Caleb Black had taken a surprisingly active role in the planning of Caffray's anniversary party. The executives hadn't expected him to even bother showing up there, let alone confirm their attendance through private correspondence.

"I know it's not one of our pre-scheduled events" Steven Terice explained to his wife, "But Caleb's asked us if we're both going to be there."

"Caleb messaged you?" asked Dr Terice in astonishment, "About that silly little work party..?"

"Silly? My dear, it's the fifteenth anniversary of the company! And it's being held at the M Hotel no less. I'm sure that Caleb just wants to celebrate such an impressive milestone with his friends."

"Unlikely" said Angela dismissively, "There must be something else going on. Okay... I'll go this time. If only to satisfy my curiosity." 

Michael had failed to mention to Tibur that he also had an invitation to the M Hotel. As his boyfriend panicked about what he could wear that wouldn't embarrass anyone, Michael had ordered himself a suit and was planning to surprise him at the party.

"Millie's following Tristan's advice and wearing whatever she feels like. But what she's failing to realize, is that even though Tristan and Caleb won't care, the other guests will. My graduation suit isn't too bad, it just needs dry-cleaning, but I still don't have a decent pair of shoes to wear with it."

"Just wear mine" suggested Michael, "You're welcome to borrow whichever ones you like."

Despite Michael's belongings have gone up in flames, he was quickly replenishing his dwindling wardrobe, with numerous shopping sprees whenever Tibur was in class.

The collection was calling his name.

"Only for the night of course" said Tibur, picking out a stylish pair of brogues, "I'll even shine them before I give them back to you."

Michael agreed to Tibur's terms, even though he knew the Phoenicia would clean them free of charge.

"They won't be enough though" said Michael, "What you really need is a subtle hint to all those bigshots..."

From what had now been designated the 'suitcase of sex', Michael pulled out a small, square box. Packaged neatly inside with its certificate of authenticity, was a very expensive, and very limited edition watch. It was the kind of piece that wasn't too flashy, but that those in the know would recognize at first glance.

"It matches the shoes" said Michael, casually tossing it to Tibur.

Even if Michael had told him, Tibur would never have believed the ridiculous figure it cost.

"Again" said Tibur, "Only for the night... I'll be sure to clean it before I give it back."

Caleb had planned to make a grand entrance to the M Hotel with his dazzling husband at his side, but Tristan wanted to go in another direction.

"I just think it's more fun if we all go in together" he called from the bathroom, as Caleb sat scowling on the bed in his dark teal suit, "That way no one will feel awkward having to arrive on their own..!"

"Not just Millie and Tibur though..." sulked Caleb, "You even invited Fraser and Farang to go with us..."

"Don't you want to meet your brother-in-law beforehand?" asked Tristan.

In assisting his brother with the Modeshi delivery man, Caleb felt like he'd met him a hundred times over. He didn't see what difference it would make to speak with him in person.

"Baby, it's not like we won't have another chance to hang out with them, tonight I want you to feel like you're the star..."

Tristan stepped out of the bathroom and it was clear he couldn't be mistaken for anything else. The sage green suit was beautifully tailored, the sliver of skin beneath it was unbelievably sexy, and his mass of dark, wavy hair had been tamed for the evening. Caleb felt he looked like the lead in one of Tristan's movies.

"Shouldn't you be the star tonight, Husband?" asked Tristan, "It's your company after all."

Caleb's wandering hands were kept at bay by the arrival of the first of their guests.

"Brother-in-law! You've outdressed me, how could you?" smiled Fraser, neatly turned out as always, but in much more formal attire than Tristan had seen him wear before.

"I wanted to show off a little to Farang" he admitted in a whisper, "So I'm cosplaying as a successful businessman... but underneath my jacket, the shirt is see-through..." he winked to Tristan and held a finger to his lips.

Caleb introduced himself in Modeshi to the man in the dark suit by Fraser's side. The tension released as he heard him speaking in his native tongue. Fraser's ears pricked up as his brother presented Tristan to Farang.

"I understand that word, you know" he told him pointedly. The Modeshi word for 'wife' was ingrained in his memory.

Caleb shrugged and offered them both a drink.

Next to arrive was Millie.

"Tiger's not here yet?!" she asked as she scanned the room, "He only lives next door, what's taking him so long..? I rode my bike in a dress and still I got here before he did."

Millie's dress was paired with a slick of black eyeliner and her motorcycle boots in a style she'd coined as 'Fancy Motherfucker'. The concept was none too dissimiliar from her regular style of 'Casual Motherfucker' but with the addition of a clingy dark blue dress and an additional layer of make up.

Tristan handed her a kitten and a drink while they waited for Tibur to arrive.

As soon as he took a seat beside her on the couch, he was swarmed by the remaining cats that Fraser had been avoiding.

"Tristan!" he cried, "You'll get fur all over your suit! You want to look your best tonight when-"

Caleb's glower was felt in his periphery.

"Let me find some tape to clean you up!" he suggested, scurrying away from the reach of his brother's bad temper.

He didn't get far, cornered in the office as he was rummaging through the drawers of the desk.

"I know, I know!" he acknowledged, "At least I managed to stop myself..."

"What about Mom?" asked Caleb.

"No, I don't think she's told him anything" Fraser replied.

Caleb rolled his eyes.

"I mean, is she meeting us there?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes, she said she'll probably come a little later, but she'll arrive before the main event. I think she just wants to avoid the usual kissing up from the executives. Though I suppose after tonight, that honor will fall on Tristan. Do you have everything ready?"

"Ready" he nodded, "Do I look okay?"

Fraser cast a discerning eye over his little brother. 

