Chapter 29 - Speechless

Crackhouse continued.

The Lewis's had called for an emergency meeting with Donald insisting that Lauren and Bo meet him in reception immediately. They had instructions to scroll through the CCTV footage until Bo identified the imposter. Lauren called upon Tamsin's help and she let them into the CCTV room.

An hour later, he was found.

It was confirmed by Tamsin that he was no longer staying in the hotel and all they had was a name given to reception at the time of check-in. Not that it was needed, he was known by Donald and Lauren. His name was Albert Michaels. Lauren quickly explained that Mr Michaels had previously been employed by her parents up until two years ago, following allegations of him leaking and selling their stories.

He had managed to stay conspicuous under his hat until checking out when he removed it. Bo had sworn he actually smiled at the camera. The screenshot was then printed.

"Thank you," Donald said while taking a copy of the photograph from the printer. "I need to inform Mr & Mrs Lewis now. Bo, I shall visit you tomorrow, good night ladies." And with a polite nod of the head to Lauren, he was gone.

"I'm surprised he didn't make a comment about getting the correct one this time. Or why didn't he blame me?" Bo was upset and even more confused that no-one had shouted, no-one had reacted? Bo was used to heated reactions, not calm composure. Her own emotions were beginning to heat up and this situation was starting to piss her off. Bo paced the room suddenly hitting the wooden oak door with her right clenched fist.

"Sweetheart, this is not your fault, Albert is an angry man who knows my parents well. He would have known that their knee-jerk response to any press coverage is to send in Donald. He knows the drill; he was probably watching and wait-" Lauren was cut off.

"Waiting for the dumb bartender to open her big stupid mouth! Glad I didn't disappoint." Bo spat back, anger building inside her.

"Bo, please don't say that," Lauren reassured her fiancée.

"Why not, it's true, isn't it? I'm good for a lover but not a wife! your pearl of a mother so beautifully described me." Bo squared up to Lauren.

"What did you say? Are you actually wanting to discuss my mother?" Lauren asked, confused with a hint of aggression.

"Oh, I heard your conversation the other night in Fusion. I heard mother dearest saying I'm nothing but a whore, good only for a lover and not a wife. Oh, well, after tomorrow when she gets the full un-edited version of me from the real Donald I'm sure she will cement her bitter opinion of me. Not to mention the public shame I am destined to bring upon the Lewis empire, lest we forget."

And with that Bo stormed off and walked back home, not stopping once to see if Lauren was behind her. Within minutes she arrived at the crackhouse fighting back the tear drops from falling as she turned the key. Once inside Bo grabbed the fridge door and popped open a beer before then retreating to the small balcony and lighting a menthol cigarette from her emergency cigarette box hidden on top of the wardrobe.

"SLAM" came from the room door, 'huh I guess she did follow me' Bo muttered to herself as she enjoyed her final puff and exhaled a clouded smoke ring into the night sky.

After a few minutes had past Lauren stood in the glass doorway and gently knocked on the ajar glass door. "Bo I'm sorry you heard what my mother said. It was a misunderstanding; she doesn't know you like I do. But she will, they both will Bo. Come here." Lauren held her arms open. Bo hesitated to process what was going on. She finally turned to face Lauren, tears streaming down her face and buried her head deep into Lauren's shoulder.

"This won't get out, he won't leak your story, he will sell it back to us first. I know Donald he will fix this. I promise Bo all will be ok" Lauren whispered softly stroking Bo's silky brown hair.

Bo sat down in one of the wooden chairs, covering her face with her hands in disbelief. "I just feel so used, I'm an idiot. I never speak about anything, but then this, this whirlwind of shit! I feel so fucking stupid! Everything about him had been an act, he used me to talk, and worse of all, it worked. Even for me, this is a real low." Bo continued. "You don't deserve this, you don't...'

Bo had told him everything, and the memory of it made her feel queasy. Bo's face turned pale and she started to gag.

She raced to the toilets and thankfully made it in time. Bo heard Lauren knocking on the door, asking to be let in. Bo stood slowly and gradually opened the bathroom door and walked sluggishly to the sink to rinse out her mouth and try to compose herself.

"Baby, please, sssh shhh, it will be ok." Lauren tried her best to assure her.

