Chapter 15 – Unravelled

27th December 2012 21:10 pm

Bleu Royal Hotel Room

Bo fell onto the huge chesterfield sofa, laughing so hard she clutched her stomach.

"Stop laughing; that is my best accent. American is easy. You just got to let your tongue lie low in your mouth." Lauren flexed her shoulders, determined to try again. "Your wigs a 'Lil loose."

"What part of America are you channelling with that one." Bo laughed harder.

"Kentucky." Lauren pouted. "Fine, I do a better Irish one anyway."

Bo sat up, "Okay, then."

"So Paddy rushes his wife to the nearest hospital." Lauren had perfected the Irish accent, and Bo looked impressed, "The nurse rushed oot, 'How dilated is she, sir.' The nurse asked. Paddy replied, 'Delighted, she's over the frickin' moon."

Bo fell laughing once again, clutching her sides. Lauren spread her arms out and bowed, "Ta-Da."

Bo clapped enthusiastically, "Brilliant, you have that one sown up perfectly."

The song changed on the playlist that was quietly playing out the Bluetooth speakers. Lauren turned the volume up and approached Bo, "May I have this dance?"

Bo stood, taking Laurens' hand, stepping into her embrace. Head was resting on her shoulder, letting Lauren lead her in their slow, sensual dance. Lauren sang along to the lyrics softly, holding Bo close.

"What song was that?" Bo asked once the song ended.

"It's called Only You by Yazoo," Lauren replied.

They stayed dancing to a few more songs, with Lauren holding Bo close to her and every now and then kissing her forehead. They danced into the bedroom, dropping their dressing gowns and getting on the bed—another round of lovemaking before falling asleep in each other's arms.

28th December 2011 09:00 am

Bleu Royal Hotel Room

They woke up in the exact same position, legs and arms entwined and facing each other. Unable to refrain from themselves, they spent the morning kissing. It had been a perfect day, neither wanting it to end. Room service breakfast was ordered, and Bo decided that after was her last chance to tell Lauren about Evony. Lauren had requested more carbs to fill up on, and Bo tipped the room service boy. After they had finished, they dressed and was enjoying their last hour sitting on the balcony.

"Lauren, what would you say if I asked you to stay, get another job, would you?" Bo asked.

Lauren saw the hurt in Bo's eyes and held her hand. "I would tell you I couldn't. If I am fired, then I was exiled from the resort and Evony will make sure to keep us apart. I can't stay here, so I will leave, but..."

"If it's the money, I will pay for your hotel. You can charge everything to the room."

"I know you would." Lauren smiled, "You just tipped that porter a weeks salary."

"A hundred euros?" Bo asked.

"Workers in the hospitality, like myself, have low incomes," Lauren answered. "We get what is called PIE, or Payment in Expenses, so our salary is made up of expenses like having a room, food, uniform, that kind of thing. The actual salary is minimum."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, I will pay for your PIE?" Bo joked. "I will be your Richard Gere, and you my Julia. You can shop in Morzine while I work, and then I stay over each night?"

"I hope you are kidding?" Lauren removed her hand. "I hope you haven't just asked me to be your paid escort?" Lauren was fuming. She was about to declare her love, say that she would have to leave, but will return on a new visa, and they can continue what they had started. But it appeared to Lauren, all they had started was a sexual relationship, and Lauren would be Bo's paid company.

Bo noticed Lauren's neck redden and instantly regretted what she had said. "It's not like an escort, babe. I just mean you don't need to go back to the Chalet. We both know you're fired, so let's just keep you away for a while. I don't want you speaking to Evony."

"Hide me away?" Lauren's fist clenched and unclenched. "I'd rather face Evony, sign your fucking shit contract, bow down to her fucking whims and beg for my job back than sit up here all day like a hooker, waiting for my mistress to pay me to service her."

"I don't want you to, that's not what I want you to do." Bo fumbled, she didn't want Lauren and Evony speaking before she had a chance to, but it was clear that she was making it worse. "If you go and speak to Evony it will be the end of us."

Lauren stood and marched back into the living room. "Really? So my choices are to stay hiding, illegally in a country I don't work in anymore, or leave this shit-show all behind me and fuck off out while I have my dignity. I want to go now. We are leaving." Grabbing her bag, making it clear that it wasn't a question, she stood and waited at the door.

"Fine," Bo shouted back. "It was only an idea, but if you don't like it, then forget it. Let's go and talk to Evony."

