His CEO

irony of love

"It's just for two weeks, baby," Jihyo said softly as she kneeled in front of Jihyun, hoping to reassure her. She tried to keep her voice steady, though her own heart was breaking at the sight of her daughter's tear-filled eyes.

But Jihyun shook her head, her grip on Jihyo tightening as she buried her face in her mother's shoulder. "I don't want you to go, mommy," Jihyun cried, her small voice trembling. "Can't you stay with us?"

Jihyo hugged Jihyun tightly. "I know, I know," she whispered, holding her daughter close. "But I have to go there for work. I'll be back before you know it, I promise."

Insung watched with a heavy heart then kneeled down beside them, gently placing a hand on Jihyun's back. "Jihyun-ah," he said. "Mommy is going to be okay, and we'll have lots of fun while she's gone. We can go to the park, the mall, and I'll even make your favorite meals."

"No!" Jihyun sniffled, her grip on Jihyo tightened more as she glanced at Insung. "I only want mommy!"

Insung smiled as he wiped away some of her tears. "We'll call her every night so you won't have to miss her that much. How does that sound?"

Slowly, Jihyun's hold on Jihyo loosened, and though she was still teary-eyed, she nodded reluctantly, letting out a soft sigh. "Okay," Jihyun whispered, though her sadness was still evident. "I'll miss you, Eomma."

"I'll miss you too, my love," Jihyo said, kissing Jihyun's forehead gently. "Have fun with your dad, okay?"

Jihyun finally released her hold on Jihyo and stepped back into Insung's arms, though her little hands still clutched at his shirt for comfort. Insung stood up, holding Jihyun close as Jihyo rose to her feet.

Jihyo gave Insung a small, grateful smile. "Thank you," she whispered, then leaned in to give him a brief hug.

"Don't overwork yourself."

"I won't."

With a final look at her daughter and Insung, Jihyo turned toward the security gate, her steps slow and hesitant as she walked away. She could still hear Jihyun's soft sniffles and felt the weight of leaving them behind for the next two weeks.

Jihyo struggled to concentrate on her trip ahead. As she went through security and toward the boarding gate, the world around her gradually became hazy. Her thoughts remained on the ground even as the plane took flight and the city below her faded.

Jihyun's teary face haunted her, and she kept wondering if she had made the right choice in leaving. Her chest tightened with guilt, though she knew she had to go. The other passengers around her were either sleeping or engaged in conversation, but Jihyo sat quietly by the window, staring blankly at the vast sky while her coffee remained untouched on the tray in front of her.

As the hours passed, she tried to distract herself by looking over some documents for the meeting, but her mind kept wandering. Every time she closed her eyes, all she knew was that she wouldn't fully relax until she was back home.

Jihyo spent the entire week preparing for the upcoming meeting with the executives of Hoshida Corporation and visiting potential development sites across the capital before meeting the key people of the said conglomerate.

The early sunlight of Tokyo cast the building of Hoshida Corporation as Jihyo stepped into the sleek, glass-walled conference room. The Japanese executives sitting at the long, polished table nodded respectfully as she entered. She returned the greeting with a polite smile, quickly scanning the room for the lead investor she was to meet.