Chapter 44 – Old Chapters, New Beginnings
Monday 19th March 2018 – 12.00 pm
Mott and Carter Solicitors, London
"I understand the terms. However, I would like to discuss the stage name ownership further. It has become synonymous with her identity as an artist." Mr Carter interjected, advocating still for Bo's position.
Bo, Tamsin, and Kenzi walked in at that point. Mr Cater motioned them to sit.
Mr Mott added, "While we appreciate the company's investment in Bo's career, we believe that the stage name should be subject to renegotiation. Bo has built a brand around that name and has become well-known in the industry under it."
Mr Mitchward leaned back in his chair, considering their arguments. "I understand your point, but the stage name was developed and promoted under Marquis Management's guidance. It has become an integral part of our brand as well. We need to protect our investment."
Bo's heart sank, realising the magnitude of the situation. She glanced at Mr Carter, silently pleading for guidance.
Mr Mott continued, "Bo respects the work Marquis Management has done. Still, we believe in reaching a compromise that acknowledges her contribution to her success. Perhaps shared ownership of the stage name or a licensing agreement could be considered?"
Evony's expression softened as she absorbed Mr Mott's words. "Shared ownership could be a viable solution, us both benefitting from the name's recognition. But I don't feel like discussing or agreeing to that today."
Albert Mitchward nodded.
Bo took a moment to collect her thoughts, "Then I guess there is no more left to say."
"In that case, this is over. Bo, please sign and initial here, here and here." Mr Mott carefully pointed out each section. "To conclude, you will exit your contract immediately and be legally known by your birth name. This will also mean that any clothing associated with 'Bo Dennis' must be returned, any vehicles, properties and even the hotel you are staying in. You can purchase all new with whatever money you have in your birth name."
"Which I don't have." Bo sighed and looked over at Evony. "And shit, I lose my Tesla?"
"That you do," Evony smugly grinned, taking the papers and signing each section. "Tension is high now, but give it a month living in that shithole in Croydon, and I will meet with you. Maybe even agree to shared ownership of the name. We'll see."
Papers had been printed and signed in under half an hour. All were ready to leave when there was a knock on the door. Bo and Evony eyed each other cautiously.
The atmosphere shifted when the door swung open, revealing Lauren standing in the doorway with a determined expression and entering confidently, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have a meeting at half past, so best hurry this up."
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, the lawyers quickly gathered their belongings and prepared to leave.
"Come on, Chop Chop," Lauren added. "Places to go, people to see."
Bo couldn't help but giggle at Lauren's confident interruption, her heart swelling with love and appreciation, "Bubba, what are you doing here?"
"We have a meeting, princess, with these lovely gents." Lauren kissed Bo's cheek.
Evony stood, arms folded, "What are you up to?"
Lauren gave Evony a firm glare, her eyes fixed on the newly signed contract in Evony's hands and took it from her, "Wow, you are so predictable, Evony. Took it all, hey?"
Evony snatched the contract back from Lauren and returned it to Mr Mott, "I want a notarised copy of that now."
Mr Mott nodded, "Of course, Miss Marquis. I'll get you it right away." He left the room.
"Whatever you are up to, it's too late. Bo has left us, and we have taken back the name." Evony stated.
Lauren's demeanour remained composed as she walked casually around the desk, pouring herself a glass of water from the iced jug in the centre of the table. All had left except Mr Carter, Alfred Mitchward, Kenzi and Tamsin, who all watched with anticipation. "So, removing her name, what is she legally left with?"
Evony smiled smugly, her words laced with condescension, "Bo DuPont. Rather apt as it sounds like a hooker's name."
Lauren's eyes flashed with anger, her patience reaching its limit. Placing her glass down, Lauren rushed to Evony, standing only inches from her face, "Say shit like that again, and I'll slap you down like a –"
Before Lauren could finish her sentence, Bo rushed forward, intervening, and placed herself between the two women. "Stop it. Bubba, I don't care."
"Well, you should," Lauren stood close to Evony, whispering, "because you are wrong."
"Really?"
"Yes, because that's not even her name. You don't know anything about her. You assume you do, and arrogance is what will lead to your downfall, not just here but everywhere." Lauren returned to Bo and slipped her arm around her waist. "Tell her your name, baby."
"My birth certificate name is Isabeau Bishop-"
Evony screeched. "No, no, no, it isn't. No, it can't be."
