Chapter 154: Hands-on Practice

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Hands-on Practice

If she hadn’t witnessed Adrian Grant’s expert-level mind games before, she might have actually fallen for his crap.

The thing was, Adrian Grant’s talent in this area ran deep, and you never knew when he might pull a fast one on you.

After all, who would have expected this man, who seemed so cold and ruthless, to suddenly pull a move like that?

The first time, you might think it’s an accident. The second time, a coincidence. But the third time... well, that’s when you know there’s a pattern.

"Even if I did have to learn it from someone, I learned it from Ryan," Adrian Grant added suddenly.

"You really have the nerve to say that," Caroline Whitman retorted.

It’s always ’like father, like son,’ not the other way around.

She had met Ryan Grant first and was the one who’d initially gotten to know him, so she knew what that seemingly sweet little boy was like.

Adrian Grant, likely guessing her thoughts, said unhurriedly, "You only think Ryan’s words are manipulative because he’s not the one saying them to you.

Imagine if Ryan grows up, starts his own family, and has a child. If your grandson said those things to you, wouldn’t you be incredibly touched?"

Caroline Whitman: "..."

’That actually sounded pretty reasonable.’

Finally, seeing her resolve start to waver, Adrian Grant continued in a slow, deliberate tone:

"So, you see, it’s not manipulation at all. It’s just the innocent thoughts of a child. Naturally, what I learned from Ryan is simply the purest form of expression."

"..."

’The purest form of expression, my ass!’

Caroline Whitman fell silent.

If it weren’t for that last sentence, she would have almost believed him.

He could argue that black was white and make you believe it.

She felt it was actually a good thing that Adrian Grant usually preferred to stay silent.

Because she could never win an argument against him.

Caroline Whitman decided to drop the subject altogether.

Her comment had just been an offhand remark about how surprisingly sharp the boy was; she hadn’t truly meant to blame Ryan for his words.

Adrian Grant also changed the subject, not lingering on it any further.

"Yesterday, you asked me to write an 800-word report after I finished reading..."

Caroline Whitman was astonished. "You finished it?"

’A book with over a million words, and he’d finished it in a single day?’

"Don’t tell me you used ’working’ as an excuse to secretly read novels in my study?" Caroline Whitman said in shock.

Adrian Grant was slightly exasperated by her line of questioning and let out a soft laugh.

"Learning how to be a proper CEO... how is that not considered work?"

"..."

Caroline Whitman asked, "Did you actually write the report?"

She was skeptical. She just couldn’t imagine Adrian Grant would actually be so obedient.

"I believe a practical demonstration is a better way to showcase my expertise."

’A practical demonstration? What kind of practical demonstration?’

Caroline Whitman was still wondering about that when she quickly found out exactly what he meant.

"Wh-what kind of book were you reading? Was it a proper book? It had... *this* in it?"

Caroline Whitman, blushing and her body gone soft, pressed a small hand against his chest and asked shyly.

She had experienced firsthand just how strong Adrian Grant’s "practical" skills were.

"It was all for my studies, from the books in your study. Haven’t you read them?"

Caroline Whitman hadn’t forgotten the real reason she’d asked him to read the book. She muttered under her breath,

"I wanted you to see how all the disposable side characters bring about their own doom, not for you to start role-playing as the main character."

Adrian Grant, who had lowered his head enough to hear her muttering, chuckled. "You mean those idiotic side characters?"

"I highly doubt people with their level of intelligence could ever appear in my work or my life."

As he spoke, his fingers flexed slightly.

Bit by bit, Caroline felt the ring on Adrian Grant’s hand pressing its way inside.

Suddenly, a phone rang.

Caroline Whitman jolted violently.

Her dazed eyes drifted toward the ringing phone on the coffee table.

"Your phone’s ringing. Are you going to get it?" Adrian Grant’s deep voice murmured in her ear.

He leaned over slightly to look. "It seems to be an acquaintance of yours."

"Ethan Xavier." He scoffed, looking down at the woman in his arms. "Your old deskmate is calling. Aren’t you going to answer?"

"..."

Left hanging in suspense like this, Caroline Whitman wanted to start cursing.

His actions finally snapped her out of her daze. "No," she said hurriedly. "Hang up for me."

Adrian Grant didn’t hang up. He just let the phone continue to ring.

’He’s such a pervert,’ Caroline Whitman thought.

"Pervert!"

Only when the phone finally stopped ringing did Adrian Grant slowly bring her to climax.

From the living room to the bedroom.

At the very end of their long, teasing session, Caroline’s face was flushed scarlet. "G-get inside me."

"I can’t." Adrian Grant’s eyes darkened as he looked down at her, forcing himself to stay resolute.

Caroline Whitman kicked him lightly with her foot. "You can’t get it up?"

Her words nearly shattered his control. A vein throbbed in his temple as he forced out two words through gritted teeth.

"No condoms."

"..."

"I... I bought some. They’re in the drawer."

At this point, fighting for her own future happiness, Caroline threw all caution to the wind. She spoke through a mixture of embarrassment and frustrated anger.

"If you say you can’t at a time like this, then we’re breaking up!"

"..."

The word "break up" made something inside Adrian Grant snap. Even so, he maintained a sliver of restraint.

"I just want you to get to know me better. I don’t want you to have any regrets."

’Regret?’

Caroline Whitman almost scoffed.

’Our kid has already come back from the future, and you’re talking to me about regrets?’

At that moment, she was seriously starting to wonder if Adrian Grant was actually impotent.

"I’m serious. If you really can’t do it, let’s just break up!" Caroline Whitman said resentfully.

She couldn’t stand how he always stopped at the critical moment.

If all this teasing wasn’t going to break him, she was afraid it would break *her*.

She was a human being, a woman with a healthy mind and body.

Hearing the word "break up" again, Adrian Grant finally lost all restraint. He immediately yanked open the drawer, grabbed the box, and tore open the wrapper.

Once it was on, he slid inside smoothly.

The entire sequence of actions was a single, fluid motion.

In the dim room, a lamp on the nightstand cast a faint, warm yellow glow, softly illuminating the two of them.

"’Break up.’ I don’t want to hear that word a third time." A shadow shrouded half of Adrian Grant’s face as he looked down at her from above.

Caroline Whitman’s chest rose and fell with his movements. She was already completely lost in the moment, unable to clearly hear what he was saying.

But he insisted on an answer.

Caroline Whitman could only agree incoherently.

Two complete novices, driven by a spirit eager to learn, explored and fumbled their way into the early hours of the morning.

Until the alarm clock started ringing.

Only then did Caroline Whitman awaken from her slumber.

Her back was sore, and her legs were sore, too.

She rolled over and opened her eyes, staring at the familiar ceiling in a bit of a daze.

For a moment, her mind drifted back to that night two months ago when she had woken up from an erotic dream.

Last night’s experience had vividly reminded her of the sensations from that dream.

The perfect overlap between the two made the entire thing feel surreal.

The alarm was still ringing. Caroline Whitman finally snapped out of her reverie and tried to climb out from under the covers, but a hand grabbed her.

Adrian Grant pulled her over, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

Caroline Whitman pushed him lightly. "Hey, we have to get to work."

Adrian Grant mumbled, "Just a little longer."

"Have you forgotten? We have a project contract to sign at ten today."