Hugo’s partners in crime

The Grenade Brigade

A brotherhood forged through bad ideas, long nights and enough stories to keep the grenades flowing.

Best Man

Lucas Sala

The right-hand man, the Italian stallion, and one of the most important people in Hugo’s life. Half of who Hugo is today was forged somewhere between their laughs and the frankly stupid plans they survived together. Lucas holds stronger opinions about Alexander the Great than most historians and will happily explain why yours are wrong. He also loves cleaning up after parties, especially once everyone else has gone home. If he disappears, check the stairs. He is probably tidying, philosophising, or becoming the final surviving member of the afterparty.

Grenade Brigadier

Hauk

The life of every party and the only man who can discuss retirement homes with an eighty-year-old, the eighties with someone who lived them, philosophy with a stranger, and compound interest with a six-year-old. Hauk is Hugo’s Scandinavian go-to: philosopher, hustler and wholehearted lover of life. If you find a wallet or phone, it is probably his. Return it before Snapchat does the organising for you. He once refused to negotiate with a very ambitious online entrepreneur, only for the supporting evidence to reach a committee member anyway. Hauk kept both his money and, somehow, his dignity.

Grenade Brigadier

Nicolas

A more French Frenchman has never existed. Nicolas loves food, wine, long lunches and the sort of deep conversation that begins with one drink and ends when the chairs go onto the tables. First meetings with him can take an unexpected scenic route; somehow, everyone arrives as a best friend. He welcomed Giovanna with an open heart and remains one of the kindest, most generous men Hugo knows. He understands opera, timing and the complicated business of who is really playing second fiddle better than most. Ask him how to say “I love you” in Swedish. After 1,000 days of study, he is almost ready to answer.

Grenade Brigadier

Kris

A true gentleman with a heart far bigger than most give him credit for. Kris is one of Hugo’s first calls for shenanigans, gossip, or simply someone worth talking to. He has an extraordinary gift for choosing companies that eventually screw him over, almost as though it were a passion, yet remains generous, dependable and beautiful both physically and emotionally. In only three years, the shortest friendship on this team, he has become one of Hugo’s very best friends. He also treats certain legal arrangements with such discretion that even the relevant parties occasionally forget the paperwork exists. Hugo, having once signed as witness, has shown considerably less discretion.

Grenade Brigadier

Kyle

Hugo’s oldest friend, his partner in the stupidest decisions, and the man who proved that trampolines will always beat polite socialising. Kyle is the yin to Hugo’s yang, a friendship grown into brotherhood through years of love, respect and reliably terrible ideas. In matters of romance, he has an extraordinary gift for locating the friend zone from any distance and landing there safely. Known as Keyboard Kyle when technology is involved, he also discovered that a plastic funnel can make conventional glassware entirely optional. No diagram will be provided. Kyle is family, and always has been.

Grenade Brigadier

Antoine

The Belgian monster, built from pure adrenaline and apparently exempt from ordinary calendars. Antoine moves from slacklines to five festivals in five weekends, yet somehow makes the rest of life work. Their friendship began before either had a say in it, thanks to parents who were best friends, and was properly sealed over a suspicious shelf of absinthe. Five beers in, he will attempt philosophy in your language, whether he speaks it or not. Beautiful, fearless and permanently ready for the next adventure, he is Hugo’s Tarzan. At crowded parties, Antoine has a gift for navigating unusually interconnected guest lists.

Grenade Brigadier

Mihir

If there is a plan, Mihir has improved it. If there is no plan, he has already found three investors, a border crossing and someone willing to invoice creatively. The biggest hustler Hugo knows, he travels with a suitcase permanently half-packed and social views defended with magnificent conviction. Those views will, however, be abandoned for a 10/10 or $10, whichever arrives first. He is the only man who can turn a date into a debate, nearly seal the deal twice, then argue his way safely back to principle. Mihir never takes no for an answer when a more profitable contradiction remains.

Grenade Brigadier

Louis

Mr Viard, Dr Viard, Mr President, Mr Poisson Nageur: Louis changes titles as often as he starts another master’s degree. He introduced Hugo to cooking through ratatouille, though their friendship began less elegantly, with late-night ragers, early lectures and darts landing everywhere except the board. By daylight he is an altar boy, scout and man of impeccable principle. By midnight the shirt has vanished and the dance floor has acquired a new problem. Louis is brilliant, loyal and endlessly surprising. He also taught Hugo that old walls are thin and some household mysteries are best left unresolved.