Selena frowned, neither agreeing nor refusing, her gaze contemplative as she finally replied, "Take a moment outside, Lee. I'll decide about Tara's attendance shortly."
"Yes, Ms. Sheng," Lee nodded, casting a fleeting glance between Selena and Tara before leaving. He couldn't quite shake the sense of some unspoken current between them, though he couldn't pinpoint why. With a final uncertain look, he exited the office.
As soon as he left, Tara stepped forward, standing where he had just been, and leaned slightly across the mahogany desk. Both hands braced against the surface, her fingers pressed so tightly against the wood that her knuckles turned pale. "Why bring Lee instead of me? Have I been taking poor care of you lately? Have I missed something at work?" Her voice was steady, but her gaze was earnest, touched with a hint of hurt.
Selena could feel herself soften under Tara's imploring gaze, her initial resolve slipping. She sighed, both exasperated and amused, as she gently replied, "You really don't understand how chaotic these events can get…"
"Then how chaotic?" Tara pressed, eyes fixed intently on her.
Selena took a steadying breath. "They'll look for any excuse to make you drink, no matter how rude or intrusive they become, and some people even use these gatherings as an excuse to get… handsy. Tara, I'd rather you didn't come, okay?"
"But that's precisely why I want to be there." Tara's voice was resolute. She had started shadowing her father in business from the age of fourteen, and by eighteen, she had already distanced herself from home. She had seen all that Selena described more times than she cared to remember, and precisely because she understood, she was determined to protect Selena in any way she could.
Selena studied her intently, struck by how selflessly Tara thought of her. Their concern for one another was mirrored in their exchanged glances, though it was clear that Tara wasn't about to give in. Finally, Selena relented, meeting Tara's steady gaze. "Alright. You can come. But you'll stay by my side the whole night. Lee can assist Jasmine."
"Thank you, Selena. I knew you'd come around." With a triumphant smile, Tara circled the desk, lifting Selena's chin with her fingers and pressing a light kiss to her forehead, swift and warm.
Her lips brushed over Selena's skin as softly as a feather, leaving a faint blush in their wake. Selena's face softened, and she caught Tara's hand. "I've got one more question for you," she said, eyes sparkling.
"Anything. Just ask," Tara replied with a mischievous wink.
Selena's smile deepened. "Jasmine says she's missed you. So, tell me—have you missed her?"
Tara's eyes held a playful gleam as she leaned back, mirroring the teasing tone Selena had used. "Selena, you're so unfair."
But Selena wasn't ready to let her off so easily. Tightening her hold on Tara's hand, she pouted, "Come on, you promised you'd answer anything. So, don't lie to me."
For a moment, Selena looked almost like a child pouting for a treat, her usual coolness gone, replaced by a vulnerability she rarely showed.
Tara chuckled, sliding her hand from Selena's grasp only to entwine their fingers and hold Selena's hand close to her heart. "How could I miss anyone else? I'm full up with thoughts of you, Selena."
The night of the event arrived quickly. Selena donned a tailored women's suit, her hair swept into a loose French twist that softened her normally intense gaze with a hint of elegance. She turned to Tara, who, at her request, wore a loose gray suit jacket. Her tall frame and the outfit's relaxed fit brought out her natural charm. When Tara emerged, Selena couldn't help but clap her hands in approval. She even added a finishing touch, tying a delicate bow tie around Tara's neck as though dressing her own personal doll.
Tara stood awkwardly, shifting as Selena adjusted the bow with a look of pure satisfaction, finally stepping back with a pleased smile. "Perfect," Selena declared.
Tara, itching to leave the mirror, urged, "Let's go. We'll be the first ones there if we don't leave soon."
In high heels, Selena let Tara drive. Rush hour had just begun, and the venue was a bit of a distance away on the other side of the highway. Though she had her concerns—knowing many university students rarely drove after getting their licenses—Selena was surprised by Tara's calm. Watching the cityscape fly past them through the window, she praised her, "Tara, you're a good driver, not fazed by highways at all."
Eyes fixed on the road, Tara replied, "I used to race a bit in college. My father even gave me a sports car, so I've always been comfortable on the road."
Selena was surprised. Though she had been sponsored by Tara's family, her contact with them was limited to the occasional calls from Tara's mother, and she had little idea of their wealth. In response to Tara's words, she now understood that her background might be considerably more affluent than she had realized.
They arrived at the skyscraper's private lounge first. Tara slipped away to finalize the dinner arrangements, quickly finding their server and outlining her plans, "Please prepare these bottles with water beforehand and set them by my place. The label doesn't need to match perfectly, just enough to look convincing."
