The five times Lee tried to tell Henry his feelings.

And the one time he did.

The first time Lee tried to tell Henry his feelings, he choked.

Literally. Lee had just entered the hotel's main restaurant for a lunch with his younger brother Bennett when an unfamiliar man walked by with his mother. One glimpse of his curly hair, glasses, and slender frame and Lee knew he was in trouble. He swallowed unconsciously, lodging a barely chewed cucumber slice in his throat.

As Bennett slapped at his back, completely unaware that the Heimlich maneuver would be way more efficient, Lee had a realization that smacked him in the face with such velocity he regurgitated the cucumber.

He had the hots for his mother's new secretary.

The second time Lee tried to tell Henry his feelings, he decided last second it was a terrible idea.

Lee wasn't sure how many men would appreciate the I-fell-in-love-at-first-sight line— especially when coming from another man. And especially when a) Henry didn't even know Lee knew his name and b) Lee was Henry's boss.

Lee had never seriously dated another guy. Sure, he'd been curious about other men and his sexuality, but not to the point of attempting a long-term relationship with any of his past conquests. He'd thought that maybe dating was just something he wasn't interested in. Or maybe he was too caught up with his mother's stipulation of him finding a wealthy woman to marry and having three kids together so the family name would carry on. But all that was blown out the window the moment he laid eyes on Henry. Now he was sure of everything.

He was attracted to Henry. He didn't feel the hesitance he'd felt before when it came to other people. He could see himself settling down with Henry. And he barely knew the guy. That had to mean something.

"Have you talked to our mother's new secretary? The one who started last week?" Lee asked Bennett as he walked into his younger brother's office, casually propping himself up against the doorframe.

Bennett sat at his desk, nose buried in his phone. Paperwork lay scattered about and Lee could only hope that Bennett would organize it before he left. "Who? Henry?"

"Mm, yes."

"Barely, why? I've seen him twice and both times looked like he was going to cry. Or faint. Perhaps both. Although I can't blame him. Working directly under our mother would be my definition of hell."

Lee's lips curved down. Of course, Henry was having a tough time already. Their mother's secretaries never lasted more than a week. And his week was up. But Henry couldn't quit— Lee hadn't even got a chance to talk to him yet! The only interaction they had was standing in the same room while Lee's mother yelled at him. He couldn't even look Henry in the eye after that. "Has he finished for the day?"

Bennett glanced up from his phone. "Do I look like our mother's mousy secretary?"

"You're a brat."

"Why are you so interested in him?"

"Why wouldn't I be? He's our employee," Lee answered, hoping he sounded nonchalant. Did Bennett already sense what was going on? Did he know?

Bennett merely blinked at Lee before flicking his gaze to the door— a clear sign of please leave. Lee pushed himself off the frame with a sigh, making sure to shut the door behind him. Bennett was useless. He would get no information from him. Maybe the following day he could think of a reason to go talk to Henry himself. They hadn't been introduced yet. It was only right of Lee to go give him a proper greeting, right?

As Lee walked down to the foyer, he heard the steady strum of rain on the glass panels that lined the ceiling. When he headed toward the coat check to grab his umbrella, a familiar figure appeared in the corner of his eye. Pausing, he turned back, staring out the front doors of the hotel. Henry stood beside a pillar, a file clutched close to his chest, watching the rain come down with a solemn expression on his face.

Lee immediately returned his attention to the coat check. "Could I have my umbrella? And Bennett's as well?"

The woman with red hair running it nodded and gathered the two umbrellas, handing them both over to Lee. "Have a good night, Mr. Calloway."

"You as well," Lee said hurriedly, giving her a polite smile before rushing out the front door.

Henry stood in the same spot, his eyebrows pinched together. Lee felt his heart skip a beat. His grip on Bennett's umbrella tightened as he thought about what to say. This was his first impression. It had to be good.

His planning was cut short when Henry took a step forward as if prepared to walk into the rain. Lee moved forward and opened up Bennett's umbrella over him. "Scared of a little rain, Henry?"

Henry's eyes widened adorably as he turned his chin up to face Lee. Lee noticed Henry was just a bit shorter than him. The perfect amount shorter than him. The smile did not leave Lee's face. Finally. Finally, he managed to talk to him.

The silence stretched on, so Lee spoke again, pressing the umbrella into Henry's hand. "You can have this. Bennett never brings and umbrella so I always keep a spare. He has the strangest issue about his car being in perfect condition. He won't sit in it if he's wet, but he never remembers to bring his own umbrella."

Why? Why was he just talking about Bennett? Shouldn't he be talking his own self up? But his mind went blank on him.

And Henry made no movement to enclose his hand around the umbrella handle. Lee pushed it deeper against Henry's palm. "Seeing as how Bennett didn't show up today, it's free for you to use."

The lie slipped out of Lee's mouth and he panicked for a moment. What if Henry had seen Bennett today? He would know immediately Lee was lying. Would he think Lee was just trying to show off? No, there was no way Henry would've seen Bennett. Bennett barely left his office.

"Sorry," Henry spoke and an arrow went through Lee's heart. Henry's voice was softer than Lee imagined it'd be. Gentle and smooth, like a singer's voice.

