Chapter 6 – Rainer On My Parade

17th December 2012 – 05:40 am

Amour sans fin Chalet: Kitchen

Bo silenced her alarm. She had spent the whole night contemplating what she would say to Lauren, deciding in the end on the truth. After all, she made a deal to show her 'Bo Dennis', and she always kept her word.

"Morning Laur-" Bo stopped; it was not Lauren.

"Hello, I'm Bianca, your chalet host. I arrived last night. What can I get for you?"

Bo looked her up and down. The stranger's dark brown hair covered most of her face, and her smile felt fake. The uniform she wore was identical to Laurens'. Yet, this one had definitely had alterations as it was fitted snugly to her petite frame. Unlike Laurens' that always looked too big and hung from her. "Is Lauren here?"

"I'll get her for you; she is in the cellar unpacking the deliveries." Bianca turned on her heels and headed out. Bo followed. Lauren stood by the cold storage, looking up when she heard them both enter. "Miss Denn—" Bianca stopped talking when she felt Bo walk past her.

"Bianca, can we have a minute alone? Please, I just need to have a quick chat with Lauren." Bo noticed how she scrunched up her face, "I have a, erm, private dietary request."

Bianca tutted and walked out.

"Hey, Lauren, I didn't know this chalet had a cellar." Bo suddenly felt nervous as she slowly walked toward her, stopping just in front of the extended workbench, currently packed with boxes and crates of fresh produce. "I haven't had the chance to speak to you since yesterday; I just wanted to explain about Rainer."

Lauren pulled her phone from her pocket, pressed a few buttons, and passed it to Bo. Bo starred at the screen showing tabloid pictures of the pair. "Seems you had a good night?" Lauren remarked, swiping the images on the phone.

"The caption says, 'Back together?'" Lauren blurted out. "It's nice that he is here. The article says you've been having issues lately but are working them out."

"Things aren't always what they seem." Bo handed back Laurens' phone. "I thought you wanted to get to know the real me?"

It was Lauren's turn now to look embarrassed.

"Lauren about Rainer, it-"

"It doesn't matter, Miss Dennis. I'm happy that he is here for you and you're able to spend time together. Besides, it gets you out the stuffy chalet watching old nineties films when you could be in the spotlight." Lauren spoke through her fake smile. Inside, she was crawling, angry and jealous. Having not slept well after constantly checking social media. When the last picture showed them entering the hotel hand in hand, she felt betrayed. Lauren was aware that she was acting ridiculously. The file had said that Bo was straight, but it didn't mention that she had a boyfriend. The problem was Lauren had felt a real connection. She had confused a friendship with romantic feelings. Usually, she was spot on with her gaydar, but Bo had her fooled.

"Lauren, first of all, please still call me Bo. What Evony said about your people was rude. I don't think like her, growing up, my house staff were my friends. I even invited them to my thirteenth birthday party, and sadly they were the only ones who attended. And secondly, I like you—" Bo walked to her and took Laurens' hands in her own. A risky move, as if she were wrong about her, would get very embarrassing very quickly.

"I like you too." Lauren looked up from their joined hands and held Bo's gaze a second longer than she knew she should. But there it was again, the spark, the flirtatious looks she had given her. The look reaffirmed to Lauren that she hadn't imagined the chemistry between them.

"Now I made you a deal to get to know the real me." Bo inhaled. It was now or never to tell another person that she was gay, another coming out experience.

Lauren swallowed, she sensed Bo about to admit she was in a relationship, but she was maybe curious. Stepping back, releasing their hands, she was right. She had been making a fool of herself. So what if Bo was bi-curious? Lauren had met many one-night lesbians in her past. That part never bothered her. It was that she felt it was something more that was bothering her.

"Rainer, it's complicated. You see, he is my boyfriend, but it is because of, well, erm. We have been dating for three years, and well, Evony set it up. The public loves us, as he is also my husband on the show, and well, what I am saying is that, well, erm, well erm. You see, it is like this-" Bo didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. Bianca barged back in, prising them apart by standing between them.

"Orders are in Lauren." Bianca slapped a piece of paper on Lauren's chest. "Everyone's up for an early start today."

Bo backed up, taking the order and trying to read the sloppy writing. Bianca pushed Lauren to the stairs, who managed a small smile at Bo as she passed.

"Miss Dennis, what would you like?" Bianca turned, notepad in her hand.

"Nothing, I'm okay with just coffee." Bo wanted to scream that she just wanted another five minutes alone with Lauren, but she knew she couldn't. She had messed that up and didn't know when she would get another chance. Bo retreated back to the dining room and sat with her thoughts.

