"The vice president? Mr. Grayson?"
Bloom asked, stunned at the information.

"Do we have another vice president?" Zayn grunted with his eyes fixed on the road.

"No way, you're just trying to mess with me." She laughed and hit him playfully on the arm.

"You don't believe me? You want proof?"
Zayn asked, taking a glance at her. He looked away before she could read the look in his eyes.

"You were joking, right? Wait, it's really Mr. Grayson?" She asked, ceasing her laughter.

Zayn shrugged and said nothing. She knew he wasn't the type to joke around and he just asked her if she wanted proof.

"Why is he doing it?" She asked after allowing the truth to sink in.

"I'm not answering any more questions," Zayn told her.

"Are you sure is Mr. Grayson? He is my dad's best friend." Bloom told him.

"No more questions, you're making me regret this."
He said taking a glance at her.

"Fine, I won't ask again." She hissed and stared at the shape of the road not saying a word again.

Different thoughts clouded her brain, making her question everything she knew. They have been dining with the enemy all along. Her Dad's enemy was right in front of him, closer than he thought but why?

Mr. Grayson was the last person she expected to be supporting such an organization, they were considered terrorists. He was the closest person to her dad, they were like brothers.

"Hey."
Zayn snapped her out of her thoughts placing his hand on her thigh.

"Huh?" She mumbled, shifting her gaze to him.

"You're making me regret this, seriously." He told her and took her hand.

"Sorry, I'm still in shock."
She said forcing a smile.

"Good thing you didn't pass out." He said giving her hand a squeeze and intertwined their fingers. She really needed the comfort. Bloom chuckled softly at him.

"This stays between us." He warned her.

"I know, I won't spill. I just feel bad for my dad." She said and looked outside her window to avoid his eyes.

"I will like it if you don't bring him up when we're together." He asked.

"Okay," She muttered.

They came to a stop a few distances from the Valley House. Bloom turned to look at him after she removed her seatbelt.

"Thanks for tonight." She told him increasing her grasp on his hand. She didn't want to let go, she wished she never asked about the person funding the Anti-sam. Now all her thoughts were corrupted by what to do with the information.

Zayn nodded at her with a smile.

"Are you coming up?" She asked, hoping he would say yes. She would give anything up for his company tonight.

"No, sorry. I have something to do." He scowled.

"Ohh," She mumbled a bit disgruntled.

"What movie would you like to see?" he asked as she was about to open the door.

"Huh?" She muttered, a bit dazed at the question.

"I'm taking you on your dream date tomorrow." He declared.

A smile broke on her face, she was speechless and not sure she should take him seriously.

"I will pick one when we get there."
She replied fighting the blush growing on her cheeks.

"I will pick you up by 7:30 tomorrow, here."
He told her.

"Okay." She whispered.

She moved closer and hugged him, he pulled her back when she tried to withdraw from the hug, he smiled against her lips and kissed her.

"Goodnight," She whispered when he broke the kiss.

"Goodnight." He whispered softly.

Bloom smiled excessively as she walked home. Damian looked relieved when he saw her walk through the door. She kissed him goodnight and went to her room.

"I'm going on a date, oh my God, I'm going on a date," she said like it just clicked in her brain and she could finally understand what he said.

She smiled in the dark as she laid in bed, she went to sleep with the smile not leaving her face.

||
Damian came in the morning when she was already done dressing.

"Morning."
She chimed in a sing-song tone as she ran the brush through her hair.

"First time your voice doesn't sound disturbing."
Damian said behind her, she turned around and threw her hairbrush at him.

"Are you okay?" he asked laughing. He picked up the hairbrush and returned it to her.

"Yeah I'm fine, why do you ask?" She said.

"Today is my birthday and you are more excited than I am."
He said with a sad face.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry I forgot," she gasped, dropping the hairbrush.

"First time ever," Damian said, sounding disappointed.

"I'm so sorry Damie, happy birthday." She stood up and went to give him a tight hug. His solid arms engulfed her small body.

"Are you throwing a party?" She asked him when she pulled away.

"No, and don't you dare throw me a party."
He warned.

"If you insist, I didn't even get you a present. I will work on it right away."
She said and picked up her phone.

"Don't get anything too expensive." He said.

"Don't tell me what to do, I'm the one getting the gift not you." She said sending him a frown.

"Fine," he raised his hands in surrender.

"I will tell Maria to bake your favorite cake," Bloom said as she scrolled through her phone.

