Brooke leaned into Alexander, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek and beaming up at him. She seemed very in her element here, dressed to the nines and playing hostess to this decidedly upper crust soiree. Warmth radiated her from her, not in such a way to change the moods of those around her, but enough so that people felt it.

She was, genuinely, happy for Stephanie.

She was happier still that Alexander was there.

The warmth may or may not have dropped a degree or two.

A thousand snappy, bitchy retorts came to Brooke's lips and then died. She wouldn't snap at him or say anything bitchy. Not tonight. It was Stephanie and Marcelo's night, and Brooke wouldn't be the one to ruin it.

Besides, as the hostess, insulting one's guests simply wasn't done.

"Sharona," Brooke said to her personal maid, who was standing a safe distance behind her. "Be a dear and put Alistaire's gifts along with the others, won't you?"

She turned back to Alistaire and held her hand out to him. "Thank you for joining us, Alistaire." Which was as polite as Brooke could realistically get without having to lie to him.