Lauren spent the remaining part of the morning busy with work, both the real one for Jack and her fake one. She had an opportunity now to back away from her silly crush and do what she was really there for. Bo was going to be busy with her boyfriend, and even though she was about to tell her something, that fact never changed. Lauren knew she had to stop her silly fantasy about the two of them and make a clean break from her. Bo was clouding her judgement. She followed her heart in Turkey, and it landed her shot and nearly out of a job. She needed to follow her head this time. One thing for sure, she was not going to jump into anything or make any more mistakes, especially not for the heterosexual Bo Dennis.

17th December 2012 – 17:00 pm

Filming Set - Lyon Mountain

Later that day, Bo and Tamsin had finished filming their scene and all around them, the production team were alive with excitement. It had gone better than written, and all the writers were ecstatic.

"Great job today, babes." Tamsin handed her a full champagne flute and took a sip from her own glass. Truth be told, Tamsin envied Bo's talent and had always seen her as a threat, but now she had this feeling that she would push the show forward and that made her happy. "This will definitely secure our jobs next season. If they cancel the show after that performance, then it's their loss."

Bo smiled; she had forgotten about the show. Her only thoughts were of Lauren. It had been an awkward day. After telling her that she like-liked her, Lauren had managed to avoid her all day. Turning, she saw that Tamsin was staring at her, head tilted, waiting for her reply. "Yeah, it was a good shoot."

Tamsin slammed her drink down, "Bo, I need this contract. So, whatever is going on in your head, stop it."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Bo placed her untouched glass down and went to leave, Tamsin's hand on her arm stopping her. "Get off me, Tam."

"Being a lesbian is career suicide, Bo. You'll never be cast again in any decent role, just the lesbo or, worse still, the one that they kill off. Lesbians don't last long on TV, they all die on screen, and then their lover goes back to men." Tamsin released her grip, "Do what you want in private, fuck the chef, it's a modern-day twist on the pool boy. But Bo, in public, you are straight, got it?"

Bo knew that Tamsin was right, but she still didn't appreciate being spoken to like that. "Fuck off, Tam; you have no idea what you're talking about."

Tamsin laughed out loud. "We all know you and Evony were fuck buddies. It was hardly a secret with you following her around like a lap dog."

"You really don't know what you're talking about." Bo swallowed hard. Her secret was out.

"Oh, I do. Really I do. I was in the room next to you both last year during the promotion tour." Tamsin grinned, "Besides, Evony told me about you two when you were clingy before she broke up with you. I also know about the deal with Rainer, another closeted gay, and your ticket for normal."

Bo gulped down her fear.

"Don't worry, Bo; your secret is safe with me." Tamsin drank her champagne, "as long as it doesn't interfere with me. Hell, I was gay for a girl once."

"So, what if it is true? Either way, it's none of your business."

"Anyway, you may not be so hot for the chef after hearing what I know." Tamsin grinned. "I was talking to Bianca this morning, and she told me something that you may want to hear."

Bo looked away, "I'm not interested in what she said."

"So, you don't wanna know who Lauren lets into her room at night?" Tamsin's relished Bo's confused expression.

Bo stared at Tamsin, "Who?"

"Ahh, so you do want to know?" Tamsin enjoyed toying with Bo. Watching her squirm was entertainment for her.

"Tamsin either spit it out or shut it up."

"Last night, Bianca saw Evony knock on Laurens chalet door. Lauren opened it, and Evony opened her coat!" Pausing for dramatic effect, Tamsin then continued, "revealing she was only in her underwear."

Bo's throat went dry, "What happened?"

Tamsin smiled; she really was enjoying Bo's pain. "Well, Lauren pulled her in, of course. Evony has a great body. She stayed for a few hours then left in the early hours of the morning. You've got to love Evony. She gets what she wants."

Bo fought back her tears. She felt betrayed by Evony, but more so by Lauren. She needed to back off before it got out of hand. She left Tamsin without saying a word and walked back to her trailer.

Tamsin called out, "Bianca, good work."

Bianca appeared from behind her. "That wasn't exactly true. After Lauren pulled her in, she was out again less than a minute later, fully clothed and looking pissed off. Lauren definitely rejected her."

"Well, sometimes you need to plump up the truth, and she needed to back away. They were getting too close, too quickly, and I needed Bo to concentrate on the show. It's her only priority here, and the chef is a distraction." Tamsin signalled for Bianca to leave.

