Love's Deception

Chapter 11 - Tulips

**Trigger Warning: This chapter contains talk and depictions of topics such as: sexual assault/date rape.**

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Everyone is strong. Everyone has a strength inside them even if they don't realize it. Sometimes the strongest people are the people who have to go through the most. I don't believe that people are weak, they just haven't found the strength that they need to do what they want.

You never know how strong someone can be, you learn it at the moment. Sometimes, the smallest things can break someone. It's not because they're weak, it's because they've been strong for too long. They need a break. And everyone needs a break sometimes, it's only natural to need a break. You shouldn't feel ashamed for needing a break or needing a shoulder to cry on.

That the thing, when someone stays strong for so long, sometimes they need another person's strength to build them back up. We need someone to make us feel better and help us. Who knows what goes on in other people's lives or even what will happen on our own. The only thing we need to know is that we will get through it all and that we are stronger than we think.

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Paige was waiting for me outside when I arrived at the field office. I know she wanted to hear everything that happened right away, but instead of talking to her I walked right past her and told her to follow me. Once we were inside Paige stopped me and took a long look at me. She can clearly see the tears I'm trying to hold back and her eyes trail over the marks that are bruising on my neck.

"God, Ivy. What the hell happened to you?" She asks.

I don't respond to her, I just keep walking. I'm on a mission, and I'm not going to stop or think until I complete what I need to complete. Paige follows behind me in confusion as we walk to SSA Billings' office. Finally, after what feels like twenty minutes we reach his office. Just as we reach it Billings walks out with Cam right behind him.

The two instantly take notice of my neck and ask me if I'm okay. I cross my arms in front of me in defense and I explain everything that happened tonight; from the dinner to going to his office, to when I got him off me, when Jace stepped in to help and when he fired Cooper right then and there. I talk about the drugs that I found hidden behind the painting in Cooper's office.

Each one of them sits in silence from shock but, Billings breaks the silence, "I feel that I need to take full responsibility for this since I was the one who told you to go on a date with Cooper Matthews."

I shake my head, "No, it's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault but Cooper's."

I look at Cam who is staring back at me in concern. Cam cares about me, that is very clear. He's always watched out for me on our assignments even though we haven't known each other for a while. It's like even though he doesn't need to, he takes on the role of big brother and protects me. I can tell from the look in his eyes that he is upset he couldn't help me this time.

"Is Agent Jones now aware of the assignment?" I ask Billings.

"Yes, I informed him of everything."

I turn back to Cam and softly pat him on his shoulder, "Welcome to the team,"

Cam smiles at me, "So then what are we going to do about Cooper? We can't let this asshole get away with what happened tonight, not to mention that he now seems like a suspect that we should have known about."

"What we are going to do is we are going to get an arrest warrant and a warrant to search his office. Can we get it by tomorrow evening?" I ask looking between the three of them.

"Don't worry," Paige stands up and heads for the door, "I'm on it."

I watch as she disappears through the door and down the hallway. Her work drive is extraordinary. She's just like me when I first started at the FBI: excited, driven and ready to work her dream job. I smile to myself as I think about what kind of career Paige will have, I know she'll excel. I just know it.