gwendolynwcde

[gwendolynwcde]

(c)

[gwendolynwcde]

“Exactly!” agreed the Chief of Police with a light laugh. “The fact that you still have to look presentable despite being pixelated always boggles my mind.” Gwen had her fair share of virtual meetings and it can be a pain rather than just getting it over with face to face or over a phone call. At Nazim’s inquiry, she nodded as a confident smile crept onto her lips, “Mhm…Well working for the Bureau and then with my family’s business, we like to scope out potential vendors and tech…Your company’s in a whole other ball park though, but I took interest in your mission and been keeping tabs ever since.” If there’s one thing that she had taken after her mother, it was her philanthropy and there were some organizations that she’d kept a close eye on that had piqued her interest when it came to making generous donations. Nodding in understanding, Gwen chuckled softly and said, “I totally understand if it’s not feasible, in no way shape or form am I trying to interfere in your work. I simply want to support it.” However, when Nazim proposed to discuss her interest over The Cozy Cup, she nodded and decided to accept the invitation. “Of course. Here’s my business card. Let me know when you’re available and we can connect then.” She then shook her head and let out a heavy sigh as she jokingly replied with, “Unfortunately, it's beneath my pay grade...But it goes to show this isn't for everyone."

Nazim listened as she spoke about Midtown versus Carriage Falls. "Local wisdom beats Google reviews any day," he said, mentally filing away the information for future reference. "Virtual meetings? Pure torture. I spend half my time fixing my hair in that tiny screen." When she revealed her interest in investing, his professional demeanor shifted to genuine curiosity. "Wait, you've been following our work?" The thought of someone actually paying attention to their progress made him oddly self-conscious. "That's … unexpected. In a good way." Her mention of the security firm background sparked his interest - it could be valuable for their upcoming security protocol upgrades. "Would love to hear more about your thoughts on this. Maybe over coffee at The Cozy Cup?" Just then, two cyclists collided right in front of them, their bikes creating an impressive tangle of metal and limbs. The riders were fine, but their pride seemed bruised as they awkwardly tried to untangle their bikes. He glanced at the Chief of Police beside him. "So … do you write tickets for bad cycling, or is that beneath your pay grade?"

[gwendolynwcde]

Ishani’s smile was nothing but vindication on her end knowing that she was right this whole time. Luckily they were good friends as she would have denied, denied, and denied until her last dying breath since she is the type to keep her personal matters private. “Oh shush you…” she mumbled as she picked up another fry to munch on. “They’re completely different scenarios.” she stated in a matter of fact tone. To Gwen, her emotions and vulnerability were difficult territories to come by than her own career and ambition. “He looks at me like what!?” she blurted out in shock. While she did appreciate Ishani’s words of encouragement, the last part of her statement threw her off guard as she truly saw herself as less than that. Looking away, she chuckled softly before taking a sip of her drink and letting out a heavy sigh, "I feel like more of a storm if you ask me...Messy and unpredictable. Maybe when I was younger I'd see myself as that."

She smiled from ear to ear as Gwen finally caved, admitting to spending a lot of time with Noah. It was like watching a slow-motion train of awkwardness, and honestly, she was living for it. When her friend mumbled the words we're dating into her milkshake like it was some kind of state secret, she nearly lost it. Dating? That explained so much. She couldn't help but find the whole thing ridiculously endearing—her friend, who could probably dismantle a crisis with her bare hands, acting like this was the scariest thing she'd ever done. "Well, it's about time," she said, dragging out the words like they were some juicy piece of gossip she'd just uncovered. "I was starting to think you two were just going to keep circling each other forever. You know, for someone who can handle high-stakes missions without breaking a sweat, you're being adorably nervous about this. Just don't overthink it—you've already done the hard part by admitting it to yourself. And from what I've seen, Noah looks at you like you hung the moon and stars."

