The Event

The drive to the event was smooth, but Grace could tell Jax was quieter than usual. Maybe it was the pressure of being in the spotlight again, or maybe something else was on his mind. Either way, she decided not to push it.

The event was one of the biggest of the year—a launch party for Celeste Monroe's new makeup line. Celebrities, influencers, and industry professionals flooded the venue, eager to see the latest collection. The energy was electric, with paparazzi crowding the entrance, flashing cameras waiting for the next big arrival.

As soon as their car pulled up, Grace inhaled deeply.

"Ready?" Jax asked, glancing at her.

She exhaled slowly. "Guess we'll find out."

Jax smirked. "That's the spirit."

The door opened, and the moment they stepped onto the carpet, the energy shifted. Paparazzi shouted Jax's name, cameras flashing nonstop, while reporters tried to push forward to ask questions. Grace felt her heartbeat quicken, but Jax squeezed her hand lightly—a silent reminder that they were in this together.

They made their way toward the entrance, stopping at the designated photo wall, where other celebrities posed in front of the event's backdrop. Jax placed a casual arm around Grace's waist as they smiled for the cameras.

"Jax! Grace! Over here!" one of the photographers shouted.

Jax tilted his head slightly toward her and whispered, "You good?"

Grace nodded, flashing another smile as the cameras continued clicking. It wasn't until a reporter pushed forward that things got more intense.

"Jax, do you have any comment on the rumors about your fake relationship?"

Grace stiffened.

Jax, however, didn't flinch. Instead, he smirked and pulled Grace a little closer. "I think people need to stop believing everything they read online."

Another reporter jumped in. "Grace, how does it feel dating someone with such a wild past? Do you trust him?"

Grace met the reporter's eyes without hesitation. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't."

The questions kept coming, but Jax smoothly led them inside before things could escalate. Once they were away from the chaos, he let out a breath and looked down at Grace.

"You okay?"

Grace nodded. "Yeah. Are you?"

He smirked. "I've been dealing with this for years. Nothing new."

Before she could respond, a familiar voice called out to them.

"Well, well, well. Look who finally showed up."

They turned to see Celeste Monroe herself—gorgeous as ever, wearing a sleek black gown that made it clear she was the star of the night. She walked over confidently, eyes flickering between Jax and Grace.

"Didn't think I'd see you here, Riot," she teased, crossing her arms. "A makeup launch isn't really your scene."

Jax chuckled. "Hey, I support all forms of art—including overpriced lipstick."

Celeste laughed. "Fair enough. And you must be Grace."

Grace smiled, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Celeste gave her a once-over, then smirked. "I gotta say, you two look pretty convincing."

Jax sighed. "Not you too."

Celeste winked. "Relax, I'm just messing with you." Then she gestured toward the main event hall. "Come on, let's get you two some drinks before the real drama of the night starts."

Grace exchanged a glance with Jax. Real drama?

Something told her this night was about to get a whole lot more interesting.

The Unwanted Reunion

The venue was stunning—high ceilings, golden chandeliers, and a sleek black-and-gold color scheme. Waiters walked around with trays of champagne, and a DJ played soft background music as guests mingled.

Jax and Grace followed Celeste toward the VIP section, but before they could reach it, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Well, if it isn't the golden couple."

Grace's stomach dropped.

She turned—and there she was.

Sienna Calloway.

Jax's ex.

She stood there effortlessly poised, dressed in a deep red gown that clung to her figure, her long dark hair falling in perfect waves. But it was the smirk on her lips that sent a chill through Grace's spine.

Jax stiffened beside her. His grip on Grace's hand tightened, but he didn't say anything.

Sienna's eyes flickered between them, her smirk widening. "Jax," she said smoothly, tilting her head. "Didn't think I'd see you here."

Jax's voice was cool, unreadable. "Yeah, well. I get invited to things."

Sienna let out a soft laugh before turning to Grace. "And you. Still playing pretend?"

Grace refused to let her see any doubt. "If this is pretend, I must be a damn good actress."

Sienna hummed, like she was considering it. Then she looked back at Jax. "Did you get my message?"

Jax exhaled sharply. "Yeah."

"And?"

"And I read it."

Sienna sighed dramatically. "Jax, come on. You can't seriously still be mad. It's been, what, a year?"

Grace crossed her arms. "Funny. Last time we talked, you were pretty eager to make me doubt him. Now you're acting like it wasn't a big deal?"

Sienna's eyes darkened. "I was just being honest."

Jax scoffed. "Honest? You came to her apartment just to stir up drama."

Sienna's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but she recovered quickly. "Jax, you and I both know things weren't as black and white as you made them seem."

Jax clenched his jaw. "No, they were. You cheated. You lied. And now you're here acting like we have unfinished business."

Sienna held his gaze. "Because we do."

Grace felt her patience snap. "No, you don't."

