Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 24: Strawberries

Clara was in the kitchen of her house after school, lazily picking at a bowl of strawberries. The sweetness of the fruit did little to lift her spirits. She felt bored, trapped in the monotony of her thoughts about Henry, her father's plans, and the complicated feelings she harbored for Adrian.

The silence in the house was broken by the sudden chime of the doorbell. Clara barely reacted, assuming it was another delivery or a visitor for her father. The maids answered the door, their voices muffled as they greeted the visitor. Clara's interest piqued slightly when she heard the familiar deep voice of Adrian. Her heart skipped a beat, the strawberries momentarily forgotten as she straightened up, her mind racing.

A few moments later, Adrian appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. He looked as composed as ever, his presence commanding and effortlessly drawing her full attention. Clara couldn't help but smile, her earlier boredom evaporating in an instant.

Clara greeted Adrian with a burst of enthusiasm, her smile widening as she saw him. "Adrian! Hi!"

Adrian's eyes twinkled with amusement as he took a good look at her. She looked so damn hot in that uniform, especially after school like this, where she would untuck her shirt and open an extra button. "Hello, Clara." Clara's cheeks flushed a light pink as she struggled to contain her excitement. "What brings you over?"

Adrian leaned against the kitchen counter, casually plucking a strawberry from the bowl. "I have some business to discuss with your father," he said, pausing for a moment before adding, "and I thought, why not see you as well?" Clara's blush deepened, her heart fluttering at his words. "I'm glad you did," she said softly, her eyes meeting his.

Adrian's gaze lingered on her, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Me too," he replied.

Adrian picked up a ripe strawberry from the bowl, the vivid red contrasting against his fingers. He walked towards Clara casually, his eyes never leaving hers.

Clara's breath hitched as he came closer, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the warmth of his body as he stopped just inches away from her. Adrian's gaze was intense, his dark blue eyes searching hers as if trying to decipher her every thought or consume her alive.

He lifted the strawberry to her lips, his movement unhurried and teasing. Clara's lips parted slightly, her eyes locked onto his.

Adrian's fingers brushed against Clara's lips as he fed her the strawberry. She bit into it, the sweet juice bursting in her mouth, but it was the sensation of his touch that sent a shiver down her spine. Her eyes fluttered closed for a brief moment, savoring the contact.

When she opened them again, Adrian was still watching her, his expression unreadable but filled with a quiet intensity. His hand lingered near her mouth, as if reluctant to break the connection. Clara's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, her pulse racing.

Adrian rubbed the tip of his fingers into her red-stained lips. His fingers gently forced her mouth open and she sucked on them. The feeling of her soft tongue into his skin drove him insane; he wanted to bring her to her knees right there and shove his cock into that sweet little mouth of hers. She was so tempting and alluring, to be around her was a test of resistance itself... Having her like this, sucking on his fingers so temptingly, made him think of nothing but bending her over that marble counter, lifting her plaid skirt and fucking her until she screams his name.

Clara's father entered the kitchen, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. Both Clara and Adrian instinctively stepped apart, the charged moment between them dissolving as they adopted casual postures.

"Adrian, good to see you," Clara's father greeted, oblivious to the tension that had filled the room just moments before.

"Hello, Richard," Adrian responded smoothly, turning to face him.

Clara picked up a strawberry and popped it into her mouth, trying to appear nonchalant. "Hi, Dad," she said, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart.

"Clara," her father acknowledged with a nod, his attention already shifting to Adrian. "Shall we move to my office?"

Adrian glanced briefly at Clara, their eyes meeting for a fraction of a second before he nodded. "Of course," he replied, following Richard out of the kitchen.

As they left, Clara exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She watched them disappear down the hallway, her mind replaying the fleeting, intense moment she had just shared with Adrian. Trying to compose herself, she reached for another strawberry, but the taste was now tinged with the memory of his touch.

At Richard's office, Adrian closed the door behind him and took a seat across from Richard's desk. Leaning forward, he met Richard's gaze with a serious expression. "I've hired a private investigator to look into the Caldwells." Richard raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Why?"

Adrian sighed. "Isn't it obvious? If you're planning on marrying Clara into that family, we should know everything about them."

Richard leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "I know enough."

"Do you?" Adrian challenged, his voice low but firm. "Clara is your only daughter. Aren't you worried?"

Richard's expression hardened. "Exactly. Clara is my only daughter, so I only have one chance to secure a good deal with her marriage." Adrian's eyes narrowed. "She's just a girl, Richard."

Richard's jaw tightened. "You don't understand what it's like to rebuild an empire you're responsible for destroying. Difficult decisions have to be made." Adrian shook his head, frustration evident in his features. "There must be another way."

Richard sighed, rubbing his temples. "You think I haven't considered every option? This is the best one we have. Clara marrying into the Caldwell family will stabilize everything." Adrian's eyes softened with a mixture of concern and disbelief. "Clara deserves more than to be used as a pawn in a business deal. She deserves to be happy."

Richard's face momentarily softened, but he quickly steeled himself. "Happiness doesn't rebuild empires, Adrian. Sacrifices have to be made. Clara will understand that eventually." Adrian leaned back, shaking his head slightly. "Well, I hope you're right, Richard. For her sake."