Zayn and Bloom got an appointment with Mr. Grayson the next day. He looked impressed when they entered his office, he gestured for them to take a seat.

"I cleared my schedule for the day immediately I got your message." Mr. Grayson said, sitting up with a big smile.

"So, what did you find?" Mr. Grayson asked like a child waiting for his Christmas present.

"I have everything stored in my flash drive and my laptop." Zayn told him.

"I hope it has everything we need, convincing evidence?" Mr. Grayson inquired.

"Yes, we stayed up all night going through it. You were right, he got Damian killed."

Bloom said and looked down at her hands, trying to keep her tears at bay. She forced a smile and looked away from her clenched hands.

"There were a lot of foreign deals in his email, we didn't really understand what it meant," Zayn said.

"You have done a great job. This means a lot to this organization and you will be compensated." The vice president said in a happy tone that made him look ridiculous.

"Where is the flash drive?" Mr. Grayson asked.

"I have it but I can only give it to you if you make me a promise; a promise you will honor for the rest of your life," Zayn said.

Mr. Grayson didn't look happy hearing that, he sat back in his seat with a scowl.

"What are you talking about? I thought the plan was to give him the flash drive." Bloom whispered to Zayn but he didn't say anything to her.

"Okay, kiddo. What do you want?" Mr. Grayson asked.

"I need you to promise me that after this whole shit goes down, you will keep Bloom safe. I know after everyone learns the truth about her father, she might be in danger, and the people she considers family are gone. I might not always be there to protect her, so I want you to promise to watch over her when I fail to be there for her."

Zayn said earnestly.

"Zayn, I can take care of myself," Bloom said facing him.

"I know, but my protection might not be enough. I will do my best to keep you safe and asking for extra help seems like a good idea." He said softly, taking her hand.

"You're scaring me with the whole speech, is everything okay?"

Bloom asked looking him in the eyes as if it would make her understand the depth of his words.

"Yes," He said with a small smile.

Mr. Grayson cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Okay, Zayn. I promise to take good care of Bloom, and not because you asked. I owe her more than that and she is now my responsibility."

"Okay, I'm right here and I don't need you taking the burden to watch over me. In a few days, I will be turning Eighteen and be free from my Dad's clutches." Bloom said slightly annoyed.

"You promise with your heart crossed?"

Zayn asked, ignoring what she said.

"You have my word." Mr. Grayson smiled.

Zayn took the flash drive out of his front pocket and gave it to him.

"Thank you," Mr. Grayson said holding the flash drive with a firm grip.

"So now what?" Bloom asked with her arms crossed.

"I will send this to the Congress as a whistleblower. Once it's released, we'll focus on the next plan which involves you. Your father won't even see it coming." Mr. Grayson said and laughed.

"Great cause I can't wait," Bloom said with fake enthusiasm.

"I will keep you posted on any new development and this stays between us." Mr. Grayson said to them as they stood up to leave.

They left his office and joined their friends at the recreation bar where a loud pop song was playing in the background.

"How did it go with Mr. Grayson?" Nicole asked taking Bloom's arm and leading her to their table.

"How did you know we were with him?" Bloom asked sitting next to Liz.

"Taylor told us," Nicole replied.

"We found a way to expose the President, that was what we were discussing with him," Zayn said in a low tone and took a sip from the beer on the table.

"No...way," Liz mumbled standing up with a shocked expression.

"Really?" Taylor asked, looking away from his phone.

"Finally, that asshole is going to jail," Nicole sighed in relief.

"To be executed I hope," Tyra mumbled.

"Sorry," Tyra apologized when she realized Bloom heard her.

"It's okay, is what he deserves anyway," Bloom said forcing a smile.

"Let's go," Zayn stood up and took her hand. Bloom gave him a questioning look as she stood up from her seat.

"But you just got here," Nicole complained.

"We got other plans, don't tell anyone about our meeting with Mr. Grayson. It was supposed to be a secret."

Zayn said and walked out of the room with her. Bloom didn't say anything, she followed him quietly. Zayn noticed the change in her mood since they left Mr. Grayson's office, she looked like she was waging war with the thoughts in her head.

He waited until they were inside her room before stopping to talk to her.

"Hey," he called pulling her closer as she tried to walk away after he shut the door behind them.

"You don't have to pretend that you're okay with what people say about your father." He said using one hand to caress her cheek with his thumb.

"I'm fine," she said with a weak smile and pulled away from him.

"I know you're acting all tough like none of this affects you, a part of you still cares about him and wish things were different. It's okay to feel that way, you don't have to go on with the plan if you're not okay with it."

"You know what, Zayn?" She asked looking enraged.

"I am sick of you telling me what to do, what to fell, what not to feel and it's becoming infuriating!" She yelled but he didn't say anything.