"Very handsome" he told him proudly.

In the living room, another handsome guest had arrived.

"Wow, Tiger! You should style your hair more often, you look like you're straight out of a black and white photograph! Doesn't he look dashing, Tristan?" asked Millie.

Tristan was about to speak as Caleb walked into the room.

"Almost as dashing as my husband" he declared.

Having spent thirty minutes on his hair, Tibur had washed it out and styled it again before he was finally satisfied. He was dressed in his prized graduation suit, the final gift he'd received from his grandmother before her hospitalization. Michael's shoes and watch had elevated the well-cut suit, and his handsome features completed the look.

In spite of his carefully put-together appearance, he was easily the most nervous among them.

"Here" said Tristan, handing him a drink, "You really do look lovely, try to relax a little."

"I wonder if I should have asked Michael to join us after all" Tibur pondered, "I think with him on my arm I wouldn't be freaking out so much. He'd used to these kinds of parties."

"Do you want to go downstairs and ask him?"

Tibur took another sip of his drink. "No, I'll be okay" he said, "I'm sure I can handle it. Besides, I wouldn't know how to react if we ran into one of his exes."

"He dated someone at Caffray?" asked Tristan.

"It wouldn't surprise me" said Tibur, downing the last of his drink and handing the glass to Tristan.

"Let me get you another" he said.

With six of them to ferry over to the venue, Caleb had been left with little option but to book them a limousine for the night. The driver messaged to let them know he'd arrived, and was waiting in the parking garage of the Phoenicia.

"A limo? Really?!" cried Millie when she found out, "Well that's exciting, I never went to prom! It'll be my first time in one."

Tristan happily kissed his husband's cheek. "Mine too" he whispered, "thank you."  

His clothes, his friends, his love, even their mode of transportation, everything was more wonderful than he could have imagined, and yet he seemed down as he said his goodbyes to the cats.

"What's wrong?" asked Caleb, suddenly panicking.

Tristan smiled. "It's silly" he replied, "I almost wish we could bring the babies with us."

Caleb thought about it for a second, but Fraser was already pulling him into the elevator.

"Hurry up!" he called, "It's a big night! What with the er... anniversary and all."

The group were bundled into the limousine, and Tristan beamed with happiness; his favorite people were with him on their way to celebrate his husband's success. As he sipped a glass of champagne, Fraser attacked him with a roll of sticky tape, removing the final vestiges of their fur babies.

"Perfect" he said admiringly.

There was no red carpet, and no photographers to commemorate the moment, but as Tristan stepped out of the limo in front of the glittering entrance to the M Hotel, he felt every inch the movie star. The uniformed doormen greeted them with ceremony, as they were swept through the large revolving doors and into the shining lobby.

"Fuck. Me." said Millie, captivated by the enormous crystal chandelier that hung above their heads, "How long do you think it takes to clean that thing?"

Caleb was keen to take Tristan by the arm as they made their appearance, but his husband was just as fascinated as his friends. The trio were left marveling at the fountain in the foyer while Fraser and Caleb were pounced on by one of the arriving guests.

"Well, hello hello to the two of you! The 'Brothers Black' are making an appearance together this time!" noted Adam Porter, ignoring Farang entirely, "A rare treat indeed! No doubt Ray's behind such an unusual occurrence?"

"My brother was actually the driving force this time" Fraser admitted, "You have him to thank for tonight's affair."

"My deepest gratitude to you then!" he laughed.

"And speaking of affairs..." said Fraser, eyeing the woman on Adam's arm that was certainly not Mrs Porter.

Adam laughed again, with a little more fear behind his eyes. "Well, I won't keep you" he said, pushing open the door to the ballroom, and running off ahead of them before his date could ask any questions.

"Tristan seems distracted" said Fraser to his brother, "if you wanted to go and check how things are coming along, now might be a good time." 

"I don't want him to turn around and panic if he can't find me" worried Caleb.

Tristan was laughing happily with his friends, and completely oblivious to the fact that his husband was already ten feet away from him.

"I think he'll be okay..." said Fraser.

"I can probably ask Kawen about how long it takes to clean the chandelier, you know" said Tibur, "He's done just about every odd job this island has to offer."

"Even more than you have?" asked Millie, "I didn't think that was possible."

"Yes, even more than me!" said Tibur, "I'm pretty sure someone paid him to act as their best man at a wedding once... he's definitely got me beat."

"Are you coming in?" Fraser asked the friend group, "You realize this isn't the ballroom right? It's even fancier inside."

Millie grabbed Tibur by the shoulders. "Quick!" she said, "Tell me if my eyeliner needs fixing!"

"I wouldn't know..." Tibur replied, "But is it supposed to be different on each side?"

"I'm going to have to find a bathroom" said Millie, "Tibur, come and ask them in Modeshi where it is."

"I'm sure they speak perfect English here" Tristan tried to assure her, "Fraser, you go on ahead, we'll catch you up in a minute."

Having located the lobby bathroom, Tristan and Tibur were waiting outside for Millie to fix her make-up, when Tibur started to panic about his hair.

"It's fine, really!" laughed Tristan, "I don't know what's gotten into you two; I've never seen you so concerned about your appearances before. You realize we'll just be blending into the background, right?"

"You never know who you'll meet at these kind of events!" said Tibur, "My future employer could be here and all he'll remember at the interview, is how messy my hair looked that night at the M Hotel! There's nothing else for it, I need to take a proper look."

Tristan was left alone, waiting outside the bathrooms and wondering what was taking them so long.

"Tris..?" came a voice that set his teeth on edge, "No fucking way, what are you still doing here?"