Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse

Cora chose a black pantsuit, she needed to go to an art show with Simon, he had sent her a personal invite, and she felt she couldn't decline. He arranged for Teun Postma to come to London, so it was a big deal this show. She looked down on her phone, there was text on the screen: Darling, I miss you. R. Her heart fluttered.

After their last date they didn't really meet up, Robert had called her several times and they texted all day long, but somehow, they didn't find the time to meet up. Harold had made a mess with some clients, and she needed to clean it up, she worked until late every day and was exhausted when she came home.

Simon had said he would pick her up at eight o'clock, she had about 30 minutes to spare and decided to call Robert.

"This is Violet speaking, Robert can't answer his phone"

Cora stopped breathing for a second. What was she going to say?

"Hello" it sounded on the other side of the line "Who is calling?"

"Good evening, uhm, hello Mrs. Crawley, uhm, it is me, Miss Levinson, is Robert available?" Cora, could feel Violet's anger through the phone.

"Why are you calling my son? I told you to stay away from him. He isn't available right now, and will never be" If it had been an old phone, Cora thought, Violet would have smashed it right down. Robert was still insisting that once Violet would meet her, she would turn around, but Cora wasn't believing that. Violet was really against her, and Cora knew why, Violet knew she was American.

There was a slight knock on the door, Simon was standing at the door, and was smirking at Cora: "You look wonderful my dear, come so I can show you to the rest of the party" he took her arm, and clamped it between his and his body.

During the taxi drive, Cora tried to listen to what he was saying, but her mind was with Robert.

The night took hours, Cora felt insecure, not only because Simon was showing her off, but what if Violet never excepted her, she would have to let Robert go. She couldn't do that. After their second date she knew it deep down, he was the right man for her.

Cora didn't notice, but all the guests had left, and it was only her and Simon standing in the room. Simon took her hand and started dancing, pressing her body against his. She moved with him, unclear if really everybody had gone, and she didn't want to make a scene.

Simon clearly took this the wrong way, she wasn't resisting, so she was willing. He forced her against the wall and started kissing and touching her. Cora tried to push him away and said that she didn't want this.

Simon murmured: "Oh my dear, this is what we both want, you know that" and he pressed her even harder against the wall. She could feel him getting bigger, and she got scared. He was grabbing her boobs and started unbuttoning her blouse. Cora tried to shout, but there wasn't any sound coming from her mouth. She was pushing him away, trying to bend her body so she could get him to stop.

"Dear, stop resisting, I know you want this. I want this, so we are going to do this" and he ripped of her bra. At that moment there was a loud noise outside and the second Simon let loose his grip, Cora got away. She ran outside, leaving her jacket behind. Clamping her ripped bra and blouse against her body. She didn't know where to go, her house keys were in her jacket.

A taxi stopped and the driver asked if he could help. Tears wear streaming down her cheeks. He got out helped her in and asked what address she wanted to go. She told him, her mother's address. When the taxi started moving, she felt her muscles relax a little bit. The taxi driver went with her to her mother's building and only left her, once Martha had opened the door.

Cora woke up with a horrible feeling in her body, it took her only seconds to remember what had happened. Her mother was sitting next to her: "My darling girl, how are you feeling, can I get you something" Cora felt tears in her eyes, but tried to stop them. "Mum, I think I will be ok after I take a shower and have breakfast"

She stayed a week at her mum's place. A locksmith changed all the locks on her apartment. Her mother had never been so sweet to her. She was apologising about bringing Simon in Cora's life. Cora knew her mother wasn't at fault, but was loving this tender mother. It was the first time she felt her mother was interested in her.

"Cora, dear, did you hear of Robert?" Martha asked.

"I haven't checked my phone since I came here." Cora opened here phone and there were missed phone calls and several texts. There was a voicemail: "Dear Cora, I am sorry for what I have done, please forgive me, can we talk, Simon" Cora erased the message, and blocked Simon's number. All the text messages were from Robert. All of them were so sweet, but the last ones were full of worries. How was she going to tell him what had happened? Robert would kill Simon. She dialed his number and waited for him to pick up.

"Cora" Robert gasped, "Cora, I was so worried, are you ok? What happened, why did you not pick up your phone."

Cora's voice was shaking: "I am ok Robert, I just needed some time after a little incident, sorry I didn't tell you that I would turn of my phone"

"What incident, Cora, darling what happened, where are you, I am coming your way"

"No, no, I am ok, I am at my mums. I will call you later today, ok? I have to go" Cora disconnected.

It was a lovely winter afternoon. The sun was shining, and she decided to walk in the garden, she needed fresh air to think, Harold had come and was walking with her. Her arm in his and she just talked about the birds and the bees. She loved it, how her brother was there for her, without wanting to talk about what happened.

"Harold, Cora, come back in please" they heard shouting in the garden. They looked at each other and turned around.

Inside the veranda there was Robert. Cora gasped: "Robert, what are you doing here"

Robert didn't say anything and just took her in his arms. Martha and Harold left the room very quietly. "Cora, your mother just told me what happened, I am so sorry, can I do anything to help you" he took her by the shoulders to look in her eyes.

Cora couldn't hold back the tears, they were streaming and streaming, she wasn't able to say anything. She leaned in on his shoulder and just let his body reassure hers. He gave her a safe feeling. After a few minutes she was able to talk: "I am getting you all wet" and she brushed of her tears of his shoulder.

"Don't mind that, I will get this jacket dry cleaned. Do you wanna talk about it, or should we just go for a walk"

Cora took his arm and they walked in the garden. Robert listened to her story, he didn't say anything he just listened. All the way in the back there was a small pond with a gazebo. They had sat there for a while now. Cora looked up to Robert. She was resting against his body, her feet up on the bench, and she was amazed how safe she felt, so soon after the incident with Mr. Bricker. She was calling him Mr. Bricker again she, tried to create distance.

Robert looked down and saw Cora looking up to him. Her perfect blue eyes and soft red lips, her skin white as porcelain. He was fighting the urge to kiss her lips. But he was resisting it, maybe Cora wasn't ready for it. He didn't want to force anything, not now. She deserved a place where she was safe, without any pressure.

"Thank you for being here, Robert" she got up and kissed him, he answered her kiss slowly. Cora laid her head back on his lap and they watched the sunset together.