Reflected in You(87)

"There has to be some special reason," he began, "for you to be in the hospital long before visiting hours."


"My roommate's here."


I didn't volunteer any more information, but he guessed.


"So Gideon Cross threw his money around and made arrangements for you."


He shook his head and took a sip of his coffee.


"And you're grateful.


But what will it cost you?" I sat back, offended on Gideon's behalf that his generosity was reduced to having an ulterior motive.


"Why do you two dislike each other so much?" His eyes lost their softness.


"He hurt someone very close to me."


"Your wife.


He told me."


I could tell that startled him.


"But that wasn't the beginning, was it? That was a result."


"You know what he did, and you're still with him?" Lucas set his elbows on the table.


"He's doing the same thing to you.


You look exhausted and depressed.


That's part of the game to him, you know.


He's an expert at worshipping a woman as if he needs her to breathe.


Then suddenly he can't bear the sight of her."


The statement was a painfully accurate description of my present reality with Gideon.


My pulse quickened.


His gaze slid to my throat, then back to my face.


His mouth curved in a mocking, knowing smile.


"You've experienced what I'm talking about.


He's going to continue to play with you until you rely on his mood to gauge your own.


Then he'll get bored and dump you."


"What happened between you?" I asked again, knowing that was key.


"Gideon Cross is a narcissistic sociopath," he went on as if I hadn't spoken.


"I believe he's a misogynist.


He uses his money to seduce women, then despises them for being shallow enough to find his wealth attractive.


He uses sex to control, and you never know what sort of mood you'll find him in.


That's part of the rush - when you're always steeling yourself for the worst, you psych yourself up for a surge of relief when he's at his best."


"You don't know him," I said smoothly, refusing to take the bait.


"And neither does your wife."


"Neither do you."


He sat back and drank his coffee, appearing as unruffled as I tried to be.


"No one does.


He's a master manipulator and liar.


Don't underestimate him.


He's a twisted, dangerous man capable of just about anything."


"The fact that you won't explain his grudge against you makes me think you're at fault."


"You shouldn't make assumptions.


There are some things I'm not at liberty to discuss."


"That's convenient."


He sighed.


"I'm not your adversary, Eva, and Cross doesn't need anyone to fight his battles.


You don't have to believe me.


Frankly, I'm so bitter I wouldn't believe me if I were in your place.


But you're a beautiful, smart young lady."


I hadn't been lately, but it was my responsibility to fix that.


Or walk.


"If you take a step back," he continued, "and look at what he's doing to you, how you're feeling about yourself since you've been with him, and whether you're truly fulfilled by your relationship, you'll come to your own conclusions."


Something beeped and he pulled his smartphone out of his coat pocket.


"Ah, my latest patient has just entered the world."


He pushed to his feet and looked down at me, setting his hand on my shoulder.


"You'll be the one who gets away.


I'm glad."


I watched him walk briskly out of the cafeteria and collapsed into the seat back the moment he disappeared from view, deflating from exhaustion and confusion.


My gaze moved to the sleeping screen of my tablet.


I didn't have the energy to finish my letter.


I packed up and went to get ready for Angus's arrival.


* * *


"You up for Chinese?" I looked up from the layout of the blueberry coffee ad on my desk into the warm brown eyes of my boss.


I realized it was Wednesday, our usual day to go eat with Steven.


For a second, I considered bowing out and eating at my desk because I wanted to make Gideon happy.


But just as quickly, I knew I'd resent him if I did.


I was still trying to build a new life in New York, which included making friends and having plans that existed outside the life I shared with him.


"Always up for Chinese," I said.


My very first meal with Mark and Steven had been Chinese takeout here in the office, on a night when we'd worked well past closing and Steven had stopped by to feed us.