A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

From his viewpoint, he just could see her. Anita was sitting on one of the chairs in the dining room by the kitchen and waiting. Lee remained still and watched her tap her left fingers against the tabletop. She hummed happily, and the menu was beside her. Occasionally, she'd glance at it, use the pen she brought with her and make changes to the old copy so that she knew what to write down on the new menu for tomorrow.

Personally, he was surprised that she hadn't changed into a more revealing outfit for Kaleb. She certainly liked to show (f/n) off to Tristan, which annoyed him immensely. Her lack of concern for (f/n) was vile. Then again, he supposed that Kaleb would be seeing her more often in her chef's attire if he was to become manager. Of course, that actually wouldn't happen. Both of them would be separated. Anita would lose everything dear to her, and Kaleb would look like a fool as would Tristan.

Frankly, he did want to kill all of them, but he could understand (f/n)'s points about the matter. If they were to die, she'd be the one to blame, not him. Even if he came alive in front of people, they might still frame (f/n) and simply term it a bizarre case to the public while they investigated further details in the background. (F/n) and he would be separated in that case too. She'd be put in prison, and he'd possibly become some lab rat. Not a desirable fate for either of them. Plus, (f/n) certainly didn't deserve that. As for him ... Well, his victims probably would love to see him experimented on.

When there was a knock on the door, she stood up and came over with a skip in her step. Their greeting amounted to Anita swinging her arms over Kaleb's shoulders and kissing him. His hands rested on her waist and pulled her closer. The temptation to take a decent-sized knife and shove it through both of them in one go was definitely there. A two-in-one combo and they'd be kept together just like they wanted. Hmm, maybe, that would be too nice of him. It would be too quick as well.

So instead, he watched Anita cling to Kaleb after the kiss as though she wasn't signing away her supposed friend's future away. Kaleb closed the door after him and took her hand in his, leading her back to the dining room. Good, he'd be able to hear them. He was half-expecting Anita to take Kaleb up to her bedroom. After another kiss, this one quicker than the last, Kaleb took a seat while Anita leaned against the tabletop.

"What news did you have for me?" A smug smirk was on his lips, though Anita saw it as teasing only, and he rested his chin against his knuckles. "Has (f/n) said anything more about Tristan?"

Giggling, Anita rolled her eyes. "She continues to pretend that she isn't interested." She shrugged. "But, she'll cave in eventually. Still, it's a good thing he's patient."

"Well, he does genuinely like her. He likes her business sense, and he finds her attractive." Kaleb smiled to her. "They're a good match. So, I'm happy that she likes him back."

Humming in agreement, Anita soon lost her smile and grew a little more serious. The change in her demeanor caught Kaleb's immediate attention. "But, what's wrong? I thought that it was good news you had to tell me." He looked concerned, but Lee suspected that it was because of financial worry, not actual concern for Anita.

"Well, Tristan's going through all this trouble, and I still haven't given you a definite answer." She rubbed her fingers together in thought and sighed gently. "It's unfair of me. So, I wanted to give you that answer today." Kaleb sat up straighter. Anita smiled to him a little. "And, I agree. I want you to become Café Rose Tea's new manager and invest in the company. It really will be beneficial, and I'm seeing more and more that (f/n) will be happy with Tristan."

Now, Kaleb smiled, but he kept it soft. Inwardly, he was grinning madly. The deal was sealed. "Thank you, Anita, for trusting me with this. It really is in the company's best interest and is beneficial to both your and (f/n)'s futures." He reached over and grabbed her hands, rubbing his thumbs over the backs of them to soothe her. "But, you seem unhappy."

"I agree with you, but I guess I still feel bad about not telling (f/n). About doing this to her." Lee wanted to laugh bitterly. As if she did. What a load of sh*t.

"You won't have to. Remember?" Kaleb smiled to her reassuringly. "That's why Tristan got involved. She'll leave of her own free will. And, the company will become yours, and you can let me in. No issue."

"... Right." Anita smiled and nodded. "Then, it's official." She practically beamed, her nerves about the whole thing seemingly vanishing without a trace, and Lee thought that crimson would make a great addition to her smile. "You're going to be the new manager, and we can make Café Rose Tea even more successful!" Her hands grabbed his now. "How should we celebrate?!"

