Title: Painting your Future

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: All characters and concept are property of Julian Fellows, Gareth Neame, and ITV.

NOte: Dedicated to Margo who requested Enemies to Lovers

Robert entered his father's office still determined to change his mind. Patrick looked up from the paperwork he was going over. Stop right there, son!" He said. "It's too late. I had Mrs. Hughes in HR make the offer to Dr. Levinson. Robert stared at him, and Patrick could see he was angry. "I don't understand this aversion to having women work in our museum! What if it were your sister trying to find employment? Would you begrudge her an opportunity such as this?

"Papa, we both know Rosamund is very intelligent, we do not know about this woman." "She was the first in her class and has a master's degree. The other applicant only went as far as an Baccalaureate He did not make a decent showing of work, but she's been working steadily since her graduation. That shows dedication and we must honor that!" He knew His father would not take back an offer of employment no matter what Robert thought so he shrugged and went to his office

27 year old Cora Levinson hung up the phone happily. She got a job worthy of her degree finally! After struggling so many years after her father died and her brother disappeared, She was finally getting what she wanted hopefully it included some new friends. Her college friends had moved on to their dream jobs already and were married and starting families. Meanwhile Cora struggled to make something of her life. She received a monthly Stipend from her Uncle George to help but now she would be able to pay for the flat on her own.

She would go in tomorrow to meet her managers and coworkers as well as set up her office and start the day after. Her phone buzzed and she checked the text. It was from Julia, one of her friends from College. Simon Bricker, who tried to sleep with every girl in her dormitory but not her because she was the only one to refuse him. He thought he was the best art historian on Earth, but it looks like she was chosen to work at Downton over him. He would be livid no doubt. And livid Simon was. Especially when he heard who got the job! The little American bitch who refused him! He would find a way to get her blacklisted in this profession! She had no one in high places who could help her. He would have been the one to if Cora had agreed to sleep with him.

She'd been shown to her office and her boss would be arriving shortly to speak with her. She just finished setting up her desk when her intercom buzzed. "Dr Levinson, Mr. Crawley is here to see you." "Thank you, Phyllis," She replied, standing. She is expecting some balding anxious man not the boyishly handsome and blue eyed person standing before her. His hair was a light brownish blonde and he was graying at the temples which made him look quite distinguished. She held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Crawley," she said with a smile. He ignored her hand and offered her a seat. "I have had the displeasure of hearing some very distasteful rumors about you, doctor." Cora looked up at him , curious as to what he was talking about. "Oh?" she asked. "Sleeping your way to the top just to get your degree?

Cora's eyes widened. "How dare you!"

"I was given this information and I do not take it lightly you will gather your things and leave immediately do not think you'll be able to get another position in this field not someone like you."

she stood, tossing her arms. "A woman like me?! What is that supposed to mean? You don't even know me!"

"A slut! Now go!"

Cora was angry. Who said something so horrible about her? She paused as she unlocked her car. Would Simon stoop so low? Yes he would. He said he would make her pay and damn it, he did! Now what was she going to do? She couldn't ask her uncle for more money, not when she already refused because she thought she had income coming in. it was Simon because She chose not to sleep with him. She knew he would figure out some way to ruin her.

epted him. He would eventually figure out some way to ruin her.

Robert angrily went to HR. "Is Mrs. Hughes available?"

"I'm here, Mr. Crawley. How may I help?"

"I need you to deactivate this badge and remove them from any computer access as of now."

Elsie glanced at the name. "Dr. Levinson? Already, Sir?"

"I explained to my father she was not up for this challenge well I was informed of some scandalous information about her, and it would not do well to have someone of her reputation here."

"Sir? I did not dig out any such problems while running a background check. May I ask what you learned?"

He handed her some papers he printed out. Elsie's face lost all color. "Oh my God!"

"Exactly." She shook her head. "That isn't what I meant, Sir. The man who sent this to you is the other person who was in the running for the position!"

"Are you saying he had the nerve to make this up so he could get the position?"

"Now that I do not know but after the initial interview I had heard rumblings from former students of Cambridge complaining about how Mr. Bricker would go around and harass young women for favors. I was told she decided to go through her major on her own with no help from anyone. It was why Your father had agreed to hire her." "Well shit! I shall go to her home and apologize, let her know it was a huge misunderstanding."

He didn't even give her a chance to defend herself!

Cora slammed the door to her flat. "Damn you, Simon!" Grabbing a beer from the fridge she answered her cell phone. It was her uncle. "Oh, hello. I wasn't expecting you to answer. I thought you would be working." Cora bit her bottom lip willing herself not to cry again. "I.." "Cora? What happened?" "I was fired," She whispered. "What?" Fired?" Why What could you have done to warranted being fired on your first day?" "Simon Bricker?" "What does that jerk have to do with anything? Is he bothering you again? I'll kill him!"

"I haven't seen him, but I was up against him for the job, and he made up some rumor that I slept round to get my degree and my boss believed it! He wouldn't even let me explain anything!" she said collapsing into sobs on her couch. George tried to reign in his anger, but he felt useless an ocean away. "Darling, try to eat something and get some rest. I'll get the next flight to London." "Are you sure? I know you're busy. "I'm never too busy for you dear Cora." "Thank you Uncle George.