"So what if I still care about my father? He is still a dead man anyway and deserves whatever comes his way. What I feel won't change anything! Damian is dead, I don't even know if Aunt Matilda is ever gonna wake up and everyone will see me as a psychopath's daughter."

She said almost out of breath, the tears were already rolling down her cheeks and her voice was muffled from the sound trying to leave her lips.

"Everyone I care about will still be gone and is all because of him. So, yes I am an idiot for feeling even the slightest sympathy for him."

She said and sat down on the bed, she buried her face in her palms and tried to suppress the sound of her cry.

He smiled and walked to the bed. He sat next to her and put one arm around her, pulling her closer to provide some comfort. She snuggled closer and cried her heart out.

||

The whole building was in an uproar after the news about a whistleblower and her Dad's involvement in illegal foreign deals and murders was released a week later. There was a celebration in the cafeteria, people drumming on the table and singing and dancing to the President's downfall.

Bloom tried not to be affected by any of it, she got a look of content from some people and look of pity from others everywhere she went. She kept a smile on her face the whole day even if she felt like screaming.

Mr. Grayson asked to see her and Zayn the next day after the news was released.

"Did they arrest him?" Bloom asked as soon as she stepped into his office.

"No, they are about to open an investigation." Mr. Grayson told her.

"How long is it gonna take?" she asked sounding aggravated.

"I don't know, it depends on what they find."

"He won't get away this time," Zayn told her.

"This is the part you come in, you go live and tell everyone the truth. It might help with his arrest." Mr. Grayson said.

"Okay, I will do that," Bloom said eagerly.

"Be ready on Wednesday."

"She can't, her birthday is on Wednesday," Zayn said.

"It's fine, I will do it. It's not like there is going to be a celebration." Bloom said quickly.

"You don't get to decide," Zayn said beside her.

"I do and I don't want anyone throwing me a surprise party. I will be prepared on Wednesday Mr. Grayson, just tell me what I need to do." Bloom said.

"Are you sure, Bloom? We can do it on..."

"Yes, I wanna do it."

She cut in with a frown.

"Okay, I will send Max to tell you everything."

"Thank you, I will be on my way then."

She flashed him a smile and walked away while Zayn stayed back.

||

Zayn returned an hour later and found her fast asleep on the bed. He pulled the duvet up to cover her body properly. He sat next to her on the bed and just stared at her. He wished she could open up to him about her pain instead of keeping it inside.

"I'm sorry you are going through all these but you're not alone, I'm always here and I have always been." He said and stood up to leave.

"You promised not to leave," he heard her say from behind him.

"I will be back, I have a message for Max."

She rolled her eyes and turned away from him. He smiled and moved closer to the bed.

"I will be back soon, give me ten minutes." He whispered into her ear.

"Just go, I wanna be alone anyway." She said closing her eyes.

"You don't mean that."

He said but she didn't say anything in return. He pressed a kiss to her head and left the room, laughing lightheartedly at her behavior.

Bloom looked back at the door and scoffed. She grabbed his laptop and decided to watch a movie. A file named Family on the desktop caught her eyes. She doubled clicked on it and was welcomed with videos and pictures. She clicked on the first video and sat back to watch.

A beautiful lady with bright blonde hair appeared on the screen. She was heavily pregnant and still pulled off the goddess look.

"So what are we gonna call her?"
She heard a small voice from the background, she smiled when she discovered who it belonged to.

"I thought that camera was bad."
A deep voice came from the background.

"I fixed it."
Zayn replied.

"What about Monique after your grandmother?" The deep voice suggested.

"No," his mom frowned.

"Why?" A tall and lean man showed up on the camera. His dark skin contrasted with his white teeth he showed off as he smiled.

"You know why."
His mom said and his Dad laughed.

"Why don't Santi decide? What would you like us to name your sister?"

The door opened making her shut the laptop quickly. Zayn gave her a suspicious look as he closed the door.

"Hey," she said with a smile.

"I thought you will be sleeping," he said walking to the bed.

"I couldn't sleep but I feel sleepy now."
She said putting the laptop away.

"What were you watching?" He asked picking up the laptop. She stayed mute as he opened the laptop, his expression hardened as he played the video.

"Your mom is very pretty."
She said but he acted like she said nothing.

He paused the video and shut down the laptop. He climbed next to her on the bed.

"Talk to me Zayn," she said facing him.

"Go to sleep, it's late." He said and closed his eyes.

"You can talk to me about it, I will listen."
She said touching his cheek, she moved closer closing the small space between them.

"What was your mom like? And your Dad?"
She asked softly.

"She was everything, the sweetest mom I could ever ask for but she can be very annoying when it comes to keeping the house clean."
He said and she chuckled briefly. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"My Dad was very hardworking and Family meant everything to him. He wanted to be an Engineer but...he dropped out of school for some reason. I'm such a disappointment to them, good thing they are not alive to see the kind of life I'm living."