"And where were you born, baby?" Lauren was enjoying this.
Confused but wanting to know more, Bo answered, "Fredericton, New Brunswick."
"No, No, No. Alfred help." Evony was shaking the once confident man.
Alfred pulled papers from his briefcase, and contacts fell to the floor. "I-I-I don't know. It was completed weeks ago. Its filed. It's finalised."
"What is going on?" Bo asked.
Evony grabbed Lauren by her shirt lapel, "How did you do this? Make it stop, or I will leak all kinds of crap on Bo. I have every police report, thrust with a prostitute, every drug-related arrest stored in my safe."
"I don't want to hear this," Mr Carter rose, "I will give you some privacy."
He left the room.
"Really?" Lauren whispered. "Your safe in the suite?"
"Yes, and don't think you'll ever get hold of any of it," Evony added. "it's top of the range."
"Top of the range; it must be a Harrington 3692?" Lauren watched Evony nod, "Wow. Tricky as it only opens with voice activation or eye retina and a thumbprint."
"Well, only the best for me," Evony replied.
Lauren puffed out her cheeks, "If only you left fingerprints in Bo's room by coming in uninvited, and if only you announced yourself as 'I'm Evony Marquis' in every conversation."
Kenzi and Tamsin laughed.
Evony didn't laugh, realising what Lauren said, "You already have them, don't you?"
Lauren didn't reply.
Evony continued, "And you switched contracts with a new one with the clause removed about the penalty, but how did you do it?" Evony's words hung in the air, implying that Lauren had orchestrated a safe break.
Lauren responded with a laugh, dismissing the accusation. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Evony. I certainly haven't been involved in any such activities."
"And you," Evony pointed to Tasmin, "You were here yesterday. Did you switch the ones in their safe? But how were they signed and stamped? I will have you investigated. I will drag this out with years of ligation."
"For what?" Lauren replied. "Bo has nothing. You saw to that. Bo Dennis is no more. You took it. So, who are you fighting, and what do you expect to win?"
Evony smirked, "Ahh, so I see. You needed her penniless, so I couldn't do anything. Finally, Bo, you have found a smart lady."
"Still, I am protected." Evony went in for the attack. "The club I joined won't like what you have done to me."
"Ahh, the Club. You mean the Uno Mens or One Mankind." Lauren laughed, "I'm also a member, but I wasn't going to renew my membership."
Evony gasped, "You?"
"Yeah, what does it do except for a yearly meet-up to stand around in robes and masks worshipping the Episcopus? It wasn't really for me. But you, desperate to join." Lauren concluded, "So I gave you your wish."
"You endorsed me? You're Sicarius?" Evony said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, it means the Doctor, apparently. I don't know why I was given that name, as I am a more 'put-holes-in-people' girl, not a 'patch them up' girl." Lauren shrugged. "It was easy to endorse you. Those little robe-wearing people love me. I was instructed to meet you and tell you to sign over your properties, and of course, you signed over Bo's too. Tut tut. That was against the rules. But I guess I am a bit of a rule-breaker, too, as I didn't do what I was told to do either. As you know, we signed them over to an Isabeau Bishop from Fredericton, New Brunswick. As soon as you took back her stage name as her legal name, you unwittingly legalised those properties to her."
"What?" Bo interjected.
"I told you it would be okay", Lauren smiled, "I also said to read the file."
Bo opened the black leather case, and in the back were deeds. Pulling them out, Bo read them one by one. "What? I have the deeds to Marquise Towers in Toronto, Evony's condo, plus another five houses and a hotel?"
Tamsin jumped up and went to the bar, "Fuck, I need a drink. I'll get you one too, Bo. Looks like you need it."
Kenzi joined her, "And me."
"Bo, stop this." Evony pleaded. "You can't take my business and my home."
"What and leave you penniless?" Bo asked. "What shall I do, Lauren?"
Lauren kissed her, "This is your decision, baby, as I told you this morning. I will stand by any you make. You have all the cards, Bo,"
Evony resided, "Let's discuss this."
"You wouldn't be saying that if the shoe was on the other foot," Kenzi added. "Bo, take her for everything."
"Bo, wait." Tamsin added, "You have bad blood. I get it. But it's not just you that she manages. If she is liquidated, all under her management are affected. And we could all lose our royalties and contracts."