"No it won't, it will never be ok," Bo spoke back over her shoulder to Lauren.

Bo stared at her reflection in the mirror and began to hyperventilate, just like the day she had gone to Lauren. She couldn't breathe, feeling like her heart would simply stop, sliding to the floor, Bo buried her head between her legs.

Lauren grabbed a paper bag and handed it swiftly to Bo. A flashback played vividly in Lauren's mind like the day she met with Bo in her office. Lauren kneeled beside her. "Bo, please just try to concentrate on your breathing, try to slow down, it's all ok. This is an anxiety attack and will pass in just a few minutes' sweetheart." Lauren using her professional technique to begin to calm Bo with her authoritative tone.

Between breaths, Bo replied, "I'm...ruining...your... life...Lauren."

"No, you are not." Lauren's voice broke as she answered, trying to hide the sound of the upset in her voice "I love you so much. Bo, please trust me, it will all be ok. I promise."

Bo started to relax, but she knew that it would never be the same between them again, not with this hanging over them.


Thursday 13th June - Crackhouse

After an uneasy night of tossing and turning Bo woke searching the other side of the bed, waking suddenly when she couldn't feel Lauren beside her. Sitting upright and hugging the sheet to her skin, she looked around, eyes finally resting on a piece of paper on the bedside table. Reaching over, she grabbed it.

Morning Bo,

I needed to leave early as I have my Skype interview today. Don't forget your meeting with Donald at 11 am. And we have been invited again for dinner with my parents at 8 pm.

I Love You, Lo x

Bo read the note with a confused expression, then placed the note back on the table. Throwing the sheet back, Bo stood to get ready for work. Moments later she was standing in the warmth of the shower and found herself crying, another day of the Lewis circus, another day of her feeling less connected to Lauren and worse, a day that could change them forever if Lauren gets the job.

Bo was grateful that she had another quiet day at the beach bar, the hotel was at forty percent occupancy, but it felt more like ten percent today. Donald had been to visit her earlier that morning and she had to re-tell her whole story. Bo had already told Lauren last night that she was uncomfortable, but Lauren had persuaded her to talk to him anyway. Nothing had been heard from Albert, but Bo was assured that it would be dealt with when he finally made contact.

Kenzi had been given the day off and was out with Hale. They spent every moment together and their love was blossoming into something serious. They had spoken already of staying together, as he lived in Toronto, and had already Skype chatted with his parents. Things were going good, and uncomplicated, unlike her and Lauren.

Just then hands covered her eyes, Bo jumped until she recognised the perfume, and vanilla scented hair, that was beside her ear.

"Guess who?" Lauren whispered into Bo's ear.

Playing along, Bo replied, "My three o'clock?"

Lauren slapped her arm, Bo turned around smiling. "Hello beautiful, I was playing. You know you're my three o'clock and all the other numbers around that clock. What brings you here, I thought I was meeting you later, not that I am complaining."

"Bo I am so excited, I simply had to share it with you. Look," Lauren pushed the email print out into Bo's hands. "I know we're undecided, but I thought if you knew this, it may sway matters? "

Lauren waited as Bo read the top line of the email.

Dear Dr Lewis

I am writing to you today following your skype interview this morning. The board of directors and I have reached our decision. It's with great pleasure that we are delighted to offer you the position as Head of the Medical Research Department.

"Bo can you believe it! I got it! They offered me it an hour later by email and then called me to check I'd received it! attached was also the full job spec and contract. Obviously, they are negotiable. They said that they were waiting for me to apply and that I was already the front runner! Me the front-runner, and there was me worrying about Dr Penelope Pimkins ha!" Lauren was beaming.

Bo continued to read silently. Not only was her yearly salary the equivalent to what Bo earns in ten years, it was also a Senior Manager position managing a team of twenty staff and her own research lab. Lauren would be Head of the Medical Research Department. On paper, it was the perfect job for her and they were willing to wait for Lauren to finish her obligations. Bo finished reading and looked over at Lauren who was about to burst.

"Lo this is amazing, you're amazing. I am speechless, wow for once don't know what to say? That's so fast hey, wow, erm shall I go make us a drink?" Bo already walking back towards the spirit shelf to give herself a moment to digest the news.

