K A T A R A

I sit on the couch with a small headache from my little hangover as my laptop rests in my lap to continue my research.

I allowed myself last night to cry over my pathetic love life and promised myself that's the last time I'll cry over him.

I need to move on with my life and the only way to do so is to know whether or not Isaac is a reliable person or not.

He is hiding something from me and he wants something with me and I can't give that to him unless there is trust between us and right now my trust is at 50% with him.

I was currently looking up 'Isaac Johansson' online like with Leo and searched everywhere to find some dirt on him but found nothing.

Either he is a good man or he's very good at covering his tracks, which would be bad.

I give up on my search and felt pathetic. I feel stupid not understanding anything going around me.

Maybe I can get Isaac to slip something to me. This could go two ways, I can get the information I need and feel content or I'm in some deep shit.

3 Hours Later

"There you are! For a second I thought you'd cancel our date again."

I give him a polite smile and say, "Nope I'm here, I'm still so sorry for not going to our first one it's eating at me."

Isaac chuckles and says, "Like I said gatita, all is well. I mean you were with that Leonardo, god knows he manipulated you."

I decide to ignore his statement and instead continue on with my date/mission.

Only I get to decide if I was manipulated. I consented to everything and not once did he do something out of my comfort zone nor did I have to tell him I didn't like it and if he did I'd tell him straight away.

I give him a small smile and he says, "Come on, let's go inside to eat."

I nod and he rests his hands on my lower back leading me towards the front of the restaurant where a host was awaiting us.

When we walked up the hostess asks, "Name?"

Isaac smiled politely and said, "Isaac Johansson."

Her smile faltered a bit but she quickly covered it with a beaming smile again and she says, "Of course right this way Mr. Johansson, your table is already ready!"

He gives her a nod and his hand remains in the small of my back as we follow the hostess leading us to our table.

We make it to a table around the corner of the restaurant and Isaac holds out a chair for me before I could sit. I give him a quiet 'thanks' as a blush coats my cheeks and he pushes my chair in.

He sits in his chair and the hostess says, "Welcome to Forte Tapas! Here are your menus," she rests our menus in front of us and asks, "Would you guys like any drinks or beverages?"

I smile politely at her and say, "A water please."

She writes it down on her notepad and turns towards Isaac and he says, "A Scotch, thank you."

"Of course! Your drinks should be here in a bit."

She walks away and I look at Isaac and say, "She was very polite."

He chuckles and says, "I'd hope she is, she is one of my workers."

My eyes widen slightly and I asks, "This is your restaurant?!"

He nods and says, "Yes the best in the state actually. I got the inspiration from my grandmother, she cooked many homemade dishes and I've always loved them and all her famous dishes are served here at this restaurant."

I say, "That's really sweet, I like the background of this restaurant, the food must be great then."

He nods and says, "Yes I hope you like it, and if you don't we can always go somewhere else, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable or obligated to eat the food just because it's my restaurant."

I wave my hand off and say, "Oh i'm not picky, I wouldn't do that, It'd be rude of me anyways."

He gives me a smile and says, "Okay then." He raises up his menu and looks through and I say, "What do you recommend I get?"

He says, "Well if you're a vegan I'd recommend Pimientos de Padron. If you like pasta then you should try Fideuà. But if you're looking for something with some meat then I think you should try Fabada or Albondigas."

I nod and say, "I have a taste for meat so I'll try the Albondigas."

He says, "A girl with taste, you surprise me gatita."

Hell yeah I'm hungry.

To pass by time I ask, "So tell me about yourself."

He puts down the menu and says, "Well I'm 30 years old, I like games a lot mainly gambling ones you know, I have 2 huskies named Midas and Precious, and well I like to go shooting at my own
shooting range."

Wow. Now you're making me believe you're a serial killer rather than a gang leader.

I say, "Oh really you like gambling?"

He nods and says, "Yes I so happen to be the best so if you ever want to go against me you can just ask?"

I shake my head and say, "No I believe you, I'm too nervous to gamble."

He chuckles at me and says, "That's alright I understand gatita."

The hostess comes back and says, "Do you guys have your orders ready?"

"Oh yes, I'd like the Fabada and she'll have the Albondigas please."

She smiles back and says, "Alright you're guys orders will be ready soon Mr. Johansson."

He waves her off and I wait till she's out of sight before I blurt out, "Ikkowyoureagangleader."

I cover my mouth with my hands feeling embarrassed that I even blurted it out and wish I could take my words back.

I didn't even think this plan through good. What if he is and tries to kill me for figuring out his secret 2nd life??

