Shawn Reed was a man of influence and power, deeply entrenched in the upper echelons of society. Getting involved with him in any way could be risky, and Roxy knew that helping Catherine might inadvertently offend him.

But Roxy was nothing if not loyal. Determined to support her friend, she used her husband's connections to dig up Shawn's schedule. It didn't take long for her to find out that he had a golf match scheduled at the country club on Saturday at 3:00 PM.

At the appointed time, Catherine arrived at the country club accompanied by Roxy and her husband. However, to Catherine's surprise—and dismay—Ryan was also there.

The sight of him caught her completely off guard, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Roxy's reaction, however, was far less subtle. She shot her husband a sharp glare, pinching his arm hard. "Why didn't you tell us Ryan would be here?" she whispered harshly. "How is Catherine supposed to approach Shawn now?"

Her husband winced and quickly apologized. "I swear, I didn't know! I'm really sorry, Catherine!"

But before Catherine had the chance to retreat, Shawn had already noticed them.

He stood out effortlessly, dressed in a crisp, white golf ensemble that made him look every bit the part of the wealthy elite. His tall frame and refined demeanor naturally drew attention from the crowd.

Much like at the law firm, Shawn acted as though he didn't recognize Catherine. He offered a polite greeting to Roxy's husband, completely ignoring her at first.

Roxy's husband, flattered by the acknowledgment, smiled back enthusiastically.

Then, Shawn's gaze shifted to Catherine.

She had dressed carefully for the occasion, and it showed. Her smooth, flawless skin seemed to glow in the afternoon sun. She had chosen an outfit that accentuated her natural beauty—a fitted white T-shirt that gave her an air of youthful energy, paired with light grey shorts that perfectly highlighted her long, shapely legs. Her wavy brown hair was tied into a neat bun, adding a touch of elegance to her otherwise casual look.

Shawn's eyes lingered briefly on her legs before he spoke, his tone casual and composed. "And you are…?"

Once again, he pretended not to know her.

Roxy's husband, sensing the delicate situation, decided to play along rather than expose the obvious lie. "Mr. Reed, this is Miss Catherine Bates," he said smoothly. "She's a college friend of Roxy's and works as a piano teacher."

Shawn's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Ah, nice to meet you, Miss Bates."

Maintaining his air of gentlemanly charm, he extended his hand toward her.

Their interaction quickly drew the attention of the surrounding crowd, composed of other wealthy elites. Many of them turned to watch curiously. When they realized that Catherine's presence seemed to be for Shawn, some of the men couldn't help but look on enviously.

One of them even remarked with a teasing tone, "Mr. Reed, you're a lucky man."

Catherine was completely unaccustomed to this kind of attention. Flustered and unsure of how to respond, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. Nervously, she reached out and placed her small hand in Shawn's.

His hand, large and firm, enveloped hers briefly before he let go. With a charming smile that seemed to only further disarm her, he asked, "Miss Bates, would you care to join me for a round of golf?"