Chapter 20 - Meet Evony

Bo recognised the voice immediately, she spun around and looked directly at Evony. The woman who she had walked away from four years ago. The woman who had literally pimped her out at a client's party. The woman who she had once been convinced that she could have loved given the chance. The kind of woman she felt that she deserved to be with, as she never felt that she would meet a good person to love her, she was evil so she thought she would only attract evil to her. Her self-esteem had been so low back then, and this woman in front of her, took advantage of that. Bo looked at Evony, she was still beautiful but something had changed within her, she also saw that she had an ugly heart and how different she was to her beautiful Lauren. Still, curiosity was killing her, why was she here?

"What no tearful greeting?" Evony asked an angry looking Bo.

"Again, Evony, what are you doing here?" Bo snapped back.

"Now come on darling. As soon as you saw Vex you knew I would come. Secretly you wanted me too also. You can lie to others but not yourself. I know you, Bo." Evony flashed a sexy smile; her confidence was overwhelming for Bo at times.

"Maybe it crossed my mind that you might call or send me a message. I did not think you would visit; you could have given me a warning? We have not spoken in four years and now you're here in front of me. Why Evony? What do you want from me?" Bo stepped toward her.

"I want to talk Bo; you left without giving me the chance to explain my actions. I'm not doing this here, though, I've made dinner reservations. I'll meet you at the main gate in ten minutes." Evony spun and walked out, not waiting for an answer.

Bo circled to face the others, she knew she needed to say something but didn't have the words. Instead, she walked to the fridge and pulled out an opened bottle of wine, grabbing it by the neck, she closed the fridge and walked to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

"Everyone out," Kenzi shouted.

Vex had already got up and was out the door, presumably to follow Evony. Dyson had grabbed his jacket from the side and followed Vex, he knew that Bo would not want to talk right now and he needed to pick his moment to clear the air between them. Tamsin walked into Bo's bedroom, she needed her clothes and also wanted to talk to Bo to look out for Lauren's interests. She found Bo sat on her bed, drinking the wine straight from the bottle.

"Hey. I just need my clothes. Are you ok?" Tamsin asked picking up her jeans and top and pulling them on. "So who's she?"

"An ex Tamsin, that's all, it's nothing. And I would like it if you kept this from Lauren until I get a chance to talk to her." Bo asked standing in front of the wardrobe and pulling out new clothes to wear.

"If it's nothing, then call Lauren and tell her that you're going to dinner with an ex then?" Tamsin was fully dressed now and standing with her arms crossed. Anger had started to build inside her and she knew that she would need to try and remain calm for Lauren's sake.

"It's complicated. Evony and I had a strange relationship. We were together on and off for four years and one day I just walked out and left. I didn't think she would care that I left and certainly didn't think she cared enough to fly here and confront me. When I saw Vex I thought he would tell her that I was here but never thought in all my wildest dreams she would fly out here to see me in person, face to face, like this. I'm confused and I need to know why she's here." Bo explained.

"And what about Lauren? You know your girlfriend and the one you just spent the whole weekend with? Do you care enough to tell her you're confused over an ex or what?" Tamsin challenged Bo further.

"It's not like that Tamsin. I just want to talk to her and I'll call Lauren later on. Now if you don't mind, please, I need to get ready." Bo hurried into the bathroom clutching her clothes to change into.

Tamsin left her room and was met by Kenzi. "She's actually going on this date with her ex." Tamsin was angry.

"It's just closure. I'm sure it's nothing." Kenzi replied.

"Closure is a phone call or a letter. The closure was her leaving four years ago. The closure is her in a relationship with my best friend. The closure is calling Lauren first and explaining. This is not closure; this is a fucking liability." Tamsin stormed from the room closing the front door hard behind her.

"Has she left?" Bo walked from her room; she was dressed in black jeans, knee-high boots and a black and purple corset. She grabbed her black leather jacket from the coat stand and passed the bottle of half drank wine back to Kenzi.

"Bo, what are you doing?" Kenzi asked.

"Not you as well Kenz. I can't believe that Evony is here and I need to hear what she has to say. I cared for her for so many years; she's mesmerising; can't you see that also?" Bo said adjusting her clothes.