He only laughs to my words and a little loudly at that. I cower in my seat noticing no one made a move to look at us and it all felt weird. Was it because he's a powerful business man?

He looks me dead in the eye and says, "It's a shame that you'd think my status to be as low as a gang leader gatita."

I look at him confused and say, "B-but isn't it all the same thing?"

He laughs once again and says, "Do you think I run a little gang in the streets? I run a mafia we get more money and we can manipulate the law darling."

I gulp and felt my breath picking up. I don't know why I thought hearing this would help me feel better but it doesn't. He notices my small panic and sighs and says, "Now I know why he didn't want to tell you I mean look how you're reacting to this all, you wanted to hear this right?"

I felt my eyes tear up but don't dare to let them fall and just nod my head.

"Are you both going to kill me?" I ask.

He shakes his head and says, "You'd be dead the second we laid eyes if that's what we wanted."

I could only find myself nodding still feeling a bit shocked.

Oh my gosh! I slept with a mafia leader! And I told him to fuck off! What if he's plotting to kill me? Or what if he tries to get back at me by trying to kill my friends?

I feel my eyes start to tear up again and Isaac gives me a concerned look and asks, "What wrong gatita?"

I stutter and say, "W-what if Leo tries to kill me or m-my friends? I mean I t-told him to f-fuck off!"

He sighs and says, "Then I won't let it happen. I'll be by you're side gatita, that's if you'll let me."

Do I want this? I mean he's a mafia leader! He can kill me in my sleep any second if he wanted to!

And the police would cover it up too!

Before I could give him an answer the hostess comes back with our plates and says, "Enjoy!"

I give her a fake smile still feeling a bit queasy and uneasy.

I decide to take advantage of this situation and ask, "So do these people here know about who you really are?"

He nods and says, "This is a very exclusive restaurant as only people on my level and higher are allowed here."

I nod and it makes sense why everyone mainly kept to themselves and didn't linger their stare for too long.

I'm no where near his level, I shouldn't even have been able to step foot in here.

I take a sip of my water and say, "S-so d-do you l-like, kill people?"

He takes a bite out of his food and swallows it and says, "Yes."

I gulp and only nod.

"Why," I ask.

"It's apart of my job gatita, if someone is seen at the scene they're dead, if someone betrays me they're dead, if you wronged me or owe something and don't keep up with your end, they're dead."

I nod and ask, "Would you kill me if I said something?"

It was quiet for a moment and I already want to take back what I said. What if he gets suspicious of me and then decides to kill me after this dinner.

He speaks up and says, "They're be no need to, you were Leonardo Romano's assistant, if they hear your "assumptions" of me, they'll only think you're crazy and a money chaser gatita."

Well it sounds about right. Not that I was going to say anything, I'd like a peaceful death.

I sigh and just continue eating my food. He notices my confused and distressed state so he says, "Look I don't want you to be afraid of my amore, I want you to know that you can trust me."

Hm. It's getting a little hard nowadays trusting people.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Because gatita, I don't fall for women easily, if I had ill intentions, I wouldn't be on this date with you. What would I gain from killing you or harming you in anyway?"

"I don't know maybe you're a psychopath who gets turned on by killing people."

He chuckles and says, "You're going to be a tough one to crack, but if that means I can be with you more often then I'm willing to hear your crazy rambling," Isaac says.

I immediately scowl and in a raised voice say, "I'm not crazy! You're the crazy one!"

He chuckles again finding my anger amusing and says, "Maybe you can raise your voice at me when you don't have a crumb on your chin gatita."

My eyes widen and I immediately scramble for a tissue and wipe my chin fast feeling embarrassed.

He continues his laughter and my eyes squint into a thin line towards him and he says, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, how about I treat you to some ice-cream after, I promise it isn't some fancy restaurant either."

"Ice-cream?!!" I say excitedly.

He nods and I say, "All is forgiven!"

He rolls his eyes in response and says, "It seems that every time I'm with you I feel more and more alive and that I'm having fun, thank you Katara."

For some reason I find myself liking the way my name sounds coming from his mouth. His Spanish accent makes it 10x better making me blush.

I say, "Well I'm glad I'm the one doing it, even bad guys deserve some light in their lives, right?"

"I guess you're right gatita."

SOOOOO this is their first date!! It was a bit awkward at first since she was a bit skeptical but she seemed a bit more calmer now that she isn't in the dark.

How do you guys feel about Isaac and Katara developing feelings for each other? 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

I personally miss her and Leo together 🥺