Page 52 of Meet Me in the Dark: The Complete Series

"They were quite sure about it," she states. "Said they were scared as hell at first to see him on the ward because, well, you know, when the boss of bosses comes around, it's usually not a good thing, but then quickly figured out he was with you, here to visit Charlotte."

"I think there's been a mistake." I shake my head. "I was with..."

"Lawson Kane," she finishes. "Yes, the owner of the hospital."

"Did you not know that?" Charlotte quietly asks.

Recognition dawns on Veronica's face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed you knew. I thought..."

"Thought he would have told me that," I murmur.

I swallow. What the hell is going on? This is some kind of mistake, right? She can't be right. I see Lexa getting out her phone, hear Charlotte say my name, but I don't look up. I feel like I can't.

"It's him," Lexa states.

My head does snap up now, eyes going to the phone Lexa’s extending towards me. I don’t need to take it from her though, because I can see the picture on her screen just fine. It's Law, his name beside the photo, and right below it, The CEO of Kane Health System, the owner of Johnson Memorial Hospital.

Owner of Johnson Memorial Hospital.

Owner of the hospital he gave me the very money to pay for my sister's surgery at.

Owner of the hospital he told me to meet him every Saturday for the money for a surgery he could have just given to her.

"I'll um, come back and check your vitals later," Veronica says before leaving.

"What did he tell you he did for work?" Charlotte asks.

"He said he was head of the family business, that they owned medical facilities."

"Oh, well then..." she begins but I finally look away from the photo to glare at her.

"Don't you dare defend him. He lied to me," I hiss. "He purposely left out the fact that he owns the fucking hospital my sister is a patient in."

I see Lexa's face behind Charlotte, appropriately angry, because she can understand much more why the hell I'm so livid. Even though I was fucking him for money, I've never felt a whore, never felt used till right now. Even though I could tell he wasn'talways giving me the complete truth, I never felt lied to until I saw that photo on Lexa's phone. And even though I think the world of him, he was busy making a joke of me.

"I'm sure he had a reason," Charlotte continues to defend, "Maybe some women try to use him for his money, and he just wanted you to get to know him first."

I shake my head, gritting my teeth to hold back tears. Because, it's very clear now. That, from the very beginning, he’d been pretending to solve a problem he could have easily fixed without me ever having to set foot in a hotel with him. From the very beginning it’s all been a lie. All of it. Every time he acted like he cared about anything beyond getting between my legs. Every rough and tender moment. Every smile, smirk, and grin. Every laugh and chuckle. He gave them all to me with a lie behind each one. Looked at me like I meant anything to him. Talked to me like we had any type of future. Kissed me like I was anything more to him than his fool.

"I have to go," I croak, standing and grabbing my purse.

"Soph, please," Charlotte pleads. "Just give him a chance to explain."

"You mean a chance to lie again? No. I'm done being lied to, especially now that I know I am. I'll call you later."

"Wait, I'll leave with you," Lexa offers.

"No. Please. I just... I need some time alone."

She nods, mouth tight, eyes sad.

I leave without another word, now hating the looks the nurses give me as I go, now that I know why. Veronica rushes after me, and I walk faster, trying to avoid her. But before I can reach the elevators, she's there.

"I really am so sorry, honey," she says. "If I had known-"

"Known that I'd been lied to?" I harshly ask. "How could you have known when I didn't even know."

She leans back at the anger in my voice. I close my eyes, using everything in me to rein it in. To make it out of this hospital without crying.

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