[gwendolynwcde]

“And that’s completely a fair point, but ultimately that’s up to the business at the end of the day.” replied Gwendolyn with a mere shrug. “I’ll make sure my team makes that recommendation once they speak with staff and management. Hopefully, they take it into consideration.” If they wanted less headaches moving forward, that would be the best solution and both women could have a break from each other. The Chief of Police knew she had to tread lightly when it came to providing answers to the Thompson family and honestly, as much as she found them to be a headache at times, their feelings were also valid given what they had gone through. “While I understand where you and your mother are coming from, we will raise any updates or findings as necessary. Your curiosity is normal, but I really have nothing to offer you.” She then plastered on a sweet smile and said, “If anything, I would advise to prep yourselves for the holidays. You all deserve a well earned break.” Her attention then averted to one of her officers waving her over and with a heavy sigh, she had to cut the conversation short. "Look if anything comes up, I'll let you know alright? Here's my card, I'll text you the number of my officers on the case and you can give them your statement when you're ready. Take care of yourself Elena."

[ END. ]

"That's you being fair and technical...I feel like management needs to make a concrete decision here. Either that, or ensure they don't sign up for the same classes," Elena murmured before taking a deep breath, wondering why on earth some people would go out of their way to ensure they irritated another. Then again--sometimes she was the same when it came to certain people. When she posed the question to Gwen, asking about anything else occurring during Halloween she hadn't expected that response. Rather she'd hoped for the other woman to tell her that nothing had happened. Still she pressed on just a bit, "come now Gwendolyn--I'm asking to give my mind some peace. Actually more so for my mother who worries about the happenings and wants to know that her city is safe." Besides a lot of mischief normally did occur during such holidays so it wouldn't really be out of the ordinary. Still she heard the other's words and let out a soft scoff, "no one's saying you're not doing your job--I'm just curious."

[gwendolynwcde]

“And that’s why you’re not clever.” she replied back with a playful grin while she cradled the dog in her arms. Although she was fixated on the young pup, Gwendolyn was still waiting on her sister to commit to taking care of him with her as she truly couldn’t do it alone with the kind of schedule she had. “I’m well aware, but it’s the family business—that’s different. Besides, mother and father will probably be thrilled to know we have our own fur baby.” Cooing at the puppy, Gwen chuckled softly at how cute they were before adding, “Besides, with my early morning and late nights I feel like you could fill the gaps and we could alternate once he’s in training school.” After hearing Reyna’s proposition, the Chief of Police couldn’t help but laugh before sighing in defeat and sticking with the compromise, “Fine, Wade is mine…” Seeing the smirk on her sister’s face was enough for her to gently flick her forehead, “I knew you’d have too much fun with that information, but yes…I do believe they’d love him…Or at least I hope….” 

She giggled. Sometimes her sister’s quips were funny. “Yeah, decided not to think too hard on it. If I was always clever, I’d get too tired.”  Reyna tilted her head as she watched the puppy explore. She liked dogs, but all her other homes didn’t have enough room to care for one. She also was rarely home; A2’s missions often took her abroad. She quietly dusted her shoes before getting up and smiling at Gwen. Their parents had put her in the new role to keep her from fleeing from the Wades again. “Mm, I have a job too, but I accept.” She walked over to them. “Though if anyone asks, Wade Wade is your doggy, so that way he can meet his future papa and you can explain being a dog mom.” Her smile turned into a smirk. “Do you think Wade Wade will like Noah and the kids? I think so. Little guy is friendly, no?”

[gwendolynwcde]

The Chief of Police knew she couldn’t chastise Atlas when she had been in his shoes before and to her, it was completely normal to lose track of time. “Fair enough.” she concluded with a nod. “Were you making progress? Or any findings?...Because if you require any support, please don’t hesitate to let me know.” When he decided on what to eat, Gwendolyn nodded and began the trek to Fourth Street for some bagels. “Agreed, it’s filling and a good deal as well, so worth it after all.” She then furrowed her brows after hearing what had happened to the analyst’s packed food before breaking out into a grin, “Why am I not surprised.” she pointed out in an amused tone. “If you’d like, I’ll take it out of your drawer to give grace to our sanitation workers.” 

