Just as Liam slid the phone back into his pocket, it buzzed again. He sighed, pulling it out to see Noah's name flashing on the screen.

"Hey," Noah greeted as soon as Liam answered, his voice warm but edged with mock exasperation. "I didn't want to interrupt your little soul-searching adventure, but we've got a networking gala in thirty minutes, and I'm pretty sure you'd prefer to be there looking like the polished gentleman you pretend to be."

Liam glanced at his watch, frowning as he realized how much time had slipped by. "It's been an hour already?"

"An hour and fifteen, but who's counting?" Noah said, his tone light. "You said you'd be back sooner, but instead, I'm here wondering if I need to send out a search party."

Liam hesitated before admitting, "Why didn't you tell me this earlier in your previous call?"

"Well," Noah replied, his voice shifting into playful indignation, "I would have, if someone hadn't rudely hung up on me. But here I am, the bigger person, checking on you anyway. So...where are you?"

Liam looked around and realized he had no idea. He stood near a massive cathedral, its spires glowing in the evening light, but the name escaped him. "I think I'm lost," he said reluctantly, rubbing his neck.

"Lost?" Noah repeated with a chuckle. "Liam, what did I say about getting lost—in your head or in London? And now you've lost track of time, too. What's next? Your dignity?"

Liam groaned. "Yes, Noah, thank you. Very constructive."

Noah's laughter carried over the line, soft and teasing. "Okay, okay, I'll spare you the lecture. Just call a cab and get back here. You've got the hotel address, right?"

"Birkenhead Street," Liam confirmed, though he felt slightly embarrassed.

"Great," Noah said, his voice turning smoother, almost coaxing. "And listen, if you're not back in twenty minutes, I might have to come find you myself. And trust me, you don't want to deal with that."

"You don't even know where I am," Liam pointed out dryly.

"And neither do you," Noah shot back smoothly. "So stop sightseeing and get moving."

Despite the situation, Liam found himself chuckling softly. "Fine. I'll see you soon."

"You better," Noah replied, his voice lighter now, before hanging up.

Liam stared at the screen for a moment, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the spiral of thoughts he'd been lost in earlier. Noah's call, as always, had a way of cutting through his frustration and grounding him. Taking a deep breath, he flagged down a cab, ready to face whatever awaited him back at the hotel—and the gala.

***

Liam entered their suite with purposeful strides, closing the door firmly behind him. His face was composed, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed the frustration still lingering from the press conference and the unexpected detour that had made him late. Without a word, he crossed the room and Noah, who was sitting on the couch, and headed straight for his room where his neatly unpacked clothing waited for him in the dresser.

He pulled out his pressed shirt, tailored jacket, and formal slacks. The rich, dark fabric of his suit was immaculate, a reflection of the polished image he'd been trained to maintain his whole life. Liam had always taken pride in dressing sharply—control over his appearance gave him a sense of order when everything else felt chaotic.

He slipped off his business casual clothes, folding them quickly and setting them aside, before shrugging into his shirt and fastening the buttons with practiced ease. His movements were precise, almost mechanical, as he tucked in the shirt and pulled on his slacks. Adjusting his cuffs, he reached for his tie next, his fingers deftly tying a perfect Windsor knot.

The entire process took less than ten minutes. By the time he slid into his tailored jacket and smoothed down the lapels, he looked every inch the poised, composed professional the gala would expect. Exiting his room, he took a final glance in the mirror, adjusting his pocket square and ensuring it sat at the perfect angle.

Satisfied, Liam straightened his posture and let out a steadying breath. As he turned toward the couch, his eyes landed on Noah, who was lounging comfortably. He wore a black shirt adorned with dark green Hawaiian plants, tucked into sleek black slacks.

"What are you wearing?" Liam asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Noah glanced up, looking unbothered as he stood and gestured to himself. "What? Is there something wrong? I thought I'd add a pop of color to the gala with this button-up. If it bothers you that much, I can button it all the way up, Mr. Traditional."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Don't pretend you don't know you're wearing a Hawaiian shirt to a formal gala. Where's your blazer and tie?"

Noah raised an eyebrow, shrugging casually. "You know I don't wear blazers or ties. I thought you knew me better than this, Liam. Truly."

Liam froze mid-adjustment of his own tie, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean, you don't wear blazers or ties? This is a networking gala, Noah. You must wear one."

Noah waved him off as though it was a minor detail. "No one's going to care about a little blazer or tie. I'll just button my shirt up to the top. Problem solved."

Liam scoffed, stepping closer, his voice sharp. "That's not how this works, and you know it. You'll stick out like a sore thumb, and not in a good way. It's a formal event. Wear a blazer and tie."

Noah gave him a sheepish grin, rocking back on his heels. "Funny thing—I didn't bring any. And even if I had, I wouldn't know how to tie the tie."

Liam blinked, momentarily stunned. "You didn't bring a blazer or tie? To a formal gala?" His hand came up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he exhaled sharply. "Unbelievable."

"Hey," Noah said defensively, "I didn't think it was a big deal."

Liam's tone sharpened. "You might not think it's a big deal, but I do—and so will they. You can't afford to be this selfish, Noah. Whatever you do affects the people around you. It affects your company and my company since we're working on this project together."

Turning on his heel, Liam marched to his suitcase and pulled out a black blazer and a matching tie. He re-entered the room and held them up in front of Noah, his expression unrelenting. "Here. You're wearing this."

Noah chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender while slipping into the blazer. "Fine, fine. Do your worst, Mr. Formality."

Liam stepped in front of him, looping the tie around Noah's neck. Their height difference made the task slightly awkward, forcing Liam to tilt his head to get the angle right. He focused on the tie, pulling the fabric snug and starting to knot it.

"Stand still," Liam muttered as Noah fidgeted.

"You're really taking this seriously," Noah teased, his voice light but warm.

Liam ignored Noah's teasing, his focus unwavering as he tightened the knot with practiced precision and adjusted it to sit perfectly against Noah's collar. His fingers lingered, smoothing the fabric down, when his eyes instinctively flicked upward—and caught Noah's gaze.

The air shifted between them, the closeness suddenly feeling charged, their shared breaths mingling in the quiet of the room.

The thought was fleeting, almost ridiculous in its suddenness, but it hit him like a spark nonetheless: How is it possible for someone to look so infuriating and yet...so effortlessly charming?

Liam immediately pushed it aside, chastising himself for letting such an idea surface. This was Noah, his business partner, not someone he should be noticing like that. He focused harder on the tie, as if perfecting the knot could erase the thought entirely.

He swallowed hard, his hands still lingering on the tie for a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back abruptly, clearing his throat. "There. Done. Now you look halfway respectable."

Noah smirked, tugging at the tie slightly. "Wow, a compliment from Liam Parker? I must be dreaming."

"Don't push your luck," Liam shot back, busying himself with checking his suit in the mirror. He could still feel a faint warmth creeping up the back of his neck, but he pushed the feeling down, focusing instead on the evening ahead. "Come on," he said briskly, grabbing his jacket. "We're already late."

Noah followed, still smiling to himself as they left the room. "Thanks for the blazer and tie, by the way. I knew you'd have my back."

Liam didn't respond, but as they walked toward the elevator, he couldn't quite shake the feeling of how close they'd just been—or the quiet way it had unsettled him.