Chapter 17

The usual proceedings for the end of a press conference would have the panel leave first and the guests leave afterwards in waves to avoid a rush. However, that is not what happened this time. Ramy had kept an eye on Henry's condition – while he had never seen it before, he was well-informed being so close to the family – and decidedly change the order of things, only giving a small single to the four presidents that he was taking charge.

While the press left in their waves, the two families started to talk in a quiet, dignified manner, well that was how it seemed to the witnesses.

In reality, everyone was checking up on Henry, who did not appreciate the fuss one bit. Of course, their voices were all kept quiet and calmed, meaning he could get away with a few nods and smiles before using the man next to him to hide from the line of sight from the rest of his family. Internally, he felt like screaming, he had not had something like this happen to him in almost 10 years and of all times it had to happen, it was at a press conference, his first official press debut, in front of the Lore family, and of all things after the most embarrassing words had come out of his mouth in rage. What had he been thinking, let alone saying? It felt like he had lost his head and only just got it back.

As the blond man stewed in his embarrassment, the one sitting next to him found himself strangely amused. Over the past couple days, he had started the build an inferiority complex of sorts because of how exceptional Henry seemed to always be, but in the past couple hours he had seen the same man lose composure on multiple occasions; Joshua felt a little sadistic thinking of it this way but he really was glad to see that the too-perfect Henry also had faults.

Of course, to regular people, the idea that Joshua Lore had faults to start with would be preposterous.

Henry had quickly noticed the small smirk on the corner of the silent man's lips, only deepening his pit of shame.

Just as the last of the reporters were leaving, Henry snapped.

"Don't laugh at me!"

Everyone in an earshot did a double take, his own family included. Who would have ever thought that such a childish reaction would come from a member of a dignified family? But what shocked them more was the response: Joshua falling into laughter.

Those lucky enough to have still not left had all stopped, looking at the ever-composed man laughing, the scene almost sparkling. No one missed Henry's growingly red face either.

The two really did have good chemistry, is the thought that entered everyone's minds as they watched the unlikely scene.

Hanna, John and Archer were the most shocked of the bunch, unable to believe what was happening in front of them. Haerin was in a similar state, however, she was also in the perfect position to snap a pictured and send it to the missing family member. No one had seen Joshua like this before, it was like a completely new side of him had been unlocked.

However, that was not the truth.

With his friends when younger, of course he would laugh and act more playful than he did around his family, and it was the same when he was abroad. However, when here, not only did he feel like he was always being watched, but he felt self-conscious around his family, again for no reason apart from his own thin face. But with everything that had happened, he as almost freed of the latter worry – for the moment at least. His family had seen him act a mess over Penelope, found out he smoked, seen his atrocious form while initially speaking to the press, he had even agreed to lie to his own parents and pretend to be willingly in a relationship with a man; compared to all of this, laughing at Henry's embarrassment felt almost like nothing.

In a small part of his brain, Joshua was quite glad that he had gotten to the point where he felt comfortable laughing like this in front of people again, it meant he hadn't lost all his social skills.

Because of how casual Joshua was suddenly acting, Henry's response was influenced to be equally so, huffing in discontent and turning his head away with a glare, a glare that played on the line between serious and playful. Secretly, he had also been amazed to see the man suddenly laugh like that, it was the sort of charismatic, attractive laugh he would think was a myth – Henry was too oblivious to the affects of his own laugh. The characteristics also made him do a double take, he was certain that there was nothing weird about thinking Joshua looked crazy good looking whilst laughing, but their current situation had jaded him to the point where he felt strange thinking such thoughts even on a platonic level.

Realising the last of the press had stopped in their tracks, Ramy and Haerin ushered them out and closed the door they had left through. While the foyer was an open area, no one would dare share anything absurd they seen within the company building unless they had a similar temperament as the reporters, or the type to risk their job to some petty gossip. Thus, as long as the reporters were out of the way, the families could act however they liked, which normally wouldn't pose half a threat to their image but considering how they are acting now, the PA's decided was decent safety measure.

