Stephen convinced himself that the situation was only temporary. Once he was done dealing with James, he would get Tessa back.

…

Meanwhile, Hayden stuck close to Tessa’s side. “Ms. Yates, do you usually like to golf?”

Tessa moved away to create some distance between them. “I just play it casually, but I don’t do it very often,” she answered politely.

Hayden wasn’t aware of Tessa’s background, assuming that she was just a regular lawyer who only earned a few thousand dollars per month. A few thousand dollars was a laughably small amount in Hayden’s eyes as it could only cover the cost of a single meal.

He wore his most charming smile. “I should have guessed as much. Just purchasing the most basic gear would probably cost you a month’s worth of your salary, not to mention there are also the fees for the golf course and instructor that need to be paid for.

“An annual pass for a club like this one costs about 300,000 dollars. There’s really no reason for a lawyer such as yourself to waste all your hard-earned money on a place like this.”

Tessa ignored the veiled slights laced within Hayden’s words. She just smiled, agreeing, “You’re right.”

Her smile sent a swarm of butterflies aflutter in Hayden’s gut, making it arduous for him to control himself. He was used to enjoying a luxurious lifestyle, and there was never a lack of women around him. Although he had a wife at home, she wasn’t the only woman in Hayden’s life. He had propositioned many other women over the years.

Hayden could feel excitement bubbling in his chest. “Ms. Yates, how about I purchase a membership for you? You can accompany me to play golf in your spare time.”

Tessa scoffed at him internally. She had seen through Hayden immediately. Although he was asking her to play golf with him on the surface, she knew that things would not be so simple if she did agree. He wanted to use a mere 300,000 dollars to sleep with her.

She couldn’t believe how shameless he was. By the looks of it, Hayden was probably already married, too.

Tessa kept her true feelings under wraps. Smiling at him, she declined, “I’m sorry, Mr. Lowain. I can play with you as much as you want today, but I don’t have much free time in my daily life.”

To the side, Barry was shooting Tessa anxious looks. He tried to convey to her through his gaze alone that Tessa was letting a golden opportunity slip by. However, she pretended not to notice his frantic looks.

Hayden did not seem deterred by

Tessa’s rejection. Her behavior wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen before. Tessa was the uptight and aloof type, and he had seen a score of other women like her. They always pretended to be aloof in the beginning, as if they weren’t

interested in his wealth.

He knew how to deal with her type of woman. Everything they did was deliberate

and calculated. They would cast a reel for the long term in hopes of reeling in a

big fish. They were known as “Fisherwomen”.

In his eyes, the type of rewards

these women hoped to snare in their

1.n

nets wasn’t worth anything. Tessa was a generational beauty. Her. looks were leagues above the other influencers and rising stars he had taken to bed in the past. If he could

sleep with her, he was willing to spend any amount of money on her.

Hayden was determined to have Tessa. A warm smile stretched across his face as

he said, “That’s alright. I know you lawyers are always up to your elbows in work. We can arrange something in the future. Let’s enjoy ourselves to the fullest today.”

“Yes, Mr. Lowain,” Tessa answered with a nod and a smile.

Hayden was completely head over heels for Tessa after seeing her smile. The gears in his mind whirred rapidly as he suggested, “How about we partake in a little challenge, Ms. Yates? If you manage to hit the ball into the putting green within 10 strokes, I’ll give you 10,000 dollars. On top of that, I’ll add another 10,000 dollars based on how many strokes you take.”

“What if I lose? If I can’t hit the ball into the putting green within 10 strokes, what

would you have me do?” she asked, the smile never leaving her face.

A red haze of anticipation colored his face. “You are to have dinner with me. Alone.”