her main goal. She had followed the magazine's evolution with utmost interest since its creation, secretly wishing that one day she could also be a part of that incredible staff. Yes, Bo had certainly heard stories about the Morrigan's notorious editor-in-chief; stories of how the cold, ruthless Evony Fleurette Marquise controlled her team of writers with an iron hand, all the while never fearing to take risks to promote new, genuine talent. As far as the brunette could tell, the Morrigan was, in its very essence, a mirror image of its editor: brilliant, elegant and dauntless. For the writer in Bo, there was no better place for her to be.
"Thanks, Vex," Bo's smile shone with sincere gratitude.
"Yeah, yeah, enough of the sappy shit, I don't even recognize myself anymore," Vex sighed in frustration as he walked towards the imposing glass doors on the other side of the hall. "I have a reputation to maintain, you know?" He winked at Bo and pushed open one of the doors to let her pass through.
"Good morning," a beautiful woman greeted them from behind the reception desk, flashing a fake smile the second she spotted Vex.
"Good morning," Bo replied right away while watching Vex rudely ignore the receptionist's presence and cross the entrance lobby as if he owned the place. "Uh, excuse me," she said abashedly to the other woman before turning fast on her heels and following her friend. "You really work hard to maintain your jerk reputation," Bo stated in a low tone as she approached him.
Vex grinned like a Cheshire cat and placed his hand against his chest, "Always, lovey."
When they reached the main corridor after the lobby, Bo's head immediately turned to her right and her steps shortly slowed down. She couldn't help but stare, allowing her eager eyes to roam over the office on the other side of the glass wall.
"Ah... The masterminds of pop culture," Vex sneered while his gaze traveled to the dozen people sitting in spacious workstations arranged along the room.
"Just shut it, will you?" A chuckle fell from Bo's lips as she moved away from the glass, "You work here, for Chrissake," she started walking again.
Vex trotted a little to catch up with the brunette, "I've never worked in there...!" He replied in an outraged tone. "I'm a free bird, darling. As much as Evony has always tried to cage me for her own benefit, she knows that our little arrangement is all that she'll ever get from me. I work where I want, when I want and, from time to time, I lend some dignity to her periodical publication," Vex shrugged nonchalantly as they turned left at the end of the corridor.
"That's really noble of you," Bo glanced at her friend with an amused smirk.
They arrived at a stylish waiting area decorated with dark furniture and a large, black and white photograph of the city of Toronto split in five canvas hanging on the back wall. On the left side of the room, a young woman sitting at a desk observed them with squinted eyes. She had shoulder length, brown hair with a fringe and the face of a haughty teenage girl.
"BB!" Vex exaggerated greeting instantly brought a frown to the young woman's face. "What a total displeasure to see you in this fine morning," he gave her a mischievous grin.
"Vex... The feeling is mutual, believe me," the young woman retorted with a frosty, tight-lipped smile. She shifted her focus to Bo and openly inspected the older brunette, "You must be Ysabeau Dennis," the slight disdain lacing the stranger's voice didn't pass unnoticed by Bo.
"No way! And you came to this complex conclusion all by yourself?! You're so fucking smart, aren't you, BB?" Vex flopped onto the young woman's desk unceremoniously and his mocking remark made her flush with burning anger. "Now, why don't you go do something useful for a change and tell your boss that we're here, hm?" He waved a hand in dismissal.
At first, the younger brunette merely glared daggers at Vex, but then, after a few seconds, she ended up abiding by his wish. She rose to her feet unhurriedly and held her chin high while walking towards a dark wooden door not too far from her desk. Knocking it twice as if warning her presence, she pushed the door open with caution and swiftly disappeared behind it a moment later.
Bo moved closer to Vex, her eyes darting to the shut wooden door, "What the hell was that, how old are you, five?" She questioned in a rushed tone.
Vex snorted indignantly, "Don't let that baby face fool you, cupcake. Bitch Bianca will stab you in the back the first chance she gets. Keep your eyes open around her at all times, do you hear me?"
Bo was not expecting the sudden seriousness in Vex's voice and her brow furrowed in confusion. She was ready to ask her friend about the reason for such animosity when the dark wooden door opened again.
Stepping to the side and positioning herself next to the doorway, Bianca looked straight at Bo, "Evony's going to see you both now," she announced flatly.
"Come on, love," Vex said as he hopped off the desk, "Time to meet the true Morrigan," he winked at Bo before leading her to the adjoining room.
The brunette's mouth hung open in shock as soon as she crossed the massive threshold and her eyes took in her surroundings. Evony's sumptuous office was much bigger than Bo could have ever imagined, with window walls on the back and right side that revealed a magnificent view of the city, bathed in the warm, late morning sun. On the left, the solid wall provided a perfect showcase of Evony's powerful status in the entertainment industry, displaying dozens of black and white photos of the Morrigan's editor-in-chief with some of the top celebrities of the international showbiz.
"Vexie... It's been a while, darling," Evony rose from the executive chair and moved around her desk, sashaying her way across the room. Her hair was pulled back in a low, messy bun and she was wearing a form-fitting, knee length black dress.
"Oh, you know me, Evie..." Vex replied with an uninterested sigh as he plopped down on the nearest couch, "I'm a very busy man," he smiled wickedly.
"Of course you are," Evony agreed with a sarcastic smirk before her eyes landed on Bo for the first time. For a fleeting moment, she seemed somewhat taken aback by the young brunette's presence. "Vex, Vex, Vex... I see you haven't been completely honest with me. You've never mentioned that your assistant was such a gorgeous woman," Evony's voice was deep and alluring while her gaze held Bo's fixedly.
"Really, now?" Vex's eyebrows flew up in mock surprise as he looked at his friend, "I must have forgotten," he said with a grin.
Bo felt the blush warming up her cheeks and instinctively dropped her gaze to the floor, clearly uncomfortable with the unwanted attention she was receiving.
Evony took a step forward, offering her hand, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ysabeau," she smirked confidently.
"Thank you, Miss Marquise," Bo shook the other woman's hand with a firm grip, releasing it quickly, "I'm glad to be here."
"Oh, please... Call me Evony," the slender brunette waved off the need for formalities and walked back to her desk.
"All right. And you can call me Bo," she added with a small smile.
A frown appeared on Evony's face, "Bo? And what's that supposed to mean?" She asked while sitting down on her chair and the derision in her tone provoked a new wave of crimson across Bo's cheeks.
"It's short for Ysabeau," Vex answered first, giving Evony a hard look, "She prefers to be called that way."
"Is that so?" The Morrigan's editor-in-chief studied Bo with a certain disregard, "That's... Peculiar, I guess, but I prefer to call you by your real name," Evony said emphatically as her lips formed a straight line. "Please take a seat, Ysabeau," she motioned to the dark gray armchairs facing her desk.
