Chapter 10 Nine

"Ram Jordan is such a grumpy old man..."

Lexie muttered to herself in frustration as she finally recovered from the shock after Ram slammed the door shut.

"Well, he's a grumpy hot uncle, surely not an old man,"

She whispered again as she tiptoed toward the gigantic closet, which she thought was even bigger than her apartment's bathroom.

Lexie felt a twinge of jealousy, realizing how wealthy he was.

"Wealthy-slash-grumpy-slash-freakishly handsome Uncle Ram,"

Lexie sang while waving her hands as if following a nonexistent beat.

She slipped on a huge white t-shirt that looked more like a dress than a tee and suddenly considered keeping her denim short shorts. She finished her look by tying her hair into a bun and smiled after glancing at her reflection in the mirror.

She looked like a teenager trying too hard to be a gangster.

After making sure she looked presentable, she quickly moved to leave the room, knowing that Ram was already waiting for her for lunch. Based on his expression earlier, he didn't seem in the mood to put up with her antics.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with being good once in a while,"

She whispered to herself as she danced her way to Ram Jordan's dining area.

Lexie's stomach growled the moment she saw the dishes laid out. Excited, she rushed toward an empty chair but immediately stopped when she noticed Ram scowling at her.

Lexie fought the urge to raise one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows at him. Instead, she forced herself to look as innocent as a lamb.

"Sit. Let's eat."

Ram said flatly, making Lexie furrow her brows.

'Whatever your damage is, keep me out of it.'

'I don't like being used, Lexie.'

Ram Jordan's voice echoed in her head, along with the question-

What did she do this time to make him so mad?

"A-are you okay?"

Lexie asked absentmindedly. Ram shot her a lazy glance before replying.

"Yes. Shut up and just eat."

He said grumpily. Lexie bit her lip, realizing he wasn't just pretending to be angry.

She wanted to smack herself for even thinking that. First, Ram didn't seem like the type to fake emotions. Second, she had no idea why he would even pretend to be mad at her-just like she had no clue why he was actually mad at her now.

"Gosh, I hate this."

Lexie muttered, and like a child, she stomped past the dining chair closest to Ram.

Her attitude only made Ram crease his thick eyebrows.

"Stop stomping and just eat,"

Ram said irritably.

Lexie only shot the food a sharp glare. I mean, who would even have the appetite to eat when the host was treating them like this?

"Eat."

Ram ordered and lightly pushed the utensils closer to her. Lexie heard the clicks and clatter of metal against the ceramic plate.

"I don't wanna..."

Lexie pouted, which only seemed to make Ram even angrier.

"I said eat. Then after that, I want you to leave."

He said, making Lexie's forehead crease in frustration.

"No freaking way!"

Lexie shouted in annoyance.

"There is just no way you're asking me to leave now after forcing me to come here earlier. I wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place! Not until you dragged me into your car. So no-"

Lexie protested, not even giving Ram a chance to speak.

"And I am NOT leaving! Not until you tell me why the f#ck you're treating me like this right now! What the hell is your problem?"

She added angrily.

"You are here because you just wanted a pastime to get over your ex, and to be honest, it irritates the crap out of me knowing that you were with me, and all of a sudden, I'd find you crying. Let's get straight to the point, kid. What exactly do you need from me?

If you just want a distraction because you're brokenhearted, then I'm sorry to say, but I'm not the right man for that.

And if you're like other women who just want to get close to me because of my status, then sorry, but you're not getting anything from me either."

Ram was almost out of breath from how fast he spoke. His voice was low, but Lexie could feel the anger and irritation in it.

It took Lexie a few moments to process everything he had just said. She let out a deep sigh before getting up from her seat.

She felt a pang of pain because of his harsh words, but she encouraged herself to meet his gaze.

"Fine, you're asking me what I need from you? Well, sure, you're a billionaire, but that's absolutely not what I want from you. I have my own money, and I don't need a man to secure my future.

To put it simply, I'm not a gold digger, Ram, and it's such a shame that you think I am."

Lexie said seriously but with irritation.

"Yes, I won't deny that I'm brokenhearted, and I believe I have every right to be. I have every right to cry because I was hurt. But I never said you had to care about that. What?

Is there some kind of rule that women can't cry while they're with you?

And I'm not using you to move on from my worthless ex!"

Lexie said, and God's teeth-if lying could kill, she would already be dead.

She literally planned to use him to hurt her ex, and she was going to go through with it no matter what.

"I didn't say you couldn't cry, Lexie,"

Ram said, annoyed.

"No, but that's what you're implying!"

Lexie replied, her voice cracking, and for some unknown reason, her tears started to fall one after another.

"I'm just saying I don't want to see you cry over some stupid man who cheated on you while you're with me,"

Ram answered.

