Chapter 19 - Broken

15th February 2013 – 13:10 pm

Kings Gate Apartments - London

"Wh-what do you mean?" Lauren swallowed and tried hard to calm her voice.

"Well, I can't have you around my star. So, I will drop Bo from my agency." Evony smirked.

"You're not the only Entertainment Agent in Canada," Lauren stepped forward. "Bo is talented, and she'll get another one."

"I have a meeting today with the network execs to salvage her career after what she pulled last night. I'm meeting to negotiate a new contract while they are discussing dropping her," Evony lied. "Without me, the contract for Vixens ends, and no one will touch her."

Lauren stepped back. She felt like she had been walloped. Lauren knew how heartbroken Bo would be without her show and remembered how losing it scared her. If Bo were dropped, Lauren knew it would take away her dreams, and she couldn't do that to her.

"I know a lot of people in very high places. There is more than one way to skin a fox, dearie." Evony could see that Lauren no longer had the confidence she once showed. "She will be washed up, chewed up and hating you in a month. Let's see if you two are hot for each other when you're both without any future and blaming each other for their career failures."

Evony threatened to destroy Bo, and Lauren believed she had the connections to make it real. Looking down, she knew she was beaten, and Lauren would never allow anything to happen to her love. "What do you want, Evony?"

Evony stood so close to Lauren they were almost touching, "Full disclosure. She and Tamsin are rocky, but they can survive, however not with you playing in her mind with any ridiculous what if's lurking about. I can convince the producers to re-sign her with a side-line of real-life Bo and Tamsin. Their legions of followers will boost ratings and make them interested. So, you see, Lauren, I need you out of the picture, gone, a ghost. I will do the rest, and I promise you that I will make her a star, and she will achieve all her dreams."

"No, Evony. That won't work." Lauren stepped forward, making Evony step back. "Not another lie relationship like Rainer. There is no sideline for Bo. Bo is her own woman and free to date whoever she wants to date. Nothing in her contract will promise anything of the sort."

"My, My touchy. But you see, that wasn't my idea, it was theirs, and they are close these days." Evony checked her nails and glanced back up. "I don't write in contracts any personal relationships. They happen as the actor wants them to happen. They both know it will catapult them into the limelight. Whether they act on this relationship is not my business."

It was a brutal business to be in. Not unlike her own, doing things that others wouldn't understand to get what they wanted. Lauren had no say in who Bo dated or slept with as much as Evony didn't. Lauren slowly nodded, "Okay. But I want one thing from you in return."

"What's that, dearie?" Evony smiled, and she was pleased with herself.

"Massimo," Lauren was expressionless. "Tell him to plead guilty to his charges, serve his time here."

"He's my," Evony paused, not wanting to reveal how close she was to him, "my best security."

"He's a fucking madman. He has hurt over a hundred people, leaving them petrified of their own shadow." Lauren was not backing down; she had already agreed to leave Bo alone. She was not going to allow Massimo to walk free, "He needs to pay for his crimes."

"Fine," Evony waved her hand. "He was becoming a liability anyway, and a bit of time to think about his actions will do him some good."

"Good, get him to sign a statement in front of the CPS, and I'll speak to Bo afterwards." Lauren felt physically sick.

"Okay, you drive as parking is a bitch in this city." Evony stepped past her, and Lauren was saved from answering her by her phone ringing.

"It's Dyson," his voice was low. "Bo is here and won't leave until she talks to you. What shall I say?"

Lauren paused to think, "tell her I will be there in thirty minutes," then she ended the call.

Evony had heard the conversation and clapped her hands together. "Even better, after we have been to Mas, I can then listen to your end of our agreement. Get her in one of those mirrored rooms. I need to see and hear this."

Lauren wanted to scream out and hit something, but more so, she needed to do what was right by Bo. Grabbing her keys, Lauren exited her apartment, Evony in toll. "Move, and you sit in the back."

"Exactly where I was going to sit darling, I never travel upfront with the driver," Evony smirked.

15th February 2013 – 13:45 pm

New Scotland Yard - London

"She's determined to see you." Dyson pounced on Lauren, grabbing her the moment she walked through the door. "What happened last night? You sounded upset on the phone earlier."

"What happened was I made a fool of myself," Lauren admitted. "Now, where is she?"

"As per your text, she is in Interview room one." Dyson purposely stood in front of her taking her hands in his own. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Lauren answered, "I will be anyway, now please get out of my way."

Dyson inhaled. "Lauren, listen. I thought you were going places during your training, but then you returned from your first assignment as you broke all the rules and the law, and it appeared without reason."

"I didn't break anything; those charges were bullshit. I didn't shoot that liar." Lauren flung her arms in the air and began to walk away. "But think what you want. I don't care. And there were plenty of reasons, just I can't explain them."