"She's attractive and her confidence is off the scale. And yeah she has a presence." Kenzi trailed off. She did not know what Bo was thinking right now but she knew she would regret this decision. "Bo, maybe Tamsin is right? If it's nothing, then call Lauren. It will look worse for her to just find out you had a date with an ex."

"It's not a date, it's just two people that used to know each other clearing up a chapter in their lives and moving on. I'll call Lauren straight after, I just need to get going now as I don't want to keep Evony waiting, she hates to be kept waiting. It will clear it all with Lauren after, promise. Bye Kenzi, catch up with it all later." Bo left the room, grabbing her phone from the kitchen worktop where she left it and putting it straight in her jacket pocket.

"Fuuuuccccckkkkkk" Kenzi screamed to no-one as she started to clean up the apartment.

Fusion Restaurant - Sharks Bay

The drive had been in an uncomfortable silence, not like the quiet car journeys that Bo had shared with Lauren. Bo felt comfortable with Lauren and didn't need to talk. Here with Evony Bo started to feel anxious, she felt that she was making a bad decision and desperately wanted to call Lauren, but knew she left it too late. A sick feeling formed in her stomach, Kenzi and Tamsin was right, this felt wrong. Bo still wanted to hear what Evony had to say, she looked over to her who was sitting looking out the window. They both wanted to talk but neither wanted to start the conversation in the car.

They arrived at the restaurant, it was in the middle of Sharks Bay, the driver had pulled in as close as he could. Evony gave instructions of when to come back and they started their walk towards the restaurant. It was situated on the rooftops above the shops, the outside was black and the word FUSION written in dark purple italics. The centre of Sharks Bay had a fountain that dances to music and light every hour on the hour, tourist had already started to form to catch the nine o'clock show. Evony walked up to the maître d' who quickly saw them to their table that was reserved in the corner by the window. The room was dark and Asian in decoration with candles lighting the room. All the tables were round and had at least four chairs around them, there were larger tables at the back with eight chairs around them and a show cooking table in the centre. The only exception was these window ones that were square and had only the two seats that faced each other. Bo sat with her back to the rest of the restaurant and Evony had chosen the other seat.

"So this is a nice place hey Bo?" Evony asked while reading the menu that was handed to her moments ago.

"Fuck that Evony. Why am I here?" Bo leant across the table.

"Because you chose to be here Bo, no-one held a gun to you, so stop the melodramatics as it's not fooling me. If you want to think you're here under protest, then go ahead. I'm going to have the duck starter and steamed dumplings for main. What about you?" Evony closed the menu and stared back at Bo.

"Ok then, maybe you're right I did choose to be here. So why are you here?" Bo asked.

"Ah, now we get a real question. That used to always bother me about you, you always went for the "me" questions first. So why am I here? Well, that's simple; I need to know why you abandoned me four years ago without a word. I gave you everything you ever wanted and asked for, a place to stay, money when you needed it, got you a job with Vex and we had a good life. Then one day you leave me, no letter and no call." Evony looked down, "Shit, Bo, I would have taken a fucking carrier pigeon just anything to know you were ok and safe. I work with dangerous people and I was scared for your safety. I had guys looking all over for you. I found you once in downtown Toronto but then you disappeared off the grid again. At least I knew you were alive, but as the nice person I was I never stopped looking." Evony stopped speaking as the waiter had arrived and Bo just watched her as she ordered wine and her food. Evony was always so sophisticated in all that she did it made Bo smile. Bo ordered hers and waited until he left before she spoke.

"I'm sorry Evony. You're right; I should have left a note. I'm not sorry for leaving, though. We were not in a good place and you just shared me around that party like I was a common whore. I was nothing more than a trophy girlfriend that anyone could have. I hated you and wanted to be with you at the same time but after that, there was no way I could stay. I couldn't live like that." Bo quietened as the waiter poured the wine, then left. "And another thing, you were never a nice person."

"As I recall you never liked me because I was nice?" Evony flashed a sexy grin to Bo.

"And that's one of the reasons why I eventually left you," Bo replied.

"If it means anything now, I'm sorry Bo. I never meant to treat you like that. I was also a bit, erm." Evony thought for a moment, picking the right word. "I guess I was a bit scared. You wanted to be exclusive, you wanted me to stop with the parties and random sex. You wanted me to be a girlfriend. I just didn't feel ready. Things have changed though Bo, I've changed. You leaving me made me realise what I could lose and eventually did lose. I want it all back, I want you back, I want us back."