Bo threw a glance at Vex over her shoulder and sat in the comfortable chair, her expression neutral as she waited for Evony to speak again.
The older brunette examined Bo for several seconds and with an enticing smirk, she resumed saying, "You know, Ysabeau, one of the very few things that Vex and I have in common is the fact that we are not easily impressed. Far from it, actually. So, you can imagine my curiosity when I received this message from him a couple of weeks ago telling me that he had found someone worthy of my time..." Evony narrowed her eyes while her lips spread wider. "I read some of the articles you posted on your blog and I must admit that - "
Suddenly, the office door burst open and a man stomped his way inside, vociferating in anger as a flustered Bianca followed him, close behind, "I don't give a fuck if she's in a meeting, she'll see me now!"
"Ah, there you are, I knew it was you the moment the door opened!" Vex spoke from his sprawled position on the couch, "The odor of a rat is unmistakable indeed," he said with a scornful smile.
The man stood in front of Vex, staring down at him with absolute contempt. "Vex," the name rolled off his tongue as though he was trying to spit out a bad taste in his mouth. "Why can't I never get rid of you?" He asked himself through clenched teeth.
"LACHLAN!" Evony's voice echoed across the spacious room, startling everyone. She rose from her seat abruptly, eyes wild with fury, "How dare you barge into my office without permission! Can't you see I'm busy here?!"
It was then that Lachlan's gaze flickered towards the brunette sitting with her back to him. As if Bo could sense the newcomer's eyes burning holes in the nape of her neck, she finally turned her head to look at Lachlan. The way he was eyeing her, like a predator transfixed with desire for its prey, sent an unpleasant shiver down Bo's spine and she hastily returned to her previous position, desperate to avoid the man's rude scrutiny.
Lachlan didn't hesitate to move closer, approaching Evony's desk and turning around to face the brunette fully. "And who are you?" He practically purred the question as his gaze traveled along Bo's body.
Evony sighed impatiently, "Her name is Ysabeau Dennis and she'll be working here with us from now on."
Bo stared dumbfounded at the Morrigan's editor-in-chief, "I - Will I...?"
"Of course," Evony smirked with conviction.
"That's some very auspicious news," Lachlan smiled smugly. "You did good this time, Evony. That's what I'd call a massive upgrade," he chuckled scoffingly while his eyes shifted to Bianca. The younger brunette lowered her head instantly, flushing hard after his coarse remark.
"Bo is a writer, you wanker. She's not here to work as Evony's fucking doormat," Vex replied sharply, still from his spot on the office's couch.
"Oh, is she? How interesting..." Lachlan observed Bo for a moment, his dark eyes squinting and twinkling with amusement. "Well, then," he straightened his body and buttoned his black, tailored jacket, "Welcome aboard... Bo," Lachlan pronounced the short name with a little more emphasis than necessary as his smile stretched broadly, "I will personally guarantee that your time at the Morrigan is thoroughly enjoyable..."
"Wow," Lauren snorted out a short, dry laugh, "That guy is truly unbelievable!"
"Yeah, I know," Bo breathed out while a repulsive sensation, similar to what she had felt that day, washed over her once more.
"Who's that asshole after all?" Lauren asked revoltingly.
"Lachlan is the CEO of the Light & Dark media and entertainment group, the greatest competitor of the Santiago conglomerate," Bo answered matter-of-factly.
"Hale's family company," Lauren added pensively.
"Yes," Bo confirmed before taking a short pause, "He's also Evony's ex-husband," she heaved an awkward sigh.
"Hm. I thought as much," Lauren's eyebrows scrunched together while her gaze fell on her lap, "After what he implied at the club, it wasn't hard to assume that he'd been in an intimate relationship with your ex-boss," the detective's features hardened as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Lauren kept her eyes cast down and Bo immediately missed the warmth of the blonde's big hazel orbs.
"Did you also assume that I had slept with Evony?" Bo couldn't mask the hint of nervousness that tinged her voice.
Lauren's head shot up in surprise by the brunette's direct question. She simply stared at Bo, seemingly unable to form an answer of any kind.
Bo exhaled deeply and leaned forward, her gaze sparkling with fierce determination as it held the detective's expressive whisky brown eyes. "Despite what some people may think, nothing happened between Evony and me. I've never slept with her or Lachlan. Ever," she stated firmly, noticing how Lauren's body seemed to gradually relax after her revelation.
"After that eventful first meeting, I started working at the Morrigan a week later and it didn't take long for me to find out that Evony Fleurette Marquise was a seductress by nature. No matter the circumstances, she would tease and flirt openly with whoever she considered deserving of her attention and that included me. However, in all the nearly five years I worked for her, Evony has never truly disrespected me," Bo said with finality.
"What about that man? Has he ever been that violent with you before?" Lauren asked with an irritated frown.
"No, never," Bo's tone was serious and slightly embarrassed, "But he indeed tried to have his way with me in the past. Every once in a while he would show up unannounced at the Morrigan's office and would join the editorial meetings, just because he could. Everybody thought at the time that he was doing it just to piss Evony off, in which, by the way, he was very well succeeded, but I knew better. Lachlan would always find ways to engage in conversations with me and whenever the others weren't really looking, he would reveal the true nature of his intentions. I kept pushing him away and eventually he grew tired once he realized that he wouldn't get anything from me."
Bo sighed heavily and continued, "I honestly don't know what's gotten into him tonight. Like I'd told you, I went to the club's main office looking for my friend Cassie and to my unpleasant surprise, Lachlan was there too, drinking and laughing with his rich friends and a bunch of supermodels. The second he spotted me talking to Cas, he marched in our direction and tried to convince me to join his little party. I excused myself and hurried to find you, but he followed me. I swear to you, I was ready to knee him in the balls right before you got there," she admitted angrily. Then, the brunette's expression softened with fondness, "Thank you, by the way... For caring and being so protective of me," Bo smiled at the detective.
"You're welcome, Bo," Lauren replied as a smile of her own graced her features. "I'd never allow that man to harm you. Or anyone else, for that matter," the blonde declared.
They gazed intensely into each other's eyes and Bo felt her body humming in response while her heart melted inside her chest. After several seconds, she forced herself to look away from Lauren's mesmerizing hazel orbs. "So, hm," Bo smiled awkwardly, "Have I mentioned that Evony paid a visit to the Dawning yesterday morning?"
Lauren simply shook her head no as a mild frown began to pull at her brows.
"Yeah, well... She did," Bo confirmed while glancing down. "Evony wants me to work for her again, but this time, as a freelancer, so I could keep my job at the Dawning and wouldn't need to step foot inside the Morrigan's editorial office," the brunette explained.