Dyson pulled her back. "I wasn't done." He took hold of her shoulders and lent down, "I never believed that you were a security risk, and I felt your punishment didn't fit the crime. Hauled up for two months because you had a relationship while on assignment. It's not like the agency hasn't encouraged that to get results in the past."

Lauren exhaled. "Get to your point, Dy."

"I initially believed that you had a secret agenda, but then I listened as you were relentlessly interviewed. Then every day, the same interview room, the same questions, and you recited every detail, every minute, except the ones with Bo. You never said a word. I respect you for that, which is why I let you out early; I gave you a dress, making sure it was coral, and my wife helped you with your hair. You were going to get Bo back when you left here last night. What went wrong?"

"I went to the awards to see her, but it was too late. I found her kissing her co-star. They're a couple, not just dating. Now, I guess Bo is here for answers about what I was doing in Morzine. She is not here for me." Lauren added.

"Are you sure?" Dyson smiled. "I caught her holding your pink cardigan, the one you refused to give up. You must have left it here when you changed last night."

"She was?" Lauren looked over to Evony, who was casually walking in, loving the looks she was being given, "No, I can't."

Dyson noticed the other Officers talking amongst themselves. "What the hell is Evony Marquis doing here?"

"Massimo signed the deal to take the three years, no early release and no appeals." Lauren gave Dyson the papers.

Dyson waved them in front of Lauren. "So, NCB and CPS got a deal signed, and what did she get in return?"

"I agreed to stay away from Bo." Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose, a headache already forming.

"You gave up your relationship for an arrest?" Dyson eyed Lauren up and down, "are you mad?"

"It was not a relationship," Lauren closed her eyes; she knew it was far more than that, but it was over now. "It was a fling. It lasted only one day, Dy. What the hell was I thinking? I am happy that she is with someone else, and I got to lock away a bad guy. Besides, she leaves in a few weeks, returning to her life, career, and future in Canada with Evony and Tamsin. What was I going to do, apply for a visa and follow her?"

"Yes, exactly that. I have spoken to my buddy and have set up an interview for Toronto PD?" Dyson, who had a firm grip on Lauren, let her go. "You have already resigned, so there is nothing left to keep you here."

"Thanks. I love a reminder that I am an orphan. But I will find another job and stay close to my foster brother." Lauren opened her eyes, more determined now than before. "I need to be realistic and start facing facts. Bo and I were together for only a day. I am mad to think she is here to sweep me up. More likely to slap my face."

Evony was now standing behind her, a smile plastered on her face.

Dyson squeezed Laurens'arm and whispered, "You may feel different when you see her."

Keeping to her word, Lauren walked Evony into the adjacent room to the one that Bo was sitting in, pressed the intercom button and left without saying a word.

Lauren stopped in front of the room and took a deep breath before slowly opening the door. Bo was sat on a metal chair facing the mirror, unaware that Evony was on the other side of that mirrored wall.

"Bo." As soon as their eyes met, Lauren felt the pull to her was still as strong as it always was.

"Lauren, I can't believe I am seeing you again." Bo rose quickly. Her breath was taken the moment she smelt her familiar scent; she had missed her so much. "How have you been?"

"What are you doing here?" Lauren was straight to the point; she never expected her body to react the way it did. She needed to get this, whatever this was, over and done with quickly. "Why come to my place of work?"

Bo's heart shattered. She felt embarrassed, stupid and regretted coming. She foolishly thought they were in love.

"Well, I guess I'm figuring out what was real and what was a lie." Bo folded her arms across her chest. She was annoyed with Lauren being standoffish and relieved that she didn't correct her on her name, but she still had so many questions to ask. Walking around the room, purposely slow past her and leaning against the mirrored wall. "So, tell me what happened in Morzine. Who is Karen? who is Siobhan Murphy?"

Lauren was right. Bo had only come for answers about Morzine and not for her. She leaned against the same wall as Bo. Unable to stay looking at her, she reverted to work mode and answered Bo's question. "Karen was an alias identity that I couldn't use as you arrived early. I don't know of Siobhan. I was sent to Morzine for surveillance work from The National Central Bureau, better known as Interpol. There were red notices for individuals in your group. I was working undercover to see if there was any evidence to support those. I can't say anymore."

Interpol? Lauren was an undercover agent. Removing her glasses from her head, she ran her fingers through her hair. "Well, you don't need to tell me. We both know it was Mas and Evony if it involved Interpol. You must be upset that you only got Mas?"

"Well, maybe if I had taken Evony in that night, I would have got both." Lauren felt Bo's turn beside her. Lauren bit her lip; Bo was extra cute when she was angry.

"What the actual fuck?" Bo pushed Lauren to turn her to face her.

