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?

Meera 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.