Bo thought it over. "Okay. I will sign over to Toronto Towers if you return my stage name?"
Evony inhaled. She knew she was beaten, "Okay. I'll get back in Mott and Carter."
Evony left, and the door closed.
Kenzi danced with Lauren around the room. "Oh my god, oh my god. You're a fucking genius."
Tamsin grabbed one of the deeds, "The lodge in Banff has ten bedrooms. We are all going to be using that."
"You have a house on Prince Edwards Island?" Kenzi showed the deeds, "Why, it's for villagers and tourists."
"Geez. I had a vision then of Evony in waders fishing." Tamsin joked.
Bo joined in and laughed.
"What hotel do you own?" Tamsin asked.
"The one we're staying in, The Horseguards," Bo replied.
"No, shut up." Kenzi was buzzing. "I guess Evony will be finding somewhere else to stay tomorrow, and so will Massimo."
Bo laughed.
"What's this House?" Kenzi pointed out. "it's in Northumberland and signed by Vincent Laughlin."
"Really?" Bo asked.
Lauren answered, "Yeah. Another confession; he is also a member of the Uno Mens. I also told him who I was so he wouldn't shoot us, and I helped him so he wouldn't reveal me to Evony before the deeds were transferred. I took the house as a fuck you to him. He doesn't know it yet but will once deeds are notarised today."
They had no time to finish the conversation as the lawyers returned, and it was back to business. Mr Mott and Mr Carter, followed by Evony and Mr Mitchward.
Mr Carter handed Bo a copy of the agreement, "This concludes this morning. I need your deeds so that we can notarise them all."
Bo handed them over.
I also need your birth certificate.
Bo looked at Lauren, who motioned to the black file. Bo found it at the back and handed it over.
"This confirmed you are who you say you are, Isabeau Bishop, and coincides with the deeds. As this is all in order, it will be straightforward. Your assets are one office building, one condo, four houses and one hotel. The combined value of these properties is currently at eighty-seven million US Dollars."
Bo didn't speak, neither did any of her guests.
"This is a breakdown of each property and its current worth." Mr Carter handed over the document.
"Thank you." Bo took it, noticing that Evony's Marquis condo was the cheapest at three point seven million while the hotel was the most expensive at twenty-three million.
Mr Mott began to sign each deed, passing them to Bo to sign. Once complete, Bo, in turn, passed them to Mr Carter to witness and sign to the fact. Afterwards, Mr Mott gathered them all back and affixed the law firm's official stamp to each page. Evony could do nothing but watch on. Next, he produced a certificate indicating the date, location, and details of each notarisation of the deed. The whole process was done in under three minutes.
"We are done here, Miss Bishop." Mr Carter stopped and looked up for permission. "Apologies, but I legally cannot call you anything else."
"That's okay." Bo smiled. "It will get a bit of getting used, but that's fine."
"Thank you for choosing Mott and Carter, and we hope we can assist you in the future." Mr Mott and Mr Carter shook all hands.
Bo spoke, "Wait, we have spoken, and Evony will sign over the brand name Bo Dennis, and I'll sign over Marquis Towers."
Evony stood quickly, "I also want my home. I will pay you the fair market price, meaning you'll have actual money in your account in a few weeks."
Bo sighed, "Why? You were going to leave me penniless. Now you want me to do this for you."
"I am beaten. I underestimated Lauren and you, and I won't do that again. I should have known that Lauren was brilliant." Evony unexpectedly pulled Lauren into an unwelcome hug. "I chose a thug like Massimo, hoping he would help me. Still, I should have picked brains over muscle."
Lauren backed away.
"Besides, this is a bad day for me, but I haven't lost it all." Evony waved her hand dismissively, "I also lied. Oopsie. All my money isn't tied to properties. Most of my fortune is in diamonds, gold, and jewellery. Small enough to store in safety deposit boxes and move at a moment's notice. Much less hassle than selling properties."
"But again, Evony, why should I sell to you? I could sell it to anyone?" Bo asked.
"I'll throw in something else as a deal breaker," Evony grinned. "Something you would want and no one else has."
"What could you possibly offer me that I would want?" Bo asked. The others in the room remained silent, watching their exchange with bated breath.
"Lauren's love letter." Evony smiled. She had Bo. "The one she wrote you in Morzine. Very poetic."
