The low hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filled the sophisticated ambiance of 'Han's Place,' a restaurant known as much for its exquisite food as for its devastatingly handsome Omega owner. Han Seokjin moved through the tables with practiced ease, a charming smile for every patron. His scent, a comforting blend of peony and clean linen, was a familiar balm to his regular customers and his closest friends. His attention was primarily focused on the corner booth where his two best friends were huddled.

Siwoo was stabbing a piece of kimchi bokkeumbap with unusual force, his own sandalwood-and-cotton scent spiked with a hint of frustrated ozone. Jaeho, whose sweet strawberry-milk scent usually filled a room with joy, was watching him, eyes wide with barely contained glee.

"So let me get this straight," Seokjin said, sliding into the booth beside Jaeho, his presence immediately adding a calming stability to the table. "You, the ethereal Kim Siwoo, were mistaken for the mother of Jeon Minho's love child. Is that the tea?"

"It's not tea, it's a catastrophe," Siwoo mumbled, finally looking up. "The man looked at me like I'd personally planned the whole thing. The meeting was frostier than the ice sculptures at your winter gala, Hyung."

Jaeho sipped his drink. "I think it's romantic. A forbidden, instant connection! The son senses his true Omega parent!"

"Will you stop with the Wattpad narrative?" Siwoo groaned, dropping his fork. "It was embarrassing. And confusing. That poor little boy..." His voice softened, the memory of Junho's small, warm weight in his arms surfacing again, and his scent mellowed into something more wistful.

"The child aside," Seokjin interjected, ever the pragmatic one. "The business. Is the man as competent as they say? Or is he all brooding and no brains?"

"Oh, he's brilliant," Siwoo admitted reluctantly, leaning back. "Ruthlessly so. His vision for the 'Celestial' line... it's breathtaking. He sees jewelry not as accessories, but as narratives. Our models wouldn't just be wearing gems; they'd be embodying constellations. It's the kind of creative synergy I usually only dream of."

"But?" Seokjin prompted, sensing the hesitation.

"But he's a fortress. Getting a straight answer about budget allocation was like negotiating with a sphinx. And every time I looked up, he was already watching me. It was... intense." He didn't add that Minho's Alpha scent—spiced amber and cold rain—had been so potent it was difficult to think straight, a fact his Omega instincts were acutely aware of.

"He's probably just as thrown by the 'Mama' incident as you are," Jaeho offered, now slightly more serious. "Maybe his Alpha is trying to figure out why an Omega it doesn't know triggered such a strong reaction in his pup."

Before Siwoo could reply, his phone vibrated on the table. The screen lit up with a contact he'd only just added: Kang Hajun.

"Speak of the devil," Siwoo murmured, showing them the screen before answering. "Hajun-ssi? What a surprise."

"Siwoo-ssi, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time," came the calm, measured voice of Kang Hajun, CEO of NamTech and a respected figure in their circles. He was a bridge between many business worlds.

"Not at all. What can I do for you?"

"I'm calling about your meeting with Minho today. I was the one who suggested the collaboration to both your boards."

Siwoo's eyebrows shot up. He put the phone on speaker, gesturing for Seokjin and Jaeho to listen. "Is that so? Well, you have an eye for partnerships, Hajun-ssi. The potential is certainly there."

"I'm glad to hear you say that," Hajun replied, a smile evident in his voice. "But I'm also calling because I heard there was a... slight hiccup? Something involving a child?"

Siwoo felt a flush creep up his neck. News traveled fast. "A minor incident. Nothing that affected the business discussions."

"Good. I'll be frank, Siwoo-ssi. Minho is a brilliant man, but he is... guarded. For very personal reasons. And you, from what I know, have the warmth and creativity that could elevate this project beyond a simple business transaction. This collaboration isn't just about jewelry and models. It's about merging two empires. Together, Jeon Jewels and Kim Models could create a new standard of luxury. Don't let a slightly awkward first meeting derail that."

The words were a gentle push, but they carried the weight of truth. Siwoo looked at his friends. Jaeho was nodding enthusiastically, and even Seokjin looked thoughtful.

"You're right, Hajun-ssi. It was just a strange start. The professional in me is still very much excited about this."

"Excellent. I'll let Minho know you're still on board. He can be... stubborn. But he respects talent and vision above all else. Show him yours." With a final pleasantry, Hajun ended the call.

The table was silent for a moment, the three Omegas absorbing the information.

"Well," Seokjin said, breaking the silence. "It seems the universe, in the form of a very tall, dimpled philosopher, is shoving you two together."

Siwoo let out a long breath, the initial embarrassment slowly being replaced by a spark of determination. Hajun was right. This was bigger than one awkward moment. He was Kim Siwoo, the Runway King. He hadn't built his empire by being flustered by a compelling Alpha.

"Okay," he said, his voice regaining its usual confident timbre, his scent settling back into its warm, creative core. "So the Tiger is guarded. And his cub is adorable and confusing. That doesn't change the fact that this collaboration will be the event of the season." He picked up his fork again, his appetite returning. "I'll show Jeon Minho exactly what this Omega is made of."

Across the city, in a minimalist office that smelled of espresso, old money, and the dominant scent of a powerful Alpha, Minho was receiving a similar call.

"Sheer coincidence, Minho-ah," Hajun's voice reasoned through the speakerphone. Daehyun, a Beta whose scent was a neutral, calming cedar, lounged on the sofa, while Taejoon, another Beta with a faint, sunny citrus scent, pretended to organize files by the door.

"It was unprofessional," Minho stated, his jaw tight, his spiced-amber scent spiking with irritation. "The child should not have been there. I should not have allowed it."

"And yet, he was. And Kim Siwoo handled it with grace, from what I hear. He didn't press, he didn't ask questions. He soothed your son and moved on. That speaks volumes about his character."

Minho was silent, the image of Siwoo's gentle hands on Junho's shoulders flashing in his mind. It had been... disarming. The Omega's scent, so warm and inviting amidst the sterile office air, had been a distraction he was still trying to shake.

"The business potential is what matters," Hajun continued. "His models are the best. Your jewels are the best. Together, you are untouchable. Don't let your... protective instincts... blind you to a perfect business opportunity."

After the call ended, the room was quiet.

"He's not wrong," Daehyun said flatly, not looking up from his phone. "The numbers on this are insane. And the guy's a creative genius. You could use a little of that."

Taejoon nodded vigorously. "And Junho seemed to really like him! He hasn't stopped talking about the 'pretty prince' who helped him." He hesitated, then added, "For an Omega, he held himself with a lot of power. It was... impressive."

Minho swiveled his chair to face the panoramic window, the glittering cityscape of Seoul sprawled out before him. A perfect business opportunity. A creative genius. A powerful Omega with a scent that appealed to both his son and, unnervingly, to his own Alpha instincts. A "pretty prince" who his son had instinctively called 'Mama.'

It was a complication he hadn't anticipated. A risk.

But Jeon Minho had never built his empire by avoiding risks. He turned back to his team, his decision made, his scent shifting to one of cool, determined resolve.

"Schedule the first creative meeting for the 'Celestial' shoot," he commanded, his voice once again that of the decisive CEO. "Let's see what Omega Kim Siwoo is truly made of."

---

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