A/N: Thank you to everyone who has favourited, followed and reviewed! You have no idea how much joy I get seeing the emails that notify me of these. Thank you so much and thank you to Sarah, my beta. As promised, here's some more Eric and Amelia interaction. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!


Chapter Six

There was only so long that I could avoid going to the Dauntless compound. I managed it for a couple of weeks, dealing with other work and reports while researching the necessary components to building a computer laboratory. When I could no longer put it off, I called Max, cleared it with Jeanine and her calendar, and made an appointment.

Eric is waiting outside the same entrance that we used before. It feels safer to watch him from the car as we arrive. His arms are crossed over the black shirt and vest he's wearing, showcasing the muscles and tattoos he has. His black pants are tucked into large black boots. His blond hair still looks ridiculous and he's scowling in the distance until the car gets closer. The scowl slowly changes into a smirk. I take a deep breath as the driver comes to open the door. I can do this.

"Amelia," he says slowly, drawing out my name. I ignore the shudder that goes down my spine.

"Eric," I greet shortly. I want to get this over with. "Shall we?" His eyebrows rise in surprise, but he nods.

"Of course," he motions me forward towards the door. I don't move. The last time he was behind me, he nearly killed me. We both know this, so why...? I catch his eyes and I see it. He's toying with me.

"Lead the way," I say. "I'd rather not get lost." He grins suddenly, opens the door and strides forwards without waiting. I race to catch up.


I'm going to kill him. I'd have to apologize to Jeanine and Max, but I could deal with it. It would only be a small addition to everything else. Eric leads the way, but doesn't take the same route we had taken before. This one twists, gains height and goes over narrow ledges. My hands are shaking, clutching my tablet like it's my only lifeline. I know he's doing it on purpose. Each time we've come to a higher height or people push past to get by me, they send me questioning looks and force me closer to the edge than I ever want to be. Each time, he looks back at me with that smirk. Every time I see that look, my temper spikes and I get closer and closer to pushing him off the edge myself.

We finally arrive at the control room. There's someone sitting in the chair, staring at the screens like before. This one, however, isn't told to leave. The man just turns, looks at us, and nods. His hair is short and bright green. I can see the dark tattoos that lace up his arms and slide under his shirt. Eric pauses at the door that leads to the other room. He opens it and ushers me through, his hand touching the small of my back lightly. My skin prickles. His hand is large and I can feel the warmth of it through my shirt. He shouldn't feel like this. I breathe out slowly through my nose, letting him guide me into the room and not fleeing from his touch. I don't need him to use anything else against me.

The door closes behind him and for a second I'm filled with fear that he's leaving me alone in the dark. The thought vanishes when the light suddenly comes on and nearly blinds me. My eyes adjust quickly. I look around the room, gaining my bearings as I mentally recount the outlets. He's staring again. I can feel his eyes on my back as I open my file of notes on my tablet. I've catalogued everything that the room would need to support the amount of computers Jeanine wants in here.

"We're going to need better air ventilation in order to keep things at a cooler rate for the machines. Lighting needs to be improved." I don't expect an answer as I mutter to myself, making adjustments to my notes.

"Hmm," I hear him behind me. I ignore it.

"Once that's done, we can begin moving in the materials and setting everything up," I say. I look up at him. He's watching me carefully. "Where's the contractor?" I ask. They were supposed to supply someone who would be able to make the changes I need. Eric doesn't answer. He moves forward, away from the door until he's standing a foot away from me. I have to look up at him. There's a look in his eyes, almost like he's amused though nothing has happened.

"It's funny," he says, "how she sends a secretary to do her dirty work." The word alone itches under my skin. I want to break eye contact, to look away or hit him. I don't.

"I'm an assistant. This is me assisting." I force a small smile at him, holding back the response I want to give him. "If I'm not mistaken, you're the lackey. Aren't you the one at my beck and call? "

It's the wrong thing to say. He steps closer; the amusement is gone and replaced with a cold stare. I can see the earrings in his ears, black and larger than I thought was possible. The piercing above his right eye stands out against his skin and I want to know how it works, how it stays. I knew he was tall, but he's broad as well, and it feels as though his presence is suffocating me. My mouth goes dry and my entire body tells me to flee, like I've woken an ancient bear from hibernation.

"I would watch what you say to me," he says, his voice low. "Anything can happen here." I pull back at the threat. I remember the twisting paths with no protection to keep you from falling into the cavern. I want to retaliate but I don't. I break eye contact and look away. It stings to purposely admit defeat but this needs to go smoothly. I need to be more careful. I can't bring Jeanine's attention onto me more than it already is. I don't know how volatile he really is, but I can deal with him.

"You're right," I agree, looking back up at him. "I apologize." He blinks at me before his eyes narrow. Was he expecting something else? My heartbeat is still erratic but I didn't think my voice wavered. "We have a lot of work to do. Where's the contractor?"

He steps back, opens the door and says something to the man at the screens. After a moment, someone else walks in. He's dressed like the typical Dauntless, his pants and t-shirt are all black. He's closer to my height than Eric's. His head is shaved and there's a piercing in his lip.