"Just saying that's all. You never know when a single decision can change your life." Lauren glanced towards the mirror to make sure Evony knew that she was close to being arrested, but a single choice prevented it. And that choice was she wanted Bo.

"If that is how you feel. Why did you come last night?"

"Well, I went for a hookup. But left as I didn't know you were coming out with Tamsin as your girlfriend." Lauren spat back. Strike one, she thought. Lauren needed to get Bo out of this room. She was losing her resolve. The urge to hold her, kiss her, beg her to take her back was taking over her head and her heart. "I am pleased there are no more secrets about your sexuality, and you do look good together."

Bo stood closer to Lauren, "One less thing for me to worry about, I suppose. Tam and I got close this winter, and she cares for me. There is a sweet side to her that she hides. And I do care for her, but she isn't my girlfriend."

Laurens' voice cracked, "Really?" Looking toward the mirror, she should have known that she couldn't trust anything Evony told her.

"Yes, really," Bo was standing so close to Lauren and wanted desperately to hold her. "I'm sorry about Tamsin, but I've ended it."

"Why?" Lauren's voice was barely audible.

"You silly, I thought we had a 'Spark', and maybe we can start again." Bo took Laurens' hands in her own, "we have two weeks to figure this out, but look how much happened between us in just two weeks in Morzine-"

Lauren interrupted, "No, Bo, I cant. My job is undercover, not the front cover of trashy tabloids." Strike two.

Lauren looked at the mirror, knowing that Evony would be watching and listening. And even if Bo wasn't serious with Tamsin, Lauren had no future with her. She had made a deal with the devil. If Lauren gave into her heart, Evony would destroy Bo, and she knew she couldn't do that to her.

"And what about us?" Bo let go of Lauren's hands and reached for her.

Lauren stepped back and held out her arm, palm up, stopping Bo from moving forwards. "There is no us. There never was, never will be. The only one with those pesky feelings was you. I don't and never did have any for you." Lauren saw as Bo's eyes widened. That comment had struck her heart. Strike three.

"Lauren, I don't know why you are saying this, but-"

"Because it's the truth." Lauren had to remain strong. Every word coming out of her mouth was like poison to her. The only thing that kept her going was the knowledge that it was for the best. "I knew you only for two weeks, and we were together for only a day. Let that sink in, Bo. Christ, I hardly think it warrants us to take it too seriously. I'm having a relationship with the milk in my fridge longer."

"Please, Lo," Bo begged, "Don't say that. We had something."

"I had a lot of fun, Bo. But that is all that it was for me, fun on some lonely nights." Lauren had to end this soon, or she would literally break in front of her. "And you were so desperate for affection. You literally gave me everything and more." Strike four.

Bo pushed Laurens' arm out of the way and slapped her hard across the cheek.

Lauren felt relieved, she deserved that, and more so, she needed it. She hated herself for the way she was talking to Bo. Her face on fire meant at least what she was saying was working; Bo was backing away. Lauren nearly caved at Bo's resistance.

Bo flung her hand over her mouth, instantly shocked at what she had done. "Sorry, I didn't mean that, please, I'm sorry."

"I did mean it, though. It's over." Lauren turned. She dared not look back. "Wait here."

Lauren left the room. Unlocking her phone, she walked to the printer that produced colour photographs and printed intimate and private moments of them both. Snaps that no one had ever seen. Lauren grabbed blank, headed paper and a manilla file, adding her photos inside. Not sure if her plan would work, Lauren reentered the room and took a deep breath.

"You were nothing special. I wrote all about us in this report." Lauren held up the thick file. "I added our pictures, typed up all our conversations and detailed our very active twenty-four-hour sex marathon. As I said, I was doing a job, and you were a bit of fun on the side. But I still had to report back, and my team loved reading about all the sex we had."

Bo went to grab the file from her. Lauren held on tight.

"Sorry, Bo. This is confidential." Lauren held it close to her chest. "A few stories the others didn't believe, like the time at the hotel, the bathroom wall, you upside down and-"

"I remember." Bo interrupted, "but why did they need to know all that?"

"Maybe they didn't. I wanted to be thorough, and I was rather proud of that day." Lauren pulled the photos out. "Actually, do me a favour. Now that you have won a bafta, will you sign a few of these pictures?

Bo snatched the photos from Lauren's hand. The first one was of them both laying on top of a bed, naked except for a thin sheet covering most of their modesty. The next was a selfie with the slopes backlit behind them. "These were taken at the hotel?"

"Well, we did only have a one-day fling, babes. Hardly a photo album of memories, is it?"

"Lauren, we were happy, you asked if we could capture the moment, and I said it would be the start of our book together. We talked about our future. Was it just a job? Was I just some fun?"

