The conference room at Parker Enterprises gleamed with modern sophistication: glass walls, sleek furniture, and a panoramic view of the city skyline. Liam Parker sat at the head of the long table, his posture straight and composed. The latest project proposal between Parker Enterprises and Greene Innovations was spread out before him, pages meticulously organized in neat stacks.

The door swung open, and in walked Noah Greene, CEO of Greene Innovations and, in every way, Liam's opposite. While Liam exuded poise and precision, Noah carried himself with a relaxed charm that seemed entirely effortless. His wavy, tousled blond hair gave him an air of carefree confidence, perfectly complementing his sharp, well-defined features—bright, observant eyes, a straight nose, and a subtle smile that radiated calm assurance. His lightly tanned skin and polished demeanor only added to his appeal.

Today, he wore his signature confident smile paired with a dark, button-up shirt, the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows. The open collar softened the look, lending him an air of laid-back sophistication, while the tailored fit accentuated his lean frame. Somehow, Noah always struck the perfect balance between professional and casual, his entire presence exuding an easy elegance that was impossible to ignore.

"Morning, Parker," Noah greeted, dropping into the chair across from Liam without waiting for an invitation. "Didn't think I'd miss another chance to be dazzled by your PowerPoint skills, did you?"

Liam shot him a withering glance. "It's not a PowerPoint, Mr. Greene. It's a strategic proposal."

"Tomato, tomahto." Noah leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. "Let's see what brilliance you've cooked up this time."

The meeting began in the sleek, glass-walled conference room of a downtown New York office, the city skyline a dramatic backdrop for what Liam and Noah hoped would be a game-changing conversation. Liam stood at the head of the table, his tone measured as he laid out the strategic vision for their proposed initiative—a sustainable tech project aimed at transforming key urban spaces in London.

"This proposal," Liam began, gesturing to a slide highlighting London's current urban challenges, "is about creating a blueprint for the future—one that integrates cutting-edge technology with practical, sustainable solutions. We're not just talking about improving infrastructure. We're talking about reimagining how cities function and, more importantly, how people experience them."

The room listened intently as Liam outlined the project's objectives: revitalizing underutilized spaces, reducing environmental impact, and fostering community engagement. Each slide was concise but impactful, with bold graphics and clear metrics illustrating the potential benefits.

Noah leaned forward in his chair, his relaxed posture a deliberate contrast to Liam's formality. "Parker's absolutely nailed the big picture," he said, his grin disarming as he gestured toward the slide. "But let's talk about what this actually feels like for the people who'll live and work in these spaces. Because at the end of the day, we're not just building better cities; we're building better lives."

He paused, letting the words sink in before adding, "Imagine a tech-powered Camden Market where waste is reduced to almost zero or a reimagined Shoreditch High Street that seamlessly combines heritage with modern energy solutions. This isn't just strategy—it's a story we're inviting Londoners to be part of."

The dynamic between them was magnetic. Liam anchored the discussion with hard facts and a clear plan, while Noah brought the vision to life with passion and charisma, turning abstract ideas into something tangible and exciting.

When a senior city planner raised a concern about scalability, Liam responded with calm authority. "That's a key consideration, and we've built flexibility into the framework to address it. For example, the modular design of our approach allows us to start small and expand based on measurable successes."

Noah chimed in with a smile, adding, "And hey, if Londoners love it as much as we think they will, scaling up won't be a problem—it'll be a demand."

The room chuckled, the tension easing as the balance of expertise and charm continued to win over the group. By the end of the meeting, it wasn't just the vision of the project that had captivated everyone—it was the duo themselves.

As the attendees began gathering their belongings, one of the investors leaned back in his chair, smiling. "This is one of the most cohesive and compelling strategic proposals I've seen in a long time. London would be lucky to have you two leading this charge."

Noah flashed a grin and leaned toward Liam, whispering loud enough for the group to hear, "You think we should tell them this is just the warm-up?"

Liam sighed but couldn't hide the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves." As the rest of the board members gathered their things and filtered out, Noah remained behind, leaning casually against the table. He stretched his arms over his head with a theatrical groan before grinning at Liam.

"So," he said, his tone light but teasing. "Looks like this project's going to mean a lot more late nights together. Think you're ready to spend even more time with me, Parker?"

Liam began gathering his papers, not looking up. "It's work, Mr. Greene. I'm always ready for work."

"Is that what you call it?" Noah grinned, leaning on the table. "You know, some people might start to think you actually enjoy my company."

Liam finally glanced up, his expression unreadable. "I don't have time for speculation."

Noah chuckled, about to reply, when a voice interrupted them.

"They're at it again."

Both men turned sharply to see a pair of junior associates whispering just outside the glass walls of the conference room. One of them glanced nervously at Liam and Noah before scurrying away.

"What was that about?" Noah asked, though his grin suggested he already had an idea.

Liam's jaw tightened. "Nothing. Let's focus on the project."

"Aw, come on," Noah teased. "You don't hear the whispers? 'The golden boys of business, joined at the hip. Always strategizing, always together. And don't get me started on that banter.'"

Liam shot him a sharp look. "Stop."

Noah held up his hands, feigning innocence. "Relax, Parker. They're just rumors. You know how people are—one gala, one late-night meeting, and suddenly we're the business world's hottest couple."

"That's not funny, Mr. Greene," Liam snapped, the words coming out harsher than he intended.

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Whoa. Okay. Touchy subject."

Liam turned away, busying himself with his papers. "It's not a subject at all. There's no truth to it."

"Obviously," Noah said, still watching him curiously. "But why let it bother you? People will talk no matter what. Let them. We're doing our jobs, right?"

Liam's throat tightened, his gaze dropping to the table as his fingers jittered, tapping out a nervous beat against the surface. His heart thudded erratically, each pulse louder and faster, reverberating through his chest. He couldn't find the words, his thoughts tangling into a frenzied mess, blocking out everything except the image the rumors had conjured. The idea of anyone—especially Noah—believing he was something he wasn't, something he had never been, something he couldn't be, made the room feel impossibly small. It was suffocating.

His pulse quickened as the weight of fear settled over him, each breath feeling harder to take. What if Noah said something? The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine, his mind racing back to his father's sharp words: If that assistant worked for Parker Enterprises, he'd be out on the street by morning. The pressure in his chest grew, tightening with the fear that the same fate might await him—if anyone even suspected.

Noah, oblivious to Liam's inner turmoil, smirked and added, "Besides, there are worse people you could be fake-dating."

"Enough," Liam said sharply, his voice colder now. "We're done here. I have other work to do."

Noah's grin faltered slightly. "Alright, Parker. Message received."

He turned and strolled out, hands in his pockets, but not before tossing over his shoulder, "Don't work too hard without me."

***

Alone in the conference room, Liam exhaled, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease. He clenched his fists, trying to shake the uncomfortable weight of Noah's teasing and the rumors.

They weren't true. They couldn't be true.

But the way his heart raced when Noah smiled at him? The way his mind lingered on their banter long after it ended? Those thoughts were becoming harder and harder to ignore.

Shaking his head, Liam forced himself to refocus. Work. That was all that mattered. Everything else was a distraction.

Even Noah Greene.