Bo looked over to Evony, she heard the words but could not believe that Evony was the one saying them. Her throat went dry, it was all she ever wanted and a few months ago she would have considered it. That was before, that was before she knew Mel was looking for her, that was before she had met Lauren, that was before she had fallen in love with Lauren and that was before she felt she was not a monster.

"Evony, I'm a bit speechless. I don't know what to say. I'm flattered, honestly, but I can't."

"So where do we go from here?" Evony asked.

"I don't know, friends?" Bo replied.

"We were never friends Bo. And after half the things we did, we shouldn't be anyway." Evony laughed at the memory and drank her wine, relaxing in Bo's company again. Evony had never been rejected and she needed to make sure that she did not show hurt to Bo.

"True." Bo joined her and laughed.

"I guess we can be acquaintances? Vex and I've just bought a club here and we would both love you to run it as Bar Manager. We need talent behind the bar. And when we have them all trained up, you either take over as Club Manager or come back to Canada with us. Carpe Noctem has not been the same since you left." Evony spoke with honesty.

"I'm not sure. I like the hotel." Bo said.

"Really? Why?" Evony asked although she had already guessed the answer.

"I'm seeing someone, well not seeing as such, I've a girlfriend and she works there as the hotel doctor." Bo looked over to Evony who did not seem surprised. "I guess Vex has already told you that?"

"Ah, he mentioned something about a hotel doctor and well he also said it has been only a week. So what is a week in our world hey?" Evony replied.

"I know it has only been a week but it feels amazing." Bo stopped speaking and ate her starter, Evony did not look happy, she didn't want to hurt her so she stopped the conversation.

Tamsin's Room

'KNOCK, KNOCK'

"Hello Tam, are you in?" Lauren called through the door.

Tamsin opened the door moments later and invited her in. She had recently showered and was in her bathrobe. The room was identical to Lauren's except on the other side. Tamsin had her bathroom on the right as you walked in, while Lauren had it on the left. As you walked past the bathroom the bed was on the right whereas Lauren's was on the left. Lauren turned right and sat on the sofa under the window and Tamsin took two mini bottles of red wine from the side.

"Hey, how are you? Not seen you all weekend. Missed you, what happened this weekend? Any news?" Lauren asked.

"Why would I know anything?" Tamsin replied a bit too defensively.

"It was only a question," Lauren replied.

"It was three questions to be precise and I'm sorry just I'm a bit hungover from last night and being a miserable bitch. Everything is fine." Tamsin lied. "So how was your weekend?"

"Amazing. Bo is amazing, she's simply something else." Lauren smiled.

"Telling me," Tamsin muttered under her breath.

"What's that?" Lauren asked, not quite hearing what she had said.

"Nothing. I've no glasses so you ok to drink from the bottle?" Tamsin asked passing her the mini wine.

"Sure. Also, my Bedouin girl gave birth last night and we were both there to deliver the baby boy. And we then slept under the stars. Oh and the villa was amazing, it was on the ocean and had a hot tub and the sunsets there were simply beautiful. It was the most amazing weekend of my life. Tamsin, Bo was amazing. I know I've already said that but she was amazing in every sense of the word." Lauren grabbed Tamsin's arm and pulled her down next to her and held her. "I know you're being a moody head, but I'm on cloud nine and nothing will bring me down."

Tamsin turned to face her friend, she loved seeing Lauren this happy and she could not bring herself to tell her where Bo was tonight and who with. It was up to Bo, if she hadn't though by tomorrow she would; as she had the right to know.

"So how about your weekend? What did you do?" Lauren asked.

"I just worked and went out with Kenzi. We hung out with Vex, he has a club now in Sharks Bay and we went there and got the VIP treatment. And I may or may not have kissed Dyson." The last part Tamsin said quickly and moved to put on some clothes. Lauren nearly spat out her wine.

Wiping her mouth dry Lauren replied. "What? Oh my god Tam, I didn't know you liked him."

"Well you have been busy lately, and like I said I don't really remember," Tamsin said, now re-joining her on the sofa.

"I'm sorry about that, I'll be around more, I promise. It's just we're in the honeymoon phase of our relationship, so it's all new and exciting." Lauren added, all excited literally jumping from the sofa. "So tell me everything you remember."