The server hesitated. "Um, I'm not sure if I can do that. If they catch me, I could lose my job. Maybe…"
Tara spoke reassuringly, "Don't worry; I've already cleared it with your manager. And I'll make it worth your while."
After a confirming call, the server agreed. Tara also left another instruction, "Oh, one more thing—if a limping older man requests stronger drinks, try to avoid it if you can. There's a special bottle in the back; pour just enough of the real stuff to keep it convincing, okay?"
With a bit more confidence, the server nodded. "Got it."
When she returned to the lounge, most of the guests had arrived. Wayne, the senior executive, was already chatting comfortably with Selena and a few other team members, his back to Tara. She took her seat as unobtrusively as possible, hoping to blend into the background.
Unfortunately, Nina spotted her almost immediately. "Ah, the one who was late. What's your name? Why are you just arriving?"
Everyone turned, a mixture of curiosity and indifference. Selena was about to answer when Wayne, seated prominently at the head, squinted in Tara's direction. "Hang on," he said, puzzled. "I know you from somewhere. What's your name?"
Tara's palms prickled with sweat, her heart pounding as she tried to maintain a composed front. "Mr. Wayne, my name is Tara," she replied, standing up.
"Tara? You're Mertens's daughter, aren't you? What brings you here? And how's your father doing these days?"
The mention of her father's name sparked a round of murmuring, everyone glancing at Tara with renewed interest. Even Selena looked at her with a flicker of surprise.
Tara could feel her face heating under Selena's curious gaze. To avoid suspicion, she steadied herself and answered, "Oh no, Mr. Wayne. My parents are just regular company employees. If they weren't, I doubt I'd be working as an assistant here."
Wayne considered her words, eyeing her critically, but after a moment, he seemed convinced. He gave her a dubious but conceding nod, and Tara exhaled in relief. Nina, however, seized the moment.
"Oh, come on, Uncle! Mertens's daughter would hardly be working as an assistant in a small firm like ours. You must be mistaken." Her tone dripped with hidden mockery as she smiled at Tara.
As she sat back down, Selena reached over beneath the table and gave Tara's hand a comforting squeeze. Tara squeezed back, letting the gesture ground her as they finally moved into the heart of the meeting.
Over the course of the dinner, Selena took the lead on the negotiation, while Jasmine, despite their differences, lent her support. Tara, meanwhile, stayed mostly quiet, knowing her presence might spark more questions. As the drinks flowed, however, one executive, a balding man, raised his glass, clearly intent on pressuring Selena into a toast.
Reading Tara's silent signal, the server subtly swapped Selena's wine for water, pouring her a generous glass.
"Cheers!" The man toasted, a little too enthusiastically.
Selena met his glass and raised hers, draining the glass in one motion, just as Tara gave her a quick nudge under the table. Selena realized the wine was just water but played along, and, feeling more relaxed, even accepted a few more rounds.
The man eventually began to notice, nudging another guest beside him. "Am I seeing things, or does her bottle look different? I think we're being played here."
Wayne, a wily veteran, picked up on his tone. He eyed the bottle with a calculating stare. "It does look… unusual."
Selena, whose cheeks were flushed from both the warmth and the wine's initial few sips, shrugged, meeting his gaze steadily. "Nothing shady here. Feel free to pour yourselves a glass if you want."
Satisfied, Wayne waved it off with a wry chuckle, "No need. If there's trust, that's all we need."
The tension eased, but Nina, keen to stir the pot, took a glass herself and insisted on clinking hers with Selena's, the smile on her lips sweet but far from sincere.
Before Selena could reach for the glass, Tara rose from her seat, quickly intercepting. "Let me take that on her behalf."
Nina's hand paused, then she pressed the glass closer, tone laced with mockery. "Fine. Here you go."
Before Tara could respond, Nina tripped, "accidentally" spilling her drink across Tara's chest. Tara flinched, restraining her frustration. Staring Nina down, she excused herself with a calm "I'll clean up."
As she left, Selena quickly rose to follow, only to be stopped by Nina and Jasmine as Wayne began discussing key contract points. Reluctantly, she let Nina slip away first.
In the washroom, Tara wiped the stain away just as Nina sauntered in, handing her tissues with a smug smile. "Sorry about the mess. This suit must have cost you a pretty penny. Tell you what, why don't you stop by after tonight, and I'll write you a check to cover it?"
Tara tossed the crumpled tissue, an ironic smirk curling her lips as she stepped forward. "You can keep the check. But you'll have to cover the cleaning fees for my girlfriend's suit. So, what do you think about that?"