The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains of their shared hotel suite as Liam adjusted his tie in front of the mirror. He was already dressed in his usual sharp, tailored suit, his expression focused and serious. Across the room, Noah was seated on the couch, slipping on his leather shoes. He wore a button-up shirt, untucked but sharp, with his sleeves rolled just above his forearms. He looked relaxed, his natural confidence doing more for his presence than any formal suit ever could.

"All right," Liam started, pulling on his jacket and glancing down at his notebook filled with key points for their investor meeting. "We'll begin with a brief summary of the finalized specs, then outline the projected timeline, and leave plenty of room for questions."

Noah nodded and leaned back, stretching his arms over the couch. "Sounds solid. But we should start with a joke or something. Investors like a little charm before you hit them with the data avalanche."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "You mean you'll start with a joke. That's more your department."

Noah softly chuckled, the sound low and genuine. "Fair enough. I've got you covered on the charm front. You can just stand there and look intimidating in case anyone tries to argue."

The corner of Liam's mouth twitched upward in an almost-smile. "I'm not intimidating."

"Sure you're not," Noah teased, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Just a tall, brooding, impeccably dressed man who rarely smiles. Not intimidating at all."

Liam rolled his eyes, but Noah's laughter spilled out again—unrestrained and warm, filling the room. It wasn't the first time Liam had heard him laugh, but this time, something about it caught him off guard. For a brief second, Liam's gaze lingered on Noah's face: the way his smile reached his eyes, the crinkle at the corners, the way his entire demeanor seemed to glow with unfiltered energy. It was magnetic in a way that Liam couldn't quite define.

He felt his throat tighten, his pulse quicken—not a lot, just enough to be noticeable. He quickly looked away, pretending to straighten his tie in the mirror.

Liam abruptly looked back at his notebook, straightening the pages even though they didn't need it. His voice was firm, almost curt, when he finally spoke. "He's just charismatic," Liam told himself, forcing his thoughts back into their usual logical framework. "It's why people like him. Of course, I'd notice. It's not...anything else."

"Earth to Liam?" Noah called, his grin fading into a look of mock concern. "You good, or did you just realize you forgot the investor pitch?"

Liam forced a chuckle, pushing the moment away and focusing on the notebook as if it held the secrets to life itself. He ignored the slight heat crawling up the back of his neck.

"Anyway," Liam said, his tone sharper than he intended as he redirected the conversation. "Let's focus on the investors. We need to make a strong impression today."

Noah pushed off the couch, his smile softening but not disappearing entirely. "Relax, boss. You've got this. We've got this."

Liam nodded, his jaw tightening as he slipped into his usual professional mindset. But even as they left the room and headed toward the elevator, the sound of Noah's laugh lingered in his mind, an unwelcome echo he couldn't quite shake. He stole another glance at Noah as they walked out the door, his expression neutral, but the thought nagged at him. He buried it deeper, forcing himself to focus—there was no room for distractions. Not today.