Beach Bar

Dyson walked down towards the beach bar, he knew that Bo was not there however he enjoyed the familiarity of it all. He was in two minds, while he was away he had thought about Bo, now he can't stop thinking about Tamsin. Yes, she was boisterous, loud and could probably take him down with a single punch; but there was also a part of her that was vulnerable and last night Dyson saw that. She was funny, witty and loyal. Dating bisexuals were not something he was enjoying, as it's one thing to lose your woman to another man but to a woman was a new set of rules. Before he would challenge and fight, now he had to accept and smile. This would be the last bi-sexual he would date; that's if Tamsin even wanted to date him. Lost in his thoughts as he wondered towards the bar, he knew he was not allowed to drink there anymore; another thing that Bo or Tamsin had done, he thought, smiling to himself. He certainly liked a fiery woman. Leaning against the bar he listened as the singer as she sang her final song. After her set, she walked over to the bar and sat next to Dyson.

"Hey, you were good," Dyson said politely as she sat on the vacant stool beside him.

The blonde looked up and sighed, the last thing she wanted tonight was some guy hitting on her, she had plans and needed to go. "Hi, sorry I'm not staying, I've plans."

Feeling like he was being dismissed Dyson replied. "Well so do I, I also have plans." he lied. "I was only making polite conversation. I work here, I'm part of the hotel security team, but I'm off duty and about to take a hot girl to dinner."

"Well, I hope you're not talking about me as I've plans myself with a hot doctor." Crystal flashed a smile.

"What as in the doc? Lauren?" Dyson laughed out loud. "What is it about her that has women going crazy? You know she's dating my ex, so you're a bit late there."

"Your ex? You dated Bo?" Crystal asked.

"Only for a few weeks. So hardly anything serious, but I blew it and now she's with the doc." Dyson replied.

"Say, do you know where Lauren's room is? I've tried to call but no answer." Crystal asked.

"She's probably with Tamsin. I can show you, I was going there anyway." Dyson straightened up.

"Ok," Crystal replied getting off the stool and turning to follow Dyson. "So who was this hot girl? Was it me, you can tell me now."

Dyson laughed, he liked Crystal, she was upfront. "No, it's Tamsin, Lauren's best friend," Dyson added thinking if she knew Lauren she might know Tamsin.

"The blonde security manager?" Crystal asked.

"Yep, the only and only" Dyson replied.

"She will eat you alive brother," Crystal said lighting smacking his arm as they carried on walking.

"Ohh, I do hope so." Dyson laughed.

Back at Tamsin's Room

Lauren and Tamsin had been chatting for a while when they heard the door knock. They both instantly looked at each other as it was only those in the room that ever came to it. The door knocked again, so Lauren got up to answer it, she peeked through the door peep hole to see who was standing on the other side.

"It's Dyson," Lauren whispered back excitedly.

"Shit." Tamsin jumped up and ran to her closet, she still needed to get fully dressed, she had only put on her underwear and a vest before. She hurriedly put on some jeans.

"What shall I do? What shall I say?" Lauren asked looking back through the keyhole. A noise came from the other side. "Tamsin I know you're in, we can hear you, now answer the door."

"We?" Tamsin asked, poking her head round from the closet. She had on her light blue jeans and was pulling over a light beige V-neck top jumper.

Lauren looked back through the keyhole, this time seeing Crystal. "Crystal is with him," Lauren replied, curious like Tamsin as to why she was there.

Lauren walked back to Tamsin who was now dressed. "Are we in?" Lauren asked.

"Hell yeah, need to see what he wants and why that bitch is with him," Tamsin replied defensively.

Lauren waited in the room as Tamsin opened the door. "What do you want?" she asked, more toward Crystal than Dyson, not that you could really tell. Lauren knew though, she knew the fifty shades of Tam and this one was a mix of jealousy and rage.

"Well, my lady. I've come to see if you're free for dinner and Crystal here needs to talk to Lauren about something work related. So are we allowed in the frozen kingdom." Dyson replied, picking up instantly on her mood.

Relaxing slightly and smiling Tamsin moved to the side to allow her guests in.

"So where you taking me?" Tamsin asked as she perched on the side of the sofa while Dyson sat down.