"And what did you say?" Lauren asked cautiously.
"Nothing. I mean," Bo hesitated, "I'm still considering the possibility."
Lauren nodded and waited in silence as she observed the brunette intently.
Bo could easily tell that the other woman was lost in her own mind. "You're probably asking yourself the million dollar question..." A sigh escaped her lips as she diverted her gaze from the detective. "Why the hell did I leave my job at the Morrigan in the first place," Bo stated in a slightly apprehensive tone.
Lauren cast her eyes downward for a brief moment, "Yes... But that doesn't mean you have to talk about it, Bo," the blonde said gently.
"It's all right," Bo replied with a small, wary smile, taking a second to stare into Lauren's welcoming honey brown orbs. She looked at her fidgeting hands resting on the table top, inhaling and exhaling deeply. All of a sudden, the words were pouring out of her mouth as if she had no control over herself, "Before the day Maggie Flynn knocked on my door, I had nothing left, Lauren. I... I felt dead inside. I was literally living just to breathe," Bo spoke with a constricted voice. "My Nanna Lottie had passed away unexpectedly three years prior and I had just - "
I had just lost him.
Kyle.
Bo clamped her jaw shut and closed her eyes, taking a long, calming breath. What the fuck do you think you're doing?! She admonished herself mentally. Stop, Bo, just stop! You can't go there... What if Lauren ends up hating me too? She thought fearfully as a wave of panic shook her to the very depths of her soul.
"Bo," Lauren called softly. "Are you okay?" When Bo opened her eyes and looked at the blonde again, a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Oh, Bo..." Lauren reached out right away and covered the brunette's hands with her own, "What is it, is there anything I can do to help?" She asked in a warm-hearted tone, concern written all over her face.
The brunette's gaze traveled immediately to the gentle thumb absentmindedly drawing patterns against her skin.
You're the fire and the flood
And I'll always feel you in my blood
Everything is fine
When your hand is resting next to mine
Next to mine
You're the fire and the flood
She didn't say another word for nearly a minute, just allowing herself to relish the soothing sensation of the detective's touch. When Bo spoke again, she sounded more composed, "I'm sorry, Lauren. I guess I allowed myself to get lost in the past again."
"There's absolutely no need to apologize, Bo. You don't have to tell me anything now, especially if it's something that brings bad memories to you," Lauren said lovingly.
"No, it's fine. Really," Bo flashed the blonde a timid smile. "I just realized that I tend to be a gabbler when I'm around you," she confessed while her nervous smile spread wider.
"How so?" Lauren furrowed her brow as the corners of her mouth lifted in an involuntary smirk.
"It's just... Well, it's so easy to talk to you, Lauren. It always has been, since the day we've met," Bo spoke sincerely. "I don't know, talking to you feels like the most natural thing in the world and there's this..." She trailed off and bit her lip as uneasiness settled in her stomach.
"Connection?" Lauren finished the sentence for her.
"Yes," Bo held the detective's hazel eyes with bated breath and the intensity in Lauren's gaze made the brunette think that her heart was going to explode inside her chest.
"I, hm," Lauren dropped her head, "I know what you mean," she smiled bashfully.
"You do?" Bo's voice was just above a whisper, her throat tightened.
"Yes," Lauren's tone was soft and void of doubt, "I feel the same way about you, Bo. I'm aware that we've hardly met, but..." She hesitated at first, but then, as she looked at Bo again, Lauren seemed to find the courage to continue, "I just can't help feeling that somehow I've known you my entire life."
Bo's eyes widened in disbelief as her heart jumped into her mouth. She slowly parted her lips in a futile attempt to speak, but no sound was uttered. Seeing the anxiety reflected in the way Lauren was staring at her, probably misinterpreting her frozen reaction, Bo withdrew one of her hands and rapidly covered the detective's, squeezing it tightly. Her face then broke into a radiant grin, immediately reciprocated by Lauren as a familiar warmth flashed through her body. They stayed like that for a long moment, gazing at each other and smiling in silent understanding.
With one last reassuring squeeze, Bo gently removed her hand from Lauren's and the blonde followed suit. After drawing a slow breath, she finally spoke once more, "As I was saying, when Maggie Flynn came to me that day with my grandmother's letter safely tucked between the pages of her worn copy of Romeo and Juliet, it felt like life was giving me a second chance at last, you know? And I took it. Without a second thought, I left Grimley and never looked back," the brunette expressed firmly. "Once I'd found Trick, the only thing that mattered to me was becoming a successful writer. I wanted to prove that I could live the life I'd choose, on my own terms. More than anything, I wanted to rub my happiness in the face of those who had stolen all hope from me in the past and had turned my days into a living hell," Bo's voice hardened noticeably and her dark chocolate orbs blazed with anger.
The brunette watched a frown creasing Lauren's forehead as soon as the words left her mouth, but to her surprise, the detective chose to swallow whichever questions she might have and wait in silence. Bo couldn't help but feel relieved by the blonde's discretion. As much as her heart kept telling her that she could trust Lauren, she wasn't ready to share that piece of herself with the detective just yet.
Leaning her back against the upholstered bench, Bo resumed talking, "I had no doubt that being a part of the Morrigan's selective staff would give me the prestige I was so foolishly seeking at that time. I did everything I could and worked my ass off to impress Evony, and it was from that point on that I started losing myself, little by little," she admitted somewhat ashamed. "After two years, Evony enlisted me to an additional task. She hired a small production crew that would be at my entire disposition and with their help, I'd have to record periodical short videos for the magazine's website. She told me that I would basically read an abridged version of my own articles, which was great for my ego, of course," Bo rolled her eyes, "So I said yes. A few months later, I was hosting interviews, the videos were becoming longer each time and I was writing less and less. Then... The Kanye episode happened."
Bo stayed quiet for a while, merely staring at Lauren as if waiting for a response from the detective. She raised her eyebrows expectantly, "The Kanye video... Doesn't it ring any bells?"
"Uh, no... What do you mean?" Lauren furrowed her brow in confusion.
The brunette dropped her head with a chuckle, "It's okay. As a matter of fact, I think it's great that the first memory you'll always have of me isn't that damn video... Although I can't say that choking and spitting out coffee all over my chest was one of my best moments either," Bo looked at Lauren with a playful smirk, instantly eliciting a broad smile from the blonde.
"So..." She breathed out and continued saying, "Kanye West had just released his new album and Evony arranged an interview with him for me at the very last minute. Even though I had a reasonable knowledge of his career, the truth was that I knew nothing about his latest work and I was freaking out beforehand," Bo confessed while folding her arms over her chest. "So, there I was, sitting across from a grumpy Kanye West with some lame questions written by someone else on my lap, trying to gather my nerves back together. I had just started asking him the third question, something about his many collaborations with Jay Z, when he cut me off, raising his voice with indignation, saying that he wasn't there to talk about other people."
