Silas drove the golf cart smoothly across the manicured grass of the exclusive club course. His white polo shirt, tucked into tailored navy trousers, brought out his figure, making him more appealing to the eye.
His sunglasses rested on his head.
As he approached the designated tee-off area, he spotted his group of friends already gathered. They were all dressed in similar high-end golf attire and visors or caps.
Two of them, a doctor named Marcus and a tech entrepreneur named Julian, were already on the fairway, mid swing in a casual competition. Their laughter carried on the breeze as they watched each other's shots.
The remaining three stood near the golf cart path, bags at their feet, chatting and sipping from water bottles. The moment they noticed Silas approaching, they waved at him.
"Finally decided to grace us with your presence, Voss?" called Rowan, the sharp-tongued business attorney of the group. He was tall and lean, wearing a light blue polo and holding his driver like a casual weapon.
Beside him stood Nicholas, a successful real estate developer, who grinned widely. "We were starting to think you'd abandoned us for another board meeting."
The third man, Dr. Elias, a renowned cardiologist, raised his hand in greeting. "Good to see you, Silas. Marcus and Julian are already showing off over there."
Silas brought his cart to a smooth stop beside theirs. He stepped out with his usual commanding grace, nodding once to the group. "Good for them."
Nicholas clapped him on the shoulder. "Good timing. We were just about to start the usual wager."
Rowan smirked. "Speaking of wagers… Nicholas, hope your new wife doesn't complain about you spending the morning here instead of at home."
The group chuckled. Nicholas rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "She knows I need fresh air. Unlike you eternal bachelors, I actually have someone waiting for me."
Laughter erupted again — except from Silas, whose face remained neutral, almost cold, as he adjusted the strap of his golf bag.
Rowan, never one to miss an opportunity, leaned in with a mischievous glint. "Well, Silas will be the next one to fall in our circle. Mark my words."
Silas turned his head slowly and gave Rowan a hard, piercing look that could freeze water. The lawyer didn't flinch; instead, he grinned wider.
The rest of the friends gathered closer, sensing gossip. Elias raised an eyebrow. "Spill it, Rowan. What do you know that we don't?"
Rowan leaned against his cart, clearly enjoying the attention. "My mother and Silas's mother are close friends, as you all know. Apparently, one of her friend's daughters, a beautiful actress from a very wealthy family is coming home soon. And Silas's mother has already decided she's the perfect match. Wedding bells might be ringing before the year ends."
The group whistled and laughed, turning expectant eyes toward Silas.
Silas's expression didn't change, but his voice was cool. "How exactly do you know about this?"
Rowan shrugged, unfazed. "Mothers talk. And since they're best friends, I definitely hear things. You can't hide forever, my friend."
Silas scoffed, the sound low and dismissive. "Stupid."
The others burst into loud laughter.
Nicholas slapped Rowan on the back. "He called you stupid to your face and you're still smiling. Classic."
Rowan waved it off with a grin. "I'm just the messenger. But seriously, Silas, when are you going to show us this mysterious 'product' you've been hiding from the club? The one that's got even the stone-faced Silas acting greedy?"
Before Silas could respond, Nicholas excused himself with a dramatic sigh. "I'm going to hit a few balls before my wife starts texting me. You lot enjoy your gossip."
The friends laughed harder. Elias called after him, "Running scared already? Afraid she'll maltreat you when you get home?"
Nicholas fired back over his shoulder as he climbed into his cart, "At least I have a clean, home-cooked meal waiting for me. You lot are still eating dirty takeout and cold meals!"
More laughter followed as Nicholas walked off toward the fairway.
Rowan turned back to Silas, undeterred. "Come on, don't dodge the question. What's this treasure you've been keeping from us? We need to see the product that's capable of making even you greedy enough not to share."
Silas's gaze remained steady and unreadable. He picked up his driver from the bag with deliberate calm. "It's none of your business."
Rowan grinned wider, refusing to back down. "None of our business? That only makes us more curious. A man like you doesn't hide something unless it's truly valuable. Or truly dangerous."
The others nodded in agreement, clearly intrigued. Elias crossed his arms. "He's right. You've been unusually tight-lipped lately. What's going on, Silas?"
Silas didn't answer immediately. He adjusted his grip on the club, eyes scanning the green where Marcus and Julian were still competing. His thoughts drifted briefly to Sylvain, the cooking lesson he had arranged, and the engagement he had made for tonight.
He finally spoke. "Some things are better kept private. Focus on your game."
The friends exchanged knowing looks but didn't push further. Rowan chuckled. "Fine, keep your secrets for now. But we'll find out eventually."
Silas gave a small, almost imperceptible nod and climbed back into his cart. "Let's play."
As the group began to move toward the next hole, the light-hearted teasing continued, but Silas's mind was already elsewhere. He was already planning and anticipating the fun waiting for him at home.