24th December 2012 – 20:45 pm

Amour sans fin Chalet

Lauren and Bo were not talking to each other and avoiding all but essential meets ever since Rainer had come to Morzine. It had been a week since Lauren had an unexpected night visit that involved an awkward encounter of seeing her boss in her underwear at her door. After Lauren rejected her advances, she was warned not to have any personal contact with Bo. Lauren denied anything more than a friendship but agreed to act more professionally.

Bianca took over from the front of house chalet duties. She brought the food orders in from the guests directly, and Lauren rarely left the kitchen. They had become strangers again, so much so that Evony had asked Lauren to work on set, saving time to return to the chalet. Lauren agreed, preparing food in the chalet then reheating and serving from the food truck. Bo would always follow the same routine; politely give her order, not say another word and eat it alone in her trailer. It was as if Bo was avoiding her too, which made being more professional more uncomplicated.

Bo had been busy filming; a lot had been packed into the first week, including working nights. When she returned to the chalet, Lauren wasn't there. Just a note to say if anyone was hungry to call and she would return. The worse was that Bo was sure that they still saw each other since Evony's night visit. She would hear Evony sneak out, not returning until the morning. Breakfast, she sat smugly smiling. Bo knew that look; Evony was having regular sex. She certainly didn't waste any chances by watching nineties movies with the girls she fancied. Bo felt like an idiot and retracted more into herself.

Bo missed her early morning chats with Lauren but was exhausted. Evony had made sure that she had no free time. Any moments were filled with back to back interviews or public dates with Rainer around the resort. Late nights, working long days and staged dinners with Rainer meant Bo would be out sixteen hours a day. Some nights Bo would sleep at his hotel to avoid further suspicions.

Bo didn't realise that since Laurens' rejection, Evony had filled her evenings in the company of Bianca, who had the chalet next door to Laurens'. Bianca had seen it unfold, and when Evony emerged minutes later, clearly rejected, she called out and invited her in for a nightcap. They drank expensive scotch and together planned their next steps. Bianca was to let drop to Tamsin that Evony had been with Lauren, knowing that Tamsin would not hold that from Bo long. Bo would break her and Lauren up before anything romantic happened. Also, Bianca was to take over all guest contact, meaning Lauren had no reason to be anywhere except her kitchen. Bianca was ambitious and eager to please Evony; in more ways than one. Horny and half-naked, Evony used her for pleasure. Surprised at how much she enjoyed her company, Evony had returned every night.

Tonight was another Promotion Night, a prearranged date with Rainer in Morzine's hottest nightclub, L'Etale. The show's producers had rented it out for a production Christmas Eve Party. Everyone was invited, including the crew and chalet staff. Bo was unsure if Lauren would attend. She had overheard Bianca accepting, but Lauren still had not said a word to her, except a few pleasantries.

Everyone was rallied up as their driver pulled into the driveway. Bo saw Lauren standing in the doorway in her uniform, and her question was answered. They all ushered into the minivan, with Bianca in toll, and soon they were on their way. Lauren watched as they pulled off the drive, it was the first time since arriving that she would be left alone in the chalet, and she was determined to make the most of it. It was the reason she was there, after all.

Lauren searched Evony and Tamsin's rooms but came up empty-handed. A few little secrets were revealed, but nothing newsworthy. Massimo's room was next, where she found a box that excited her. It was small, wooden, and housed hundreds of driving licences. Laurens' scanned them and snapped a few pictures. Maybe the owners could give an insight into what he was up to, why he had their licences, and what they knew. Finally, she had a breakthrough.

Lastly, Lauren went to Bo's room. It was a lot smaller than the others and immaculately tidy. Opening her wardrobe, Lauren felt the material; everything was soft to the touch. All her outfits were from expensive designers. Lauren sat at the foot of the bed and exhaled in, held it, then released. She had tried so hard to forget about Bo, but it wasn't easy. Every time she saw her, her heart would literally flounce about her chest, and she was convinced others could see it beating.

Training did not prepare her for this. It was the first time in her life that she had felt this way about anyone, and she was scared shitless. But like a blanket that covered the fear, she also felt excited, turned on, and hopeful. Lauren didn't believe Bo and Rainer, they looked great when the cameras were near, but they were the opposite when they weren't. Eating in separate trailers, not talking between takes and Bo never once spoke about him, not even in passing.

Lauren missed spending time with her. Shaking her head, she smiled, realising that there was nowhere else she'd wanted to be right now. Lauren already had information that would keep Jack happy. Now she wanted to go find Bo and have some fun with her. Grabbing her keys, she ran out of the chalet towards her room to get changed.