At exactly eight, Noah stood in front of the large, imposing door of Liam's family home, the warm cup of coffee cupped in his hand. He glanced down at the extra cups tucked under his arm, a quiet reminder of the long night ahead. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the flutter in his stomach. Despite the countless times he'd been here, the familiar grandeur of the house seemed to loom over him tonight, making the air feel heavier. A quiet unease settled deep in his chest, uninvited but persistent. Something about tonight was different—something he couldn't quite place.

The door swung open, revealing Liam's mother, standing with an effortless grace that commanded attention. She wore a tailored navy-blue blouse with delicate silver accents at the collar, paired with a slim black skirt that grazed just above her knee. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor, adding to her commanding presence. A sleek silver watch adorned her wrist, catching the light as she moved. Her dark hair was pulled back into a smooth, no-nonsense bun, and her makeup was understated but immaculate, highlighting her sharp features. Every inch of her attire spoke of understated luxury, designed to project both sophistication and authority that Noah had learned to associate with the Parker family.

"Mr. Greene, good evening," she greeted him, her voice smooth but laced with the precision that came from years of maintaining a carefully curated public image. "Liam didn't mention you would be stopping by tonight. We weren't expecting visitors."

Noah smiled, instantly recognizing the underlying formality in her tone. "I know, it's a bit of a surprise. But I thought I'd bring some coffee. You know, to keep the gears turning for tonight's meeting," he said, extending the cup toward her in a casual, friendly manner.

Mrs. Parker hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning him carefully, but then her lips curved into a polite smile as she took the coffee from him. "How thoughtful of you, Noah. Liam certainly could use all the caffeine he can get." Her voice remained measured, yet there was a faint glimmer of warmth behind her eyes. She wasn't the most effusive woman, but Noah had learned that he could disarm people like her with a mix of charm and lighthearted banter.

"Well, I'd hate for Liam to fall asleep on me halfway through our meeting," Noah said with a grin. "I'm sure you know he can be quite the workhorse."

Mrs. Parker let out a small, dignified laugh, her demeanor softening for just a moment. "Yes, Liam has always been...very driven," she said, her tone indicating both pride and the quiet burden of expectation. "It's not always easy for him to take breaks. But he's used to late nights."

Noah nodded, understanding the dynamic better now. The Parkers, particularly Liam's mother, weren't ones to show much emotion or stray from their high-maintenance image. "I'm sure. It must be a lot to manage such a large business and keep everything so...pristine," Noah said smoothly, hoping to lighten the mood.

She looked at him with a slight nod, though her eyes held that constant vigilance, the mark of someone who knew the importance of maintaining appearances. "Yes, it's important to keep everything in its proper place, especially in a family business like ours. Image is everything."

Noah couldn't help but feel a slight tension in the air. There was no warmth here, only a cool professionalism. But he didn't mind. He was good at navigating this sort of atmosphere.

"Well, I won't keep you too long," Noah said, flashing a reassuring smile. "I'm just here for a little work, and I'll be out of your way before you know it."

Mrs. Parker gave him a polite, almost imperceptible smile. "Of course, Mr. Greene. Feel free to make yourself at home. Liam will be down shortly. He's probably finishing up something upstairs. In the meantime, Lily will entertain you." She turned and walk away into what seeming to be the kitchen.

The kitchen door swung open, revealing a young girl standing in the hallway. She couldn't have been more than sixteen, her wide eyes filled with curiosity. Long, silky brown hair tumbled over her shoulders, framing her delicate features. Her fair skin had a smooth, natural glow that accentuated the softness of her youthful complexion.

Noah immediately flashed her one of his signature grins, the kind that had disarmed countless people in boardrooms and at galas alike. "Well, hello there," he said, his voice smooth and easy, as though he were greeting an old friend rather than a stranger. "You must be the famous Lily, huh? I've heard all about you."

Lily blinked, clearly a little taken aback by his casual warmth. She was used to people being stiff, formal, or distant around her family. But this guy was different. His charm was effortless, and it was hard not to feel at ease around him, despite the fact that he was essentially a stranger.

"I, uh...yeah, I'm Lily," she said, a little flustered. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushing just a bit from the attention. "You're Noah Greene, right? Liam's...business partner?"

Noah's smile widened, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Business partner? Hmm. You could say that, but 'partner in crime' sounds way more fun, don't you think?"

Lily couldn't help but laugh, her nerves starting to dissipate. "I think you'd get in a lot of trouble if you two were partners in crime."

Noah raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, trust me, Lily. Trouble is my middle name. But don't tell Liam that. We like to keep him on his toes."

Lily giggled, clearly warming up to him. "Liam doesn't need much help with that," she teased, her shy nature beginning to fade.

Noah chuckled, lowering his voice a little to add a touch of conspiratorial charm. "Well, that's the thing with Liam. He likes to act all serious and buttoned up, but I know there's more to him. I'm just here to make sure he doesn't forget how to have a little fun."

