I’m leaving!
Lauren tells Max she’s doing a flit to New Zealand. Will she get back with Peter?
Talk about an anti climax. After watching Lauren and her boss Josh share long, lingering looks for the best part of four months, we were hoping we’d get rewarded for our patience and see their lust finally get the better of them. But alas, there’ll be no bonking in the boardroom; no steamy sessions in the staff room, because this week Lauren decides she’s upping sticks and moving to New Zealand.
Why New Zealand? Well, we don’t think it’s due to a fondness for lamb chops, rugby union or Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, but rather because it’s where her first love and baby father, Peter Beale, lives. So it seems that all this faffing around over whether Josh or Steven was the man for her was actually a load of pointless tosh, because Pe’er is the one that she wants.
Lauren kicks off the week by having a deep-and-meaningful with Josh, during which she admits she doesn’t love Steven any more and their relationship is over. Having made up her mind, she then decides to give Steven the bad news – but it’s easier said than done.
As one Branning sister wants to dump Steven, the other, meanwhile, wants to live happily ever after with him. Abi is desperate to become his girlfriend – and the fact that Steven’s just not that into her isn’t going to stand in her way. When she checks in on Lauren and learns of her plans, she makes a snide suggestion to her sibling that prompts Lauren to tell Max that she’s heading down under. It’s a result for the bonkers blonde – with Lauren out of the way, she can move in for the kill.
Steven’s oblivious to Lauren’s intentions, but starts to smell a rat as soon as she goes awol. Desperate not to lose her, he sets out to track her down – but to no avail. Not surprisingly, he isn’t exactly in the best state of mind – though when is he ever? – and, when Josh pitches up, it tips him over the edge.
As Steven loses the plot, Lauren thanks her family and hastily plans her departure. She’s keen to make a sharp exit and avoid any snotty-nosed grovelling from her boyfriend. Will she have the chance to get away before Steven discovers what she’s up to?