As Joshua finally started to sober up, Henry decided he had had enough of being ridiculed by the other man and went to get up. Instead he found his legs were still weak, having missed the tremor in them that Ramy had caught sight of earlier. Henry fell back into his chair, this time Meera and Marcus joining in with the laughter, the rest trying to keep their faces composed.

For the parents, they felt as though this situation was something they used to know but hadn't experienced in some time, not since their children started maturing. To them, it felt like a close-knit family were spending time together, which they quickly realised was not wrong.

Archer was distracted by his phone starting to buzz non-stop in his blazer, pulling it out to find many people had sent the same social media post to him with a congratulation message for his brother. He opened it one of the messages and almost spat blood at the image that popped up on the stream; he had no idea Henry and Joshua were so close, or that his brother was capable of such a face.

As he swiped through the short sequence of photos, the other heir noticed, ceasing his laughter, catching the attention of everyone else.

"What? When is that from?"

To the confused parents, Archer showed his phone, swiping through the photos once again. This sequence played out the short episode that had occurred outside the company as the press were streaming in.

"Send the link to the group now. Ramy, Haerin, find out who took these pictures and ask for copies." Caroline announced, not skipping a beat to her words. Meanwhile, Hanna found herself fawning over the photo collection, she had seen the two sons act well recently but she had no idea the two could look this cute as a couple.

Joshua and Henry did not understand a single word of what was going on, both having sobered up completely, now with confused expressions across their faces. What group were they talking about?

Meena leant over her husband to see what they were all looking at as everyone's phones buzzed simultaneously – the aforementioned group was of course the group chat between the two families, which the second sons would have known about had they been ones to regularly check their messages. The wife did not hold back on her questioning. "So the two of you are already together?"

"No!"

"Of course not!"

The simultaneous shouts caught everyone off guard, much like a lot of the two's recent behaviour.

It was only after the violent reaction that they remembered what they had talked about earlier, the colour on their faces no longer good. Joshua put on a poker face and turned away as Henry made a sheepish expression.

The latter tried to come up with a save that wouldn't make his insides turn inside out at saying. Even if he had agreed to pretend to be in a relationship with Joshua in front of other people, he was far from being able to play along shamelessly without a care for his words. Thus, he quickly racked his brain for something he would be capable of saying to keep the two families convinced the marriage was an option.

"I-it has not even been two full days since we met, that is a little too quick, do you not think."

Unbeknownst to Henry, the turned away head and the embarrassment that made his voice tremble made the response extremely convincing to the recipients. In fact, the families were now smiling between each other at the sight of the two embarrassed men who refused to look in their direction.

Hanna couldn't help but gush a little at the sight, she had no idea either of the second sons could act so cute. That violent reaction followed by the shaky comment, the only thought that was no on her mind was how even if they felt unsure with the short time they have known each other, it was clear the two already had the making of a couple on par with Reyes's heir even without taking into account how the two agreed to marry – a parent knows best.

Had Henry and Joshua known that Hanna, along with the other three parents, were thinking the latter thought, they might have died of outrage; if a parent knows best, why do their parents think their straight sons are bent?

Fortunately, for their sanity, neither made an attempt to turn towards their family, rightfully scared of what they might see.

With a sigh, Marcus was the one to shake his head and break the silence. If they wanted to keep things between themselves, so be it, neither are children anymore. "Since the main bulk of this is now over, Henry, go home and get some rest. It may have been a while but we do not want to risk your health over an episode like earlier happening again."

"Your father is right," Caroline agreed with a nod. "Have a good lunch, rest and then continue with your placement from tomorrow like normal, we'll try to keep talks out of office hours unless necessary. Just keep an eye on your messages."

Henry nodded, but unexpectedly that was no the end.

"And remember to soak your legs in hot and ice water. Do you have enough food at home or do you want me to send something from home?"

"Actually, how about you come home for the night, just to have someone around if anything happens." Samuel seemed to have also joined in with his parents as they started to get more and more worried.

Just as Penelope was the baby of the Lore family, Henry was so for the Reyes, regardless of his adulthood and independence. No matter how established the young man were to make himself, he would always be the beloved youngest child that everyone worried over.

