“To the office please, Cal. I want to show Louisa around. Bryce and Max are expecting us.”

“They are?” I ask, climbing into the back seat of the large people carrier.

“Yes, it’s almost five o’clock, kicking out time. Well, for today at least,” Hudson says, giving me an easy smile. Hudson had decided to work from home today, and given I am starting work as their personal assistant on Monday, he thought it a good idea he show me my new place of work. Frankly, I am itching to get out of the house. Not that it hasn’t been fun spending so much time with them all, but I need to get back into working again. I don’t want them to think I’m taking it easy on their time. They may be my boyfriends now, but they are not responsible for the state of my bank account.

“No problem,” Calum responds, giving a wave to Nisha, who is standing in the doorway watching us leave. “Traffic going into London this time shouldn’t be too bad. Coming back might be a bit iffy though.”

“We can grab a cab, Cal. I know you’re clocking off soon, I should’ve checked if you have plans,” Hudson says.

Cal catches my eye in the rear-view mirror. “No, no plans. It’s all good,” he says, pulling out of the drive.

Almost another week has passed since that night at the club, and a few days since we visited my mum’s grave. Nisha and Calum have spent time together as friends, despite Nisha wanting more, despite Calum’s obvious attraction for her. I haven’t quite figured out what his issue is, why he’s holding back. But so long as Nisha is happy, like she seems to be, then I’m happy for her.

“I wish you’d mentioned we’d be going to the office. I would’ve dressed a little smarter,” I say, picking at my frayed jeans and flannelette shirt. Hanging around the house dressed like this is one thing, going to their swanky office looking like a vagrant is quite another.

“That doesn’t matter. Aside from when we have meetings or have an important function to attend, none of the staff wear suits. We never wanted our company to project a stiff image. I think you’ll like it. Besides, most of the staff leave at five sharp on a Friday; by the time we get there most will have left.”

“Okay then, but just so you know, this isn’t the kind of casual I’ll be wearing when I start working with you. I mean, I don’t own a suit, but I’d feel more comfortable in something a little less… grubby.”

Hudson grins. “I kind of like the laid-back look on you. It’s cute.”

“Hmm,” I say, unconvinced.

Hudson stretches over and takes my hand in his. “Seriously, you could be dressed up in a bin bag and I’d still find you hot.”

I smile. “Well, that’s never going to happen.”

“How about some leathers? I swear to you, Louisa, I haven’t forgotten how great your arse looked in those trousers you wore in the club back in France. I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on, seeing you dressed like a rock chick with the attitude to match. You caused quite a stir that night.”

“Hudson,” I say, my eyes widening. It’s not that I don’t like Calum or anything, but I am not so comfortable with him listening in on our conversations.

“Don’t worry about Cal, he’s very discreet. Plus, he’s learnt to tune out our talk.” Hudson winks at me. “Cal, are you listening?”

Calum doesn’t answer.

“See, not interested.”

“Funny,” I say.

Before long we arrive at a five-storey, glass-fronted building along the river in Chelsea. It looks like a larger version of their home. Above the double doors in silver lettering are the words Freed Corp. It’s impressive and intimidating all at once.

“Cal, head on home, this may take some time. We’ll catch a cab back later.”

“I can wait,” Calum says, glancing at us both in the rear-view mirror.

“No, you go on home. Keep Nisha company.”

Calum’s eyes flick to mine and I can’t help but smile. Nisha will be over the moon to have some alone time with him.

“Sure,” he says.

Hudson opens the door and I slide along the seat, stepping out behind him.

“This is yours?” I ask in wonderment.

Hudson takes my hand in his and we walk towards the entrance. “Yes, this is ours. You like it?”

“It’s amazing.” And it is. I mean, talk about impressive, that three young men have achieved so much in such a short amount of time is incredible. I stand and look up at their achievement in awe.

“Come on, let’s go in,” Hudson says, tugging my hand.

We walk through the large double doors into an open-plan reception area. Behind the high white desk is a casually dressed man in his mid-twenties with short, brown hair and a welcoming smile.

“Afternoon, Hudson. Bryce and Max are in the meeting room on the top floor.”

“Thanks, Stuart. Almost done for the night?”

“Yes, just waiting on the security to do their check then we’ll shut up shop. I’ll ring up once we’re done.”

“Thank you. If I don’t speak with you, have a good weekend.”

I stand awkwardly whilst they make their exchange. Stuart smiles at me, waiting to be introduced. His eyes flick to our joined hands. Interest sparks in his eyes, but he covers it well.

“Nice to meet you…” Stuart starts, looking at me.

“Louisa,” I say.

“Nice to meet you, Louisa.”

“God, where are my manners?” Hudson says. “This is Louisa, and she will be starting as our new personal assistant on Monday. I thought I’d show her around, get her acquainted with the place.”

“Excellent. Well, I look forward to seeing you Monday. Will there be anything else you need before I leave, Hudson?”

“Actually, there is. You couldn’t do me a favour and order us in some Thai. Our usual dishes. I know Sarah will have left already, otherwise I would have asked her to do it. There are some things I need to discuss with my brothers and we might be here for a while.”

“Yes, Sarah left a few minutes ago. I’ll order it in and bring it up before I go.”

“Thanks, Stuart.” Hudson places his hand on my lower back and steers me towards the lift on the other side of the reception area. He presses the button and the door slides open, revealing a mirrored interior. We step inside, and the lift doors slide shut behind us.

“He was nice,” I say, looking at myself in the mirror. Next to Hudson, who is casually elegant, I look like an art student gone wrong. “I wonder what he must think?”

Hudson steps up behind me, wrapping his arm around my stomach. “Stuart’s a good guy, he’ll only have noticed the fact I was holding your hand, not the clothes you’re wearing. We’ve known him a long time. In fact, aside from a handful of people, most of our employees are friends from before. We’re a family here. I think that’s why it works.”

“Friends from before?” I frown, even though Hudson is trying his best to distract me with gentle kisses on my neck.

“From the home we grew up in, or friends from when we were young,” he says flippantly, as if that’s nothing out of the ordinary.

“Wait,” I say, twisting in his arms. “Let me get this straight. Most of your employees are kids you grew up with in the care home?”

“Yes,” he confirms, just as the door pings open. “We kept in contact. Those who wanted to, we asked them to join us here. Some did, some didn’t.”

“That’s incredible.”

“We had the ability to help people out, why wouldn’t we take it,” he says, guiding me out of the lift.

“Because people are generally selfish, because in my experience people only look out for number one.”

“We are not most people,” Hudson says, as we step out into an open-plan office filled with a couple of dozen desks. There is a wraparound window giving amazing views of Battersea power station on the banks of the River Thames opposite. It’s incredible.

“I’m beginning to understand that.” In France, before the weekend in Petite Cabane, I thought I knew what kind of men the brothers were. Even after, when I ran, I still had my doubts. Today, as I hear what they’ve done and the opportunities they have given other people who had a shit start in life, well, I am floored by their kindness, their generosity.

“We look after the people we care about, Louisa. Always,” he says.