Cal Lightman did not appreciate sass, Sophie could tell from this micro-expression shift. Slight left mouth quirk downward which indicated his annoyance at a scrappy young intern named Eli Loker, who was currently not realizing his danger. Cal was reaching the critical moment where his annoyance was about to be vocalized. She stepped into the direct line of danger, catching the older British man's eyes and indicating she would handle Eli's tantrum over workloads.
"I'll help you with this project now, okay? Will that help, Eli?" keeping her tone helpful and perky. Lips pursed, Eli shrugs in annoyance.
He huffs, "I don't know why you couldn't have just helped in the first place."
Eli storms off to the lab and the door whooshes closed behind him.
Turning to Cal, she offers him a mico-smile. Helpful, non-judgemental and sympathetic.
A small chin thrust in response. Appreciating her and impressed at the same time.
The urge to give him a full smile almost wins out, but Gillian turns the corner behind him, in her line of sight and gives a withering glare her direction. The psychiatrist doesn't approve of Sophie; too good at hiding her feelings to analyze her.
Gillian smiles when Cal turns towards her, hearing the click of her heels down the hall. In his distraction, Sophie escapes into the lab to help Eli.
Why does Cal Lightman affect her so much?
The micro-expression from the first time she saw him...Of course she had time to analyze it now. Infatuation. Lust. Admiration. Need. Something else, which still disconcerts her.
Love.
How can you love someone on first sight?
Sophie believed she would never find love at all. Too many expressions she could read on whatever partner she took and she was too close-lipped to say anything about herself.
The years of training she had at the Lightman Group's rival firm had honed a sense of self-preservation which was not easily lifted. The small micro-expressions she gave to Cal were like a miracle breathing down onto her existence. Her very life seemed easier to handle with these small things she could give up about herself.
Sophie sensed Cal wanted to know her better too. She had certainly been doing her snooping about him.
Eli talked about him most. Complained about him most, more like.
Torres knew some things, about his daughter Emily and about his ex-wife. She knew Cal was complicated and fucked up.
Something Sophie liked about Cal Lightman. The man was not perfect.
The work in the lab moved the day along, but Sophie kept getting distracted and Eli was getting frustrated with her. "Ugh just get out if you are going to keep thinking about Lightman the whole time!" he groaned in frustation, flopping his head unceremoniously on the keyboard.
If Sophie hadn't learned to control her blush impulse, her face would have been beet-red. Cal cleared his throat behind them.
"You two done yet?" he graciously ignored Eli's comment. Sophie shot him a grateful micro-expression; eyebrows together and lifted, small smile.
Cal keeps his hands in his pockets as he reviews their application process for the new interviewees. It's fairly straight forward, but tricky work. The way things are worded either makes them effective reading tools or not.
Eli had been arguing that if they caught the subject off-guard with a surprising question, they were more likely to get an honest reaction. Sophie argued it wouldn't be a genuine expression because shock would be the prevalent emotion. It was hard to get a good read through all that.
In the end, Cal agreed with Loker, but agreed that the initial read wouldn't be the one they took, per Sophie's suggestion. It didn't suit either of them, but that's the way he liked it.
"Sophie, can I see you in my office for a moment?" he phrased it like a question but there was no question she would follow.
In his office, he sat behind the desk of many interviews and asked the bluntest question Sophie had ever heard. "So you fancy me?" Nonchalant and nonplussed. Like asking if the weather was nice.
Sophie couldn't help but catch her breath a little, giving more away with the expression than either anticipated.
His eyes darkened, tongue darting out to wet his lips. Cal swallows, watching her eyes watch the movement. It's hypnotizing, having someone read him like this. She was showing him how she felt though he felt she couldn't say it even if had insisted.
Her eyes were almost black, the honey brown melting into a pot of molten want and desire.
Cal knew what he wanted. He wanted Sophie. Right here. Right now. On his desk, if possible.
Though he was watching his lust indicators, something in her gaze shifted.
Alarm. Fear. Flight.
She's out of his office before he can think to object.
Oh! Has Cal screwed it up!
Find out because I'm back to writing this fic! 3 3 3