Tara's embrace was warm, and the subtle, woody scent she wore seemed to calm Selena's nerves, which had been frayed ever since her mother's surprise visit. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. They couldn't hide here forever. In the dim light, Selena's hand sought out Tara's arm, and the warmth there made her heart, clenched tightly with shame and frustration, ease just a bit.
"Tara," she murmured, her voice a quiet whisper in the shadows, and her fingers pressed into Tara's arm unconsciously. "I have to tell you something."
Her tone was so heavy that Tara's own voice turned anxious in response. "What is it?"
Her ear was close to Selena's lips, and in the near darkness of the storage room, she couldn't quite see Selena's expression or position. Shifting her head just slightly, Tara felt the cool brush of Selena's lips accidentally graze her earlobe. A quick shiver ran down her spine, and, worried Selena might notice, Tara shifted slightly away.
Closing her eyes to steel herself, Selena finally spoke, her voice low and rough. "The woman outside… she's my mother."
As soon as she admitted it, she clenched her eyes shut, as if bracing herself for judgment.
Her birth family had always been a source of pain.
In that isolated mountain town, in the shell of that falling-down house, she'd never felt anything but a sense of shame and resentment. When she'd first met Tara as a child, she'd felt that shame acutely. Tara had been so put-together, so composed in her bright, clean clothes, her warm demeanor, her face glowing with kindness, while Selena had looked—and felt—like a mess.
That day, Selena had been hauling weeds for the family's hogs, her pants rolled unevenly, mud streaking her bare calves. Her back, strained from carrying her wailing baby brother, felt close to breaking. When she shook Tara's hand, she'd wiped her own on her frayed sleeve first, trying to hide the grime, but still felt ashamed.
Especially when her parents began demanding that Tara's family not only sponsor Selena's education but also financially support her little brother. Her mother had cried, screamed, and all Selena could do was stand there, head bent in silence, feeling like a stain on Tara's pristine life. She'd tried to disappear into herself, desperate to escape the embarrassment.
Then, as now, she felt a warm hand pulling her gently back. And she heard Tara's quiet voice, repeating the words she'd said back then: "Don't be afraid."
Those words had planted something deep within Selena—a seed of resilience and determination. She had worked tirelessly to leave her old life behind, clawing her way out of her hometown and eventually landing a coveted spot in the same company where Tara would soon intern.
When they met again, Tara hadn't recognized her. That anonymity had been a relief to Selena. She wanted Tara to know only this version of herself—the one she'd built with grit and effort, not the girl who'd once had to beg for the chance to learn.
But now, her mother had forced herself back into her life, dragging their messy past into the company like mud on polished floors. Tara was certain to lose respect for her now. Still, she couldn't lie to her.
After Selena admitted the truth, silence stretched out between them. She braced herself, expecting Tara to pull away. But instead, she felt the comforting weight of Tara's head resting gently on her shoulder. Tara's arms wrapped around her tightly, reassuringly. "Let's go face her together."
Tara had already guessed that the elderly woman she'd seen at the diner might be Selena's mother. Watching Selena's reaction earlier had made it clear. She'd seen the sadness in her expression, heard the reluctance in her voice. She hadn't wanted to press Selena, though she was fairly sure she understood. And now, if Selena was ready to face her mother, then Tara was ready to stand by her.
When they emerged from the storage room, Tara reached for Selena's hand in quiet support, and though Selena's hand felt cold and stiff, she didn't pull away.
As they neared Selena's office, the sound of something breaking rang through the hallway, followed by Jasmine's voice, sharp with irritation. "Ma'am, if you break one more thing, you're paying for it. Selena's working on multi-million-dollar deals—she can't afford to have critical documents destroyed because you're pitching a fit."
Selena froze, recognizing Jasmine's voice and realizing the situation had escalated. She pulled open the office door and saw her mother lying on the floor, clutching Jasmine's pants as she launched into a loud tirade about Selena's supposed "mistreatment" of her little brother.
Jasmine sighed, rolling her eyes. "Look, lady, is your son an invalid? Because I swear, your whole family could bleed someone dry. Get up and get out, or I'm calling security."
"You!" Selena's mother shot Jasmine a furious look, trying to lunge at her, but Jasmine swatted her away with her purse, sending her reeling with a dramatic wail.
As Selena entered, the room fell silent. She spotted colleagues from Sales and Design departments gathering to watch the spectacle, and Jasmine noticed her too, raising an eyebrow before regaining her usual sardonic smirk.
"Well, look who decided to show up. Handle this mess, would you?" Jasmine muttered as she brushed past Selena, then lowered her voice so only she could hear, "You should be as tough with your family as you are about stealing my staff."
Before leaving, she shot one more pointed look at Tara, who was still standing close to Selena, and exited with a few lingering staff.
Selena gestured to the remaining employees. "Thank you all, but please get back to work. I apologize that you had to see this."
As the crowd dispersed, Selena's mother seemed to take it as a sign of weakness, her bravado surging. She settled onto the office's soft upholstered chair, crossing her legs defiantly. "You ungrateful girl! Do you even realize how your brother suffers because of you? He's been in constant worry, barely able to eat!"
Selena listened to her mother's rant in silence. When she finally finished, Selena reached out, firmly pulling her mother to her feet and nudging her toward a less comfortable seat—the chair behind her own desk. "You can sit here," she said curtly.
That chair had been where Tara often sat, waiting to talk to her after work. Selena didn't want Tara to be affected by the taint of her past or reminded of the things she had once shared.
She turned to Tara. "Could you leave us for a moment? I'd like to speak with my mother alone."
Tara's lips pressed together, and though she hesitated, after a moment, she nodded and left the office, quietly closing the door behind her. She waited just out of sight, leaning against the wall, staying close in case Selena needed her.