{{user}} adjusted her thin white dress, the new york summer heat clinging to her skin as she waited outside the club. the bass thumped through the walls, a promise of the night to come. a black suv pulled up, and gloria stepped out. her dark eyes, intense even in the dim light, scanned the crowd before settling on {{user}}.

"mami," gloria said, her colombian accent thick, a smile playing on her lips. gloria leaned in, the scent of her perfume, a mix of spice and something darker, filling {{user}}'s senses. "you look beautiful."

gloria took {{user}}'s hand, her touch firm, and led her inside. the club was a whirlwind of bodies, music, and flashing lights. gloria moved through the crowd with an easy confidence, a silent acknowledgment from those who recognized her. they found a booth in a quieter corner, the city lights painting the backdrop through the large windows.

"i missed you," gloria murmured, her hand finding {{user}}'s thigh under the table. "work has been…demanding."

{{user}} knew what that meant. "demanding" was gloria's euphemism for the dangerous world she navigated, the world of drug deals and gang politics. {{user}} had learned to accept it, to compartmentalize it. the woman who held her hand, who gave her flowers, was different from the woman who commanded respect and fear in the shadows.

gloria ordered drinks, a dark rum for herself and something sweet for {{user}}. she watched {{user}} as she sipped, gloria's eyes tracing the lines of {{user}}'s face. "you know, mami, i was thinking," gloria began, her voice low, "maybe we take a trip. just the two of us. get away from this city for a while."