0.36

right as she got back to her home base, karla called each of her employees into a meeting. thought it had been months since they'd seen her in person, she could still tell they were shivering with fear in silence.

perfect.

"since we've gotten rid of dead weight around here," she started. "i'm getting rid of the new regulations enforced. we'll go back to how things were before."

her employees seemed to sigh with relief.

"but that doesn't mean stop the hard work. just know that things have been settled over." karla stated.

everyone around the glass table nodded in silence; waiting for karla to finish. "are there any questions?"

one worker gulped and raised their hand. "ms. valetin is um... is gwendolyn all right?"

for the first time in a while, karla's face broke out into a grin. "shaken up, but still smiling."

everyone's faces in the room were awed at karla's joyful face. it wasn't very often when they saw her grinning like that.

"if that is all, this meeting is often." all the employees left the room, a soft chattering flowing among them. and like usual, ezra was the only one left.

"karla, my favorite person in the whole world! i've got good and great news for you."

the mafia boss reclined in her chair. "tell me the good news first."

"i found some perfect places to look for some engagement rings!" ezra clapped. "i'm working overtime just for you, girl."

"oh, thank you, ezra. you didn't have to, really—"

ezra cut her off. "aht, aht, aht. i told you there was great news. don't you want to know about that?"

"what's the great news?"

"i got some news that a special someone just arrived. i know you wanna see her."

karla shot up from her chair and started running. "why didn't you tell me that first? i'll be right back!"

"is that really the thanks i get?" ezra sighed.

▢▢▢

the moment karla ran outside, almost every person in sight was all over gwendolyn. every single patient from the infirmary had come out, showering gwendolyn with their love and appreciation.

"gwen!"

"my queen!"

"are you alright?"

"we missed you!"

from what karla could see, gwendolyn's freckled face couldn't stop giggling and grinning. She hugged every person who ran up to her and eagerly chatted with each one of them. right from where karla stood, she could see her girlfriend glowing with happiness.

karla walked towards the crowd, gently excusing herself as she moved through. eventually, she got to the very front and stood right in front of gwendolyn who had her back turned.

although the people in front of gwendolyn noticed karla, gwendolyn kept on blabbering to them, eagerly chattering about how glad she was to see them.

the mafia boss frowned. "you didn't miss seeing me?"

gwendolyn turned her head, eyes widened at the sound of karla's voice. then her face broke out into a glowing smile.

"of course i missed you, sunshine!"gwen exclaimed. the shorted girl scurried close to karla, then placed a heartfelt kiss right onto her lips. "you're always on my mind."

"you're so cheesy," karla grinned.

"i got it from you," gwendolyn shot back. she pursed her lips into a frown. "are you alright? any part of you hurt?"

karla shook her head. "perfectly fine, princess. i've never been better." a relaxed silence fell between them, the crowd around them slowly dispersing and going back to their normal routines. karla reached down to grab her girlfriend hand's gently.

"you've got a look on your face," commented gwen. "what are you thinking about?" her pink lips strechted into a gentle smile.

"it's nothing." karla let her eyes linger over gwen's ring finger. the mafia boss kissed her forehead. "what do you want for dinner?"

gwendolyn laughed. "i think you know the answer."

▢▢▢

the creamy batch of shrimp alfredo settled onto gwen's plate; the steam rising from the hot meal.

"honey, be careful," karla warned. "it's very hot." she watched as gwendolyn fiddled with the fork, drumming her hands on the table.

"luca!" she exclaimed. "did... did you bring him back?"

"that tiny little cat?" karla sighed. a clear image of a fluffy white cat burned in her mind. "i might've forgotten about him."

gwendolyn was deathly silent. "you're serious?"

karla huffed. "of course i'm not." she reached for her phone to text ezra about the cat. "luca's around here somewhere."

that was a straight up lie. karla made sure the cat was under extreme watch at all times. gwen didn't have to know that. instead, karla moved her chair right next to gwendolyn and sat down. their knees touched under the table as they ate.

"how do you like it?" karla asked, sipping her cup of water.

gwen grinned. "is that even a question? it's delicious like always." she set her head onto her girlfriend's shoulder. "i missed this, us being together and eating like this."

"i'll keep on doing it then. having our meals together, everyday for the rest of our life."

a comfortable silence settled between the two of them. karla watched as her girlfriend steadily ate, although she didn't touch her food.

"gwendolyn westbrook," karla smiled.

"yeah?"

"i love you. so much."

the freckled girl blinked. then her face flourished into a light pink. "i love you too, karla valetin! i'm happy fate brought us together."

"it wasn't really fate but—"

"hey!" gwendolyn pouted, placing a finger on karla's lips. "it was meant to be romantic."

and like she usually did, karla kissed gwen. the familiar taste of her pink, strawberry lips set her into a continuous rhythm with the mix of their tongues. karla let her hands pull gwendolyn right into her lap. the food disregarded on the table.

in the back of her mind, a moment of deja vu hit her. somehow, they always ended up in this situation: bodies entangled and enamored with one another.

"my sweet girl." karla let her hands rest on gwen's waist. "i can't get enough of you."

"you flatter me to—"

just then gwendolyn shot up from karla's lap, rushing right out the kitchen. karla blinked for a moment then quickly followed behind gwendolyn right where she was headed. which just so happened to be the bathroom.

the poor girl threw up right into the toilet. both hands gripping the sides of the white basin while her hair hung over her face. karla kneeled next to gwendolyn and pulled her hair away from her face. "oh, honey."

i need to call a doctor.

┈┈┈┈․°🌹°․┈┈┈┈

HEY! yes. i finally uploaded! and no, i don't wanna talk about how long it took for me too

i had really bad writers block and i literally couldn't read anything for weeks, but hey i'm alive and somewhat better

i'm gonna try and make a consistent writing schedule hopefully 🤞🏾

thank you for the support always,

- blushlily 💋💋