‘You see, your mum is a very good friend of mine. She’s very important to me.’ He clears his throat. ‘So I wanted to come out here and see if you ladies needed anything, and also to remind her that her friends are here for her. And you. Because, sometimes when we have rough weeks, it’s nice to have some friends around to keep us company, isn’t it?’

I give him a look I hope conveys exactly what I think of his sudden transformation from demanding boss to concerned "friend." That's quite a change of heart from the man who treated me like his plaything a few days ago. That said, this isn’t the guy who tried to get me to suck off his random mate in front of a roomful of leering, jeering blokes. This is the real Brendan, the one I’ve seen glimpses of. The one he does a very good job of keeping hidden most of the time.

Honestly, he gives me whiplash.

‘Did he really steal it, though?’ Tabs asks me.

‘I think it’s supposed to be for business use,’ I tell her. ‘So it might have been a bit cheeky of him to use it for a personal visit, but he’s the big boss, so I don’t think he’ll get into too much trouble for it.’

‘I don’t care if I get into trouble,’ Brendan says, looking straight at me. ‘Because your mum is a very special friend of mine, and she’s worth it. That’s what friends do.’

I stare at him wordlessly for a moment, drowning in his big blue eyes and trying to work out whether he’s genuine or full of shit. Maybe he doesn’t want me seeing into his soul, because he averts his gaze and clears his throat.

‘Why the hell are you on a ward, anyway? This place is horrific. Tabby can’t get better in here. You should be in a private room.’

Ahh, there he is. The belligerent boss-hole, intent on looking down on everyone and everything.

‘Why do you think we’re not in a private room?’ I ask him, keeping my voice neutral. There’s no way I’ll let Tabs know I’m counting every penny of this already extortionate experience. That’s what it feels like. Extortion.

He frowns, message received. ‘Yeah, well not for much longer. Give me a minute.’ He turns back towards the entrance of the ward, but Athena stops him.

‘How about this? I’ll speak to the nurses and get your accommodation sorted. Brendan’s right. You can’t heal in here—either of you. Now, I would very much like some time with my goddaughter.’