The receptionist glanced at the schedule and replied, "The earliest available appointment is in half a month."

Catherine felt her heart sink. Half a month? That was far too long.

At that moment, the soft chime of an elevator echoed through the lobby, and the doors slid open. A man and a woman stepped out.

It was Shawn.

Dressed in a sleek, custom-tailored black suit, he exuded the aura of someone who belonged to the top tier of society. Every detail of his appearance spoke of wealth and refinement.

The woman accompanying him was unfamiliar to Catherine. She appeared to be around thirty, with striking features and an undeniably sexy presence.

When Shawn's eyes briefly met Catherine's, there was no flicker of recognition in his expression. He acted as though she were a stranger, maintaining his professional demeanor as he escorted the woman toward the exit.

At the door, he shook hands with her and said his goodbyes.

The woman, however, lingered, her tone playful as she spoke. "If it weren't for you, Mr. Reed, I wouldn't have gotten a dime out of my ex-husband! Do you know how stingy he was after he started seeing his mistress?"

Shawn's lips curved into a faint, polite smile. "Just doing my job," he replied smoothly.

The woman's eyes gleamed with interest as she gave him a once-over. Leaning in slightly, she asked, "Mr. Reed, how about joining me for a drink tonight?"

Catherine observed the exchange, noting the woman's beauty and confidence. She thought to herself that most men wouldn't have been able to resist an invitation like that.

But Shawn Reed wasn't like most men.

He glanced at his watch and declined with a courteous tone, "I'm sorry, but I already have plans tonight."

The woman wasn't foolish. She could tell that his refusal wasn't just about being busy—it was his way of politely brushing her off. Understanding the message, she smiled, said goodbye, and got into her car before driving away.

As soon as the woman was out of sight, Shawn turned back and walked directly to the front desk. He stopped in front of Catherine, his expression unreadable.

"Did you change your mind?" he asked, his tone cool and detached.

Catherine froze for a moment, caught off guard by his question. Hastily, she held up a small paper bag and stammered, "I… I came to return your coat."

Shawn simply nodded, taking the bag from her without much reaction. "Thank you," he said curtly. Without sparing another glance in her direction, he turned and started walking toward the elevators.

For a moment, Catherine stood there, unsure of what to do. But as Shawn reached the elevator and pressed the button, she snapped out of her daze and quickly rushed after him. "Mr. Reed, I need to talk to you about something…"

The elevator doors slid open, and Shawn stepped inside. Without hesitation, Catherine followed him in.

As the doors closed, Shawn turned to her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt and said in a flat, dispassionate voice, "I'm not taking your case."