Atlas wanted to disappear when Gwen went into full parent mode. That "sixteen" hit differently coming from her - it made him feel like a kid who'd gotten caught staying up way too late. "I was connecting dots between old cases," he explained. Right then, his stomach made this huge growling sound. He dreamed about going to the diner - getting those amazing potatoes and drinking coffee until he couldn't anymore. But bagels were faster, and this case had taken over his brain. "Let's get bagels from Fourth Street. Extra cream cheese makes everything better." He could tell Gwen saw what he was doing, trying to rush through their break, but he'd learned which fights were worth having. His body kept telling him it needed food and caffeine anyway. "You'll laugh at this one … I actually packed food yesterday but completely forgot it existed. It's probably turned into something scary in my drawer by now."

[gwendolynwcde]

Being vulnerable was not Gwendolyn’s forte, but that was something she was trying to work on with each passing day, year, or decade that went by. Although she continues to keep her wall up, she did give herself grace by being selective with the ones she can trust the most and Samira was someone that she was willing to confide in. Therefore, hearing her response and how she’d always be in her corner, not only warmed Gwen’s heart, but she had a deep appreciation for their friendship and the support that both women share. “You’re someone I trust and respect Samira, so your support is always appreciated.” she sincerely replied. Her lips were pressed into a thin line as she took in the advice that was given to her. “So I’ve been told. Ah, you think so too huh? I find these positive reviews to be in his favour.” she mused with a laugh. “Thank you for the encouragement, I’ll definitely give it a shot.” 

Samira smiled at the way Gwendolyn laughed at the mention of Noah being obvious. She had no qualms in admitting just how adorable she found this for her two friends and was glad to see how thankfully they’d both let down their guards with one another and had her luckily become privy to the growing relationship once more. She listened intently as Gwendolyn explained their history a bit more. It sounded like the two of them were always essentially a part of one another’s life and as she listened to the way Gwendolyn explained how Noah had dated her best friend at the time, she found herself sighing as the feelings might’ve gotten complicated then. Still she nodded as Gwen explained how her path had led her away and how they ended up reconnecting now. “You don’t have to thank me Gwen, I’m just in your corner always,” she told the other with a smile before reaching over to squeeze her hand. “I just feel like you won’t know if it’s worth pursuing until you do. Personally…with someone like Noah, I feel like you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t actually give it a shot.”

[gwendolynwcde]

Gwendolyn always appreciated small gestures that made a positive impact and so, Noah’s thoughtful gesture did put a smile on her face as she did enjoy receiving such floral arrangements. Therefore, she took this as a positive sign to the start of their date. “Sounds yummy.” she replied with a hum as she continued to skim through the menu. “I do love seafood, so the stew will probably be my choice. Plus I want to know what the secret is about." She felt all sorts of emotions as she sat there trying to keep her cool and yet, she felt like a teenager again. In all honesty, Gwendolyn thought she could never experience such a sentiment even after her divorce. However, her interest for Noah was certainly a new, yet familiar feeling that she’s trying to navigate on her own. Clearing her throat as she snapped out of her thoughts, Gwen met his gaze and offered up a light hearted smile as she asked, "Hopefully the twins weren't giving you too much of a hard time. I'm sure they had a lot of questions and excitement?"

Relief filled Noah when Gwen accepted the flowers with such grace. One point going towards this date going in the right direction. She actually likes them—he was sweating bullets the whole way here wondering if bringing flowers was too much. Maybe he hadn't completely messed up the gesture after all. Her quip about Ji-eun's restaurant had him chuckling. At least she understood his sister's influence over the local food scene perfectly. The nerves that had been dancing in his stomach started to settle. He felt at ease now—an easy comfort he hadn't expected to find on a first date. He studied the menu, though he'd already memorized most of it during his previous visits with the twins. "The braised short ribs are incredible. I heard, the seafood stew is a secret family recipe." The words tumbled out before he realized he might be rambling. 