Bo looked over at Lauren. She desperately wanted her letter.
"Baby, I can tell you what it said. I sort of remember it." Lauren added.
"In that case, I will destroy it." Evony turned to leave. "No problem. I could have seen it hanging in a hall in your home with the torn piece you keep. A memory of your love story."
Bo stood by the door, preventing Evony from leaving. "Market value?"
Evony nodded.
"And I get my letter today?" Bo added. "Before I sign to agree to the purchase of the condo?"
"Of course."
Bo stood there, contemplating Evony's offer. The room fell into silence, everyone eagerly awaiting her decision.
Finally, Bo broke the silence. "Yes. We have a deal. You'll return the stage name, and I'll sign over Marquis Towers. In addition, I agree to sell you the condo for the current market value as stated on this document, and I want Lauren's love letter returned to me."
Evony's smirk widened as she realised she had gotten what she wanted. "Deal. You'll have the note in your hands today, and we'll leave our lawyers to transfer the properties and brand name. It was no good to me without you behind it; it's just a name."
Bo shook her head in disbelief. Lauren stepped forward, placing a supportive hand on Bo's shoulder. Kenzi and Tamsin joined her.
"I hope one day we'll put this behind us, Bo. We were a formidable team once. I took advantage and pushed you too far. I see that now." Evony stopped forward, taking Bo's face in her hands, "But believe it or not, darling, I did love you and want only what's best for you."
With the agreements made, Evony and Bo exchanged one last glance, acknowledging the complex dynamics determined in that room today would forever connect them. Evony then left the room. No other words were needed. Their paths would undoubtedly cross again one day, but not anytime soon. For now, their chapter was over. Kenzi and Tamsin followed Evony. They needed fresh air and were meeting Vex and Dyson outside. They needed to catch them up on what had just happened.
The lawyers began discussing the necessary steps for property transfers and notarisation as the meeting concluded. Bo's mind raced with a mix of emotions—relief, excitement, and a tinge of sadness for the end of this chapter of her life.
But amidst it all, Bo felt a renewed sense of empowerment. She had taken control of her destiny and secured a future that held promise and freedom. It took only another hour to finalise the final details. Mr Mitchward had taken his and Evony's copies away. And Bo had taken her copy with her, fastened in her leather wallet. The phone messages had alerted them that all were waiting for them in Dal Deux.
Bo and Lauren walked out of the office. They knew that their journey was far from over. Still, their love and determination prepared them to conquer whatever obstacles came next. Bo and Lauren were stepping into the unknown, hand in hand, their hearts filled with hope and the unwavering belief that their love would prevail.
"Hey, what name do you want me to call you now? Birth name or stage name?" Lauren asked.
"I like Bishop." Bo replied, "Now that I know Dennis was just a name made up by Evony, it's lost all meaning. I'll only use it when working."
"I like it too, and Bo Bishop sounds sexy." Lauren replied, "Also, let me be the first to say —"
"Say what?" Bo interrupted.
Lauren laughed if you'd let me finish, "I love you, Bo Bishop."
With the weight of their recent triumph hanging in the air, an overwhelming surge of emotions washed over them. Unable to contain it any longer, they found themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. In a tender and passionate moment, they leaned in, their lips meeting in a heated kiss. Time seemed to stand still as their connection deepened, with their love pouring into the embrace. It was a celebration of their victory and a testament to their unbreakable bond. It was as if the world around them had faded into insignificance as their kiss lingered, conveying any words left unspoken. It symbolised their unwavering support, commitment to facing any challenge together, and unwavering love that transcended the obstacles in their path.
Their eyes met when they finally pulled away.
Bo whispered softly. "I love you too, Lauren Lewis."
Hand in hand, they continued their journey to the Dal Deux, united in their love and ready to face whatever lay ahead. They knew that with each other by their side, they were invincible. But right now, they needed a drink.
"Bubba, today may have been the end of an Old Chapter, but it also signifies New Beginnings." Lauren pulled Bo in tight.
Walking into Dal Deux, they were greeted with rapturous applause, "Yes, Bo, you did it!"
Bo grinned, "Thank you, but I had help from all of you. And I want to know it all, no more secrets."
"Deal." Lauren hugged Bo close. "The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
Vex jumped in, "In that case, Trick, my man. Tequila's all around, please."
Everyone laughed.