She was sitting in the dark in her office. Only the light of her computer lit the room. It was how she worked best. In the dark, alone with no distractions. She rewinded several times the video clip she was analyzing and took notes on a loose leaf of paper. She pressed pause and looked at her watch. It was almost 10 pm. She rubbed her eyes. She was surprised to see what time it was but then again she knew that when she worked, she lost touch with time and it generally flew by. It was OK. It wasn't like she had anywhere more interesting to be or had anything else exciting to do.

"Do you always work this late"?

Her head lifted from her paper towards the door of her office. She could see a shadow but there wasn't enough light to clearly make out who was there. She first thought about fearing for her life, but the voice had shown nothing that really needed for her to raise a flag.

She leaned over and switched on the light.

She looked at the man standing in the door frame and analyzed him.

"I don't count my hours. If work needs to be done, it's done". She looked at him, scanning him from head to toe. There was no doubt about it, he was well groomed, wore a button-down shirt, a custom-made suit and designer shoes, he was powerful and part of Starling's elite. "I guess it's the same for you".

He smiled upon her comment. It's true that he, himself had just left the office. He motioned his hand to the chair across from her desk

She immediately stood. "Yes of course. I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Please have a seat".

She waited for him to arrive to her desk. He put his hand out.

"Oliver Queen".

She took it in hers and shook it.

"Emmaline Grey. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Queen".

He smiled again. "Please call me Oliver".

Emma swallowed… First name basis.. His smile was genuine as she could see it being reflected by what his beautiful blue eyes showed. She was never on a first name basis with clients, but then again she was getting ahead of herself. Nothing proved that he was here for business…but then again she couldn't see what else would have brought him to her. They came from very different backgrounds… it sure wasn't a billionaire coming to say hello to another billionaire.

She simply nodded and sat down in her chair as he did the same.

"I'm sorry about the late stop-in. It's not in my habits to come unannounced and this late but it's been a very busy week and I haven't been able to make an appointment. I hope that's alright"?

Emma looked at him. He was telling the truth.

"I have to admit that I usually prefer to work on appointment but you're in luck, not many of my clients request an appointment of me this late in the day..or shall I say this early in the night".

She leaned back in her seat, checking every movement his body made or didn't make. She was studying him, memorizing everything she saw.

"So what is it that I can do for you Mr. Queen"?

He leaned in with a grin. "Oliver remember"?

"Right. Oliver".

He then did something she hadn't expected. He stood from his seat and walked around the room, looking at everything he could. Picture frames, posters, books and her different diplomas. It was obvious that he too was studying her.

"You have an amazing reputation in a couple of fields that spark my interest and needs. Your fields of expertise such as psychology, analyzing and interpreting micro-expressions and body language, as well as your talents for languages, make you someone rather rare in Starling City. You are a niche market all to yourself".

Wow! She had no idea what to say. She was rarely speechless but he had definitely outdone himself.

"Well thank you".

He returned to his seat as though he had inventoried enough what the place had to offer.

"To be honest, I'm surprised no one has hired you for their own business and benefit".

"I'm independent and I generally prefer it that way. I've been offered different positions in different companies but I've never agreed".

"May I ask you why"?

"I don't want to have to owe anyone anything. Plus I don't like being controlled. Here, I can work on my own terms and conditions. If my clients aren't happy, they are more than welcome to go look for someone else".

"I see. Can I ask you another question"?

"Sure".

"Why do you do what you do? I mean psychology, micro-expressions, body language, languages, it's not something we dream of doing when we are kids… so why did you get into it"?

"I wanted to make a difference in the world. I wanted to be able to show people for who they really are. Do you know how many criminals or terrorists were never put behind bars because lack of physical evidence? Do you know how many victims were never taken seriously for the same reasons? Too many. But to me and thanks to what I do, lack of physical evidence is gone, because I use the physical evidence that your body can't hide, can't clean off, can't fake. I want to make things right"!

"Ok, so what does my body say of me right now"?

She leaned back in towards her desk and looked at him.

"You are not at all surprised by my answer. In fact, I'd even say you are relieved, because it was what you were hoping to hear from me. It makes you happy, I know you are not smiling, but it shows in your eyes and also in the increased heart rate that I can see through the vein on the side of your neck. You are also getting tired. Your shoulders are starting to droop, your stance is much more relaxed than when you arrived. You are also most probably hungry. Your pupils are dilated which can indicate low blood sugar in your system".

She paused for a moment letting him take in all that she had just said.

"Oh and you also want something from me and you're hoping I'm going to say yes".

"Impressive. Succeeded with flying colors"!

"So what is that you want from me, that is so important you stopped by without an appointment at 10 pm, when you knew no one would be around"?

"I would like to offer you a partnership".

Emma shook her head. "I've already told you I don't work for just one boss".

"Ah see but I didn't ask you to work for me. I asked you to work with me. There is a difference".

"Pure semantics. With you, for you. The outcome is the same".

She looked at him. What was she missing? "Yet I'm eager to know why you think I would say yes when I've told you that it's something I don't do"?

"Because we do things for the same reasons. With your expertise and mine combined, I think we can make a big difference in making sure people get justice. I think that we are more alike than you'd like to think".

"I beg to differ. You are a billionaire, you've never had to fight a day in your life for your own justice or for anyone else's. Everything you have today, was handed to you on a silver plate. You may have been marooned on an island for 5 years, lived most probably terrible things, but it doesn't give you the right to say that we are alike"!

His face changed. She was expecting to see anger but instead she saw hurt and instantly she felt terrible.

"However, there's nothing I like more than being proved I'm wrong when it comes to things outside of my competencies. So why don't you explain to me or show me what it is that you are talking about"?

He stood. "Not here".

He handed her a card and she took it. It was the card of his night club Verdant.

"Tomorrow night at 9".

"Tomorrow is Saturday night. That place will be overly crowded with people. How will I find you or vice-versa"?

He smiled. "Don't worry. I'll find you. I'm good at finding people".

He headed for the door and then turned around.

"Goodnight Miss Grey. It was a pleasure to finally meet you"!