"Don't say that they will be so proud of you. You are the smartest person I know." She said tracing his cheeks with her thumbs.

"I have not been the best big brother to my sister, I don't know if I will ever be. I always bragged to my parents about how I was going to take care of my little sister but I have not even seen her in weeks."

"You're trying your best, Zayn." She told him.

"No, I'm not. Why did they have to go?"
She saw the tears in his eyes before he looked away.

"It was too soon, I wasn't fu*king ready!"
He said trying to hold the tears back but he broke down.

She pulled him into her arms and he held her tightly as he cried.

"You told me holding it back will only kill you inside, let it go."
She whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"It's okay," she whispered stroking his hair.

"I'm right here," She told him and gave him a soft kiss on the head.

||
Wednesday came quicker than she expected. Nicole and the others showed up in her room with a small cake and singing a birthday song that knocked the sleep out of her. It was still early and the sun was barely out.

"Why don't you want a party? It's your eighteenth birthday, it's supposed to be a blast. You're officially an adult and I am the best party planner you can ever find."
Nicole said after Bloom made a wish and blew out the candle.

"Maybe next time but not now, we have more important issues."
Bloom said.

"Zayn, speak to your girlfriend cause her reason is stupid."
Nicole said facing Zayn.

"I love the cake, did you buy it?" Bloom asked quickly, trying to change the topic.

"No, Liz and Tyra sneaked into the kitchen at midnight to bake it. I'm a wreck in the kitchen."
Nicole said and smiled.

"Thanks," Bloom said to Liz.

"I only did the icing, it was all Tyra."
Liz said.

"Where is she?" Bloom asked.

"Zayn won't let her see you, he even tasted the cake to be sure it wasn't poisoned."
Taylor said sounding upset.

"I don't trust her, she almost got you killed."
Zayn said in his defense.

"She apologized Zayn," Liz said.

"And Bloom broke her nose," Nicole added.

"It doesn't change anything." Zayn scoffed.

"Who wants cake?!"
Bloom yelled stealing their attention.

"Sorry," Nicole apologized.

Bloom smiled and looked down at the cake. Memories of Damian and the staff in the Valley house surprising her in the morning on her birthday replayed in her head. Damian was always the first to surprise her, she remembered the day he wore a tutu and tried to dance ballet just to make her laugh on her birthday because her Dad missed her 13th Birthday.

"Bloom?" Someone tapped her.

"Huh?" She mumbled looking up at Liz.

"You zoned out, are you okay?"
Nicole asked.

"Yes," she replied looking away to hide the tears in her eyes.

"You're crying," she heard Zayn's voice.

"No," she shook her head even if the tears were falling down her cheeks.

"We are so sorry for..." Nicole tried to apologize again.

"Is not you guys, I just remembered what Damian did every morning on my birthday and..."
She paused and cried.

"Awww, don't cry."
Nicole came to hug her.

"I miss him so much," Bloom whimpered.

"I can't believe he is gone," she sniffled.

Liz joined in the hug, Taylor shrugged and joined too. They all turned to look at Zayn when he didn't make a move, he looked hurt.

"Stop being a drama queen and join the hug," Liz said to him with a smile.

"Come on," Bloom urged when he hesitated.

"He doesn't wanna share, he wants one only for himself. Stingy much?"
Nicole said.

Bloom pulled away and walked to where Zayn stood with his arms folded and a blank look. She opened her arms with a grin, he looked down at her and shook his head with a smile tugging at his lips.

He pulled her into his arms and hoisted her up from the ground, she wrapped her arms around his neck giggling.

"Happy Birthday, Sunflower."
He whispered and kissed her.

"I think this is our cue to leave," they heard Taylor say.

"No, wait. I need you guys to help for tonight's broadcast." She said to Nicole and Liz.

"You can come back later, it's still early," Zayn said not letting her go.

"It's almost 8 am," Bloom said turning her gaze to his face.

"It's your birthday and I haven't given you my own present and they can't be here when I do that," Zayn said with a sly grin.

"Ohh, we'll come back later," Nicole said and they rushed out of the room while he smirked as he watched them leave.

"Hmm, so what is this present that requires privacy?" She asked brushing her fingers through his curls.

" I just wanted some time alone with you."

The smile on her face was replaced with a look of disappointment.

"Kidding," He laughed and leaned closer giving her a gentle kiss that held so many emotions. She smiled against his lips and hugged him tightly.

"I wasn't sure of what to get you, so I did some online shopping and asked Taylor to go pick it up from our apartment since I can't place the order to this place." He said putting her down.

"Okay," she said looking around for any gift.

"Here," he said taking her hand. She turned to look at him and he was holding out a black and pink poker dotted gift bag.

She took it with a smile, she opened it and brought out the folded note inside first.