"I thought they were friends," Lauren reasoned.
"Yeah, I know and I guess they still are, but for whatever odd reason, he went nuts when I brought up the subject that day," Bo replied with a shrug.
"And what did you do?" The detective didn't bother hiding her curiosity.
"Well..." Bo sighed and glanced away for a moment, "I surprisingly stood my ground and raised the tone of my voice too, then I told him, hey! Let me finish! Don't Kanye me!" She repeated the phrase while her gaze locked on Lauren's once more.
The blonde's eyes grew wide and her lips curved in a delightful smile, "Oh boy... And what happened next, what did he say?"
"He stared at me with his eyes widened, pretty much like you just did and then, he began laughing. From there on, he turned over a new leaf and answered all my questions with a smile on his face," Bo answered leisurely as she followed the detective's every reaction.
"Hm... Now I get why you asked me if I remembered a Kanye video," Lauren mused aloud. "Let me guess, the video went viral, didn't it?"
"Yep," Bo nodded affirmatively, her tone far from enthusiastic, "I went to bed a couple of days later and woke up an internet celebrity. I saw myself in countless memes and GIFs everywhere and suddenly, people were talking about me. They wanted to know, and I quote, who was that smoking hot reporter that had finally taught Kanye West a lesson."
"How did you feel about it?" Lauren asked sympathetically.
Bo averted her gaze and tightened her crossed arms around her body, "Terrified... I never wanted any of that. I didn't say those words to become famous. I just reacted, acted on impulse," the brunette admitted. She breathed in profoundly and went on, "I did what I could to not feed the unexpected interest people were having in me. I declined dozens of invitations to attend interviews elsewhere and rejected Lachlan's nonsensical plan to launch my own television talk show right away. Fortunately for me, Evony never had the intention to see my name associated with anything that wasn't related to the Morrigan, so she helped me deal with the media harassment and handled the Lachlan situation herself. But it was hard. For a long while, I struggled with my anxiety and there were times I didn't want to leave my house. I could feel the accumulated stress of the past few months taking a toll on me. I couldn't sleep, barely ate. Within weeks, I had become a shadow of myself," she revealed with heaviness in her voice.
Lauren watched the brunette with careful attention and Bo could see the detective's eyes glistening with hardly contained emotion. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Bo," she said tenderly, warming Bo's heart with her soulful gaze.
"I know you do. I can tell," the brunette replied softly as a bashful smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. More determined than ever to give Lauren a proper answer, Bo spoke once more, "As I suspected, I became old news after some time, most people lost their interest in me and things slowly began to settle down again. Well, at least, partially. I was more popular than ever amongst the magazine's readers and the music community and Evony didn't hesitate to take advantage of my new situation," she added with a dry chuckle. "Soon I was working more than I'd ever worked in my life, traveling constantly to meet new guests for my interviews or to whatever special event my boss would schedule me for."
"In one particular busy morning, I found myself standing outside the airport, waiting for a cab. I had just arrived from that indie festival I mentioned and I was pretty much exhausted. At that very moment, all I could think was getting home and sleeping for the rest of the day," Bo confessed with a guarded smile. "However, when the cab finally arrived and the driver asked me where I was going, I froze somehow and my voice faltered. Before I knew it, I was giving him the Dawning address instead of mine. During all the way there I considered asking him to turn around and go back, but I never did. I had no idea why I'd told him to take me there, it had been over a year since the last time I'd showed up at the shop... Even though I had promised otherwise," she admitted ashamed.
"When I crossed the Dawning's entrance door, I started feeling better, as if some mysterious force had blown the life back into me," the brunette smiled. "Then Stella spotted me from behind the counter and walked in my direction..." Bo made a short pause, swallowing the lump in her throat, "She hugged me saying that she had missed me... I'd never seen Stella demonstrate her feelings before, it wasn't her style, so that moment meant a lot to me. I spent the rest of the morning at the Dawning, chatting about nothing and everything at the same time. And that was when I finally accepted the truth I had put in so much effort to deny. I'd been so obsessed with proving my worth that I had lost myself instead. Everything I'd accomplished so far meant nothing if I wasn't happy."
Silence fell upon them for several seconds as Bo's words seemed to hover cumbersomely in the air like a thick smoke. "After that morning," the brunette continued, "I knew my time at the Morrigan had come to an end, but since Evony's birthday party would happen on that weekend, I decided to wait until the next Monday to inform her about my resignation. Little did I know that I would regret that decision later," she smiled ironically.
Lauren's big honey brown eyes twinkled with curiosity, but the detective, once again, opted to stay quiet.
"The party had already advanced into the small hours of the morning and I was more than ready to go home when Evony came to me, saying that she needed to talk in private. I followed her to a large room that looked like a library and immediately noticed there was something wrong with her," Bo revealed. "Since I've met Evony, I'd never seen her like that. She wasn't drunk, by the way, just a little tipsy, but it wasn't her mild intoxication that called my attention. Evony seemed sad, fragile even. I asked her what had happened, but she simply brushed it off quickly and when I least expected, she... Well, she tried to kiss me," Bo lowered her gaze while shifting uncomfortably on the booth's bench.
Lauren arched her eyebrows and tilted her head as if to say, "Oh, really?" in mute sarcasm.
Bo felt a light blush creep up her cheeks unexpectedly. "Yeah, uh, well," she cleared her throat, "Her lips barely touched mine before I stepped away and scolded her firmly. I didn't give her another second of my time and stormed out of that room without looking back." The brunette took a deep breath and resumed speaking, "Monday morning came and I arrived at the Morrigan headquarters with my resignation letter folded and ready in my bag. Then, as I entered the editorial office and walked towards my desk, I realized that every single person in the room was staring at me. Some whispered and smiled with blatant malice, others chuckled victoriously, all the while looking me in the eye," Bo couldn't help but clench her teeth, still unable to shake the memory of the event. "That was when a young man I'd never seen before appeared before me..."
"Miss Dennis?"
Bo furrowed her brow and stared at the young man for a second longer than necessary. "Yes?"
"My name's Jason and I'm Miss Marquise's new assistant. She'd like to see you now, said it's urgent," he addressed her politely and Bo nodded her acknowledgement, following Jason to the office of the Morrigan's editor-in-chief right after.
When Bo entered the large room, Evony was looking out the window walls with her back turned. Once Jason walked out the office and closed the dark wooden door, Evony spoke, "So many years working in this office that I have to remind myself from time to time to admire the view. It's beautiful, don't you think?" She asked in a neutral, nearly flat tone and still not facing Bo.