"This is Cam," Eric says, motioning to the newcomer. "He'll arrange for everything to meet your expectations. Cam," He looks at the man, before motioning to me. "This is Amelia. She's a secretary-"

"Assistant," I snap, interrupting him. Damn it. He's doing it to purposely agitate me. His lips quirk up into a smirk like he's just won something. He looks far too pleased to have said it by accident.

"What do you want?" Cam asks. He sounds rude, but the Dauntless usually tackle things head on. It's no surprise they speak the same way.

"We need a better ventilation system, more lighting, and more outlets with a higher wattage of power coming through," I answer. Cam walks around the room, looking closely at the current vents and outlets.

"We can do it," he says, "but we'll need more materials than we have here. What's the room for?"

"Simulations," Eric answers. He stares at Cam, as if daring him to question him. Cam just nods.

"I can have all the materials provided," I say. "I'll need a list and the specifications, of course." It will have to match the dimensions of the room. Allies or not, we can't be too careless with our supplies.

"Yeah sure," Cam says. "Give me a day to measure it and figure out what you need."

"Bring me the list when it's done," Eric says. "I'll make sure she gets it." Joy. More contact with him. I nod when he looks at me. "Anything else?" I glance at Cam who's started to walk around the room.

"Not yet," I answer. "We'll arrange a shipment of goods. I assume you're more than capable of moving them in?" I glance at Eric. He looks back at me with raised eyebrows. I can practically hear him calling me an idiot for asking. "Good. How long will it take?"

Cam answers me. "Judging from what you want? It'll depend on how soon we get the materials. Once we do, it'll take maybe a week or two to get it all in place."

"I want to be informed immediately as soon as it is," I declare. Cam nods. "Thank you." I say to Cam who looks back at me briefly before nodding. I look at Eric. "I'm done here."


Despite the fact that the control room is now organized, there is more to do. The Dauntless need to increase their security to match Jeanine's wishes. One thing that Jeanine was insistent about were more cameras. Walking around the compound is more nerve wracking then walking into it. Eric isn't leading me over tricky paths, but he is leading me to more empty corridors and he's close. Instead of walking ahead of me, he's right behind me. I can almost feel the heat rolling off of his body. I can't relax. I don't trust him not to do something now that he has the advantage. I feel like the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. He's too large and he's too close.

"There will be more surveillance equipment in the shipment," I say quietly. I feel like my voice will echo off of these walls.

"Does it bother you?"

I steel myself against Eric's words. The last time he started something like this, he was trying to antagonize me. "Does what bother me?" I ask.

"That you're going to go home, do your research, and be stuck as Jeanine's secretary for the rest of your life." My jaw clenches at the use of the word secretary. "You're her pet, Amelia," he drags out my name again. His voice is low. "At her beck and call, night and day. She does call you at night, doesn't she?" Jeanine calls me whenever she thinks of something important, which is constantly when I'm not at the office.

I can't help myself. Despite the famed emotional control Erudite are supposed to have, that I'm supposed to have, I react.

"Unlike some people," I snap back. I stop and turn to face him. He's only inches away. He's smirking at me and it just irritates me more. I come up to his shoulder and my gaze lands on the tattoos on his neck. I wonder if they continue further down where I can't see them before I glare up at him. "I don't rely on brutality to get what I want. I am bettering my faction and our society. Say what you like, Eric, but my intelligence caught Jeanine's attention. While you may be one of the leaders of our security, I have the ability to climb even higher. You answer to Jeanine now. Who do you think you'll be answering to when she steps down?" It's nothing even close to the truth. I don't want to be a leader of a faction. I don't want that attention.

It's enough to rile him. His arm moves and I'm slammed against one of the walls, his hand at my throat. He's no longer amused. I knew he was strong, but application is different than theory. I've never seen this kind of strength, not at Erudite. His strength and my fear are what keep me pinned. My breath is coming out in gasps and my eyes widen. I mentally berate myself. I'm not supposed to call attention to myself, but he angers me like no one else. I wait. Any remaining anger melts into fear. He doesn't yell, doesn't growl or threaten me like I expect him to. His hand loosens on my throat and I watch as he starts to laugh. It's a low chuckle, but it's more unnerving than his staring. I don't understand what's so funny. My heart pounds in my chest, threatening to explode. He motions me forwards and starts walking. I follow slowly. After what happened in the control room, I can't stop myself from being tense. All signs point to the fact that he should have reacted more violently than he did. I feel like I missed something, some key point that occurred in between pushing me against the wall and laughing.

I don't say anything for the remainder of the walk. I take notes and ignore the way he looks back at me. My mind isn't quiet. Despite my careful notes, my mind whirls over every possible reason for his reaction. Nothing makes sense. I only start to relax when I realize I recognize the path he's leading me on. It's the way out.

I stand next to the car with Eric. He opens the door for me, waving back the driver, and waits. I can't ignore him now. It would be too obvious.

"I'll be in touch," I say carefully. His eyes glint in amusement and something darker. I can't place it. I watch as his lips slowly move up into the familiar smirk. He looks like Jeanine does when she's faced with a puzzle. Fear settles into my chest. I get into the car, waiting for his next move.

"I look forward to it." He slams the door close and I turn to my tablet, ignoring his presence outside my window. It's only once the car is moving that I feel like I can breathe again. I look at the tablet only to realize that I can't read my notes. My hands are shaking.

[tbc]