Moments later, they were in the car being driven to set in silence. It was their first fight. Lauren knew she had overreacted, she then remembered Bo asking her to be Julia, and she was annoyed again. Lauren had never felt this kind of love before. It consumed her every thought. It made her irrational. She thought they were feeling the same, but the reality was she was still going to be on her payroll. Except she won't be cooking up meals, she will be serving up herself.

They arrived at Bo's trailer. "Bo, I need to talk to Evony, get being fired over and done with."

"Lauren, stop, please." Bo stopped in her tracks, "I am sorry for what I said at the hotel."

"What part, hiding me away like another one of your secrets or asking me to be your paid hooker?"

"So is that it?" Bo kicked the floor, "If Evony doesn't and won't back down, are we done?"

"I can't stay here Bo, my visa is permitted for working at the chalet only, the only -" Lauren stopped talking.

Kenzi was standing in front of them. Behind her, they saw Massimo and Evony rushing towards them from the other direction. Kenzi eyed up Lauren, and Lauren felt her hostility.

"Kenzi, this is …."

"You!" Kenzi answered her friend. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Kenzi pulled Bo away from Lauren and stood between them.

"How do you know Lauren?" Bo frowned, looking to Lauren, "how do you know Kenzi?"

"I – erm – don't know, who, what-." Lauren stiffened, unable to speak.

Kenzi eyed her up cautiously. "Don't deny it. It is definitely you."

Evony and Massimo closed in, and they were also after blood from the look in their eyes; Lauren suspected it was hers. Looking around, she was backed into a corner. The hotel behind her, the rest of the set fenced off. "Bo, I don't know what is happening or who she is." Lauren finally answered.

"Why are you pretending to not know me?" Kenzi's arms folded over her chest. "What are you doing here? Are you here to finish the job?"

"I don't know who you are." Lauren placed her hand over Bo's heart. "I am telling you the truth."

Kenzi pushed Lauren back. Bo desperately tried to keep a hold of her. No one had the time to reply when Evony and Massimo barged their way in.

"Lauren, we need a word with you." Evony was shouting.

Massimo grabbed hold of Lauren with one hand and reached into his jacket pocket with the other taking out a folded photocopy of a passport. "Who's Karen? You arrived here on a French passport, a Karen Beauchêne. Now we demand to know why?"

Lauren tried to free herself, but Massimo had a tight hold. What was worse was the look in Bo's eyes. Everything was falling apart for her.

"I asked you a question."

Lauren did not know how to answer. Her mind entirely focused on one thing, and one thing only, Bo.

Kenzi was pulling at Massimo, "Let go of her." She needed to get rid of him, them all. She knew they didn't know who they were dealing with and how dangerous this 'Lauren' was.

"This is a copy of a fucking passport, with your face on it." Massimo's fingers were digging into Laurens' skin that would undoubtedly leave a mark, but Lauren did not care. All she cared about was Bo, and she had not said a word.

Laurens' hair was pulled back, bringing Lauren back into the present, she had not expected this, and neither had she expected the blow to her stomach. Fight or flight set in. Winded, Lauren pulled herself free from Massimo's grip and sent him flying over her head. He landed with a thud, instantly wincing in pain.

Lauren looked at Bo and shouted back, "I have to leave now. Sorry for everything," before fleeing into the hotel.

Bo knew that Lauren had been hiding something from her, but she would not allow Massimo to hurt her even still. Massimo limped up, and Bo grabbed hold of him, giving Lauren a head start, pushing him back to the ground, and covering him with her body. Wiggling free, Massimo turned and flung Bo off him. Bo stood and backed away when she saw that he had pulled out his gun.

28th December 2011 11:00 am

Amour sans fin Chalet

The minivan came to a halt, and Bo ran to the ambulance at the side of the road. Three French police cars and two unmarked SUV's were parked further up the mountain. Bo's heart was racing, and her worse fears consumed her every thought.

Bo frantically searched the ambulance. A medic was working on someone stretched out in the back when they moved she gasped at the sight of all the blood.

Evony was standing beside her, "What the hell happened?"

"The bitch got the jump on me. I underestimated her." Massimo pointed to his blood ridden stomach. "Thanks to Bo, she got a head start, but I caught her up. We fought. But she has incredible strength, like a fricking kung-fu master. She flipped me to the ground, grabbed my gun and shot me, all in such quick succession that I had no chance. She cheated."

"It's not cheating if she was protecting herself." Bo was neither bothered about another thing she didn't know about Lauren nor did she care about Massimo's injury. All she wanted was to see her. "Where is she now?"