The brunette diverted her eyes to the gorgeous scenery on her left. "Yes, it is," Bo answered pragmatically.
With a ponderous sigh, Evony turned around and walked towards her desk. "I assume you already checked your email," it wasn't exactly a question and the cold, almost disdainful way she said it, immediately alerted Bo that something wasn't right.
"My email...?" The brunette asked, confused while pulling out her phone from her jacket pocket, "Did you send me something?" Bo began searching among her notifications.
"Oh, I see..." Evony squinted her eyes, "She didn't send it to you... What a sadistic little bitch."
"What are you talking about?" Bo asked befuddled.
Evony moved closer to the laptop that was open on her desk and typed hastily. "There's something I need to show you. Just... Don't freak out, okay? It's not as bad as it may seem." She turned the laptop to Bo and bit her bottom lip rather comically.
The brunette took a cautious step forward and when her eyes focused on the screen, Bo felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. There it was, right in front of her, the video evidence of her nearly kiss with the Morrigan's editor-in-chief, starting, ending and restarting again and again, in an endless loop from hell. Whoever had done that GIF, hadn't included the part where she had walked away from Evony, giving the viewer a false impression that the kiss had been consensual.
"Ysabeau... Are you still with me?" Evony studied the brunette with a frown.
Bo blinked rapidly, only then realizing that she had been staring in silence at that screen for over a minute. "Is this your doing?" She questioned, her demeanor surprisingly calm, "Is this the reason why you lured me to your library?"
"Hey, hold on a second there, Norma Rae," Evony said indignantly, lifting her hand, "Lure you? Are you serious? And what exactly would I gain from pissing you off with this shit? Come on, Ysabeau, I'm pretty sure you can be smarter than this," she huffed with annoyance while turning the laptop to herself again and closing its lid.
"Oh can I?" Bo let out a short, sardonic laugh, "I'm not so sure about that," she sat down on a nearby couch, her shoulders slumped. "What I do know is that every single individual in the editorial office was looking at me as if I was an insignificant, pathetic little insect they couldn't wait to smash down with their shoes," Bo said miserably as she lowered her head in defeat.
"Oh, please, Ysabeau..." Evony waved nonchalantly as she approached the brunette, taking a seat next to her, "You're not a teenage girl anymore, you shouldn't care about what other people think."
Ah, Bo wish it was that simple. Her boss had a point, of course, but the people Evony had just referred to weren't mere strangers, they were her coworkers and Bo had always respected them. It had hurt seeing the same professionals she had sincerely admired for so long staring at her with such spiteful, judgmental eyes.
Bo sighed wearily. From now on, it didn't matter anymore if she had worked harder than anyone else in the last four years and a half and proved, time and time again, how competent she was. For the people in that room, she was now reduced to the smoking hot reporter who had only gotten a chance because she had slept with her boss. "Why...?" Bo's voice came out shaky, but not out of sadness or fear, but out of anger; an anger so pure and overwhelming that she could physically feel it, like acid in her veins. "I don't understand, Evony, why?! Who would be capable of doing something so - " then, it dawned on her and Vex's words flashed through her mind. "You've got yourself a new assistant..." Bo turned her head to look at Evony as a deep furrow appeared between her brows.
"Yes," the Morrigan's editor-in-chief replied plainly. "I underestimated the little snake, I'm afraid. Honestly, I've never thought she would have the guts to bite me in my fine ass."
"How?" Bo's jaw hardened.
"I'm not really sure, but I'd bet she followed us and sneaked in through the back door. She'd been there before and knew the penthouse quite well," Evony explained. "As for the why... Do you really have no idea, Ysabeau?" Bo simply frowned at her boss and Evony rolled her eyes in frustration, as if the brunette was missing the most obvious thing in the world. "Bianca hates you," she stated unconcernedly.
Bo snorted humorlessly, "Oh, of that I have no doubt now."
"She envies you, Ysabeau... She has envied you from the very first moment you walked through that door and easily snatched mine and Lachlan's attention. You, my dear, are everything she'll never be, and the funny part is that even the little bitch knows it," Evony said with a devilish smirk as her gaze met Bo's. She patted the brunette's knee and rose from the couch, moving towards her desk again.
Sitting down on her fancy chair, Evony's eyes traveled to the panoramic cityscape surrounding her, "The truth is that Bianca never needed her job here. She's awfully rich," the Morrigan's editor-in-chief glanced at Bo and chuckled when she saw the brunette's shocked face upon her revelation. "Oh yes. Little BB comes from one of the wealthiest families in the country. Old money, my darling, just like your precious Rainer. I've known Bianca's father for quite some time now and that was the only reason why I admitted her into the Morrigan. She was so desperate to become famous, it was unbearably annoying. I thought she would follow her predecessors' lead and make her own sex tape, but in the end, she was smart enough to know that her father would most definitely disinherit her if she went... That deep," Evony sneered.
Bo stared off into space, lost in her own thoughts and not really paying attention to what her boss was saying. As she tried to somehow digest what had just happened, one thing remained clear in her mind: she was the only true victim in that fucked up situation and such irrefutable conclusion, in itself, was a bitter pill to swallow. Once more in her life she had been left alone to face the consequences of somebody else's doing, judged and condemned for something that had always been beyond her control.
All of sudden, Bo felt like she was seventeen years old again, and the well known voice from her worst nightmares echoed inside her head with a vengeance.
Satan's whore.
Cursed little bitch.
Monster.
Bo wanted to scream. She shut her eyes tightly, taking long, deep breaths to steady herself.
"Ysabeau...? Are you feeling all right?" Evony asked with what seemed to be genuine concern.
Bo cast a glance at her boss and nodded affirmatively, not trusting herself to speak yet.
"Oh, please, Ysabeau... Don't go all broody on me now," Evony admonished playfully. "Let me tell you exactly what's going to happen," she smirked with confidence. "You'll stay away from this little mess Bianca made and take your well-deserved vacation, all expenses covered by me. Take prince charming with you, of course, and let me handle the rest. I guarantee that once you return from your love trip, everything will be back to the way it was."
Bo didn't utter a word in reply to Evony's proposition and for several seconds, she simply stared at her boss, her expression unreadable. She then stood up from her seat and turned to face Evony. When Bo finally spoke again, her voice sounded detached and devoid of emotion, "I quit."
Evony's sassy smirk disappeared in the blink of an eye, "What did you just say?"
"You heard me. I quit. I'm leaving the Morrigan," Bo reiterated.
Evony snorted derisively at the brunette, "This is ridiculous! What do you mean you're leaving, are you trying to be funny here? Well, newsflash, sweetheart, you're not."
Bo exhaled loudly. "I've never been more serious in my life, Evony. Stop acting stupid, it's irritating and I'm tired of repeating myself."