Lauren couldn't form words; her heart already broke, "Uh-hum."

"I hate you." Bo shoved Lauren out of her way. "You'll never see or talk to me again, ever." Throwing the photos to the floor, more images of herself and Lauren were scattered. Bo saw them splain on the floor, held back tears that threatened to fall and stormed out of the room. Her earlier feelings were now replaced with anger.

Lauren bent and picked up the photos. Making sure she had every last one. Standing, she faced the mirror. Her own eyes were on the brink of tears, "Just make sure you make her a fucking star." Lauren's hand hit the mirror. "Or I will come for you, Evony, and I won't hold back."

Outside Bo punched the lift button, hopping from foot to foot. She really needed to get away from Lauren and her place of work. Officers were staring at her. Dyson had tried to stop her from leaving, failing as she pushed him out of her way. The truth was her Lauren was a liar, and she had made a fool of herself. The lift opened, and she ran in. The officer next to her was the only other person in the lift. She turned to her and asked, "Do you know Lauren?"

"Lauren, as in Lauren Lewis?"

"Yes," Bo replied.

"Sure do, and I know you. You are Bo Dennis, the Vixens actress." She smiled, "You and Lauren are rather famous around here. What happens in the Alps -"

"Give her this." Bo pushed a photo of Siobhan Murphy into the young girl's hand. "Tell her that there is either a madwoman with her face called Siobhan Murphy, or she has more to hide. Either way, I would tell her to avoid visiting America."

The lift door opened, and Bo ran outside.

"Sure. And what happens in the Alps stays in the Alps." The colleague shouted out, but Bo was gone.

Jumping the giant steps and turning the corner, bumping into the man from the café. "Sorry." They both said in unison.

"Did you find her?" he asked, getting a frown in response, "your Lauren?"

"Yes, and a lot more than I bargained for." Bo wiped a tear from her face.

He handed her a handkerchief. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Trick. Can I buy you a coffee?"

Bo nodded and followed him wiping her tears on his handkerchief.

New Scotland Yard

Lauren was in the bathroom, cleaning up. She had held back tears for as long as she could. She left the interview room, asking Dyson to wait ten minutes, then let Evony go. Lauren excused herself to the bathroom, and no sooner had the stool door closed than her heart broke. Tears, spit, snot - there wasn't a dry space on her face. Every emotion that could be felt was aching through her like hot steel cutting butter. There wasn't enough air in the room that could help her to breathe. She had made a mistake, a fucking huge mistake, and something inside her had died. Vomit rose, and she retched over the toilet bowl. Sitting, head in hands, letting all the bile leave her broken body.

Stood half an hour later, in front of a mirror. Face now cleaned, dry, and make-up being replied.

"Hey Lauren, I shared a lift with your Bo earlier."

"Wh-what?" Lauren stumbled.

"She is so hot in person and shorter." She shrugged, "It must be the heels that she wears in Vixens."

"What did she say, you say?"

"Oh, she asked if I knew you, and I said yes and that I knew her, that she was famous around here."

"And what did she say?" Lauren frantically asked.

"Oh, nothing. She smiled and left." Her colleague winked. "I can't believe you fell in love with her in a fortnight, lost your job, was interrogated and yet not a single verb was ever uttered about your time together. You are famous here, and a lot of people respect your integrity."

"I don't think I have any, but thanks." Lauren replied, "And you take care of yourself out there."

Lauren briefly patted her colleague's arm.

"Oh, shit, and she gave me this photo and said you should avoid America and a Siobhan someone."

Lauren looked at the photo of the woman who resembled her and folded it. "Thanks."

As soon as she was outside, she was pounced upon by three men in dark coloured polyester suits.

"Lauren Lewis?"

"Yes, can I help?" she replied.

"Turn around."

Lauren obliged and felt as handcuffs were placed on her wrists. "What is this about?"

"We are from the CIA and here to take you to the American Embassy to answer a few security questions about this photo that was in your hand and how you came to have it." The photo pressed against the door. "Siobhan Murphy? You are under arrest."

"That's not me."

"Well, it looks like you."

Lauren was led down the corridor. Dyson managed to stop them at the lift, "What are you doing?" Lauren, I will get you help."

"It doesn't matter, Dy. I thought my day would get no worse, and it did. A woman scorned, hey?"

Outside, Lauren was helped into a waiting car. Dyson still running behind. The look on Lauren's face was haunted. Emotionless.

Kenzi snapped shut her laptop. She had followed Bo all day. Hacked the training room CCTV, watched and heard all that was said in that interview room. The moment Bo left, the file she had collected on Siobhan Murphy was sent to the CIA, along with Laurens details. A decision she didn't regret. She would protect Bo from being hurt again. Emotionally or physically.