"Why are you apologizing?" Lee asked, hoping to hear more of that voice.

A rosy shade of pink stained Henry's cheeks. "Sorry."

Lee couldn't help but chuckle. Yes. Oh definitely. Lee was in deep.

So, deep.

The third time Lee tried to tell Henry his feelings, Lee was drunk and jealous.

Okay. Maybe not drunk, but very tipsy, and well on the way to being drunk.

He'd brought Henry and Bennett out with him for a drink, something that had quickly become almost a ritualistic thing for them. End the arduous work week, get beers. It used to be just him and Bennett going occasionally, but Lee had slipped the offer to Henry once because he knew Henry was too polite to refuse, and Henry been joining ever since. At least twice a month for the past year. Lee just had to make sure to invite him in person.

They sat at their usual high-top table at McKellan's and Lee immediately ordered a round. It hadn't been a that terrible of a day, but right at the very end of it, Lee had witnessed something that made his heart sink.

One of the receptionists giving Henry her number.

Of course, Lee knew he wasn't the only person on earth who was attracted to Henry. Henry was a catch. Lee was surprised when he learned Henry was a bachelor. Well, surprised and elated. It meant that there was a chance for Lee to wheedle himself into Henry's heart. And during all these months, Henry had stayed single as well. Lee's chance was still there and he wasn't trying to rush it. As long as Ms. Receptionist stayed out of his way.

Lee could just fire her and cut off all their connection completely... but even at just the thought, Lee felt guilty for thinking it. He would never ruin someone's life just because of who they had feelings for. That was inhuman and cruel.

But also, she'd already given Henry her number so the damage was done.

"How about a round of shots?" Lee asked, already sliding off his chair.

"Shots?" Bennett echoed. "Since when do you do shots?"

"I need it today."

"You're carrying him home if he gets drunk," Lee heard Bennett tell Henry as he walked away.

Three shots in, Lee felt his body begin to itch. Bennett had Henry's full attention, droning on and on about a new BMW he wanted. Did Henry even have any interest in cars? And if so, Lee had a better car than Bennett. Hadn't Henry seen it? Lee's gaze slid between the two, eyes narrowed. Henry lifted his shot glass to his lips, nodding along to Bennett's prattling. At the first taste, his eyes widened and he set it down, coughing.

"I'll tell you what, I could never date someone who doesn't appreciate my car," Bennett said, reaching across the table and taking Henry's shot. "I'll have this if you don't like it."

Henry gestured for him to do so. "Take it."

Bennett gulped it down. Lee held onto his drink tighter. Were Bennett and Henry really close enough to be sharing drinks?

"Do you like my current car?" Bennett asked.

Lee's mouth almost fell open. What was Bennett trying to get at right now? Did Henry catch that? Was it just him? Why would Bennett ask Henry what he thought of his car after mentioning he'd only date someone who appreciated it?

"I don't have an opinion on it," Henry said quietly.

Relief rushed through Lee. Now Bennett wouldn't be interested.

"Well, I am sure I can sway your mind. Just give me twenty minutes in the backseat. I'll even warm up the seats for you."

Lee spat out his drink. "Bennett!"

His brother blinked at him. "Yes?"

"T-that's—!" Lee spluttered, unable to get the words out.

"What? My passenger seat is currently overtaken with files. Henry would have no choice but to sit in the back if we went out for a drive. It's nothing personal."

Lee felt his eye twitch. So that was what Bennett meant. Lee slouched in his chair, his hand curling around his glass. He had to relax. Just because one person was interested in Henry, didn't mean the rest of the world was. And it wasn't like Henry was his. He couldn't stop anyone from being interested. Just like the secretary. She could have just as much of a chance as Lee could.

If Lee would ever make the first move. Maybe he could tonight. He peeked at Henry from the corner of his eye. Henry yawned, his hand going up to cover his mouth. What would his reaction be? Lee was his boss after all. And a guy.

Lee's attention was drawn to Henry's phone that said atop the table. It had lit up with a text from an unknown number. His heart rate spiked. Had she texted him already? Just as Lee was trying to gather up his own courage? Had she asked Henry out? Did they already have a date set? Maybe they'd been talking for a while now and neither of them was brave enough to make the first move but they were secretly in love with each other and already planned a wedding and three kids—

"We couldn't even have one kid, let alone three," Lee groaned, head falling back.

"What?" Bennett asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you drinking too much, Lee?"

"I'm going to be single forever."

"I could have told you that."

Lee scowled. "You don't understand the torture of love."

A crease appeared in Bennett's forehead. "Are you in love with somebody?"

"Yes. Hen—" Lee caught himself, snapping his mouth shut. Panicking on the inside, but trying to remain calm on the outside, he cleared his throat. "H-hence my problem."

Bennett stared at him dubiously. "You never leave your office. Who could you possibly have feelings for?"

Lee glanced at Henry, who'd tilted his head to the side.

It felt like an arrow had struck Lee's heart.

"I didn't know you felt that way about someone," Henry said, leaving his phone untouched on the table, the screen still lit up.

