Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System

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…'

Tristan shook his head away, pushing the thought away and focusing on the bright sides.

"What about that crazy woman's lawyer? Is he any good?"

"He's adequate. The one I arranged for you is better, of course, but… he's not bad. You better ask your lawyer himself about this, though, Mr. Gemello; I can only measure by reputation. And we are almost at the courthouse, anyway. Ten minutes before the time we needed to meet with Mr. Taylor, too."

***

A couple of journalists already gathered around the courthouse. The entire court hearing was going to be private, but it never stopped pests like them from trying to find something sensational.

Derek avoided them by leading Tristan to the back entrance, but Tristan still saw them and their cameras. The lot of them were probably just regularly checking this place in case some celebrity went in.

Since they were in Los Angeles, and this was one of the bigger courthouses in the city, things like these must've been happening almost daily.

The lawyer, Xavier Taylor, was waiting for Tristan and Derek inside with a flat suitcase in one hand and a paper cup of coffee in another.

The coffee cup was the only thing that stood out in his appearance. Middle-aged, white, in a sharp dark blue suit… Xavier looked so much like a stereotypical lawyer that he belonged to a stock photo.

Which was notable in itself. Tristan could tell, thanks to his sharp eyes, how intentionally Xavier cultivated the image of the lawyer-est lawyer in town.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Gemello, Mr. Writfield," Xavier greeted Tristan and Derek. "I'm glad to finally meet my client in person, and I hope we will work with you as well as Mr. Writfield was convincing me about."

He looked like he wanted to offer a hand to shake, but was stumbled by a lack of free hands. Tristan's early arrival blindsided him.

This was unintentional, but still amusing.

"No need to be so formal with me, Mr. Taylor. I'm a very informal person." Tristan grinned. "Is there somewhere to sit where we won't be interrupted? I want to talk about this case with you before we begin."

"Of course. There's a couch in the hallway to the side… I've been here before—it's not on the way to any courtroom used today. Come on."

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…'