Evony's eyes grew wider for a brief moment, noticeably taken aback by Bo's harshness. "Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?"
"Oh, cut the shit, Evony! Don't pull the superiority card on me, it won't work," Bo counterattacked. "You can pretend and use your queen bitch persona as much as you want with me, but I know you care," the brunette's tone softened.
A frown creased Evony's forehead and she averted her eyes from Bo's powerful gaze. "Are you doing this because of Rainer?" She asked quietly. "If that's the case, I can talk to him personally and - "
"My decision has nothing to do with Rainer," Bo replied straight away, not giving Evony the chance to continue. "I would never quit my job because of him or any man, for that matter. And if my word is not enough for him, well... I guess I'll know he's not worthy of my affections. I'm doing this for me. This is me living the life I choose," she stated fiercely.
"Okay, just," Evony rose from her seat with a rapid motion, her arms stretching forward as if she was trying to calm Bo down, "Just listen to me, okay?" She approached the brunette guardedly. "I know you're upset and you have all the right to be. I get it, I do. But it's obvious that you're not thinking clearly now and it's my duty as your boss to - " Evony stopped herself and then, proceeded to talk, "No, as your friend to prevent this nonsense," she took a step closer. "I know you've always wanted to work here, Vex told me. Don't you see, Ysabeau? You've always belonged to the Morrigan! Only here, with me, you can reach your full potential! You can't throw away everything you've accomplished in the past four years because of that stupid video! Or GIF, whatever! That... That was nothing, it meant nothing! There's absolutely no reason for you to - "
"Evony," Bo cut her off gently, but with authority. "There's a resignation letter in my bag. It's been there since I returned from New York."
Evony stared at Bo, shock and disbelief written all over her face. "I... I don't understand," she said with a hushed whisper.
Bo couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Evony when she saw the unconcealed dejection reflected in the other woman's eyes. A sigh fell from the brunette's lips before she spoke again, "I was planning to give you the letter at the end of the day. Bianca's sick sense of humor just sped up things a little." It was Bo's turn to move closer, "Look... I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me here. I learned a lot. The good and the bad. But..." Her throat constricted with emotion, "I've lost myself along the way and I'm not happy, Evony. As my boss, I know you don't agree with what I'm doing, but I'm asking you, as my friend, to respect my decision."
They held each other's gaze for another instant and Bo watched Evony turn into the ruthless Morrigan's editor-in-chief right before her eyes, "You can leave your resignation letter with Jason. He'll contact you soon for the arrangements regarding your benefits and final paycheck," she explained in a cold, professional tone while walking to her desk. "Now if you excuse me... I've got work to do."
"Of course," Bo nodded slightly. "Goodbye, Evony..."
Silence.
Silence encompassed Bo and Lauren for a very long moment and the brunette was thankful for it. She kept her head down as her mind slowly shifted its focus back to the present and to the blonde beauty sitting across from her.
"I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you doing that..." Lauren began saying, her tone naturally calm and soothing, "Giving up on the job of your dreams and under such revolting circumstances..."
Bo looked directly into warm hazel orbs as a soft, unguarded smile lightened up her features. The brunette had just realized she had missed Lauren's voice. "It was," Bo admitted somewhat shyly at first. "I dedicated almost five years of my life to the Morrigan. Five years that actually felt like a decade... I know most people think I'm a coward, or plainly stupid. That quitting my job only corroborated what Bianca's video had implied, that Evony and I were lovers. But I don't care. I was so tired, Lauren..." She sighed deeply.
The detective gazed attentively at Bo, "Well, I am not most people. I may think many things about you, Captain Dennis, but I assure you that coward and stupid are not among them," Lauren stated with a heartfelt smile.
An unforeseen surge of pride engulfed Bo's entire being when she heard Lauren calling her that. She couldn't help the grin that made its way across her lips. "And what exactly do you think of me, Detective Lewis?"
Lauren's smile was bright and infectious. She cleared her throat and dropped her gaze just for a second, "For starters, I think you're smart, funny and a great dancer," the blonde smirked at her own answer, eliciting a chuckle from Bo. "You're a wonderful storyteller as well, the kind I could listen to for hours on end," Lauren continued softly as the fondness shining in her eyes made a faint tinge of pink appear on Bo's cheeks. Then, the detective's expression gradually became more serious, "I also think you're strong. Honestly, you're the strongest person I've ever met," Lauren spoke with certainty.
"You," Bo's voice wavered a little bit, "You think I'm strong...?" She asked timidly while trying to keep her emotions together.
"Of course, Bo," Lauren confirmed affectionately. "Lots of people, if not the majority, usually choose to live a lie for the sake of appearances, sacrificing their own happiness. It takes a lot of courage to leave a prestigious position like the one you had at the Morrigan and take on a job at a coffee shop. I know that we've just met, but I can say that life hasn't been very fair to you. But still... You've never given up. Never backed away. On the contrary, you fought, you persevered. Against all odds, you've become your own person, just like your Nanna wanted you to be. You're Captain Bo Dennis, this kind-hearted, brave woman that I had the privilege to meet and already admire so much."
Bo was barely containing the tears that were threatening to fall. She wanted to say so much in that moment... For a second there, Bo felt like she was about to burst, her heart thundering inside her chest like crazy while her mind went into overdrive.
Lauren...
You're amazing.
I've never known anyone like you. No one has ever made me feel this way.
I love the sound of your voice.
I love when you smile at me.
I love everything about you...
"Lauren, I..." Bo's voice was just above a whisper.
"Bo! I can't believe my eyes!" A smiling middle-aged woman with short, curled light brown hair and bright blue eye came trotting in their direction.
"Halima, hey," Bo slid out of their booth with a smile of her own and stepped towards the woman with open arms, hugging her tightly.
"Let me look at you," Halima said while pulling back and looking at Bo affectionately, "Just as beautiful as ever! It's been what, six months since the last time you paid us a visit?"
"Yeah... Something like that," Bo answered shamefaced.
"And who's your equally gorgeous friend?" Halima asked while her attentive eyes traveled to Lauren.
Bo couldn't hold back the sparkling smile that spread across her lips, "Halima, this is Detective Lauren Lewis. Lauren, this is mine and Kenzi's dear friend and the owner of this lovely establishment, Halima Jenkins."
"Oh my, another detective, hm?" The older woman nudged Bo with her shoulder and the brunette blushed immediately, her mouth agape with surprise. "I'm delighted to meet you, Detective Lewis," Halima grinned like a little child as she extended her hand to the blonde.
Lauren rose from her seat and gently shook the other woman's hand, "Likewise," she smiled while stealing a glance at Bo, "And please, call me Lauren. Bo was just telling me on our way here that your cheeseburger is by far the best she's ever eaten..."