Lily looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "I bet you're the reason he always ends up staying late at work, huh?"

Noah leaned in just a fraction, his eyes twinkling. "Guilty as charged. But it's all for the greater good, you know. We're doing big things, Lily. Big things."

She smiled softly, eyes still holding a hint of that guarded hesitation. "I guess so..."

Noah's demeanor softened just slightly, sensing her quiet nature. He straightened up, letting the playful charm slip away for a moment, replaced by a warmth that wasn't quite as easy to deflect. "You know, I've heard a lot about you. Liam always talks about you—how you keep things grounded around here."

Lily's eyes widened, a little surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, really," Noah said, nodding seriously. "He talks about you more than you might think. I'm starting to think I need to work a little harder to impress you if you're the one keeping him in check."

Lily gave him a shy smile, suddenly feeling more at ease with this stranger who, despite the charm, seemed to genuinely care about Liam in a way that felt...different.

"I don't really keep him in check," she murmured. "I just try to make sure he doesn't work too much."

Noah smiled warmly. "Well, in that case, I think you and I are on the same side. We'll have to make sure Liam takes more breaks. I think he's got a tendency to burn himself out."

Lily's expression softened, grateful for Noah's kindness. "Yeah, he does."

Just then, Liam came downstairs, his footsteps heavy on the staircase. He cleared his throat, and his gaze flickered over to Noah and Lily, though it softened when he saw the lighthearted exchange between them.

"Noah, you're making my little sister laugh more than I do," Liam remarked with a smirk, clearly trying to mask a hint of pride.

Noah glanced up at him and shrugged, ever the smooth talker. "What can I say? I'm just too charming for my own good." He turned back to Lily, offering a playful wink. "Looks like I've made a new fan."

Lily laughed, a soft, genuine sound. "I think I'll keep my distance from you. I don't want to get in trouble with Liam."

Noah gave a dramatic gasp. "Oh, I see how it is. The big brother's influence already working its magic."

Liam rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small grin tugging at his lips. "You've got one minute before you ruin my productivity for the night."

Noah stood up, casting one last teasing look toward Lily. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you two to your thing." He gave her a mock salute. "Take care, Lily. I'll see you around."

As Noah walked toward the door to the dining room, Liam paused for a moment, watching the exchange. It was rare for him to see anyone—especially someone from his professional world—able to connect so effortlessly with Lily. But Noah had done it in minutes, without even trying.

Lily lingered in the doorway, her voice barely audible as she turned back to her brother. "He's...nice."

Liam, who had started walking away toward the table, stopped and glanced back at her. His expression was unreadable, but there was a subtle shift in his gaze as he answered. "Yeah, he's...something."

Lily smiled faintly. "I think you could use more people like him in your life."

Liam hesitated, then nodded, though his eyes remained distant. "Maybe." But as he turned to the dining table, there was something in his expression that made it clear—he wasn't quite ready to admit that Noah's influence could go beyond the professional. Not yet.

That was when his mother exited the kitchen, the soft clink of silverware and the faint scent of a freshly brewed pot of coffee trailing behind her.

"Oh, there you are, Liam," she said warmly, her eyes briefly flicking over to the living room where the family had gathered earlier. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she asked, "Where is Mr. Greene?"

"At the dining table," Liam responded curtly, already turning on his heel to lead the way. His voice carried a slight edge of impatience, but his mother didn't seem to notice. Or perhaps, she chose not to. She never seemed to notice when Liam was getting a little too restless, a little too eager to get things done.

His mother's smile softened, almost as if she were looking at a memory. "Liam, you've always been like this," she said, her tone dipped in nostalgia, the words heavy with a quiet affection. "Even as a child, you would drag people away to focus on work. It hasn't changed."

Liam's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond, merely brushing past her with a polite smile. His mother, oblivious to the tension, watched him for a moment before she moved toward the kitchen again, humming a familiar tune as she continued about her business.

As Liam walked ahead, he caught Noah's eye. Noah, who had been listening to the brief exchange, couldn't help but feel a growing awareness of the distance between Liam and his family's expectations. The way his mother had spoken, so matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for Liam to withdraw into work, to isolate himself from everything else.

It made Noah wonder if Liam ever felt like he was more of a tool for the family's ambitions than a son or brother, if the weight of those expectations ever suffocated him.

Noah's gaze lingered on Liam for a moment, noticing the slight tension in his posture as he guided Noah into the dining room. The distance between them seemed to stretch just a little bit wider now. Despite their professional rapport, Noah couldn't help but see how out of place Liam looked in this environment, like someone who had learned to play the role of a son but had never fully embraced it.

Liam, for his part, was focused entirely on the task ahead, his mind already back on the upcoming meetings, the details of the project in London, the things that mattered to him. But Noah saw the way his eyes flicked to the doorway just before they entered the dining room, a brief flicker of hesitation. It was the look of a man trying to find balance in a life that demanded so much of him, a man who had mastered the art of work but at the expense of everything else.