"Well, we need to talk about certain terms and conditions. What do you think, what should I ask?" Lauren asked, taking a seat on the customer side of the bar, turning the paper over and getting her pen out.

"Gordon's or Bombay Sapphire?" Bo asked Lauren who was engrossed in re-reading her printed email.

"Baby, can't we have Champagne?" Lauren asked.

"Oh yes, of course, Moet it is, what was I thinking?"

Bo popped open the bottle and poured two champagne flutes.

"Ask if they have a job in Canada." Bo blurted out, testing Lauren's reaction.

Lauren looked up from the page and laughed. "Ha Bo yeah right, sure I'll just get offered the job in London and ask that they create a new lab in Canada and fly all the staff over because my fiancée prefers Canada?" Lauren joked.

"Hum, ok, just thought I'd ask. Cheers, to my baby genius and your job offer." Bo clinked glasses with Lauren.

"Job offer, it's mine Bo, all I need to do is say yes," Lauren said.

"I think we should wait the weekend, I am so proud of you but Lo this job offer to me just shows the world how brilliant you are. You will get whatever job you apply for, even ones in Canada." Bo took Lauren's hands. "Also Lauren, we never actually talked about the England thing, did we?"

"Bo I really didn't think you would be so against the idea, it's my dream job this kind of opportunity really doesn't happen often, Head of a Department maybe comes around once every ten years," Lauren spoke, desperation evident in her tone.

"Baby your right, you need to make this decision for you, not us. Like Trick always says, the person who makes you choose isn't worth choosing. I am certainly not that person. You will be amazing wherever you are Lo. I guess I'm just overwhelmed now. Just with the whole Lewis name, I do have reservations about if London will be good for us. Always making sure that I am dressed correctly, or saying the right things or not seen falling into the street with Kenzi." Bo giggled.

"Baby, I didn't know you felt that way and I want you to be happy too. I will re-think it. I need to get back; I need to check stool samples." Lauren leant in and kissed Bo on her cheek, and turned to walk away, "Oh and you don't have to come tonight if you don't want?"

Lauren handed Bo a piece of paper, "I found this stuck on the fridge. It's from Kenzi." Lauren smiled.

Bo, Night out me and you. I have BIG news...Make it happen, K

"Sounds like something has happened. I will call her and...", Bo was cut off.

"No Bo, you should go. Sounds important. Will you come by after for drinks at the Savoy bar, then we can tell them about me still considering the job face to face, together?" Lauren said.

"Of course baby, we are in this together." Bo smiled, happy that Lauren was so willing to consider her feelings to make her happy. Kissing her again, she watched as she walked away with her hands in her coat pocket.

Great, she may turn it down, so why does this feel wrong? Bo quietly thought to herself.


Friday 14th June - Crackhouse

Bo woke up to another morning to another empty bed and another hand-written note.

"Every fricking morning," Bo said to herself.

Morning Bo,

We waited for you in the bar. I don't know why you didn't turn up last night, but I explained to my parents that you must have had your reasons...

Bo placed the note down, half read, she had forgotten about meeting for drinks as she was caught up in Kenzi's news.

...Anyway, I have told them about the job and after some thought, I'm going to reject it. Telling them went better than I expected, besides it's my decision. I can do my work anywhere and your right I'm a great catch; )

They also got a call from Donald, he has been contacted by Albert. I have left early today to speak to them before work.

See you later?

I Love You, Lo x

Kenzi entered the room, a bowl of cereal in her hands, "Hey BoBo, I heard your Doc leaving this morning, early and all. Thought she was going for her run, but she never came back I see. Is everything ok?"

"I don't know Kenz, she's busy right now, with her parents here and everything going on." Bo had already explained the full circus to Kenzi last night, "We don't seem to see each other much recently."

"You two will be okay, just need to be patient with all that's happening right now. It will all calm down and you'll be back to being sickly sweet and in love in no time." Kenzi smiled over to her bestie.

"I hope so, oh and it turns out she's going to turn down the job after all". Bo said sheepishly to Kenzi.

"See it's all working out BoBo" Kenzi left for work.

Bo lay back down and covered her head with the pillow.


Intrigue Nightclub

"Hello, Eve."

