The cab ride back to the hotel was quiet, a comfortable lull settling between Liam and Noah after the long day. The city's lights flickered outside the windows, a warm glow over the familiar streets. Noah leaned back in his seat, eyes half-closed, but his mind wasn't entirely at ease.

As the car approached their hotel, Liam, ever observant, broke the silence. "Why did you leave London to go to New York, anyway?" His tone was casual, but the question hit Noah harder than expected.

Noah blinked, caught off guard. He laughed softly, deflecting. "What can I say? New York has better bagels."

Liam raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but didn't push further.

***

The hotel suite was nothing short of luxurious. The living area featured plush furniture and an expansive view of the London skyline, its lights twinkling like distant stars. The suite's layout provided two separate bedrooms, each offering its own space, but positioned to face each other across the shared suite. Noah admired the understated elegance of the room while Liam unpacked, his movements efficient and methodical.

Noah leaned against the doorway of his room for a moment, taking in the soft lighting and sleek furnishings. He had always appreciated a well-designed space. The bed was perfectly made, the sheets crisp and inviting. It was a far cry from the chaos of the last few days, and it felt good to finally settle in, even if just for a night.

Meanwhile, Liam's room was a mirror image, though far less inviting. He seemed more focused on the task at hand than the comfort of his surroundings, pulling items out of his suitcase with the kind of precision that suggested he could live out of it indefinitely if needed.

Noah chuckled softly to himself as he watched, appreciating how different their approaches to travel were. He'd taken his time to savor the luxury of the space, while Liam had already slipped into his work mode, determined to make the most of every minute.

The soft sound of a door clicking open caught Noah's attention. Liam had stepped out of his room, perhaps to grab something from the living area. As soon as the door opened, a cold draft slipped through the small gap, making Noah feel a sudden chill. He glanced over at the doorway to Liam's room, the space between them now inviting the cool air that had been trapped in the hallway.

Noah frowned, instinctively wrapping his arms around himself as the chill brushed past. It wasn't enough to be uncomfortable, but it was enough to remind him of how the simple actions of opening a door could shift the atmosphere in the suite, making the shared space feel colder than it had before.

"Not bad," Noah said, running a hand over the back of the couch. "Greene Innovations knows how to treat its people."

Liam glanced back at him, not noticing the cold air that had followed him. "Let's just hope they treat their projects as well as they treat us," Liam replied absently.

Noah grinned. "Always the skeptic."

Liam didn't rise to the bait. He was already returning to his room, his expression showing the first signs of weariness. "I'm calling it a night. Long day tomorrow."

"Sure thing," Noah said, following Liam's lead and retreating to his own room. Noah lay on his bed for a while, staring at the ceiling, but his mind kept circling back to Liam's question in the cab.

Why had he left London?

***

Unable to quiet his thoughts, Noah slipped out of bed and into the suite's small kitchenette. He set the kettle on to boil, moving with practiced ease as he prepared a cup of tea. The faint aroma of chamomile filled the room. With the steaming cup in hand, he stepped onto the balcony.

The city stretched out before him, a patchwork of old and new, a place full of memories both bright and bitter. The air was crisp, cool enough to sting, but Noah didn't mind. He leaned against the railing, his thoughts drifting as he sipped his tea.

The door behind him creaked open, and he turned to see Liam standing there, his hair slightly tousled from sleep.

"It's freezing," Liam said, wrapping his arms around himself. "What are you doing out here?"

"Couldn't sleep," Noah replied with a shrug. "Did I wake you?"

"No, the cold did." Liam stepped closer, leaning against the doorframe. His sharp gaze softened slightly as he studied Noah. "What's on your mind?"

Noah hesitated, but something in Liam's quiet presence encouraged him to speak. He took a long sip of his tea before answering.

"Back in the cab, you asked why I left London."

Liam nodded, waiting patiently.

Noah exhaled, the breath visible in the chilly air. "I left because...I failed here. Multiple times. I had ideas—good ideas—but no one would take me seriously. Everyone thought I was just some laid-back guy who got by on charm and luck. And maybe they were right. Maybe I wasn't serious enough back then. But after a while, it felt like the city itself was telling me I didn't belong here."

He looked down at his tea, swirling the liquid in the cup. "New York gave me a clean slate. A chance to prove I wasn't just some fluke. And it worked, but coming back here... It's harder than I thought it would be. Feels like I'm stepping back into the shadow of who I used to be."

Liam didn't respond immediately. He stepped out onto the balcony, ignoring the cold, and stood beside Noah.

"You don't seem like someone who runs from things," Liam said eventually, his voice steady but thoughtful. "From what I've seen, you know how to adapt. It's probably why Greene Innovations is even standing in the first place."

Noah chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it. "That's the thing about charm—it's great until you need people to actually believe in you."

"I believe in you."

Noah froze, the words catching him off guard. He turned to look at Liam, but the other man's expression remained calm, matter-of-fact.

"Your ideas are solid, Noah," Liam said, his tone steady but sincere. "I wouldn't have signed on to this if I thought otherwise. You're not just a smooth talker—you've got real vision. That's why this project is going to succeed."

He paused, stifling a yawn as fatigue began to catch up with him. "Besides, I'm the one financing it. I don't really have a choice but to believe in you, do I?"

Liam's words carried a teasing edge, but the underlying faith in Noah was unmistakable.

Noah's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Thanks, Liam. That...means a lot."

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, the chill of the night air forgotten. Finally, Liam clapped a hand on Noah's shoulder.

"Come on. Get some sleep. Tomorrow's another long day."

Noah nodded, following Liam back inside. As he settled into bed, the weight on his chest felt just a little lighter. For the first time in a long time, he felt like someone truly saw him—not the polished version he presented to the world, but the person beneath.

And that, he thought as he drifted off to sleep, was a start.