EastEnders’ Lauren Beale struggles to resist temptation next week, when Mark Fowler makes her an offer he hopes she can’t refuse! Presented with an intriguing proposition, is Lauren taking a risk by getting into bed with bad boy Mark, even if it is just in a professional sense?

Now she’s officially managing the car lot, Lauren has a lot to prove and is determined to make a success of things. But her first day on the job doesn’t exactly go to plan this week, as she is attacked by a mystery guy who steals a classic car from right under her nose.

Putting the intimidating incident behind her, Lauren wants to move on – but she’s still spooked by what she went through. She refuses to let a punter take a motor out for a test drive, scuppering the sale and leaving the client angry.

Spying the exchange from afar is Max, who immediately rushes to his daughter’s side. Touched by her dad’s concern, Lauren invites Max to the Beales’ Mother’s Day celebrations.

It’s happy families round the table at No.45 as Peter reveals a sweet surprise he’s organised for Lauren. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is soured when Max says the wrong thing, causing a scene and eventually storming out! Spotting his chance, Mark swoops in and asks Lauren for a quiet word.

“Mark offers to provide luxury cars for Lauren to sell at the lot,” reveals our source. “At first she’s not sure, but it sounds like a great way to boost the business, and her confidence as the manager, so she eventually agrees.”

However, Lauren has no idea Mark has his own hidden agenda – which is not entirely legal. Mark plans to use the Brannings’ business as a front for his criminal activities, and Lauren is completely in the dark.

Thrilled when she manages to sell off one of the swanky cars, Lauren thanks Mark for putting the business her way. Having dismissed her dad’s questioning of how Mark got his hands on the posh vehicles, Lauren insists it’s all above board.

She encourages new employee Priya to develop her sales technique – but they are interrupted by a visit from the police…

“Callum shows up at the car lot, and it’s definitely not a social call,” says our insider. “He tells Lauren the classic car that was stolen the previous week has been found – and a whole load of valuable vehicles have also recently gone missing in the area. Suddenly, Lauren reckons Mark’s deal seems a bit too good to be true!”

Confronting Mark, livid Lauren demands to know what’s going on. Their showdown leaves Lauren with food for thought, but it doesn’t change her increasingly gloomy financial situation.

Lauren and Peter want to enrol Jimmy in a private nursery that offers specialist facilities for kids who are visually impaired, but it costs a fortune.

Is Lauren desperate enough for cash that she’ll ignore Mark’s dubious methods of making money to provide for her family? And could the pair’s undeniable frisson of attraction lead to them mixing business with pleasure?