Kate-Emma - your review did make me smile, this was already written, but I won't spoil it for you...
Fifteen minutes of hostile silence later, Max's patience had worn out. "I'm getting fed up with this" he muttered.
"With what?" she responded with obvious feigned innocence.
"With your baiting and accusations."
"What have I said?" Millie smiled inwardly, her continued innocence was clearly having the desired effect in antagonising him.
"Just for the record, I do not have a problem with working with women."
"Oh, so it is personal then? Just me?"
"Since you ask, yes. You deliberately disobeyed my instructions with this witness".
"Maybe because I didn't happen to agree with the direction you were planning to take" Millie looked away "sometimes, I really wish that I could see everything in black and white like you" she continued calmly, paused and then looked back at him "but then, I realise what a cold and unpleasant sort of person that would make me and I change my mind". The coolness in her tone made the insult all the more biting.
"Oh, so it's personal then" he repeated her words mockingly. "Am I supposed to be concerned by that?"
Millie gave a little humourless laugh. "No, I know you don't care one iota what I think of you. But I don't suppose it's going to enhance your career prospects in the long term".
"Well, thanks for your concern for my future, but you can stop the psychoanalysis. Stick to what you are best at".
"Oh yes? And what exactly would that be?" Millie pushed herself away from the wall and took a step towards him in what she hoped he would read as being intimidating. This was fun. "Love to hear it from the indomitable DS Carter who knows me so very well". The sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Really?" he matched her step towards him, they were just inches apart now.
"Yes, really". Millie's eyes were flashing angrily now. Max briefly thought that maybe he should back down, but he couldn't. She had wound him up and if she wanted a confrontation, he was happy to oblige.
"Well I guess you are good at comforting small children and trawling through CCTV". He realised that he had gone too far when out of nowhere he felt a stinging blow to his cheek that would have knocked a lesser man sideways. He recovered quickly and looked at her with an expression she couldn't read. Certainly surprised, but also contempt perhaps, or just dismissal? Whatever it was, it made her angrier. She made to lift her hand again but this time he was ready and caught it. With his body he pushed her back, capturing her other wrist and pinning her arms still against the wall.
"I'll give you the first one, I deserved that I suppose, but no more. You haven't exactly been kind about me either" he spoke softly and without aggression. In different circumstances he would have sounded seductive but here his grip on her was unyielding, making clear who was the stronger of the two. She struggled against him at first but it was futile and the fight started to drain away from her. He was so close, too close. She could feel his breath on her skin, his hands on her wrists, his eyes boring into hers, filling her senses and allowing no escape. She thought she would spiral out of control in his clutch, already she felt dependant on his grasp just to remain standing. Deep down she knew that she had deliberately provoked him, that she wanted him to react to her anger, but like this? Suddenly she knew that she couldn't win this way, she would be lost if she didn't escape from his intensity. With great effort she tore her eyes away to look down at the ground beside her, anything to get him out of her line of sight. She wasn't supposed to feel this way.