"She already did," Damian told her.

"Does that mean I was the last to wish you a happy birthday?"

"Yeah."

She gave him an apologetic smile.

"Before I forget your dad is waiting for you in his study."

"Okay."

"I will see you later."

"Happy birthday Damian!"
She screamed, he smiled as he left the room.

She finished with her hair and went to her dad's study. She froze when she saw the vice president sitting in front of him, they were laughing at whatever joke they shared before she came in.

"You're here."
Her father called, announcing her presence. Mr. Grayson turned to look at her, a broad smile made its way to his chubby cheeks.

"Bloom."
Mr. Grayson said standing up, he was chubby with a round stomach and dark hair that looked like he spent hours styling.

"Remember Mr. Grayson?" Her Dad asked.

"Yeah, hi Mr. Grayson," she tried her best to hide the distaste in her voice.

"She is all grown, you look just like your mother."
She forced a smile at his words.

She wished she could expose him right here and now, but exposing him would also cost her relationship with Zayn and his life too.

As much as she cared about her Dad, she couldn't risk what she had with Zayn. She wasn't ready to return to her old life where nothing outside the ValleyHouse bothered her.

With Zayn, everything mattered and she wanted more with him. He was now a part of her life and she didn't want to let him go, not now or ever. But her Dad was also a big part of her world, he was her only family, and exposing Mr. Grayson would save the country from more destruction. She felt torn between doing the right thing for her Dad and the country and being selfish to save her relationship with Zayn.

Her Dad trusted Mr. Grayson with his life, they were friends before he even ran for President.
If only he knew he was the cause of his sleepless nights and countless interviews and interrogations.

"Princess are you okay?"
Her dad asked her when she didn't answer Mr. Grayson's question.

"Yeah?" She blinked.

"He asked about your studies." Her Dad repeated.

"Ohh, it's good, it's going great." She said and laughed softly.

"Good," Mr. Grayson said with a firm smile.

"I will leave now, I was about to have breakfast," she lied.

"Okay, go on." Her Dad raised his hand in dismissal
She went over and gave her dad a kiss.

"Have a nice day Mr. Grayson." She said to him as she walked out of the room.

"You too dear." He waved.

She cursed him as she walked back to her room.

"Laura is waiting for you inside. You look pissed," Damian said when she got to the door to her room.

"I bumped into the wall but I'm fine."
She laughed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."
She smiled and entered her room.

"Hey, girl."
Laura screamed from the bed.

"Hey," Bloom replied trying to match her cheerful mood.

"How is it going with your boyfriend?...oh I mean your guy?"
Laura teased.

"Good, we are going on our first date tonight."
Bloom told her with an uneasy smile.

"Really?"
Laura sat up quickly. Bloom nodded, biting back her smile.

Laura squealed but Bloom reached quickly to cover her mouth.

"My dad is home, keep it down."
Bloom whispered.

"Sorry, I got carried away." Laura said in a hushed tone. "I'm so happy for you," She added.

"I'm kind of nervous, I have been trying to pick a dress, I'm freaking out. I want this date to be perfect." Bloom admitted.

"I will help you with that, in fact, I will stay over and dress you up." Laura offered.

"You have school tomorrow." Bloom reminded her.

"I'm not sleeping over, I will leave when I'm done with you."

"Awww, thank you."

"Shall we?" Laura asked looking more excited.
Bloom nodded and followed her into her walk-in closet.

"Go ahead and pick the ones you think are nice," Laura said to her.

"Is that how you're planning to help?"

"I know what I'm doing, this is your first date. I have been on countless dates, so trust me."

"Okay."
She picked some clothes out and showed her.

"No, that will make you look desperate, next."

"You can't wear that to a date, next."

"That's too long, next."

"The color is too dull, next."

"That's all, thank you for telling me my fashion sense sucks."
Bloom grimaced.

"I love you."
Laura said and blew her a kiss.

"I will pick the right dress for you."
Laura assured her.

"Go ahead, I'm going to use the bathroom."

"Just in case you're planning on doing it tonight, make sure he uses protection," Laura whispered.

"Laura! It's only our first date," Bloom groaned.

Laura shrugged and hummed as she went through her clothes. Bloom shook her head at her dirty mouth and left the room.

The door to the room opened and Damian walked in, he looked around and walked to the closet when he heard someone humming.

"Where is Bloom?"

