The words came surprisingly easily to him, information he had never spoken aloud he felt more than comfortable to expose. Normally, he didn't backtrack on previous exploits, but for her he would make an exception.
'You are quite right in your assumptions, however. When I found him, he had been working underground for a number of years.' He noted Catherine beginning to grip the tablecloth with the tips of her fingers. He was surprised at the uncomfortable response.
'I see. And the point of this was?'
'You don't hire assistants without testing their abilities first.'
'You shouldn't give a job offer without testing their abilities first' she fired back immediately. He smiled and shrugged. 'You broke into my house. It was a strong indicator. And thus far, I must admit I'm impressed with your deductions.'
She smiled briefly.
'It's my job-'
Nothing more needed to be said.
But it was
'-and it's what my team are paid for.'
His hands hit the table and he was stood up within an instant. In alarm, Catherine stood up also, toppling her chair behind her.
'Team?' he questioned. Catherine suppressed the urge to stammer, and fought through the haze of the wine to maintain clear thoughts.
'I have an assistant who-'
'Others were aware of this?' his voice was getting louder.
'Only the-' She was cut off by his Lithuanian swearing. She closed her eyes momentarily to calm down, only to immediately open them in response to an unexpected bang. Out of fear, her hand flew to the knives by her thigh instinctually.
Beyond anything else, he was amazed by her stupidity in getting others involved. She held a certain naivety he hadn't anticipated. He ran his hands through his hair as he swore, picturing the sheer number of actions required to amend the situation. Killing the assistant was naturally the first. He paused mid-swear as he glanced at her, and saw her reaching for her knives.
Before she could correct herself, they collided- him slamming her against the wall; her struggling to get away. In an instant he had her arms pinned above her head, his sharp hips preventing her from squirming away.
'No knives' he hissed, towering above her, his face inches from hers, slightly closer than necessary.
'I w- I wasn't' she gasped. She looked up at him, simultaneously opening her restrained palms outwards to indicate her innocence, and their eyes met. Neither of them spoke until her breathing had slowed. She felt his hot breath on her face. He watched her watching him. He spoke slowly and gently.
'No. Teams.'
'But how am I supposed to-' a sharp inhale prompted by Hannibal pressing harder on her wrists ended the sentence. He watched her for another moment, then reiterated.
'No teams, Catherine. You, and you alone.'
She eyed him warily. 'You are aware I can knock you flat on your ass right now?' She twisted her hand out of his grip to demonstrate, waggling her fingers at him from a side. He exhaled audibly. 'Catherine.' He warned.
'Okay, okay, no team.'
They remained motionless for another few seconds, before Hannibal gently released her and turned to pick up her discarded chair.
'Let's get back to dinner, shall we? Oh, and-' He turned suddenly and once again closed the space between them. He noted with pleasure her involuntary bite of her lip as he slid his hand up her thigh. Then, in one swift movement, he removed the hidden weapons, and stepping back, held them between his thumb and finger with a satisfied smile on his face.
'No knives, Catherine.'