‘A couple of hours ago. Thad lent me his jet. The flight was fine, the traffic from Luton was a disaster.’ She shudders, and I marvel at the insouciance that comes with a lifestyle where hopping around Europe by jet is as normal as jumping on the Tube.

‘He loves you,’ Athena coos, and Sophia laughs.

‘He loves my body. It really is a fab gig.’ She stretches. She’s like a cat, so comfortable in her own skin and so sensual. They all are, actually. ‘Think it might be coming to a close, though. Oh, hey Tal.’

She breaks off as another gorgeous woman joins us. Like Sophia, she has Mediterranean looks, with dark brown hair and olive skin, but it’s her eyes that are striking. They’re a pale green-grey, and they’re startlingly beautiful against her skin.

‘Sorry to interrupt. I had to come say hi. Aren’t you gorgeous?! Look at that dress. I’m Talia, by the way.’

‘Marlowe,’ I say. I startle as she pulls me into a giant hug. Wow, she smells incredible. Athena swipes my wineglass from me just in time. She’s staring at Sophia.

‘What do you mean, Soph?’

Sophia sighs, and Athena hands me back my glass. ‘He’s retiring, and his wife wants him to stop jetting around and settle on the estate. Their eldest son is expecting his first kid—it’s a big deal.’

‘Wow,’ Athena says. ‘How do you feel about that?’

Sophia shrugs. ‘I mean, it always had an expiration date. Either he was going to keel over and die from Viagra overload, or his wife was going to put her foot down. It’s not a huge surprise.’

I stifle a giggle. Apparently, Sophia’s boss treats her more like a full-on mistress than an assistant, and she seems fine with it. To be fair, her lifestyle is insane, from what I know.

‘You can have my boss,’ Talia says through gritted teeth. ‘I’m washing my hands of him.’

Another giggle threatens to break free. I could listen to these women all evening. The men they’re discussing are presumably some of the wealthiest, most powerful men in Europe, but they’re talking about them as if they’re annoying kids.

‘What’s he done now?’ Athena asks. To me, she says, ‘Talia’s boss, Ethan, is very hot and a total wanker. He has a face like a slapped arse most of the time.’

‘Oh no,’ I say. I may still be trying to figure Brendan out, but for the most part, he seems to be a good guy. A little immature, maybe, but he’s very good-natured. It must be rough to have to manage the moods of someone with a difficult personality, especially when you have to be intimate with him.