Before Kaleb even could answer, Anita pulled away and jumped up and down a little. "I know! Text Tristan!" Kaleb raised a brow but chuckled regardless and shook his head. He looked to Anita ready. "We're going to the pool this Saturday. (F/n) will come along." Anita winked to him. "I'm sure that Tristan will appreciate that." Another chuckle left Kaleb. Tristan definitely would. After he sent the text, Anita grinned to him. "Now for part two."

"Part two?" Kaleb asked, amused and curious.

"Tristan doesn't get all of the fun." Anita seated herself on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Kaleb now smirked and pulled her closer. A giggle left her. As for Lee, he hoped that they'd move elsewhere. He really didn't want to watch or hear what was about to happen. Much to his relief, Kaleb stood up and carried her downstairs to the storage area. "Downstairs?" she asked, a little puzzlement in her voice.

"We're celebrating. Let's change things up a bit." Kaleb smirked. "We don't get the opportunity too much at the hotel." A giggle left her. "And, I think that you'd hit me if I suggested the kitchen or one of the dining rooms."

"Of course, I would!" she exclaimed, but there remained amusement in her tone. At least, Anita was mindful in that sense. Frankly, though, he was just glad that he wouldn't be able to see or hear anything if they went down there. Not to mention that he could move a bit himself. They'd be too occupied with themselves. The door leading down closed behind them, and he waited until he heard them no more to move.

Shoulders relaxing, Lee seated himself in the other dining room where he wouldn't be seen through one of the windows. His right hand ran over his hair, and he frowned. He knew that Anita officially would agree to Kaleb's plan eventually, but he knew that even though (f/n) was well aware of Anita's betrayal this would be another stab to the heart for her. Their time line felt more limited since Kaleb and Anita might become more serious in getting (f/n) out of the business, especially if things didn't work with Tristan. Thankfully, they remained under the illusion that (f/n) liked him.

With the pool coming up, though, he suspected that might change soon. Sure, it'd be public, but (f/n) would be in a bathing suit to some degree. Anita would make sure of that, and if (f/n) resisted too much, Anita would think that something was up. She was pushy, and (f/n) never had resisted her too much in the past. Eventually, she'd cave in each time, and he wished that (f/n) hadn't set that expectation with Anita, but (f/n) hadn't known back then that Anita would do such a thing to her.

Dread started to eat at him when he thought of Tristan eyeing (f/n) like a prize. It pissed him off. His fingers tapped against the tabletop roughly. He didn't want that a**hole seeing that much of her. It wasn't jealously. There was nothing to be jealous of; Tristan was a fool, and (f/n) didn't have feelings for him. No, it was from worry since he knew that (f/n) would be uncomfortable and be on her own. Anita wouldn't help her; she'd have no one to lean on but herself. There would be other people around, but how watchful would they be? None of them knew what horrible people Anita, Kaleb and Tristan were.

Such thoughts continued to occupy his mind until he heard steps coming closer. He broke out of his thoughts and stood up. Lee returned to his position by the entrance before Kaleb and Anita left the storage area. Neither of them paid him any mind, and they probably were too occupied among themselves to hear the creaking of his limbs or think anything of it. Anita quickly went upstairs, changed and came back down. Kaleb was on his phone while he waited, but Lee couldn't see what he was looking at or typing. Once Anita came back down, they both left and locked the door behind them.

Relaxing again, Lee sighed roughly and hit his hand against the doorway after he waited a few moments. It wasn't hard, and no plastic cracked. He wondered how (f/n) was doing and hoped that she'd return soon. Did she know about the pool? If she did, he wondered if she had agreed or not. Part of him suspected that she might due to their plan, but another part of him hoped she hadn't even if it meant that things would become more complicated.

To his relief, he did hear (f/n)'s voice outside some time after. They had been long enough that they probably had missed Anita and Kaleb on the way back. Tristan was there too. He moved back into his original position and could see them both outside. That was when he saw it, when he witnessed Tristan kiss (f/n). Nausea hit him. His heart would've stopped beating if he had one. Lee couldn't resist clenching his fists, but neither of those outside noticed. (F/n) and he needed to talk; he couldn't wait any longer.