"Don't read it now, you can read it when I'm not here." He said quickly.

She nodded and brought out the object inside.

"Wow, you got me a phone?"

"Yeah, I figured since you don't have a phone I should get you one."

"It looks expensive." She said staring at the new phone.

"So? You're worth more than that anyway."

He said but she didn't say anything, she kept staring at the phone.

"Shit! You hate it." He grunted.

"No, it's just too much."

"It's just a phone. It's not like I bought you a Yacht or a house and I don't mind spending every penny I have on you. There's one more thing inside, my favorite."

She pouted at him and looked inside, she brought out the small box and opened it. A gold charm necklace with the word Sunflower laid inside.

"Well, do you like it?" Zayn asked.

"I love it," she said with a big smile.

He collected it and put it on for her.

"Happy 18th birthday, Sunflower. I will get you your favorite for breakfast." He pressed a kiss to her cheek and left the room.

She opened the note and smiled at his beautiful handwriting. She read the title of the letter, Ten Reasons Why I Never Gave Up On You.

She took a seat on the bed to read it.

||

Liz and Nicole helped Bloom to prepare for the broadcast when it was almost time. She was dressed in a white long-sleeved knitted top and a pair of denim jeans. She left her hair down and allowed Nicole to do her makeup.

"You can do this, say everything that's on your mind."

Nicole told her as they walked to where everything was set for the broadcast. There were cameras and spotlights. Mr. Grayson smiled at her and wished her a happy birthday, he gave her a basket filled with different items and wrapped in a silk bow.

"Ready?" Mr. Grayson asked her.

"I think so," she said nervously.

"It's almost eight, you still have ten minutes to calm your nerves."

He said after taking a look at his wristwatch.

"Okay," she said with a nervous smile.

Someone came to fix a small mic on her top, she looked around the room for Zayn and found him in front of a computer with a headphone on.

She walked to where he was sitting and hugged him from behind.

"Hey, you." She said pressing her lips to his cheek.

"Hey, are you sure you wanna do this?" he asked pulling the headphone down.

"It's too late to talk me out of it," she said.

"I know, if you get scared or if you're about to have a breakdown, just look here and I will be cheering you on."

"Thanks, that was the confidence boost I was waiting for." She said and sighed softly in relief.

"Bloom, it's almost time."

Someone informed her from behind.

"Good luck," Zayn whispered.

She smiled at him and walked to the seat waiting for her. She took a glance at him as the lights were pointed at her.

"And we are live in...5...4...3...2...1...action!"

She looked straight at the cameras and gave a small smile.

"Hi, I'm Bloom Nolan, as most of you already know I am the daughter of the President of the United State. I am here, to tell the truth about my father and the man he really is."

||

The reaction from the media around the world was phenomenal. The news was worldwide and on every headline. Three days went by and the news got more intense each day, people were asking about her and people made fake news about her hiding in Rome away from her father.

"You're worldwide, Bloom."

Nicole told her as she went through her phone.

"There is no way that asshole is getting out of this," Taylor said.

"He hasn't left the Valley House since the broadcast," Liz said as she went through her phone.

Everyone was happy but Bloom felt like a horrible person even if she did the right thing.

"Now that the main goal of this Agency has been accomplished what would happen to the Organization?" Bloom asked.

"I never thought about that, I always felt at home here," Liz said.

"It's already a part of me, I don't think my life will be the same if it's no more," Taylor replied.

"I don't know but there are people here who will become homeless and hungry if this organization shuts down," Nicole said.

"Tyra?" Bloom called when she remained quiet. "What about you?" Bloom asked her.

"Umm...I will become miserable cause this Organization is like my second family."

"Maybe you guys should talk to Mr. Grayson," Bloom suggested.

"I don't think he will keep funding the organization," Taylor said.

"Where is Zayn?" Nicole asked trying to change the topic.

"He said he has some stuff to deal with," Bloom said.

"Good thing he is a free man now," Liz said.

"Yeah," Bloom said smiling.

||

"You have to tell her."

Zayn said to Mr. Grayson who looked exhausted.

"Not now, she just got over the death of her favorite bodyguard. She still loves her father even if she acts as if she hates him with every living cell in her body." Mr. Grayson disagreed.

"We can't keep this from her, she will find out eventually once it gets out. She will hate me for not telling her." Zayn said.

"She doesn't have to know you knew anything about it. We both know this will crush her." Mr. Grayson said and leaned back on his seat.

"I have to tell her," Zayn said.

"It will be too much for her. You don't know if she can bear another loss." Mr. Grayson pointed out.

"She has the right to know her father took his own life," Zayn said, standing up from his seat.

"She will blame herself, consider how she will feel." Mr. Grayson told him.

"I know but I want her to hear it from me, not from the news or anyone else," Zayn said and turned around to leave the office.

"Okay, let me know how it turned out."