Kim Siwoo's world had narrowed to the crying child in his arms and the stormy-eyed Alpha frozen in the doorway. The word "Mama" echoed in the silent, opulent hallway, seeming to suck all the air out of it.

For a heart-stopping second, Siwoo's own Omega instincts roared to the surface, a fierce, protective urge to soothe and comfort this distressed pup. His arms tightened instinctively around the small, warm body. But logic quickly reasserted itself. This was the child of Jeon Minho, the reclusive, notoriously private "Golden Tiger." And he had just been called 'Mama' in front of him.

He gently set the boy back on his feet, but kept a steadying hand on his small shoulder. "There now, little prince. All safe," he murmured, his voice still soft but now laced with a thread of bewildered amusement. He looked up, meeting the Alpha's gaze fully, and offered a small, apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry. He took a bit of a tumble. I think he's just a little startled."

Minho seemed to snap out of his trance. He moved forward, a predator's grace in his steps, and in one fluid motion, he scooped Junho into his arms. The child immediately buried his face in his father's neck, his sobs quieting to hiccupping sniffles.

"It's alright, Junho-ah. Appa's here," Minho said, his voice a low, vibrating rumble that was both a comfort to his son and a subtle warning to the man before him. His eyes, dark and unreadable, never left Siwoo's. "The fault is ours. He was supposed to be with my secretary." He glanced sharply at Taejoon, who looked utterly mortified.

"No harm done, I assure you," Siwoo said smoothly, rising to his full height and retrieving his portfolio. He brushed invisible dust from his impeccably tailored trousers, a gesture of pure nonchalance that belied the strange flutter in his chest. The intensity of Minho's presence was... palpable. It wasn't just Alpha power; it was a focused, magnetic force. "He's a spirited one. It happens."

"Mr. Jeon," Taejoon interjected, voice tight with apology. "My deepest apologies. The phone from the board—it was insistent—I only looked away for a second—"

"It's fine, Taejoon," Minho cut him off, though his tone suggested it was anything but. He finally shifted his gaze from Siwoo to the conference room doors. "Shall we? We've kept Mr. Kim waiting long enough."

The dismissal was clear. The moment in the hallway was over.

"Of course," Siwoo nodded, his smile now perfectly professional, a mask he wore with ease. He followed Minho into the conference room, the scent of the Alpha—spiced amber and cold, clean rain—lingering in the air behind him.

An hour later, seated in the plush comfort of his chauffeured car, Siwoo let the professional mask slip. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.

The meeting had been... tense. Minho was sharp, incisive, and breathtakingly intelligent. His vision for the "Celestial" jewelry line was ambitious and brilliant. But there was a wall around him, a fortress of ice that the incident with the child had only thickened. Every time Siwoo had spoken, he'd felt the weight of Minho's observant gaze, as if the Alpha was trying to dissect him, to find a hidden meaning behind his every word.

And then there was the boy. Junho.

The word "Mama" replayed in his mind. It was absurd. Hilarious, even. And yet, a strange, aching tenderness bloomed in his chest. The child's tear-filled eyes, his immediate, instinctual trust... it had stirred something deep within Siwoo, a longing he usually kept locked away in a quiet, lonely corner of his heart.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. The screen showed a picture of Jaeho sticking his tongue out. He swiped to answer.

"Well? How was the Tiger? Did he try to eat you?" Jaeho's voice chirped through the speakers.

Siwoo laughed, a rich, genuine sound. "No, he did not. He's... intense. And brilliant. The collaboration will be spectacular."

"Your voice has that 'but' in it. What happened?"

"Nothing," Siwoo said, too quickly. He paused, knowing Jaeho would hear right through him. "It's just... he has a son."

"A son? The ghost has a child? How old? What's he like? Who's the mother?"

"Five, maybe. Adorable. And I have no idea about the mother," Siwoo replied, the image of Minho's protective, almost pained expression flashing in his mind. "He brought him to the office today. The little one, Junho, he... ran into me in the hallway. Called me 'Mama'."

The line went silent for a full three seconds before Jaeho erupted. "HE WHAT?! Kim Siwoo! You met his secret child and he called you Mama? This isn't a business meeting, this is the first chapter of a Wattpad novel!"

"Yah, stop it," Siwoo chided, though a smile played on his lips. "The poor thing was confused and fell. It was nothing. Minho-ssi looked like he'd seen a ghost."

"Of course he did! The most beautiful Omega in Seoul shows up and his son immediately claims him as a parent? I'd have a heart attack," Jaeho giggled. "So, what now?"

"Now," Siwoo said, his gaze drifting to the passing cityscape, "we have a photo shoot to prepare for. The Tiger and his jewels are waiting." His tone was light, but his mind was still back in that hallway, with a child's trusting sob and an Alpha's guarded, stormy eyes.

He had a feeling this collaboration was going to be far more interesting than he'd ever anticipated.

---

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