"Aw, shucks!" Halima chuckled as she waved her hand, "I may use one or two secret ingredients here and there, but what really makes my food special is the love I put into it, every single day," the middle-aged woman puffed her chest out with pride. "So," she slapped her hands together in excitement, "What's going to be? Should I bring your favorite, Bo dear?"
"Oh yes, please, I'm famished," the brunette answered with a playful groan. "A double cheeseburger, French fries and Halima's famous chocolate milkshake with whipped cream. How does that sound to you, Detective?" Bo gazed at Lauren with a sweet smile.
"Hmm..." Lauren narrowed her eyes, feigning hesitation. "I think it sounds perfect, Captain," she grinned in return.
"Very well..." Halima watched the interaction unfolding before her with interest, "I'll take care of your orders at once," she smirked knowingly while turning around to leave.
"Oh, and Halima," Bo hurried to say, "Tell Betty to bring our food. I promised I'd call her as soon as we were ready to order."
"I will. She'll be here in no time," the older woman threw a wink at Bo and walked away diligently.
"She's adorable," Lauren commented.
"Yeah, she is," Bo agreed. "Halima has a big motherly heart and many incredible stories to tell."
"Ah..." Lauren leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table, "Speaking of telling stories, I believe you still owe me the end of one in particular, Captain Dennis," the detective smiled widely.
"Oh really?" Bo arched her eyebrows and mimicked Lauren's pose, staring at the blonde with a smirk.
"Oh yes," Lauren moved her torso even further and Bo immediately followed suit. "If I'm not mistaken, and I do have a very good memory, by the way, your last words were 'come back, Paros... Come back'," she tried to imitate the sinister voice Bo had made previously, without much success.
They laughed together like the first time they met and Bo instantly found herself looking at Lauren with rapt attention, enchanted with the simple movement of the detective's shoulders as she laughed and the delicate way her long, blonde hair hung on both sides of her face, hiding it partially. Then, when Lauren raised her head and their eyes locked on one another, the atmosphere around them shifted completely; the sound of their laughter faded away along with their smiles and it was only then that both women seemed to notice how close their faces were from each other.
Bo's mouth opened slightly as an instinctive attempt to say something, but instead of speaking, the brunette felt the air being sucked out of her lungs when she saw Lauren's gaze flick between her dark chocolate orbs and her lips.
"Uh," Betty hesitated, "I, uh, brought your food, ladies," she announced while standing next to Bo and Lauren's booth, watching how they hastily recoiled in their seats at her presence.
"Thank you," Lauren glanced at the young waitress.
"Thanks, Betty," Bo's eyes focused on the tray of food now placed on the table, "It all looks amazing," she smiled kindly as her heart continued to pound against her rib cage.
"You're welcome. Uh, call me if you need anything," Betty replied quickly before turning fast on her heels and walking away.
Bo and Lauren held each other's gaze for another brief moment, exchanging awkward smiles. They started eating in silence, both of them trying to ignore the unexpected tension that still lingered in the air.
Oh my God. What was that? Did she want to kiss me...? Bo asked herself as she took a big bite of her giant burger. The mere thought of Lauren's lips on hers made Bo's entire body tingle. Nah. I was probably just seeing things, she pondered right after, chewing the food in her mouth so hard that her jaw began to hurt.
The unmistakable sound of a moan interrupted the brunette's musings, "This is absolutely delicious...! I can literally feel my taste buds screaming with joy," Lauren groaned a little before taking another bite.
Bo raised her brows in amusement as she observed the detective destroy another large piece of her double cheeseburger in two seconds. "Well, I told you so," Bo grinned.
"That you did," Lauren cleaned up her mouth with a napkin, smiling broadly while she picked up a French fry from her plate.
They continued eating in comfortable silence for another minute or so and Bo released a relaxed breath, mentally thanking the heavens for the obvious change of energy in the air. It still amazed her how easy it felt to be around Lauren, even if she had been on the verge of having a heart attack just moments ago.
It was just my imagination, Bo reasoned with herself. Lauren is my friend. She is this amazing, scary smart, adorable woman who just so happens to be my friend. Yes, she's also beautiful and insanely attractive, but anyone can see that. It's not because I've noticed those things about her that it has to mean something...
Right?
Bo sucked up the chocolate milkshake through her straw quite aggressively. "So," her voice came out a little squeaky and she struggled to swallow the large amount of iced drink inside her mouth, "Hm, like you said, it seems that I still owe you a story," Bo pressed her lips together in a rather awkward smile.
"Oh yes," Lauren perked up immediately, shifting in her seat as expectancy radiated from her big, honey brown eyes.
Yep. Adorable indeed, the brunette smiled brightly.
And so, Bo started to narrate the rest of her tale, "Paros Nashira believed that the mysterious woman who had spoken to him was Thetis, goddess of the seas and that the dream had been a warning. However, as much as Paros had always respected the old gods, he simply couldn't find the strength to give up his heart's greatest desire, so, after mulling over what to do for several days, the fisherman chose to stay on land and take the risk. And it was from that point on that everything began to fall into chaos," Bo spoke in a lower tone, smirking as she ate a French fry.
"See? That's precisely why I called you a great storyteller," Lauren grinned at the brunette while fiddling with the straw in her milkshake.
Bo couldn't contain the chuckle that fell from her lips, "Well, thank you, Detective," she replied with a grin of her own, losing herself in Lauren's expressive hazel eyes all over again. "So, hm," she cleared her throat, "As I was saying, after Paros's decision, everything that could go wrong, went wrong for the Nashira family. Within a period of one year, they lost most of their money, deceived by the same people they had known their entire lives. And, without money, the Dawning's construction gradually became stuck. Soon, the last few friends that had stayed to help abandoned them too, alleging that the Dawning was an omen of bad luck and that the Nashiras had been cursed," Bo pronounced the last word with a slight edge to her voice. She hesitated again and Lauren patiently waited for her.
"As if all that hadn't been enough," Bo resumed saying, "Paros had to watch his three young sons fall into a mysterious illness that no doctor could cure. Finally, the once strong and confident fisherman lost all hope and fell into despair. Until..."
"Until...?" Lauren parroted expectantly.
Bo's smile was sweet and full of affection for the detective, "Until the fateful night that Paros dreamed about a star and the star miraculously consoled him. She said, 'Do not fear, Paros, because I'm coming to join our family and I will shine my light upon you all'," the brunette revealed with a reverent tone.
Lauren's whisky brown eyes opened wider in silent wonderment and the curves of her mouth slowly spread into a luminous smile.
