Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 19: Who the hell is Henry J. Caldwell?

Henry James Caldwell (born June 12, 1967) is a prominent American oil business magnate and philanthropist. With a career spanning several decades in the oil and energy sector, Caldwell has established himself as a leading figure in the industry, known for his strategic acumen and entrepreneurial vision. Henry Caldwell's personal life has been a subject of public interest and scrutiny. Known for his lavish lifestyle and high-profile social engagements, he has been married and divorced three times. His personal life often garners media attention, though Caldwell maintains a private demeanor regarding his family and personal relationships. He has four children, three with his first wife, socialite and philanthropist Madelyn Caldwell, and one with his second wife, Russian supermodel Anastasia Petrova.

Upon meeting Henry Caldwell, all Clara could do was to Google him, hoping to glean some insight into what she should expect. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, nothing she saw made her want to marry that 57 years old man with three ex- wives and four children.

Her father had arranged a casual lunch at the country club, inviting both families, the Caldwells and the Millers, including her great aunt and several cousins who harbored a clear disdain for her for some reason. No one openly spoke of marriage, engagement... But Clara eas well aware that her father was negotiating this privately with Henry Caldwell, that lunch was just an excuse for them to be introduced.

Clara also sensed her father's intention to showcase some wealth and his social standing, making their gathering a public affair to reaffirm his affluence in front of everyone. She thought that whole thing sucked and couldn't wait for it to be

over.

Clara wanted to avoid her own family more than she wanted to avoid Henry Caldwell, so she headed straight for the tennis court to play her anger out. Henry, being somewhat athletic himself, joined her for a few matches. Despite his efforts, Clara outplayed him most of the time, her focus unwavering.

"You're really good at this," Henry remarked between points, catching his breath.

Clara nodded, a small smile briefly touching her lips. "Thanks."

Henry, trying to keep the conversation going, mentioned casually, "I have a tennis court at my beach house. Almost as nice as this one."

Clara paused for a moment, then replied casually, "I bet it's a pretty nice house."

Henry chuckled lightly, appreciating her straightforwardness. "Yeah, it's not bad." He shifted the topic, trying to find something to catch her attention. "So, I heard you're graduating from high school later this year."

Clara nodded again, focusing on her serve. "Yep, that's the plan."

Henry watched Clara's game with admiration. "You seem really mature for your age, Clara. Not like other eighteen-year-olds."

Clara raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why do you think that?"

Henry shrugged. "I have a daughter your age. All she cares about is boys, parties and maxing out my credit cards."

Clara bent down to pick up a ball that had rolled away. She noticed Henry take a good look at her legs, making her smirk slightly. "Well, you're right about one thing. I don't care about boys, Mr. Caldwell. They're mostly stupid." Henry looked at her curiously. "You think so?"

"Yes," Clara replied confidently, "that's why I like men. Real men."

Henry gave her an appraising look with some attempted flirtation on the side, "Well, I'm glad to know that—"

But Clara had stopped paying attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw no one but Adrian walking towards the table where her family sat. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him, everything else fading into the background.

Clara excused herself from the game, "I need to take a break," she said. She headed back to the table where her family and the Caldwells were gathered.

As she approached, she saw her father introducing Adrian Belfort to the Caldwells. "This is my brother, Adrian," her father said, though it wasn't a lie, everyone knew it wasn't entirely true.

Everyone at the table clearly recognized Adrian; he was a billionaire, and many of the ladies wore jewelry from one of his brands. Clara felt a surge of surprise and confusion. She had no idea her father had invited Adrian, and it was even more shocking that Adrian had actually shown up.

"Adrian," she greeted, managing a polite smile. "I didn't know you were joining us today."

Adrian turned to her, giving her a discreet flirtatious look. "Clara, it's good to see you. Your father was quite persuasive for me to come."

Clara knew her father had only invited Adrian to show off how close he was to such a rich and powerful man. She wondered if Adrian himself knew about this... He probably did, he wasn't the kind of man who would be fooled like this. She glanced back at the tennis court and saw Henry Caldwell returning from the courtyard. The prospect of more interaction with him felt exhausting.

Seizing the opportunity for a way more pleasant distraction, Clara turned to Adrian. "Adrian, would you like to play with me? Just a couple matches before lunch," she asked, her tone light and slightly seductive.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly not surprised by the invitation, but then he smiled. "Sure, Clara. It would be my pleasure."