Page 88 of Off Script

It confirmed that she truly was his.

Before she fell asleep wrapped in Tristan’s arms, she faintly heard him whisper, “Te quiero,” in her ear.

She wasn’t sure what that meant, but she did know she would never love another man like this again. Tristan Maxwell had her heart.

Forever.

Jada remained eternally grateful that despite his dashing good looks, Tristan was relatively low maintenance. He gave her dominion over the hotel bathroom as she prepared her ensemble for the night’s premiere. Technically, the grand suite’s abode left room for the both of them to get ready, but she was positive if they undressed around each other, they’d miss the film’s big night altogether.

Seriously, the way Tristan had made love to her yesterday. . . The sex between them was always good, but last night had been different. Deep down, she was sure he’d felt the shift between them, too, but she didn’t dare ask.

After Jada gathered her thoughts, got ready, and stepped out of the bathroom, she expected a trademark once-over of appreciation from Tristan. She found herself doing one for him, as he looked exceptionally debonair tonight: the perfect leading man.

“You look amazing,” Tristan said, sincerity radiating in his warm gaze. He held out his arm to her. “Would you do me the honor of escorting you tonight?”

“I suppose so,” Jada said, stifling an amused giggle.

They made it to the red carpet in record time, and their arrival brought out the works in terms of flashing lights and excited screams from the crowd.

While doing a few interviews and signing things for the adoring public, Jada felt as if she and Tristan were the stars of the night. Reporters flooded Tristan with questions aboutRival Warriorsbut also asked them both aboutLove Locket. A perky reporter fromDeadline Hollywoodeven moved past the what really happened on set questions.

“So, Jada, after your whirlwind romance, do you feel you and Tristan will still be walking the red carpet together whenLove Locketpremieres?” the woman asked.

Knowing the release of the film wouldn’t be any time soon, it was a good question. One Jada didn’t have the answer to. Would she and Tristan still be keeping up this charade a year from now? It was highly doubtful, but Tristan offered the reporter a broad smile.

“There’s no one else I’d rather share that night with.” Tristan answered for them. Unfortunately, Tristan’s skillful save got overshadowed by a new eruption of screaming at another couple’s arrival farther down the red carpet.

That couple being none other than Angela . . . and Daniel.

Angela popping up at the mere mention ofLove Locketproved that manifestation was no joke. But bringing Daniel along with her? That was an awful, karmic twist. How did they even know each other? And why—why thehell—was she here at all?

The answer became clear when she threw Tristan and Jada a small nod, her eyebrow raised in a cocky challenge. The conniving bitch knew exactly what she was doing: piercing Jada’s heart in one fatal blow. Daniel’s gaze followed Angela’s, and Jada found herself locking eyes with him. Was he here to gloat, too, after the way she’d dissed him at the club? To remind Jada that despite how far she’d come he would always be around as a symbol of her downfall. Just as her emotions began to overflow, she felt a firm, strong arm wrap around her shoulders. Tristan held her close and whispered in her ear.

“Don’t you dare give them the satisfaction of seeing you sweat. This is your night, Jada. Do you hear me?” he said.

“Technically, I believe it’s your night,” she said in meek gratitude.

“From now on, what’s mine is yours.” With that as his final decree, he led her into the auditorium, leaving their malicious adversaries far behind. Truthfully, as the night went on, Jada almost forgot about them. The two chuckleheads weren’t seated next to them inside the theater, and the film itself was so engaging Jada lost herself in all the action. Tristan had done a fantastic job as usual. Witty, handsome, totally badass: the perfect action star.

As the lights finally came up and the raucous applause started, she couldn’t help but kiss him. For his brilliance as an actor, but also just for him. For him being there with her. For simply being her Tristan. He welcomed her affection and raised their intertwined fingers in a victory salute to the pleased audience. The crowd grew even more ecstatic when Bryan announced there would be an afterparty at the Plaza.

As people began to disperse, Tristan temporarily disengaged from her.

“Let me talk to Bryan for a minute and then we can head to the party. Okay?”

Jada agreed and patiently waited as he walked off to discuss premiere affairs with his co-stars and the director. That small reprieve from his warmth was long enough for a clammy hand to come down on her shoulder. Turning, she came face to face with Daniel.

“Jada, I—”

“I have nothing to say to you,” she said, cold and firm.

“But I need to talk to you. After we ran into each other at the lounge, I just wanted to get close enough to tell you—”

“To what? Lie to me all over again? News flash, Daniel: Ilikednot having seen you in forever. And now that I finally have, you’re hanging out with the queen of sleaze.”

“Look, I know I messed up, but what if I want you back?” His false attitude of contrition matched with such a ludicrous proposition caused Jada to let out a loud, sarcastic laugh. Leave it to Daniel to come sniffing around Jada after seeing her cozied up with Tristan in the tabloids.

“You can’t be serious. Does your Munich teenybopper know you’re taking other women to events while also trying to hook up with your ex? I mean, this is an ambitious amount of womanizing even for you.”

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