[gwendolynwcde]

Hearing Noah’s decision for her to stay caught her off guard as she tilted her head and stared up at him out of curiosity. “I thought the couch would be more appealing.” she teased with a soft chuckle. However, after learning about the fact that he was preventing his sister from finding him dead asleep, Gwen simply nodded in understanding and asked in a playful tone, “Ah, so you need my help? I feel like I’m preventing a candid moment that your twins could capture.” She then resonated with his response as she could understand what it’s like to not take one’s own advice. “It looks like we’re both on the same boat. I’m similar with my younger siblings and direct reports…I’m aware that’s something I need to work on, but I prefer it that way. I can take care of myself in my own unconventional way.” She was always independent and found ways to keep herself afloat even during difficult times. Were they healthy coping mechanisms? Not for the most part, but it’s what got her by. “I’m sure you’ll find a compromise that will work out. At some point you’ll have to if you don’t want them to follow the footsteps of such bad habits.” 

Her claim about being different from others made Noah grin—it rang true from what he'd seen of Gwen so far. The faith she placed in him meant more than she probably realized. Most people in his life either expected too much or too little, but she seemed to get the balance right. When she called his potential nap blissful, he had to agree. The idea of just zonking out on the couch sounded perfect right then. The offer to leave him to it was tempting, but oddly enough, he preferred the company. "Nah, stay. The couch will still be there later. Plus, I'd rather not have my sister find me passed out and drooling when she brings the twins back." The easy back-and-forth with her felt natural, like they'd known each other far longer than they had. Maybe it was because she never pushed too hard or expected him to be anything other than himself—just a tired single dad trying his best. "Though I should probably start setting better examples about taking breaks before the kids pick up my bad habits."

[gwendolynwcde]

Gwendolyn used all her might to withhold any eye rolls or scoff as it was becoming too apparent. “Wow, the best policy apparently.” she sarcastically muttered. Gesturing a wave, she finished up her drink and concluded with, “You’re welcome....And yeah, yeah…It’s now or never.” As much as she was hesitant and doubtful, she knew deep down that she did want to give it her all and she wouldn't rest if she hadn't known the outcome. Getting up from her seat, she then gave a final nod to Irza as she decided to take her leave. "I have to head back, but I will keep you posted on any findings I have and of course my relationship since you're so honest and observant." Her tone in the last part was dripping with sarcasm, but she playfully winked to show that she was joking around. "Take care of yourself and stay out of trouble."

[ END. ]

Irza found her scoff amusing—it was the kind of reaction he’d expected from Gwendolyn. She always had this way of pretending his words were ridiculous while secretly mulling them over. “Crazy? Nah, just honest,” he quipped, knowing full well she wasn’t buying it. Her fake disgust at his so-called wisdom only made him laugh. He figured she’d roll her eyes again if she could hear the mental applause he gave himself for being insufferably insightful. But beneath her sarcasm, he caught a flicker of something real—maybe doubt, maybe fear. He got it. Taking risks wasn’t easy, and he’d been in her shoes before, second-guessing everything. Her “aww” at his story with Ember softened the moment, though. “Thanks, Gwen,” he said, a smile appearing on his lips. “Just give the guy a chance. I’m willing to bet, the dude is alright.”

[gwendolynwcde]

Dark hues averted to the bouquet of flowers on the table and after hearing what troubled Noah, she picked it up to assess them and smiled brightly as a result of the kind gesture. “Not at all, these are lovely. Thank you for getting them.” As she set them aside, her attention was fully on Noah as she did her best to ignore the nerves that were resurfacing now that it’s the two of them. “Is that so?” she rhetorically asked with an amused smile. “For what it’s worth your sacrifice is duly noted and admirable, plus it's for a good cause...And at the end of the day, her restaurant will always be number one in my heart—if you disregard the biases of course." Lifting up the menu, she scanned it briefly before asking, "Do you have any recommendations?"