"I thought you would like a nice steak?" Dyson replied.

"Sure." Tamsin loved steak, the rarer the better. She grabbed her coat and rested it back on her legs. Dyson went to stand, but Tamsin put her hand on his shoulder. She was not leaving until she knew what Crystal wanted with Lauren.

"Hi, Lauren. I've tried to call you all day. I've a welcome dinner with the managers and I asked if you could come. Seeing as you got me the job and you're my only friend here I would really appreciate it if you said yes." Crystal asked in her most convincing voice. " I won't take no for an answer. Put simply, if you don't go, I won't go."

Lauren shifted uncomfortably. She knew that Bo would not like this, even if it was going to be with at least six other people. "I just need to make a phone call first, just to check I never had plans." Lauren lied. She dialled Bo's number, however, it rang out to voice mail. Shit, Lauren thought, she must be with Kenzi and can't hear it.

Tamsin watched her friend in turmoil and felt anger. Bo would go on a dinner date only with an ex yet Lauren is worried about going to dinner with her work colleagues. Even if one of those colleagues was the stalker singer, she thought

"Go Lauren. You have no plans tonight. Your only plan was to keep me company and I now have plans. So if you don't go then I'll stay behind with you." Tamsin said.

Lauren did not want her friend to miss out on a date with Dyson, she probably only volunteered as she was nervous to have a date with him, because that meant being herself and Tamsin struggled with that. No, she thought. Tamsin will go, so I need to go.

"No, it's ok, I'm free. What time do I need to be ready for?" Lauren asked Crystal.

"Now really. I'll walk back to the reception and get the car to drive down here and pick you up in five minutes."

Lauren looked shocked. She hated getting ready in a hurry. Luckily for her, all her clothes were ironed and hung, ready to wear. She spoke to Crystal and finalised the details and she left. Without another thought, she grabbed Tamsin before running back to her room to choose a dress. "I'll bring her back in five minutes, I need her to help me get ready." She shouted back to Dyson, who simply nodded and sat back down on the sofa.

She was ready in five minutes; Tamsin had helped Lauren by putting up her hair at the sides leaving the back down. Lauren had opted for an open backlight gold dress that fell to the floor. It had been recently pressed and she was saving it for her first night date with Bo, so it was ready, and an easy option in a rush. Her makeup was subtle, brown eyeliner and mascara with a light reddish brown lipstick. All perfectly matching her outfit. The black Audi had pulled out front of her building and Lauren could see it was Crystal through the car's open window.

"Better go, thank you for helping me. Enjoy your night Tam and I want a full report tomorrow." Lauren said into Tamsin's ear while hugging her. "Bye Dyson." She called through to the bedroom, happy to hear him reply.

"Where you off to anyway?" Tamsin asked.

"Crystal said it was a place in Soho called Fusion, its Asian and apparently it's nice. Crystal chose it after reading the reviews." Lauren replied, fiddling with her phone. She had sent a text to Bo telling her she was off out for dinner, adding it was with Crystal and other managers. It was best, to be honest than try to cover she thought. There had not been a reply. Lauren sighed, she didn't want to seem possessive, she had only left Bo a half an hour ago. Putting her phone back in her bag she turned to walk toward the car.

"Have a nice time," Tamsin replied. Lauren reached the car and got in.

Tamsin walked back into her room, closing the door behind her and walking toward Dyson on the sofa. "Hey Dyson, I'm ready now, sorry for keeping you waiting. I've a bad feeling, though." Tamsin stood, hands on her hips.

"We have not even left yet, what could be the matter?" Dyson asked.

"No, silly, not us. I mean Lauren. What if she bumps into Bo on her ex-date? Do you think I should tell her?" Tamsin asked.

"Why, where has Bo gone?" Dyson asked, picking up Tamsin's blue leather jacket and handing it to her.

"I don't know, I just have a bad feeling," Tamsin replied taking her coat. "Could we also go, just to make sure?"

"Sure." I need to grab a few things from my room. So should I meet you in the bar, or would you like to come with?" Dyson replied seductively.

Picking up on his innuendo, Tamsin smiled, she was planning on waiting but what the hell, it not like he was a stranger. Sex before the date, that's a new one Tamsin, she thought to herself. Without giving anything away, she replied "Sure, I would like to see what room you have anyway."