Page 15 of Off Script

She’d wavered between fleeing the scene and openly confronting Daniel. Bringing everything out in the open right now would certainly quench her thirst for revenge. However, Maggie wouldn’t react well to the news that she wasn’t the only one to be felt up in Daniel’s brand-new Tesla. Apparently, their mutual beau cared more about the environment than fidelity. Deciding it was best to retreat for now, Jada tried to tiptoe away but she wasn’t fast enough. Her movement must have registered in Maggie’s peripheral vision because the actress looked up just as Jada started her getaway.

Maggie looked as startled as Jada felt but covered it quickly. Surprisingly graceful for someone who’d just been interrupted midrendezvous, Maggie climbed off of Daniel’s lap and exited the car. For his part, Daniel looked ashen, unable to put his acting persona up as fast as his lover. With a lot less dignity, he scrambled out after her.

“Oh my gosh! Jada, I’m so sorry you had to see that.” The actress apologized profusely as she squeezed Jada’s hand.

“Don’t be. I understand how an attraction can develop between co-workers,” Jada said, trying not to side-eye Daniel.

“Well, it’s a bit more than an attraction.” Maggie gushed as she looped her arm through Daniel’s. “We’ve been seriously seeing each other for some time now. Just keeping a low profile for the show, you know?”

Oh, believe me, I know. Jada held back the urge to voice this thought out loud. Instead, she smiled stiffly while her heart shattered into a million pieces.

“Really? Well, congrats. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thanks, J. You’re the best.” Maggie gave Jada one more smile before turning to peck Daniel on the cheek. “And you, mister, I’ll see you later. I can’t wait to meet your mom.”

“Yeah, can’t wait. We’ll catch up with you in a second, okay?” Daniel said.

Maggie nodded, then gave herself one more presentability check before walking off. When she was out of sight, Daniel reached for Jada but she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t even think about it. Whatever lie that’s about to come out of your mouth, just don’t!”

Despite “dating” him longer, Jada had never been allowed to reveal the truth. She’d never had the luxury of being invited to a family dinner. Evidently, she’d been the dirty little secret while Maggie was the “appropriate” kind of girl to actually be seen with. Daniel attempted to save face anyway.

“Listen, I swear, this thing with Maggie . . . it just happened. When the writers decided to have our characters date this season, she started flirting with me. More and more, until . . . I’ll admit I had a weak moment.”

Jada laughed at his denial, the car make-out session permanently engraved in her brain. “This is more than a moment, Daniel. She’s meeting your family. You’re spending your birthday with her instead of me.”

“She heard me making plans on the phone, and—”

“Stop! You can make whatever excuses you want for your behavior, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been stringing me along.”

Thinking back, all of Jada’s weak moments came to the surface: forgiving Daniel’s bad behavior, the endless cancellations, the constant excuses. Well, she was done being weak. Shaking her head with finality, she laid down the law.

“It’s over, Daniel.”

But as she turned to walk away, Daniel grabbed her, pulling her back into his arms. Cradling her waist tenderly, with his cheek close to hers, he made another plea.

“Don’t say that. We can fix this. You still love me.”

“And Maggie? Do you even realize she loves you too?” Jada challenged him. He could play dumb but the look in Maggie’s eyes had been unmistakable.

“But I don’t loveher. You’re the one, Jada. You’re the only one for me.”

Sniffling back tears, Jada almost missed the stifled sob thatdidn’tcome from her. Whirling out of Daniel’s embrace, Jada turned around to see Maggie standing on the other side of the car. As tears streaked down the starlet’s face, Jada’s heart went out to her.

Having stumbled upon the same type of shocking betrayal moments ago, Jada assumed she knew how Maggie felt. That she must be furious at Daniel, heartbroken at his deception, and yes, maybe even angry at Jada. But surely, if she’d caught the full conversation, she’d realize Daniel was the one at fault.

But no. At that moment, the cold look in Maggie’s eyes wasn’t solely directed at her unfaithful lover. Jada also caught some of her glare as Maggie let out a bitter laugh.

“I forgot my earring. Thank God I did, huh?”

Yet Jada knew Maggie’s rhetorical question wasn’t about finding out the truth. It was much deeper than that. It was about revenge.

While Jada would never agree that’s what God truly wanted in that instance, it didn’t change anything. Soon afterward, production found out about the whole messy love triangle, and Jada eventually lost her job. Jada tried to refocus on the present, but the similarities between the two situations were too eerie. WithFallen Creaturesand Daniel, Jada had been caught in the middle of a Shakespearean-level tragic love story. But when it came to Tristan’s frivolous encounters, she didn’t want to be involved at all.

When Jada finally made it back inside the soundstage, she found Mikayla nibbling on fruit at the catering table. She hoped she didn’t look as frazzled as she felt.

“Did you give it to him?” Mikayla said, twisting her hands anxiously.

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