Evony was sat in her office in Intrigue, the door was open, and she was just finishing her paperwork. She did not expect to see the visitor who was standing at her doorway.

"Well, well, this is a surprise," Evony replied, placing her pen back onto the table.

"I heard you were here, I just had to come down and see it for myself."

"I didn't think I would ever see you again. What can I help you with?" Evony enquired.

"I need you to do something for me. I need you to stay away from Dr Lauren Lewis and Bo Rainer and never to speak a word about either of them."

"And can I at least ask why, what is your interest in them?" Evony asked.

"No, you cannot, you will simply do as I have asked."

"And is there anything else?" Evony replied.

The visitor began to turn to walk away, "Yes, leave Evony, I want you to leave Egypt."

Evony nodded.

A few minutes later Vex arrived.

"Hey Evony, you have done yet with them bleeding invoices?" Vex walked in, eating an apple, and sat down on the edge of her desk.

"Erm, yeah, there here," Evony handed him over the pile of papers.

"You okay? you look flushed." Vex asked while continuing to eat.

"Yes, it's just something has come up. I need to leave tomorrow. So, this is my final day. Send me the money." Evony stood and gathered her things together.

"Shut the front door. Just like that you're gonna up and leave? What no note, no tearful goodbye?" Vex got up and stood in front of Evony.

"I don't owe you any explanation, you work for me. We are leaving first thing tomorrow morning." Evony replied.

"We?" Vex asked.

"Yes, I'm taking Crystal with me." Evony walked out, leaving the office keys on the desk.


Bo's Beach Bar

Later that night Bo was working in the bar, she was hoping that Lauren would drop by, but she hadn't. She worked the late shift and would not get back until three in the morning. She hoped that she would at least wait up for her, but knew that was unlikely. Bo had got a text but was disappointed when she saw it was from Evony.

Evony - "Hi Bo, just wanted to say bye. Leaving tomorrow morning. Eve"

Bo - "OMG, why so sudden? is everything ok?" Bo still had feelings of friendship for Evony.

Evony - "Just business. Take care, Eve"

Bo placed her phone back into her pocket and shrugged. She knew Evony and knew that something would be the matter, but right now had her own problems to deal with.

Arriving home just after three am, she found Lauren already asleep, undressing she slid in beside her in bed and wrapped her arm around her. She laid as close to her as she could without waking her. Kissing her shoulder, she heard Lauren muffle a reply.

"Ssshhhh baby, it's only me," Bo whispered, "Go back to sleep. I love you." Bo inhaled her lover's perfume and for the second time in as many days, she cried.


Saturday 15th June

Bo woke to a third morning to an empty bed and another hand-written note. She sighed and pulled the sheets over her head and kicked and screamed under the covers.

"Another fricking note, is she for real? Feel like I have a fucking pen pal." Bo announced to an empty room.

Morning Bo,

I didn't want to wake you, baby. It's still early - 5 am.

I have been called out. My Bedouin baby has a temperature and, as you know, they are not wanting to take him to the hospital.

I will get back as quick as I can. Coffee brewed for when you wake.

I Love You, Lo x

Getting up, Bo put on her kimono and walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee, grateful that Lauren had brewed it before she had left. Moments later Kenzi joined her in the kitchen, grabbing Bo's mug and taking a large gulp.

"It's like a hug in a mug." Kenzi cupped her hands around the mug, signalling to Bo that it was now hers, and Bo poured herself another. "Where's Dr Love?"

Bo paused for a moment, not sure if she should share her worries with Kenzi or not, deciding to share, she said, "She was called out. She hates that part of her job. When we were on the lake she admitted that she would never miss the call outs and was looking for a research job. And Kenz, she had one, the perfect one and I wasn't excited for her. I'm such a shitty wife-to-be."

Kenzi felt her stomach plummet, she hated seeing Bo so deflated, "Bo, if she really wanted it, she would have told you and taken it. All you need to do is watch her when she looks at you, all she wants is you. Besides you said yourself she chose to turn it down; you didn't make her choose."

