"But then that would require me to put my position on the line for your negligence. As fun as you are, Noel --" He made it a point to emphasize her name. "-- I'm afraid I don't like you enough to do that."

He glanced out the window again. The sky had nearly completely darkened, and the stars were beginning to show. The office was very nearly cast into inky blackness and, reaching across his desk, he grasped the switch on his lamp and flicked it on. Though dim, the light was more than enough to illuminate them both.

"Unless, of course, you can think of something that would sway my opinion." And his arms go to fold right over his chest like before, only this time he's leaned forward to smile innocuously into her face. There's a plot behind his eyes, but Hazama isn't ready to reveal it just yet. The choice is up to Noel how she would interpret the situation, but really, there were quite a few ways this could go.

"Any ideas, Miss Vermillion?"