Sienna blinked, like she hadn't expected Grace to speak up so confidently.

"You're in the past," Grace continued, her voice steady. "Jax has moved on. I've moved on. The only one still clinging to something that doesn't exist is you."

Silence.

Sienna's lips parted slightly, her expression unreadable.

Then, slowly, she laughed. "Well," she said, shaking her head. "I guess we'll see, won't we?"

Before anyone could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, her red dress flowing behind her.

Grace exhaled, trying to shake the tension from her shoulders. She turned to Jax. "Are you okay?"

Jax ran a hand through his hair, letting out a breath. Then, suddenly, he smirked. "Damn. That was hot."

Grace blinked. "What?"

"You," he said, nudging her playfully. "Standing up for yourself. Putting her in her place." He tilted his head. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Grace rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."

Jax grinned, then took her hand again, lacing their fingers together. "Come on, let's get a drink."

As they walked back toward the VIP section, Grace couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.

But if Sienna wanted to play games—Grace was done playing nice.

Grace let Jax lead her toward the VIP section, but her mind was still spinning. Sienna's sudden appearance had thrown her off balance, but she refused to let it show. She wasn't going to let Jax's ex ruin the night.

The lounge area was quieter, separated from the main crowd by velvet ropes and security guards who made sure only high-profile guests were allowed in. Soft golden lighting cast a warm glow over the room, and a sleek bar lined the back wall, offering premium drinks.

Jax ordered them both drinks—whiskey for him, a cocktail for her—and they settled into a plush booth. Celeste had disappeared into the crowd, likely networking, but Grace was grateful for the moment alone with Jax.

He studied her for a moment, fingers tapping lightly against his glass. "You sure you're okay?"

Grace let out a breath. "Yeah. Just... didn't expect to see her."

Jax scoffed. "Neither did I." He swirled the amber liquid in his glass before taking a sip. "She's always been good at showing up when she's least wanted."

Grace leaned back, crossing her arms. "Do you think she actually believes you two have unfinished business?"

Jax's jaw tightened slightly. "I don't care what she believes. She doesn't get to rewrite history just because she doesn't like how things ended." He turned to her, his expression softer now. "You know that, right? She doesn't mean anything to me anymore."

Grace met his gaze, searching for any trace of hesitation—but there was none.

She nodded. "I know."

Jax smirked. "Good. Because I'd rather not spend the night convincing my girlfriend that I'm not secretly in love with my ex."

Grace rolled her eyes but felt warmth spread through her chest at the word girlfriend. They hadn't exactly put a label on things, but hearing him say it so casually made something inside her settle.

Before she could say anything, a voice interrupted them.

"Well, if it isn't the couple of the hour."

They turned to see Devin Cross, one of the biggest gossip columnists in the industry, standing near their booth with a sly smile.

Jax groaned under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me."

Grace frowned, instantly on guard. She had seen Devin's articles before—he thrived on drama, spinning rumors into headlines that went viral overnight.

Devin slid into the seat across from them, uninvited. "Relax, Riot, I'm not here to cause trouble."

Jax leaned back, unimpressed. "Could've fooled me."

Devin ignored him and turned to Grace. "So, tell me, Grace, how does it feel dating one of the most scandalous rockstars in the industry? Any regrets yet?"

Grace arched an eyebrow. "You mean besides this conversation?"

Devin chuckled. "Fiery. I like that." He pulled out his phone, probably recording their interaction. "But seriously, the world wants to know—how real is this relationship? Because I have to admit, it is suspiciously convenient."

Jax's grip on his glass tightened. "You really wanna do this here?"

Devin smirked. "Come on, Riot. You know how this works. Fans are invested. People want answers."

Grace met Devin's gaze, unfazed. "And what exactly do you want?"

Devin tilted his head, studying her. "The truth."

Grace leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Okay. Here's the truth—you're annoying, and your job is basically glorified gossip." She smiled sweetly. "That help?"

Jax choked on his drink, barely holding back a laugh.

Devin blinked, caught off guard, but quickly recovered. "Interesting," he mused. "You do play the part well."

Jax's amusement disappeared in an instant. "Alright, that's enough." His tone was sharp now, warning. "Go find someone else to bother."

Devin held up his hands. "Fine, fine. No need to get aggressive." He stood, adjusting his jacket. "Just know—when the truth does come out, don't say I didn't warn you."

With that, he walked away, disappearing back into the crowd.

Grace let out a slow breath. "That was fun."

Jax shook his head, still annoyed. "He's a parasite. If he can't find a scandal, he'll make one up."

Grace reached for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Let him talk. We know the truth."

Jax exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Yeah. We do."

But as the night continued, Grace couldn't shake the feeling that someone was waiting for the perfect moment to twist their truth into something else.

And she had a sinking suspicion that moment was coming sooner than they thought.