"There's no one!" Lee nearly shouted. Henry wasn't replying. Maybe that meant he wasn't interested. Lee couldn't ruin his chance now by lying about being interested in someone. "I just meant my work. In love with my job."

Bennet rolled his eyes. "You're definitely drunk. That is a lie. Mother isn't here so you can lay off that."

"...You're right," Lee agreed, hunching his shoulders. He pushed his beer away. No more alcohol. He didn't know what would happen.

Henry frowned and then turned his attention to his phone. Lee stared, trying to be subtle about it, but knowing he was failing. Maybe he could come right out with it and say it. Being curious about his friend's romantic relationships was normal, wasn't it? But did he really want to know? What would he do if Henry said he was going on a date with her? Wouldn't it just hurt? He was better off not knowing. Not worrying. Minding his own business.

"Mr. Calloway, I mean Lee," Henry began making Lee snap his head away quickly.

"Yeah?"

"I meant to tell you earlier. One of the secretaries asked me to give you her number earlier. She said she was too shy to do it. She just texted me and asked if I'd given it to you. What would you like me to say to her?"

Lee closed his eyes, breathing in slowly. Then he jumped up from the table. "Who's ready for one more round of shots?"

Bennett groaned. "Another?"

"We have to celebrate."

"Celebrate what?"

"Uhh, Lee what about Ms. Bugarin?" Henry asked.

"Kindly let her know I'm uninterested," Lee responded proudly. "Not interested even the slightest bit."

Bennett chuckled. "And this is why you will be single forever."

"I just have to wait for the perfect person."

Yes, the war wasn't over yet. Lee still had his chance. He would wait for the perfect opportunity and strike. Maybe now, maybe in a few years.

And maybe when he wasn't tipsy.

The fourth time Lee tried to tell Henry his feelings, it was after yelling at him.

Remorse ate at Lee right after it happened. Everything had just been too much, too much at once, and Henry had been at the wrong place at the wrong time, and Lee could only hold back so much after so long. Henry hadn't deserved to be the target of Lee's break down. He'd just been there. Standing by innocently. And Lee had snapped.

And he felt awful.

He holed himself up in Bennett's office, too afraid to face Henry. Henry would never willingly come near Bennett's office, so he was safe.

"Maybe I should order chocolate-covered strawberries."

Sebastian turned his head up at Lee. "Why don't you just apologize?"

Lee gazed at the floor. "That's not good enough."

"Why even bother apologizing? Everyone snaps sometimes," Bennett pointed out, scrolling on his phone, his feet propped up on his desk. "He's an adult. He can handle it. He worked for our mother for how long?"

"I should have never yelled at him."

Sebastian closed the newspaper he was reading. "You're stressed out, Lee. Don't blame yourself."

Lee held his head in his hands. "I don't want to be like my mother."

"Lee, you could never be that bad," Bennett said, finally looking up from his phone. "What did you even say to him? You've never said a mean word to anyone before."

"It was right after our mother finished screaming at me about my project for Hawaii. She doesn't trust me with it at all. I am doing all the work she gives me and beyond and I'm managing to finish it all within the constant time restraints and work on my own project. I just want this to be something of my own that I've created and put my work into. It feels like she doesn't want me to succeed. I don't even have time for myself anymore and the one thing I make time for, she is saying is worthless."

Saying it out loud made Lee feel even more foolish. Was he a child? Complaining about being scolded by his mother? Yelling at his poor secretary because he felt ashamed of himself? Redirecting his anger to someone innocent? To someone he cared about deeply? Was someone like him even worth leading a company?

"Lee, you hold your company together," Sebastian spoke. "I've seen your plans and the progress for Wailea. You have to know that it is beyond what anyone else at this company could come up with."

Lee shook his head. "It could be better—"

"No, it's exceptional," Bennett cut in. He'd gotten up from his desk and now stood in front of Lee, his jaw clenched. "Where is she? I'm going to talk to her."

"No, Bennett. There's no need."

"Why do you let her talk to you like that?"

"Because she's our mother."

"You can still stand up for yourself."

"It wasn't worth fighting over."

"And yet it made you so mad you yelled at someone other than me for the first time in your life?"

Lee bit his lip.

"Oh, right," Sebastian said. "We haven't heard yet. What did you say to Henry?"

"He was there during the entire thing," Lee admitted, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "I felt humiliated. I tried to calm myself down, but all the things my therapist taught me weren't working. And Henry just wanted to help I'm sure, but when he opened his mouth, I spoke without thinking. I basically yelled at him to leave the office."

Bennett squinted his eyes. "Wait. You just yelled at him to get out?"

"I said, please leave." Lee hesitated. "In a not so indoor voice."

Sebastian and Bennett shared a look and Sebastian chuckled while Bennett rolled his eyes. "Lee, that's not considered snapping on someone."

"Although for you maybe it is," Sebastian added thoughtfully.

"Henry probably didn't even think twice about it."

Lee fiddled with the sleeves of his shirt. "He must be mad. He didn't say anything when he walked out."

"He never says anything at work," Bennett said, sounding exasperated. "The only time I can get him to talk to me is when we go out for beers."