"I'm not being fair to her, she deserves better." Bo didn't wait for a reply as she went back to her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Lauren had not come back by the time Bohad to leave for work, she had tried calling her but she had no signal. Bo was missing her desperately, feeling more and more out of sync than ever before. Without realising it Bo had become accustomed to everything Lauren. She thought about her every second of the day, even when they were together. She had never loved anyone before, so didn't know what to expect. However, every day she felt lost, found, happy, sad; a mixture of emotions with just a single thought of her lovers smile. The way she looked at her. It was consuming her. Was this normal, she thought.

Mid-day she got a request to meet with Adam, she changed her rota with Kim. It never felt like a question if she could make it, more of a statement to be there. Donald was waiting for her at the main gate just after noon and he drove them to the marina. The yachts were all lined up, Millionaires Marina it was nicknamed by the locals. Bo understood why, as vessel, after vessel all impressed her. Standing at the end was the longest of them all, chrome white and black in colour. A helicopter on the front and jet skis on the back. She just made out the figure of the man standing on the deck, blue shorts and a white polo shirt. She was helped up by one of the crew members and she made her way to where she saw Adam was waiting.

"Hello Bo, please take a seat." Adam was standing by two chairs in the middle of the deck.

"Hi, Adam. Will Kate and Lauren be joining us?" Bo turned to face Donald, who was standing suspiciously behind him.

"Lauren tells me that she's turning down the job at St Mary's as you're not wanting to live in England. I just wanted to hear it from you, t'ats all." Adam sat down in front of Bo and sipped on his whisky. He appeared different to the man she met a few nights ago. Gone was the friendliness in his voice and warmth in his eyes.

"Well," Bo swallowed, "It was more of a reservation than a definitive decision on my part Adam."

"Really Bo?" Adam questioned, "You expect me to believe that the daughter I raised and know better than myself would agree to turn down what she has worked so hard for all her life?"

"It's a job, and with respect, and it was her choice," Bo replied defensively.

"No Bo, it wasn't her choice, it was yours. She's just making a rash, bad decision as she leads with her heart every fricking time. Well not this time Bo, not if I 'ave anything to do with it. Donald had shared with me your life story, and thankfully I gave the watered-down version to her mother."

"I have changed since then. I have changed since meeting Lauren." Bo answered.

"So has my daughter, I can see she's happy now but Bo, these changes are not as good for her as they are for you. She's making you a better person, you are making her worse. Do you know where she is now?" He asked. Bo shook her head, "Shopping for clothes for you."

Bo hung her head low.

"Listen, Bo, I know her, she will regret not taking that job. And I also know that you know that too, don't you?"

Bo paused, "Yes maybe Adam, I don't want to hold her back, I love her and I want what's best for her, for us, that's why I told her it was her decision, not mine, and I told her I'd never make her choose".

"Indeed but we both know Lauren, by not making her choose of course she has weighed things up in her mind and now selflessly chosen you, she's a fixer, it's in her blood. But trust me, Bo, this honeymoon period won't last forever."

"Bo, if you really love her, let her go, please Bo, let her go." Adam pleaded.

"But, I love her and want to be with her." Bo quietly replied.

"We can pay off Albert, but then there will be the next one, and the next one after that. We can't buy them all Bo, one day it will break. You will be arrested and be imprisoned. Lauren will spend hours, days, years even waiting for you. Why waste two lives?"

"Not forgetting harbouring a criminal is an offence, this position you are putting her in is unfair, my daughter could face prison herself. It will all end in tears. T'at Bo is not love, t'at is selfish." Adam leant down and handed Bo his handkerchief.

"What should I do?" Bo sniffled.

"We have a solution, Donald and I have spoken. Instead of paying Albert the seventy thousand pounds that he's asking for. I give it to you. You see, if there's no Bo in our lives then that means there no story to print. I have a banker's cheque here and an open flight ticket for anywhere in the world, leaving tomorrow. All you need to do is leave, go and stay away. And remember Bo, this is strictly between us; do you understand what I am offering you?"

Adam stood up and placed the crisp white envelope in the centre of the table. "Donald, please will you escort Bo back to her hotel." Adam requested.

Bo watched Adam then turn away and walk to the other end of the boat, resting both hands on the railings, and leaving the sealed envelope behind.

"Bo, when you're ready I'll be waiting by the car, "Donald announced.

Bo picked up the envelope, glanced toward Adam and exited the boat.