"I don't know, when I woke, I was here," Massimo tried to lift his hand, showing them it was handcuffed. "I've been arrested, and they have my box Evony."

"Shit," Evony raised her hand to their head, "You sure?"

"She must have given it to them. I don't know who she is, but when I find her, I'll kill her." Massimo pointed to Bo, "It's her fault. She is a spy-banging magnet and a fucking liability."

Bo walked away; she really needed to speak to Lauren. There must be a mistake? Who was she, Karen or Lauren?

Evony had the same idea, and they both darted into their chalet, one purpose in mind, to find Lauren before the other one did. Once inside, they saw Bianca coming up from the basement.

"Have you seen Lauren?" Bo was shaking Bianca.

"No." Bianca freed herself. "Have you checked her room?"

"No, it's number twenty-two, right?"

Bianca nodded, and Bo ran out. Bianca held back Evony.

Evony eyed her cautiously. "You better have a good reason for touching me?"

"Lauren is not in her room. She was here and left Bo this note." Smirking, she added, "Do you want it, or should I give it to Bo?"

"Give it to me now. I want it." Evony had her hand out.

"Before I do, I want something." Placing the note back in her bag, she pulled out another document. "I want a job as your assistant. Then this is yours, and what's written on it will be between us."

Evony hated blackmail, "I don't hire blackmailers."

"I thought you would say that." Bianca pointed to a page, "I'm not asking for a job, just an interview. I deserve to be your assistant, but I won't force you. I hope that you see that I will be good for you."

Evony signed the papers, knowing she would undoubtedly hire Bianca. She liked her style. If she had threatened, she would not have honoured it. But this had substance; she liked her tenacity and would at least interview her. "Pass me the note now, and then leave."

Bianca handed it over and walked away.

Evony sat down to read what Lauren had written. After she'd finished, Evony smiled sinisterly at it. There was never any chance that Bo would ever read it. Lauren would not reunite with Bo in England. Bo would never know that Lauren had written her a love letter. As far as Bo would know, Lauren had left and wasn't coming back. Evony would make sure she never tried to contact Bo or get close to her. Evony needed Bo to be back in her pocket and controlled.

And now she knew all about 'Lauren' and what she was doing in France and she concocted a plan. With a deadline of until February to get it ready. It was tight, but it would start with breaking Bo first and then building her back up again. Obedient and loyal. That was Bo when she was hurting, an easy game that Evony had played with her since becoming her manager.

Phase two would be harder; she needed to find Lauren's weaknesses. It would start with contacting her agency and letting them know that she stupidly wrote down what she was doing, adding a bit more into it to make sure she was finished in the business. Millions of dollars of contracts were on the line, and she was not about to lose her star for a silly holiday romance. Besides, she would pay for getting Massimo arrested. Evony knew that the charges would never stick; she had influential people in her pocket too, and he would be freed in a few months.

Tearing only the bottom part off Lauren's note, Evony placed it on the pillow. Bo would never know who Lauren really was or how she really felt about her. Evony would use what she had written on the note to destroy her and put Bo back in her place.

Smiling at her evil plan. Evony left the room.

Bo sat on Lauren's immaculate bed in her work chalet. Tears threatening to fall, remembering the last time they fooled around in this room. Bo was left with emptiness, in the room and in her heart. A familiar scent lingered in the air, but all possessions were gone, and so was Lauren. She had gone like she said she would. But Bo never expected this. Bo felt her heart smash into pieces, a longing ache inside her chest. She let someone in, but it was too much, too soon. She had fallen in love, but Lauren hadn't.

Bo slowly walked back to the chalet; no one was around. She walked around the spotless kitchen, wishing that Lauren would turn up. Stepping into her own room, her face lighting seeing a note on her pillow. Throwing herself onto the bed and stretched for it. Reading it, but soon her heart sank, Lauren had left her only two words, 'I'm sorry x' Screwing it up, she threw it across the room and sobbed into her pillow. Lauren was really gone.

Heading out of the resort, Lauren was travelling to the airport. Her time in Morzine had come to an end. Jack was seated beside her. He hadn't said a word, which Lauren understood meant she had angered him.

Turning in his seat, Jack faced Lauren. "You? That's is so interesting. So Interesting."

Lauren went to speak, asked what he meant. But he had turned his back on her again. Their conversation was over. So was her career. But all that mattered was Bo. She hoped she had her note and would understand what happened, and they would meet again soon.