The room buzzed with the hum of anticipation as reporters shuffled in their seats, adjusting cameras and flipping through their notes. The press conference for the launch of the urban sustainability development initiative was about to begin. Noah sat at the long table at the front of the room, flanked by Liam on one side and a project manager from their team on the other.

"Ready?" Liam asked, leaning slightly toward him, his voice low but steady.

Noah glanced sideways, catching Liam's calm expression. He nodded, though his fingers tapped nervously against the edge of the table. "As ready as I'll ever be."

The room quieted as the moderator stepped up to the podium, her voice cutting through the low murmur. "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. We're here to discuss the groundbreaking urban sustainability development initiative spearheaded by this dynamic team. Let's begin with an opening statement from Noah Greene, the CEO of Greene Innovations."

Noah adjusted his microphone, clearing his throat as he scanned the crowd. He'd done this before, but somehow, the weight of this project—and the extra attention it was drawing—felt heavier.

"Thank you all for being here today," he began, his voice smoothing out as he spoke. "This initiative represents months of collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision for a more sustainable urban future. Our goal is to create spaces that prioritize environmental impact without compromising the needs of the community. This is about redefining how we live and thrive in urban spaces."

He continued, his confidence building as he outlined the key aspects of the project. By the time he passed the mic to Liam, the room was attentive, their earlier restlessness gone.

Liam leaned into the microphone with a natural ease that Noah couldn't help but admire. "What makes this initiative unique is its focus on accessibility and adaptability. We're not just thinking about the cities of today, but the cities of tomorrow. This is about creating infrastructure that lasts, that grows with its people. It's ambitious, yes—but we believe it's necessary."

His words were met with a round of nods from the audience, a few reporters scribbling notes furiously. Liam had a way of grounding even the most abstract ideas, making them feel not just possible, but inevitable.

When the floor opened for questions, the energy in the room shifted. The first few questions were straightforward—queries about funding, timelines, and partnerships. Liam handled most of them with his usual composure, occasionally passing the mic to Noah for specifics.

And then, inevitably, the tone changed.

A reporter in the second row raised her hand, her sharp eyes flicking between Noah and Liam. "There's been a lot of buzz about the chemistry between the two of you and how it's contributed to the success of this project. Can you comment on how your dynamic has shaped the work?"

Noah froze for half a second, his mind racing. It was an innocuous enough question on the surface, but the underlying implication was unmistakable. He glanced at Liam, who had already reached for the mic.

"I think our dynamic reflects the values of the project itself," Liam said smoothly, his tone professional but warm. "Collaboration, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the bigger picture. None of this would be possible without the trust we've built as a team."

His answer was diplomatic, steering the question back to the project. But Noah couldn't shake the feeling that the reporter wasn't entirely convinced.

Another hand shot up. "To follow up, there's been speculation about the nature of your partnership beyond work. Any comment on that?"

The air grew taut. Noah's heart hammered in his chest, and he could feel the weight of every gaze in the room. Liam's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he didn't miss a beat.

"Our focus has always been on the work," Liam said firmly, his voice calm but with an edge that suggested the topic was closed.

The moderator interjected smoothly, steering the questions back to the initiative. But the undercurrent of tension remained, simmering just beneath the surface.

When the press conference finally wrapped up, Liam stood quickly, avoiding Noah's gaze as they exited the room. Outside in the hallway, Noah reached out, lightly touching his arm.

"Liam," he said gently. "You okay?"

Liam exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I wasn't expecting that," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "It caught me off guard."

Noah nodded, keeping his tone neutral. "It's just noise. Don't let it get to you."

"I know," Liam said, but his gaze was distant, his usual confidence visibly shaken. "I just...hate how they twist things. It's not fair."

Noah frowned, taken aback by the unexpected weight of Liam's words. "We're a team. We'll handle it," he said after a moment.

Liam looked at him then, something unspoken flickering in his expression. He nodded, though his usual composure felt cracked at the edges.

But as they left the conference room together, side by side, Noah couldn't help but feel that something had shifted. The press had seen something in them—something Noah wasn't ready to confront, but couldn't quite ignore.