Why on earth was she even crying?

Lexie saw a flicker of concern on Ram's face, but he still remained as if he didn't care.

"I'm not a bad person, Ram, really...

And I'm sorry that I came to you. I'm sorry for forcing myself on you when you've already made it clear that you don't want me."

Lexie added.

"That's because you're a child, Lexie..."

"I am not a child, so stop treating me like one!"

"Yeah, but I can't help it. I feel like it's illegal to be with you."

Ram said seriously. Even while crying, Lexie still managed to glare at him.

"Just one night, Ram. Just one night. And for Christ's sake, I am not a child."

"What?"

Ram asked, confused. Lexie sighed.

"You asked me what I wanted from you, and I've made that clear from the start,"

Lexie said as she bravely met Ram's gaze.

"I want you to sleep with me. Just one night, and it'll be over. I want you to f#ck me, Ram. I want you to get me pregnant."

Lexie said straightforwardly, never breaking eye contact.

"God forbid, Lexie. Are you hearing yourself right now?"

Ram asked in disbelief.

"I am, and I know this isn't the right time to talk about this, especially while we're eating. But you asked."

She answered dryly.

Minutes passed, but Ram remained silent.

"Gosh, will you at least say something? Tell me anything. If you don't want to be used for something like this, then just tell me."

Lexie finally broke the silence, and she heard Ram sigh before he spoke.

"Sit down. Let's eat and talk about this later."

Ram said seriously. Lexie nodded, wiping her tears away before sitting back down at the dining table.

"Fighting before a meal is awful. It kills the appetite,"

Lexie muttered, knowing that everything was fine again when she heard Ram chuckle.

"Eat."

After their dramatic lunch, Ram suddenly suggested swimming.

Lexie didn't refuse when he pulled her toward the backyard.

"Wow, your pool could pass for a resort."

Lexie joked, making Ram laugh.

"Yeah, I love swimming. It's actually one of my favorite things to do. I don't like going to resorts or beaches-it's too much hassle. So I decided to just build my own."

Ram informed her.

"Hmm, did you design this?"

"Designed and built. It's all me."

Ram answered proudly.

Lexie couldn't help but admire him. The place looked so well-made that you'd think a team of top architects had worked on it. She never thought a man like Ram could build something so breathtaking.

But what else could she expect? The guy was a multi-billionaire. He could be whoever he wanted and do whatever he pleased.

Lexie closed her eyes as a soft breeze brushed against her skin, making strands of her hair fly and cover her face.

Little did she know, Ram Jordan was watching her.

"So relaxing..."

Lexie whispered to herself, smiling as the next gust of wind carried a paradise-like scent-grass and flowers. With her eyes shut, she almost felt like she was in the middle of a forest.

"You might fall asleep."

Ram teased, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Lexie immediately opened her eyes and glared at him.

"You ruined the moment. I don't get to feel this often. Most of the time, I only smell car exhaust."

She pouted.

"You like it here?"

"Love it."

She corrected him.

"You can come here anytime you want."

Ram said, and Lexie stared at him in surprise.

"Are you serious?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, if you want to."

"Oh, hell yeah, I do."

Lexie grinned.

"But on one condition."

Ram added. Lexie remained silent and waited for him to continue.

"In this place, we don't talk about exes."

Ram said seriously. Lexie pouted.

"Does you officially welcoming me here mean you're agreeing to have sex with me?"

Lexie teased. Ram rolled his eyes.

"Don't bring up sex with me right now, kid."

"I'm just asking. And talking about it isn't bad."

She said.

"No, it isn't. But talking about it with you feels so wrong."

Ram replied.

"You know, I was advised to seek out 'SEX' as a way out of my sadness. And it was really you whom I wanted to seek it out with."

Lexie said with a mischievous smile.

"You sound so wild."

Ram said, shaking his head. Lexie laughed.

"Hah, oh yeah? You'll see. I might be so wild that one night won't be enough for you."

Lexie said seductively.

"Hm, is that so?"

Ram said playfully. Lexie just grinned.

'Geez, what would this man do if he ever found out that I was a virgin and didn't even have a clue about anything I just said?'

Lexie thought.

She shook her head and gave Ram a sultry look.

She would do anything to make this hot uncle's nephew feel the same pain she was dealing with right now.

"You're a child, and I'm old."

"Thirty-six isn't old, Ram."

She insisted.

"Stop luring me into sleeping with you. You're a huge temptation."

Ram scolded her.

"Why? Are you tempted? Don't hold back. You know I want you, Ram Jordan."

Lexie said before boldly pulling him down by the neck and closing the gap between their lips.

She felt a rush of excitement when Ram immediately responded to her kiss.

Before she knew it, they were inside a small room near the pool, locked in each other's arms, passionately deepening the kiss.