Noah had been sitting there for a few minutes, the bouquet of flowers resting on the table like a silent question he couldn’t answer. Were they too much? Too little? Were flowers still a thing for first dates, or was he just being overly old-fashioned? He’d spent way too long at the florist debating between lilies and tulips before settling on a mix of both—bright but not overwhelming, or so he hoped. When Gwen arrived, he felt so nervous, he nearly knocked over his water glass. Smooth start. He gave her a quick smile, trying to play it cool, though his brain felt like it was running laps. “Not at all,” he said, brushing off her apology. “I was just trying to figure out if these flowers make me look like I’m trying too hard or not hard enough.” He nudged the bouquet toward her, hoping she wouldn’t catch the nerves in her action. Her jab about his sister made him laugh, and for once, it wasn’t the awkward, rehearsed kind he’d been practicing. “Oh, Ji-Eun will definitely find out. She has spies everywhere. But, I’m willing to risk it. You’re worth the traitor status.”

[gwendolynwcde]

"And that's why there's botox." retorted Gwen with a unfazed expression as she watched the German Shepherd puppy explore their surroundings. As much as she wanted to express disappointment in Reyna's impulsiveness, she was willing to admit that the puppy had her heart with how adorable it was. To be fair, she did have a softer spot for animals than humans. "GD?...How original..." Furrowing her brows, she could feel an unusual feeling of wanting to keep the puppy, but with the kind of schedule and responsibilities that she had, she was worried of neglecting them. “They’re ours.” she replied in a matter of fact tone. "I have a job that isn't quite balanced Reyna, I will be needing your support. No objections or else give them to someone else." Her jaw clenched at the last part of her response, but she stepped forward and bent down to life the puppies into her arms and view the sex. "It's a male. Name it Wade—simple and done."

Reyna looked up at Gwen. “You’ll get an eleven on your face if you keep up with that sour expression.” She laughed and remained squatted close to the ground if the little dog wanted to return to her. While she hadn’t discussed Operation Gwen’s Dog with her sister, she received enough encouragement from her therapist when they shared how beneficial a pet could be for a mental health journey. Reyna understood that the therapist meant it for her, but she thought the benefits could extend to Gwen! “I did.” She grinned. “And it isn’t! I haven’t played a prank on you since we were young. You always seem to know before the joke gets to happen!” That, and she was never fond of poking a sleeping dragon. “Hmm… I dunno. I’ve been calling them GD, short for Gwen’s Dog! The station usually names their partners, but the little buddy wasn’t made for the academy. Hey, since they’re yours, you should name ‘em!”

[gwendolynwcde]

RED CARPET READY IN 30 SECONDS WITH GEMMA CHAN

[gwendolynwcde]

❛ ☾ ◟━ LOCATION: recommended korean restaurant

❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: evening - dinner

❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: closed for @noahhwcng

Gwendolyn wasn't sure if it was the nerves or excitement, but she honestly felt like she was in high school again getting ready for a date that she'd been wanting from the get-go. When Noah had texted her the details, she had immediately blocked off her calendar to give herself time to get ready right after work and be able to take her time with it rather than rushing out. She didn't want to be under duress over a man, but the other side of her felt a like a complete teenager as she felt her emotions getting the best of her. After parking her car, she had made way inside and was led to their table where she greeted Noah with a quick cheek kiss, "Hopefully I didn't keep you waiting for too long." she said at first in an apologetic tone. "How are you?" As she met his gaze, she then jokingly said before taking her seat, "Isn't this technically one of your sister's competitors? You sure she won't know? The last thing I want is for you to get traitor status."

[gwendolynwcde]

If there’s one thing Gwendolyn appreciated, it was individuals in her line of work that could empathize with the day to day trials and tribulations that they faced. Nicole’s response somewhat reflected that despite her optimism, but at the end of the day, there had to be some sort of balance when it came to their jobs. “Fair enough, you get it.” Gwen simply said before following her out. “Well when will I ever?” she joked at first with a low chuckle. “Yup, I’ll take what I can get. It’ll probably do the trick. Those festive holiday drinks should be out and I've been meaning to try one of them."

And yet another point that their two professions could relate on. The lack of paperwork and case filings at the end of this shift was the sole reason she was prompting Gwen for a drink. Had it been any other day--Nicole would be unlikely to see her home prior to the sunrise. "You have to be, in this line of work.." it was the first time her voice had waivered throughout their conversation. Perhaps that optimism was more faux than genuine, but her reasoning was the truth. Though a bright smile was quick to thread onto her lips. "That's what I like to hear. Not the failed future, but that you know how and when to take a break. The usual place across the street is good with you?"