Cora had fallen asleep on the couch, and she felt it. Stretching her back, she sat up and went upstairs to get a shower. She had to start job searching again. Once Cora was dressed she felt much better . Now she wanted coffee! She popped a K cup into her Keurig and waited. She was adding milk and sugar when the doorbell rang. sighing and wondering who it could be, she went to answer the door and shut it in Robert Crawley's face. Cora winced. Just because he was rude didn't mean she had to be. She opened the door and smiled sheepishly. "I am sorry. How can I help you?"

I'd like to apologize for my behavior yesterday." She crossed her arms. "Do you feel bad or did someone else tell you that you've been a jerk?"

Robert frowned because he deserved it. "I felt bad for my treatment of you. I should have allowed you to explain don't know why my opinion of women is so harsh or where it even came from. My father told me you were to be hired and I would never treat my sister like this. So, after speaking with the manager of out satellite museum, we have decided to hire you as the curator and assistant director of the Downton Art museum. I would understand if you chose not to accept."

Cora smiled and he had to admit it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. She was gorgeous and her blue eyes sparkled with happiness. He had an odd rush of emotions knowing he put that smile on her face. What was that? He never thought himself as the marrying kind but for some reason he could see them married and she is sitting on a couch with their children surrounding her. Well he couldn't' very well say that to her right now. Would she even accept him as boss with how he treated her? Cora looked at him stunned. She could see he was genuinely sorry, but she was scared. She couldn't be in such a position again ; it would ruin her! She took a breath and nodded. "Are you certain about this, Mr. Crawley I would love to take you up on the offer, but I cannot take bring fired like that again. I have bills to pay." He nodded, offering his hand to shake. "I am very certain, Doctor, I should have spoken to you before firing you. I feel ashamed and have learned the error of my ways."

Cora shook his hand. " I accept, Mr. Crawley!"

"I'm sorry, Sir, you are not what our Company is looking for currently. in fact were going in another direction and consulting with someone but thank you for applying and have a great day!"

Simon left, seething with anger.

Cora could tell it would take some time for Robert to accept her. He still didn't trust her to make the right decisions for the museum, but it hurt her because despite all that she was falling for him. She knew he would never like her in that way. There were days she was angry at herself for falling for his apology. he only wanted her for the job it wasn't anything more no matter what she believed. She wasn't meant to be happy in any part of her life whether it be business or personal. Cora sighed, gathering her notes as she needed to meet up with Robert to discuss procurement of some paintings owned by the Marionette family. Cora entered his office and was surprised by the low light setting, soft music playing from the Bluetooth speakers and a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket. She didn't see him anywhere. "Um… Mr. Crawley?" Cora set her things on an empty table a nearly screamed when an arm snaked around her waist, followed by a hand covering her mouth, her eyes widened and her heartbeat wildly in her chest when a voice rasped in her ear. "Surprise. I've been wanting to do this for years and I would have been gentler had you accepted me in college. "My God! Simon! What are you doing here?" He laughed. "Didn't Mr. Crawley tell you? I'm the new curator here and this is my office now." "I… what?" Simon swung her around , dumping her onto the couch. "Let me go!" she cried. He just laughed as he tried to rip off her shirt. "What in the world is going on here?" Robert exclaimed, turning on the light. Simon got up, yanking her off the couch. "She just threw herself at me, Mr. Crawley! I was taken by surprise." Robert did not believe him. Cora looked as white as a sheet and scared. "You may leave, Mr. Bricker and please do not return. You're fired!" Cora attempted to cover herself up with her torn shirt as Robert stepped up to her. She was trembling and had to be in shock. Robert took off his jacket and put it over her shoulders. "Are you all right?" He asked. She nodded, looking up at him, a tear escaping her eye. He gently reached over and wiped it away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called him." "But why did you?" she asked as he helped her sit. "I thought we were working well." "I just thought maybe He could help me understand what your goals were a bit."

"You mean you don't trust my opinions in the field I've been studying fir the last 15 years? Damn it! Why did you hire me then?"

"I could have found a job elsewhere, somewhere my talents could be used properly. I should have gone back to America, but I couldn't because I.. I fell in love with you, but I can't do this anymore, Robert! I quit!"

Robert Followed Cora to America where he apologized for realizing how stupid he'd been ( with her uncle's help) so he proposed and five years later, the Downton Museum of Art became even more popular than the Louvre claiming to boast several of the most famous paintings in history and run by an exceptional husband and wife team, Robert, and Cora Crawley.

Some of those paintings included the works of Piero Della Francesca, which Cora was able to make a comparative study on that impressed the art community. Robert had been so proud of her, and she helped him realize women were more important in life than he believed. Not only did she gain a husband but a family as well. parents (although his mother could be a tough cookie to impress), a sister, and some very dear coworkers who had become friends. three fully grown daughters from Robert's first marriage which she learned had brough him to his cynical view on women in the workplace, but she moved to Australia with her lover. So now, Cora was pregnant with their first shared child, and she couldn't be happier. She even started painting herself. Of course Simon did not forget his humiliation, so he began to plan on how to get revenge on them both.