"Samuel has a point, it is better for you to stay with us tonight instead of alone. That way you don't have to worry about anything else."

Before anyone could add anything on top of Marcus's words, Henry made a face of displeasure, sending his family the most incredulous looks. He was not a fan of being coddled, with the taste of freedom from university, he had no desire to be in his family home while they thought he was ill. On top of all that, he found it outrageous that his family were treating him like this in front of other people. Even if they had become close and in theory would become one family in the future, the fact still stood that they had only gotten friendly recently, what was the need for his family to embarrass and coddle him like this in front of others.

"Thanks for the concern, but no. I am going back to my place, I will eat the food I have in my fridge in the comfort of my own company, with no one pestering me, thank you very much. Ramy can drop me home and I will see you tomorrow."

Suddenly, everyone else became aware of the fact that the ever-so-independent Henry would not be able to drive home himself, not safely at least seeing as his legs were still a little numb and shaky. Meera smirked as an idea came to her head, she had watched her in-laws worry over their baby with amusement – as always – however now she felt it was time to intervene, she could not let such an opportunity get away.

"Ramy can't drive you. I need him to correspond with my investigation on the Q Group."

"Then Sam?"

Before Henry could send his brother an expectant look, he was shot down, the older brother seemingly reading his wife's mind. "I will not have the time, we have been busy since morning and haven't had a chance to check the condition of each department. Plus Ramy will be with Meera, which adds more on top of my usual work."

Samuel, being one of the three directors of the company, really did have a lot on his plate, however usually none of that would measure even close to helping his brother. However, his wife was always right as far as he was concerned, at that was unlikely to change.

Caroline and Marcus easily caught onto Meera's smirk, leaving things in their daughter-in-law's control. The only thing they did was give a look to the other couple, somehow conveying with just their eyes to leave things to their children.

The PA's had also figured things out, leaving only Archer oblivious up until he received a rather assertive message from Haerin on his phone telling him to offer up Joshua. It was then he finally realised the game they were all playing.

Even if the two were to wed, there was no harm in setting them up to hurry along their real relationship.

"How about Joshua drives you? His meeting this evening is in your neighbourhood too, it will work out for the both of you."

Henry and Joshua turned to look at each other, and while no one else could see their expression, their deadpan could almost be felt by Haerin and Ramy – who once again found the entire situation ridiculous, however having seen how there was a chance for the two, did not mind joining in either. The two men were not stupid, they could easily see through the plan, and neither liked it.

That all being said, the two are supposed to pretend they like each other, eventually.

Of course, even with the logic behind why they should leave together and how it was good for convincing not only their families but also those watching them through the public eye, neither were particularly willing. The younger man had given up the second Meera opened her mouth, however Joshua was still unaware what a schemer she was, as well as how easily she could rally those around her.

"I didn't drive today."

"No, but Henry did. You can drive and he has a car."

"And my meeting isn't until 6pm."

"Stop by the hospital to see your sister. His apartment is 10 minutes away from Williamson."

"I haven't had lunch yet." Joshua could feel the incredulous look from the man to his left, his responses were getting weaker and weaker.

"You can go to a café and eat, or eat at the hospital, or even help yourself to the food in Henry's food. He was home last night meaning he had more than enough food."

Somehow Meera had steered it so Joshua's argument with not driving Henry home had been flipped on him, now instead of simply chauffeuring, he was being told to go into the other man's house and eat. He couldn't believe the ridiculous development.

"And that is why we don't argue with her, only my mother can deal with her."

"You should have said before."

The muttering was just quiet enough for everyone but the mastermind herself to miss. She smirked triumphantly, adding, "Try get it caught on camera, all eyes are on the two of you, it will increase credibility." The woman was more than aware from the reaction online that their public relationship did not need validation of any kind. However, she was enjoying making the two of them squirm a little.

That was how the two men found themselves in Henry's car, Joshua driving, the atmosphere undeniably sour.

Neither could get their head around today, neither wanted to either; it would be best for everyone if they just went to sleep and woke up to find it was all a horrible dream instead of a living nightmare.