Two days later.
The court wasn't coming for Tristan. Instead, it was finally the time for some justice.
Gabriella, Tristan's fan who showed only more and more craziness over time, was finally about to get her due.
Dressed up like a stylish (but all business today) rock star, Tristan drove his stylish rock star car and listened to his manager talk about the latest events from the shotgun seat.
Behind them was sitting a silent and dour-faced personal security guard. Just in case.
"It's good that you returned when you did, Mr. Gemello. Not to say you don't deserve some rest after that entire saga, but changing the date of court hearing would've looked bad in the eyes of the judge. From what I heard from your lawyer, though, the situation is still less favorable for you than I'd like. The judge, Mrs. Dallas, is rumored to be biased toward men. Not enough to be provable, but..."
Tristan scoffed and shook his head.
He had seen his share of women in showbiz circles—both attracted to his handsome face, thick wallet and aura of fame, or apprehensive of him because of it.
"Women who hate men the most are usually the ones most susceptible to them. Hate is just a defense mechanism for them. She will like me, don't worry."
Derek pursed his lips skeptically, but didn't voice his disagreement.
Tristan could imagine his words. "La-la-la, don't speak like that in public, you will alienate both the judge and your fanbase!"
He knew that, and Derek knew that Tristan knew. Tristan was self-aware—he knew that maybe, just MAYBE, he was biased toward women.
So far, this worked out perfectly well for him, though, and he wasn't about to change his worldview.
'I need defense mechanisms, too...'
The case was simple enough. The truth was on Tristan's side here, and all that was necessary from him was to keep his cool when repeating it, possibly over and over.
"In cases like these, the opinion of the judge is often the decisive factor. I'm sure our opposition knows this, and will try to provoke you into acting rude, Mr. Gemello." Xavier explained. "If you feel you can't deal with this anymore, ask for a break, but don't raise your voice or show aggression. They will use any signs of it as their weapon."
Tristan frowned.
"I will do my best."
He was good at acting, but bad at keeping his temper in check.
'If I psych myself up beforehand, I will only get angry easier. That woman is just an annoying gnat! I will teach her, and everyone else who might think to act like her, a lesson—and then feel much better.'
The thought really helped him to relax a little.
Besides that, there was nothing much for him to bother with. Xavier was going to do most of the talking, anyway.
***
Twenty-five minutes later.
Gabriella looked much more glum than the last time Tristan saw her in person. She also hid her manic tendencies much worse—it was all in her too-wide eyes.
As soon as Tristan and Xavier (with Derek waiting outside, since he wasn't a witness) entered the courtroom, Gabriella's eyes fixed on Tristan. She looked ready either to cry, or to jump him again.
The woman really was crazy, and the amount of negativity she created around Tristan was making him grit his teeth at the thought.
Gabriella's lawyer, a rail-thin young man, coughed softly to attract her attention. She twitched and turned away from Tristan.
'Hm,' Tristan thought, feeling suddenly calmer—and much more self-assured about the entire thing. 'How can she really provoke me, when she's so easily provoked herself? We will see who will look like a complete laughingstock, you crazy bitch...'