Page 112 of The Rebel Billionaire

She’s tall, lithe and stunning.

My gaze shifts to Alex, whose head has shot up. A frown mars his brow as he excuses himself from the guests he’s talking to and makes his way towards her.

Aubrey steps forward to meet him. “Darling, surprise,” she says, leaning forward for a kiss.

“Aubrey, I wasn’t expecting you,” he says, his tone neutral, one I recognise when he’s trying to cover his displeasure. Why is he unhappy she’s here?

“Isn’t that the entire purpose of a surprise?” she says, not taking the hint and pressing her lips to his.

His frame tenses.

“Mother?” he says, turning to face her.

“I thought it was about time we met officially. You two have been seeing each other for a while now. All very cloak and dagger,” she says, giving Aubrey a little nudge with her elbow.

Alex’s cheeks darken.

“Oh hell, he looks like he’s about to blow,” Gabbi says at my side. “You’d have thought our mother would have learned by now.”

“Do parents ever learn?” I say, thinking back to Mum’s disastrous matchmaking skills.

Although, to be fair, she did drive Gabriel and Leah together, even if it was Gabriel trying to dodge being set up in the beginning.

When we look back, Aubrey and Alex have disappeared. They reappear a while later and begin mingling with the crowd. My stomach clenches as I watch them together. She moves around the room with grace and elegance, schmoozing everyone. Even her laugh is delicate and perfect.

The party goes on. I stick to non-alcoholic drinks, despite a growing desire to hide in the corner and drink myself into oblivion. Gabbi introduces me to some of the more bearable attendees. I let Harper surface beneath Brooke’s persona. It is, after all, the only way I’ve got through similar events at home. Being a Frazer has always meant playing the part I was born into, whether I felt comfortable doing it or not. Dad’s funeral was the worst, having to stand there and accept everyone’s deepest condolences, listening to everyone tell me how sorry they were for our loss, what an amazing man he was.

I wanted to stand there and shout, “I know, he was my dad, and it’s all my fault he’s gone.”

But being a Frazer, I didn’t. I stood there, accepted their air kisses and sympathetic glances, before thanking them for coming and telling them how much Dad would have appreciated it.

“Brooke, are you all right?” Gabbi asks.

I shake myself mentally and give her a wan smile.

“Just a little tired. My family called early this morning. They keep forgetting there’s a time difference.”

“Do you want me to arrange for Benjamin to take you home?”

“No need. Aubrey and I are about to leave. I’m driving back to the city tonight. I can take Brooke home,” Alex says, appearing in front of us.

“I thought you were staying?” Avril says, her face dropping.

He grips her shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “I’ll be back in the morning, probably before you’ve even opened your eyes.”

“Promise?”

“Absolutely.”

Gabbi shoots him a look, an unspoken question passing between the siblings.

Aubrey appears at his side.

“Everything all right, darling?” she asks, her hand coming to rest on his forearm.

His gaze drops to her hand, and she lets it fall to her side.

“Are you going to introduce us?” Gabbi asks.