It didn't even faze him, her pointing out that he was basically looking for blood. She breathed in deep and fast through her nose, staying calm but planning how to strike back. Amber wouldn't let House keep taking pieces of her like a roast on the table. She had no more reason to stay but leaving would be running away, so she staked her territory. She was tall as it was and with her heels, House didn't have much height on her; it was easy to stare at his level. He was cocky and smug; let's see how long that lasted.
He couldn't get to her or Eric if she was on the offensive.
"You don't know what I'd do for him," Amber said quickly, dismissing the issue. The question of Casey's treatment was already resolved with the person who actually mattered; House could be curious and dig into the files as much as he liked, but he couldn't affect her opinion or feelings. If he wanted her to feel guilt for not supporting Eric, it wouldn't work; she was too focused on her anger, hot and controllable. The last time they'd fought, he'd humiliated her, bringing up Eric's previous and fair-weather loves and then thoroughly rejecting her flirting. What would hurt him? "Eric," Amber answered, her grin sharp and cruel. "You had your chance."
But that wouldn't be enough to hurt House; he'd already made it clear that he could care less about fucking her. Drawing this line would, at most, give him a moment's pause. What mattered to him? Control. He wanted to put her in her place, to make her worry about her relationship to Eric; he wanted, even, to undermine Eric through her. Amber wouldn't let that happen. The answer was to show House his weakness, and that-- that meant making him fear his power as their boss. "Face it, House, you don't control our lives." Amber said it baldly, going so fast she didn't have the time to remember her real goal, of being his underling.
no subject
He couldn't get to her or Eric if she was on the offensive.
"You don't know what I'd do for him," Amber said quickly, dismissing the issue. The question of Casey's treatment was already resolved with the person who actually mattered; House could be curious and dig into the files as much as he liked, but he couldn't affect her opinion or feelings. If he wanted her to feel guilt for not supporting Eric, it wouldn't work; she was too focused on her anger, hot and controllable. The last time they'd fought, he'd humiliated her, bringing up Eric's previous and fair-weather loves and then thoroughly rejecting her flirting. What would hurt him? "Eric," Amber answered, her grin sharp and cruel. "You had your chance."
But that wouldn't be enough to hurt House; he'd already made it clear that he could care less about fucking her. Drawing this line would, at most, give him a moment's pause. What mattered to him? Control. He wanted to put her in her place, to make her worry about her relationship to Eric; he wanted, even, to undermine Eric through her. Amber wouldn't let that happen. The answer was to show House his weakness, and that-- that meant making him fear his power as their boss. "Face it, House, you don't control our lives." Amber said it baldly, going so fast she didn't have the time to remember her real goal, of being his underling.