"In the bathroom"
Laura replied and turned to look at him, he always looked handsome in his slim suits but she would keep that to herself since he didn't deserve her compliments.

"When are you going to dye your hair back, Laury?"

"Just admit you like my real hair and you missed it."

"I'm just doing you a favor cause you look like my grandmother."
She gasped and looked around like he spoke to someone else in the room.

"You know what? Today is your birthday and I planned to be nice to you. Don't push me." she warned.

"Good to know but you suck at it."
Damian smirked.

"You know what? I'm returning your gift, thank God I kept the receipt."

"I never asked you to get me a gift, so I'm not bothered."

He said and walked away.

"Sorry I took so long, have you found the right dress?" Bloom asked when she returned.

"Sorry Bloom, I just got a text from Sasha that DaBaby is at the mall downtown. I can't miss this opportunity, I love you." Laura said in one breath as she stared at her phone.

She gave her a quick kiss and headed for the door.

"Are you for real right now?" Bloom murmured.

"Yeah, enjoy your date," she told her before shutting the door.

"Did you at least pick one dress?"

Bloom asked out loud but got no response.

"Okay, don't panic. You got this."
She said to herself looking around. She picked out a sundress with a bow covering the chest region.

"It's the movies, Bloom, don't overdo it."
She told herself.

Her ringtone echoed in the room, she rushed to pick it hoping it was Laura. She needed her help but it was Nicole.

She was happy to see her call, Nicole had an amazing fashion sense.

"Hey, girl!"
Nicole screamed.

"Hey, Nicole." She smiled.

"How are you preparing for the date? West is working his ass off to make it perfect."
Nicole whispered into the phone.

"I'm still trying to pick a dress."
Bloom groaned in exasperation.

"Need help?"

"Yes, please."

"I will call you on facetime."

"Okay."

It didn't take long for Nicole to call. When she answered the call, she saw Liz beside her.

"Hey, Bloom!" Liz waved. Her long dreadlocks were tied with a silk scarf and it made her look stunning.

"Hi, Liz."

"Woww is that a closet? Look at those shoes, the designer bags, and are those Louboutin heels?"
Liz moved closer to the phone with her jaw slightly ajar.

"Is that rock-studded purse real?" Liz asked.

"Yes," Bloom laughed.

"Do you wear all these?" Nicole asked.

"No, I don't leave the house or attend any events. It's useless, honestly."
Bloom confessed.

"Girl, I wouldn't mind if you give me your foot mat."

Liz said and Bloom laughed.

"Take us around and we'll pick something," Nicole said.

"It's the movies, right? So let's go for something casual." Liz said.

Nicole and Liz were helpful, they argued for almost an hour before they agreed on the same dress.

||
She skipped dinner and stayed in her room getting ready. She decided to go casual, she put on a simple yellow floral print dress with white sneakers and left her dark hair down. She grabbed her Dolce and Gabbana satchel handbag and packed some essential things inside.

It was almost 7:30 when she was done, she took one last glance at herself in the mirror and waited for his call or text, informing her he was waiting but thirty minutes went by and she got nothing from him.

She decided to go out and wait for him, maybe he was running late.

"Going somewhere?"
Damian asked.

"Obviously," she rolled her eyes at his question.

"You can't go out tonight, I don't think it's safe."

"It's never safe for you, don't worry I will be fine."
He grabbed her arm when she was about to walk away.

"Do you have your pepper spray?" He asked.

"Yes."
She lied.

"If anything goes wrong, call me right away, please be careful Bloom." He begged.

"I'm sick of hearing you say that, bye."

He watched her leave.

When Bloom got outside he wasn't there, she waited for some minutes before she made up her mind to call him.
He didn't answer any of her calls or reply to any of her texts.

She feared he stood her up but she waited for him, hoping his truck would appear with him behind the wheel smiling at her. 8:30 pm he wasn't there, she tried his line again but he didn't pick. She decided to try his friends but none of them picked her call.

"What's going on?"
She asked getting frustrated.

It was almost nine and her legs were throbbing from the long wait, she wanted to go back home instead, she went to the neighborhood to speak to Rosa.

Rosa was dressed for bed when she opened the door.

"Bloom?" Rosa mumbled with heavy eyes.

"Sorry did I wake you up?"

"No dear, I was watching a movie. Come on in." Rosa smiled sweetly at her.

"Thanks."
Bloom said and walked in.

"Where is Mika?"

