The Aftermath

Grace hadn't moved.

She stood frozen in the alley, staring at the sleek black business card between her fingers. Victoria Riot's words echoed in her mind, looping over and over like a song she couldn't turn off.

A deal. A paycheck. A fake relationship with the biggest name in music.

Her stomach twisted.

It was insane. Completely, utterly insane.

And yet...

She thought about her empty savings account. The tuition fees she could never afford. The dream she had already given up on.

But to pretend to date Jax Riot?

Grace shook her head, stuffing the card into her apron pocket. No. She wasn't even going to consider it.

She turned toward the diner door—only to stop dead in her tracks.

Chaos in the Alley

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Bright lights exploded in her face.

"Over here, Grace!"

"Grace, look this way!"

"Are you dating Jax Riot? How long has this been going on?"

Her breath caught in her throat. Paparazzi.

There were at least five of them, cameras snapping wildly. The alley, once quiet and deserted, had turned into a frenzy of flashing lights and shouting voices.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"Shit," she whispered.

Wait—how did they know her name?

She had never been in the spotlight before. She wasn't famous. She was just Grace, a waitress at Ernie's Diner.

The realization hit her like a truck. Someone must have leaked it.

Had they followed her? Did they overhear Jax saying her name? Or worse—did someone from the diner give them information?

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

"Who are you, Grace?" one of the reporters pushed forward, his camera practically in her face. "Are you Jax's new girlfriend?"

Before she could even process what was happening, the back door to the diner burst open.

"What the hell is going on out here?"

Jax Riot.

His voice was sharp, edged with irritation. The second the paparazzi saw him, the shouting tripled in intensity.

"Jax! Jax! Who's the girl?"

"Are you two together?"

"Is this your new girlfriend?"

Jax barely even flinched. He had the kind of effortless confidence that made it seem like he lived for this kind of attention.

But Grace? She did not.

"Get the cameras out of her face," Jax snapped, stepping forward.

The photographers ignored him, their cameras clicking faster.

Jax exhaled sharply, then did something that made Grace's stomach drop.

He reached out—and grabbed her hand.

The warmth of his skin burned against hers.

"Let's go," he muttered, pulling her toward the door.

Grace barely had time to react before she was being dragged back inside, the door slamming behind them.

—

Inside the Diner

The moment they stepped back into the kitchen, Finn was waiting.

And he looked hysterical.

"OH MY GOD," he whisper-shouted. "GRACE. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"

Grace, still shaken, pulled her hand from Jax's grip. "I—I don't know!"

Marnie stormed over, furious. "What is going on? Why are there photographers outside?"

Victoria Riot appeared in the doorway, calm as ever. "Because my son was seen outside with your waitress."

Jax rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. This is ridiculous."

Victoria arched a perfectly shaped brow. "Is it? Then explain why there are already headlines about the 'mystery girl' Jax Riot was seen driving with today."

Grace's blood ran cold.

"What?" she breathed.

Victoria held up her phone, screen glowing with an article. And there it was, in bold letters:

JAX RIOT SPOTTED WITH A MYSTERY GIRL—NEW ROMANCE OR JUST A FLING?

Beneath the title was a photo.

It was taken earlier that evening—her car, parked on the side of the road, Jax standing next to it. Another shot showed him in the passenger seat, looking out the window.

Her stomach twisted.

So that was how they found her.

The paparazzi must have followed them. They had probably recognized Jax when she picked him up and tailed them all the way here.

"This is bad," she whispered.

Finn let out a high-pitched squeak. "Oh my god. Grace. Do you realize how many people are going to freak out?!"

Jax sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is so stupid. Give it a day, and they'll forget about it."

Victoria's smile was sharp. "Oh, I don't think they will."

Jax shot her a warning look, but she ignored him. Instead, she turned her gaze directly to Grace.

"This could be an opportunity," she said smoothly. "If you're interested."

Grace's hands clenched into fists. She already knew exactly what Victoria meant.

And for the first time...

She wasn't so sure she wanted to say no.

"Come with me for a moment," Victoria said suddenly, grabbing Grace by the wrist.

"Wait—what? Where are we going?"

But Victoria was already pulling her toward the restroom. They slipped inside, the door clicking shut behind them.

Grace barely had time to catch her breath before Victoria turned to face her, her expression serious.

"You saw the headlines. You saw the cameras. This isn't going away, Grace."

Grace swallowed. "I—"

Victoria held up a hand. "Listen to me. This is an opportunity. We can either fight it, or we can use it. And I think you're smart enough to know which option makes more sense."

Grace felt lightheaded. This was all happening too fast.

"Think about what I said earlier," Victoria continued. "No pressure. But this will only work if you're completely on board. So... are you?"

Grace hesitated.

This was crazy.

But when she thought about everything—her lack of money, her future slipping away, the fact that people already thought she and Jax were together...

Did she really have a choice?

Victoria raised an eyebrow, waiting.

And before she could stop herself, Grace nodded.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Okay."

Victoria smiled. "Good."

She reached for her phone, typing something quickly before looking up again.

"Then it starts now."