EastEnders airs surprise love declaration in mysterious Lauren and Mark story

 The pair are now working together.

EastEnders’ Lauren Beale and Mark Fowler found some chemistry together tonight, after a business deal went wrong for Lauren. The pair have had a rocky relationship in recent months, with Mark setting Lauren up to have one of her cars stolen as well as trying to rope her into one of his dodgy schemes.

But Lauren has become pretty desperate in recent weeks, after making a bet with Max that she could sell £80,000 worth of cars within a month.

If Lauren is successful, her dad will give her half the business.

On Monday's episode, Alfie Moon put Lauren in contact with his friend Ray, who had vintage cars for sale.

She also struck a deal with Phil Mitchell, with him agreeing to repair the cars before they’re sold on.

Lauren then purchased a car from Ray but when it arrived, she realised she'd been conned as the car was nothing more than a heap of junk.

Tonight (Tuesday, 21 April) Mark, who Phil had passed Lauren's work on to, had a look at the car and confirmed it was unsellable.

Knowing Lauren was upset about being scammed and losing her money, Mark offered to sort the problem for her.

At the gym, Mark phoned Ray and asked him to come down and meet him. Not trusting Mark, Lauren said she would talk to Ray when he arrived.

When Ray got to the gym Mark brought him into the office where Lauren was waiting.

Lauren told him that she wanted her money back as the car he'd sold her wasn't as described.

When Ray refused to refund her, Mark stepped in, saying he was Lauren's boyfriend and he wasn't going to stand for anyone scamming the woman he loves.

While Lauren told Mark she could fight her own battles he continued, telling Ray that her anger towards him was affecting their relationship.

Mark told Ray: "You're breaking up the greatest love story ever told here," as Lauren continued to tell him to stay out of it.

But when Ray still wouldn't agree to a refund, Mark changed tact, telling him he'd looked into his family and knew where his children went to school.

Issuing a threat, Mark said that if Ray wanted his kids to be able to walk home safely, he'd better give Lauren what she paid for.

Ray agreed and later Mark and Lauren went to The Vic together and celebrate over a drink.

When Lauren wasn't as grateful as Mark expected her to be, he asked if she was annoyed about him pretending to be her boyfriend.

But Lauren shrugged it off, telling him: "It's the least believable thing you said."

Alfie then told Lauren that Ray was sorry and didn't mean to 'scam' her and her new car would be there tomorrow.

After Alfie left, Mark told her: "If I was your fella, that's how everyone would treat you", to which Lauren responded: "Yeah but that's something we're never going to find out."

Mark then said he believed their partnership was going to be good and he could teach her some things.

Later, in The Arches, Mark offered to teach Lauren some basic car mechanics so she could "spot a wrong 'un a mile off".

"Trust me, I can spot a wrong 'un," Lauren told him, before walking off.

Could Lauren and Mark's partnership blossom into something more?