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“And yet you have such strong opinions about food…”

“It’s one thing to know what quality tastes like and what’s good,” he says with a self-deprecating smile. “It’s completely different to actually know how to make it yourself.”

That’s a very fair point, and it gets me thinking. I know a lot about running their business since I’ve been the assistant to these three men who built it from nothing. Or I was, anyway, before I quit. But that doesn’t mean I would actually make a good CEO myself.

I voice this thought and Hayden chuckles. “Frankly, I think you’d make a better CEO than most people in those positions. And Ford, as much as I respect you, I think you’d agree that’s true of a lot of executive assistants. They’re the ones helping the people in charge day in and day out, seeing everything up close and personal. But they’re never the ones who get promoted to leadership roles.”

“Is this your way of saying you want to promote me?” I tease with a grin. “Because thanks, but I already quit, remember?”

All three men chuckle, and we finish our drinks before heading to the kitchen to wash the glasses. “Seriously though,” I add as we clean up, “it’s refreshing that you guys notice and appreciate that kind of thing. Most executives don’t.”

“Most executives don’t work their way up from the bottom,” Hayden says, his tone turning slightly bitter as he dries the crystal glasses with care. “They get their MBA and then either start a company with money from investors—often family members or family friends—or they land prestigious internships during college where they think they’re doing real work and earning their place, but really they’re just being groomed for executive positions. Then they get hired as department managers straight out of school, and it’s an easy climb from there.”

“That’s not the path you three took,” I guess.

Ford shakes his head. “Gabriel and I had access to family money, which was helpful for starting the company. But we thought it would be crucial to get real, hands-on experience first.”

“We knew exactly what we wanted to build from the time we were fourteen,” Gabriel adds. “So we started working our asses off to learn every aspect of business.”

“How did your father react to that decision?” I ask Ford, unable to suppress my curiosity.

“Not well,” Ford says with a rueful smile. “Hayden and Gabriel were thrilled to have an excuse to get away from their home situations, and honestly, no one really cared what they did.”

Gabriel mutters something sharp in French under his breath.

“But my father never wanted me striking out on my own like that,” Ford continues. “He still doesn’t approve, really.”

“Ford never let family pressure stop him though,” Hayden says with obvious pride, like a protective brother. “He was just as determined as Gabriel and I were. That’s how we knew we could trust him.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask as we head back to the living room where the Christmas tree glows softly.

“Ford has a good family that genuinely loves him,” Gabriel says quietly. “Even though they’re not perfect—nobody’s family is. But they’re nothing like…” He trails off, then shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“No, it does matter,” I insist, curling up on one end of the couch. “I want to understand.”

All three men exchange meaningful looks. “I grew up in foster care,” Hayden finally says, speaking slowly. “Gabriel’s family is… a real piece of work. All of them. That’s why we started spending all our time at Ford’s house.”

“I didn’t want them to have to go back to dealing with all that.” Ford’s tone is protective, and it makes my heart squeeze with affection.

“The fit my family threw when they went back to France and I refused to go with them…” Gabriel grins and shakes his head at the memory. “But I was stronger than they were by then.”

“Gabriel’s family split their time between the United States and France,” Ford explains.

“We didn’t know what financial resources we might have access to,” Hayden continues. “We were young, we were determined, and we were hungry for success. And we wanted to understand every single aspect of running a company.”

“We weren’t sure if my dad might cut me off from my trust fund,” Ford adds.

“So you worked your way through every level,” I say, impressed.

No wonder they take care of their employees so well. They actually understand what it’s like to be in those positions.

“You’re no slouch either,” Ford points out.

“Not everyone could handle being the executive assistant to one demanding CEO,” Gabriel agrees. “Let alone three of us.”

“Most CEOs don’t work the way you three do,” I point out. “You work almost like a single unit, and I don’t think most executives share power the way you do.”

“We’re family first.” Hayden lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “That’s why it works.”