[gwendolynwcde]

Rolling her eyes, it was evident that Gwendolyn was not buying Irza’s innocence which led her to immediately scoff in response to his helpful claim. “That’s crazy.” she monotonously replied. If anything, he was doing the complete opposite and stirring the pot for his own entertainment. “Ugh, your wise words of wisdom are making me cringe.” she replied in fake disgust. However, Gwen knew that there was truth to Irza’s words and as much as she appreciated the encouragement, her fear of a broken heart and relationship was greater than anything before. “Awww…” she mused after learning about him and Ember. “I understand, on the bright side it ended up being a milestone worth having and it definitely strengthened your relationship. I'm happy for you."

A laugh bubbled up from Irza at her words. "What? Me?" He peered around with mock innocence, "how dare you… I'm just trying to be helpful." The office gossip about her and Noah entertained him, especially watching his coworkers pass money back and forth like bookies at a race track. Her resistance made sense to him—he'd done the same dance with Ember, second-guessing every moment until fate forced his hand. "The best things in life come from taking risks," he said. She might have agreed, but she wasn't happy about it, and he thought it was funny when she said she'd complain if things went wrong. "Serious? Yeah, you could say that. Moving in together after everything that happened wasn't exactly conventional, but it turned out to be the best decision we've made. When you know, you know." The words rang true—he already knew they were headed towards the altar.

[gwendolynwcde]

Flipping her hair jokingly, Gwendolyn chuckled and replied nonchalantly on the topic of abusing her power, “What can I say? I am not like the others.” She tried to be different from her predecessors and she hoped it showed in a positive way. “Baby steps.” she then reminded him when it came to taking initiative for his breaks. “For what it’s worth I have faith in you.” It was easier said than done and she knew it would probably take some time for him to even get into the routine of taking a break. 

A laugh escaped her lips after hearing Noah’s plans if she hadn’t shown up. “Honestly…” As she glanced up to meet his gaze, she expressed a cheeky smile and continued with, “Sounds like a blissful break if you ask me." Glancing down at her watch, she then tilted her head and said, "You still have time to carry that out if you want? I can leave you be."

Noah chuckled at her claim about her "job being done" with the kids. It amazed him how she got his twins in a way most adults never did. When she brought up looking out for him, he noticed the careful way she backtracked, as if worried she'd crossed a line. It caught him off guard—how she'd slipped into caring about his well-being without either of them really noticing. The way she pulled back made him want to tell her it was okay, that he appreciated someone giving a damn. After years of handling everything solo, having someone notice when he needed a break felt foreign but a welcome. Hell, between his mom's endless food deliveries and Gwen's gentle prodding about taking breaks, he was starting to feel like he had his own personal cheerleading squad. But her concern touched him—it had been far too long since someone outside his family paid attention to how he was doing. "Ahh…not abusing your power? Good to know," he said, playing along with her joke. There was no way she could ever be that kind of person, anyway. Her suggestion about breaks made sense, even if he knew he'd struggle to follow through. "Twice a month sounds doable. Maybe. Though I should probably take my own advice before preaching about work-life balance." The irony of discussing burnout with Gwendolyn while both of them worked too hard wasn't lost on him. At least they were self-aware about their workaholic tendencies.

That comment about worry being a love language totally resonated with me. It explained so much about his mom's constant food deliveries and check-ins. “That makes perfect sense.” His mom's endless stream of kimchi and banchan suddenly made more sense—it wasn't just about feeding him, it was her way of saying "I love you" without the words. The twins got the same treatment from grandma too. Maybe all those times he'd rolled his eyes at her fussing, she was just trying to hold her family close after everything they'd lost. When she thanked him for listening, he realized how much he'd needed this break too. Her question about what he'd really do with free time made him laugh. The truth was probably sadder than he wanted to admit. "I'd probably end up on the sofa, munching on popcorn and trying not to fall asleep. Then end up doing that anyway, with my mouth hanging open," he tilted his head closer and added, "Drooling."