The dining room was grand, the polished mahogany table stretching long enough to host an entire board meeting. It felt like a space that belonged to a corporate empire, not a family home. The intricate chandeliers overhead cast a soft glow across the room, making the air feel even more formal, even though the purpose of their meeting was far from it.

Noah sat down first, taking a casual glance around the room as he set his coffee down. He'd been in plenty of boardrooms, but there was something about this place—this house—that made it all feel different. The air was thick with history, expectation, and something else that Noah couldn't quite place yet. He'd met Liam's family before, but there was always something quietly unsettling about the Parkers' high standards, their ever-present gaze on image and reputation.

As Liam sat down across from him, Noah's gaze flickered to the empty chair at the head of the table. "Your mom seems really nice," he remarked, trying to break the silence and lighten the atmosphere. "Not what I expected, considering...well, you know, everything."

Liam set his papers down, his expression shifting slightly, though he kept his tone even. "Yeah, she's...nice. She's just a little more traditional than most people realize. We usually don't have to worry about her being around at this hour. She and Father are usually out, and she doesn't come back until the next day."

Noah, ever the one to push boundaries with his casual tone, leaned back in his chair, trying to read between the lines. "Sounds like a bit of a luxury to have your parents out of the house. I bet that gives you some breathing room." He smirked slightly, tapping his fingers on the edge of his coffee cup.

Liam's eyes flicked toward Noah, a brief flash of something—annoyance? Frustration?—crossing his face before he quickly masked it. "Look, Noah. Focus. We're here to work, not to discuss my family's schedule." His voice was controlled but sharp, cutting through the lighter tone Noah had tried to set.

Noah raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to the jab. Instead, he leaned in, trying to make the conversation shift back to the task at hand. "Right. Got it. But you do realize your mom being here complicates things, right?"

Liam's jaw tightened, and he let out a quiet sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck as if trying to ease some tension he'd been holding. "Look, I'm sorry she's here. She's not supposed to be. Their plans were canceled tonight. They usually have a date night, but... I wasn't expecting her to be here. It's just...better when she's not around."

Noah shifted uncomfortably, his playful demeanor fading as he sensed the unease in Liam's voice. "I get it," he said, voice quieter now. "I mean, your mother's...I don't know, intense, right? With the whole image thing and all."

Liam shot Noah a quick, sharp look, his eyes betraying just a hint of vulnerability beneath his usual guarded exterior. "It's not just that," Liam said, voice tight. "It's... She doesn't know about the rumors yet. And if you're here, especially if you say something...I don't want her getting any ideas."

Noah froze, the weight of Liam's words settling between them like an unspoken truth. "Right," he said softly, nodding, his tone suddenly more serious. He hadn't realized just how much pressure Liam was under, not just with the business, but with his family. It was one thing to navigate the professional world of high expectations, but another entirely to balance those expectations with something as personal as his identity—and the rumors swirling around him.

Liam didn't continue, but Noah could feel the tension building again, thick in the air. The undercurrent of something unspoken—something far deeper than the work they were supposed to be focused on—was hard to ignore.

"I get it," Noah finally said, leaning back in his chair again. "You don't want to rock the boat, especially with her around. And with everything going on with the rumors, I can see why you'd want to keep things low-key."

Liam nodded stiffly, his eyes flickering briefly toward the hallway, as if ensuring his mother wasn't listening in from the kitchen. "Exactly. I don't want to deal with the questions if she finds out. She's...she's not exactly the type of person who would take that well. Especially with everything we've built."

Noah leaned forward, sensing the deeper layers of Liam's struggle. "Hey, I'm not here to make things harder for you. If anything, I'll play it cool. Just...don't get too stressed about it. We're here to work."

Liam's shoulders relaxed just a fraction, though the tension in his face didn't entirely fade. "Thanks. I appreciate that." He took a deep breath, then pushed a folder across the table toward Noah, his focus snapping back to business. "Let's get to the project. We've got a lot to cover."

Noah nodded, picking up the folder and glancing over the contents. As he scanned the papers, he couldn't help but wonder just how much of Liam's life was dictated by his family's expectations, and how much of it was actually his own. But he didn't say anything. For now, he knew it was best to focus on the task at hand.

They both fell into silence, the weight of the unspoken conversation still hanging in the air as they turned their attention back to the business at hand. The project, the work, the plan—it was all easier to focus on than the complicated, messy emotions just beneath the surface.