"Nine months later, Paros's wife gave birth to a little girl and they named her Stella, the star they had been waiting for so long. Just like the voice in the dream had anticipated, from that day forth the whole ordeal experienced by the Nashira family since Paros had defied Thetis came to an end. The boys' health was restored and the Dawning opened its doors a year later," Bo made a short pause for a much needed gulp from her milkshake.
"With time," the brunette proceeded, "The epic story of Paros and his family became quite popular in that region and the myth surrounding Stella's birth turned into something legendary throughout the years. People started calling her the Nashira Lodestar, a title she has embraced and carries proudly until this day. From time to time, Stella is summoned to help other families around the world and as far as I know, she has never failed a mission," Bo grinned broadly when she saw a mild frown of confusion appear on Lauren's face. "Have you watched Pulp Fiction? Do you remember that character played by Harvey Keitel, Mr. Wolf?" She asked the blonde.
Lauren's eyebrows shot up in surprise as realization began to sink in, "Yes, I watched that movie and I remember him, but..." The detective trailed off.
"That's what Stella does. Minus the killing and illegal stuff, of course," Bo chuckled while picking up another fry. "She's the one you call when you can't handle a situation. Stella is a problem solver, probably the best there is, since the woman is a walking lucky charm..."
"Wow, that's..." Lauren laughed and looked at Bo with astonishment.
"I know," the brunette replied with a hearty smile as she rested her head against the palm of her hand, "It sounds crazy, like something you'd only find in the movies..."
"Or fairy tales," Lauren added while gazing at Bo intensely.
"Yeah..." Bo said softly. "But it's real. As we speak, Stella is in Italy, helping a friend to save an old restaurant that has been in the family for two centuries."
The look of adoration in Lauren's eyes made Bo's heart skip a beat. Then, with a short, nervous chuckle, the detective dropped her gaze and shook her head in disbelief.
"What is it?" Bo questioned gently.
"Nothing, it's just," Lauren hesitated with her eyes still down, tucking an errant lock of hair behind her ear, "I was just thinking that this is the second time in the very short period of twenty-four hours that you blow me away with a story. First, you told me about Trick and Isabeau and now you shared this extraordinary tale about the origins of the Dawning and your boss... I don't know, I'm probably not making much sense right now," the detective rolled her eyes with another nervous laugh, "But... I just can't help thinking there's something magical about you, Bo Dennis," Lauren smiled warmly as her gaze settled back on the brunette's chocolate brown orbs.
Bo stared at Lauren absolutely astonished, her eyes glistening while her heart hammered in her chest like John Bonham's drum solo in Moby Dick. Soon the butterflies inside her stomach decided to join the party and drive Bo mad too, dancing like maniacs on crack. Several seconds later, Bo felt the corners of her lips tug irresistibly, "Well... Stella always says that there's a lot of magic in this world. We just need to know where to search for," her smile brightened like the sun.
Lauren's own grin could have guided an entire fleet through the darkest night as far as Bo was concerned. They stayed that way, silently gazing at one another, for what seemed a lifetime, willingly trapped in a world of their own. They ate the rest of their food without rushing, neither of them feeling ready to end their time together just yet.
The two women spent the next few hours laughing over silly things and talking about random stuff, such as Bo's beloved yellow Camaro and Lauren's desire to adopt a cat. The detective also mentioned her best friend Ciara and the therapy sessions she would have to attend in the next couple of weeks. Bo talked about her plans to publish her first novel and how she couldn't wait for Kenzi to come back. Then, when the colors in the sky began to change and Lauren's yawns became more and more persistent, Bo reluctantly decided to call it a night. They took a cab together, sitting side by side in the car's backseat and within minutes, the detective fell asleep.
She looks like an angel, Bo smiled as she watched Lauren reverently, storing every little detail of the blonde's exquisite face in her memory. Then, out of the blue, the cab made a sharp turn to the right and Lauren's head immediately slid from the backrest to Bo's shoulder. With what could only be described as a sigh of contentment, the detective unconsciously pressed her body closer, hiding her face in the crook of Bo's neck.
The brunette's pulse skyrocketed and her throat went dry when she felt Lauren's breath caressing her skin. She inhaled and exhaled slowly as every nerve ending in her body seemed electrified. Unable to resist any longer, Bo turned her head as carefully as possible to not disturb the blonde's slumber, closing her eyes as her nose and lips made the lightest contact with Lauren's forehead.
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I'd never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
And I'd never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you
No, I don't want to fall in love
(this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't want to fall in love
(this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you
Too soon for Bo's liking, the cab driver stopped in front of Lauren's building. "Lauren..." She called softly, giving the blonde's arm a gentle squeeze, "We're here... We arrived at your place."
The detective began to stir and Bo held her breath. "Hmm..." Lauren moaned groggily, nuzzling the brunette's neck before her eyes snapped open, "Oh, I - I'm so sorry," she pulled back rapidly, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Hey," Bo smiled tenderly.
"Jesus, I'm so sorry... I honestly had no idea I was this tired..." Lauren sighed while running her fingers through her hair.
"There's no need to apologize, Detective. I'm glad I could help," Bo's smile stretched wider when she saw the corners of Lauren's mouth quirk up sheepishly. "I'll be right back," Bo warned the cab driver as she opened the backseat door. She got out of the vehicle and walked with Lauren towards the entrance of the sumptuous building.
Once they reached the double set of black glass doors, Lauren turned around to face the brunette. Lowering her head momentarily, she seemed unsure of what to say. "I, hm, I really had a great time tonight," Lauren looked back at Bo with a soft smile.
"Yeah... Me too," Bo breathed out with a smile of her own.
Lauren gazed into sparkling dark brown eyes for a second longer. "Good night, Bo."
"Good night, Lauren. See you soon?" Bo asked hopefully.
Lauren smiled as she pushed open the heavy door, "See you soon."
Bo walked back to the cab with a permanent grin on her face, feeling her heart flutter as she cast one last glance at the exact spot Lauren was occupying mere seconds ago.
And I don't want to fall in love
(this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you
-X-
Track list:
- "Fire And The Flood" - Vance Joy
- "Wicked Game" - Chris Isaak
Author's Note: hi guys! First things first, I am so, so sorry this update has taken me forever to post. No one gets more frustrated than me when this happens, believe me. Unfortunately life has been very demanding lately and I struggled a bit to find the right time to write. This chapter in particular was a great challenge for me. I've always known that I'd have a lot of information to cover in it, but I wasn't sure how to make it flow the way I had envisioned, so yeah, it took me a while to feel more confident about it. Hopefully the chapter was worthy of your time.
Captain Dennis and Detective Lewis have reached the turning point of their journey and I can't wait to share what comes next with you all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the follows, favorites and amazing reviews. They mean everything to me, always.
Last but not least, a special thanks to PK, for being incredible every day and for so kindly revising my work.