"She is sleeping," Rosa told her.

"Ohh, good."

"Would you like some coffee or tea?"

"No, I'm okay."

"If you're here to see him, he is not home," Rosa said to her.

"Where do you think he is?"

"I don't know, he doesn't speak much to me."

"When last did you see him?"

"Last week."

"Ok thanks, sorry for..."
A loud bang on the door shut her up, both ladies looked terrified.

They heard someone undoing the lock, soon the door was pushed open with a force.
Bloom gasped at the sight in front of her.

"Oh my God, West?" Bloom gasped.
Zayn staggered into the room with one hand around the left side of his stomach, he was bleeding.

"I will get the first aid kit."
Rosa told her and left. She sounded like it wasn't her first time seeing him like this.

"West?" Bloom called with her heart racing rapidly at the sight of him bleeding.

"Don't?" he said curtly stopping her as she tried to get closer.

"What are you doing here?" He asked with a hard look that scared her.

"I...that's not important. What happened? Who did this to you?" She stuttered.

"Drop the act, are you happy now?"
He grimaced.

"What?" She mumbled in bewilderment.

"You traitor!!!" He yelled with a clenched jaw.
Bloom jumped at the tone of his voice.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, lost more than ever.

"I should applaud you and hand you a Grammy award, you did well." He sneered.

"West..."

"Shut the fuck up!" He snapped.

She's never seen this side of him, everything he was saying didn't make any sense. Why was he acting like this toward her?

"Look, you're injured, we can talk about this when..."
Zayn growled cutting her off.

"The fact you keep pretending makes me more upset!" He staggered to keep his balance.

"Pretending?" She wondered if he was drunk but he looked very sober.

"You are just like your father, you're even worse than him. I trusted you like an idiot!" He said and laughed humorlessly at himself.

"West..."

"Shut up!"

She bit back her tears, she was so lost and didn't understand any word leaving his mouth. Rosa was already back with the first aid kit but she was scared to go any closer to him.

"You used me, you made me trust you. I was so stupid to think this thing between us was real, you're not her, you will never be her!"

A tear rolled down her left cheek at his words.

"I told you everything and you fucking told your dad?"

"No, I swear to you I didn't tell anyone." She explained.

"Lies! Liar! It felt so good to be true. I should have noticed." He said and laughed again.

"I didn't tell anyone, you have to believe me."
She cried.

"If you keep denying it I won't hesitate to put a bullet down your throat." He threatened.

"I'm telling you the truth, I didn't mention a word to anyone!"
She yelled in tears.

"Then who did Bloom? Who!!!"
He took a step toward her, he looked like he wanted to squeeze the life out of her.

"I took you there yesterday which was a dumb thing to do. After you left the cops and FBI raided the place, few people got shot and others lost their lives, Taylor received four bullets. If anything happens to him I won't only kill your dad but you too."
He winced after talking and almost lost his balance.

Bloom rushed to help him.

"Don't touch me!"
He pushed her away, Rosa caught her before she could fall.

"Get out."
He told her. "Don't ever come here, stay away from Mika. If you return here you won't get to see your asshole of a father again."

"West, listen to me."

"Get out!!!"
He was panting softly, he was getting weaker as he lost more blood.

"Your dad took my parents, now he took something very important in my life too, hope you're both fucking happy."

"I didn't know about this!"
She screamed.

"Leave or I will shoot every bone in your body and I swear to you, I will enjoy doing it. Your dad won't find a body for your funeral when I'm done."

She stared at him not moving, she believed he won't hurt her. No matter what he said, she knew he still cared about her.

"Leave!"
He brought out his handgun and pointed it at her.

"Please go."
Rosa begged her.

She kept staring at him with tears in her eyes but at the same time daring him to shoot.

"You think I won't shoot?"
He sneered.

"You're already dead to me, I don't care what happens after now," Zayn told her with a glint of pain in his dark eyes.

"Leave!"
He yelled shooting just above her head, Rosa gasped. Bloom's eyes flashed wide at him, she felt her heart sink. She couldn't believe he just tried to shoot her.

"I missed on purpose, last warning Bloom Nolan. Get the fuck out of my house."

"I will show you out."
Rosa pulled her to the door, Bloom stared at him as she followed Rosa to the door.

He looked away and staggered to his room clutching where he was shot.

"I will make sure he is okay."
Rosa told her and shut the door.

Who do you think snitched?