Scripted

Associates who I didn't want to be associated with

Levi's Pov)

'We cannot use this Levi'

My pen danced underneath my finger tips as I stared out of the window. I've spent years building this company from the ground. I have put blood , sweat and tears into the foundation of each brick that was used to make the building. I am powerful, but there was always someone that would make me feel inferior, and that was Erwin Smith. Me and Erwin go way back, I've known him for about 14 years now , and everyday is worse than the last. He wasn't my boss or anything , but over the years he had found his way up to my office on the top floor , and every day he annoyed the shit out of me.

 I brought my head up lazily to meet his stare , 'Why not , I happen to think what I wrote was good'

He sighed a little too fucking dramatically and placed my chapter on the desk. 'Levi , you basically threatened the readers into submission in under what? 200 words?'

Over the years Erwin had watched out for me , he always had a protective nature over the people he included in his life , and although he's too sappy for me to bear half of the time , I had always respected that about him. It was his idea to write this book actually , he told me that my company was losing customers due to a , and I quote , 'A level of intimidation coming from the face of the company'. And if you haven't guessed , I am that face. But I arranged a meeting with him , and let him state his case , and he did make some valuable points. I was setting a precedent to my employees that we should be cold and nonchalant about our customers and any problems they had , and he stated that some compassion and normality may bring some more ease to them.

So here I am , sitting in the shitty size of a shoe box office I gave him so that he would leave me alone to do my work. I returned my gaze to the window.

Erwin leaned a little closer and gently rested him elbows on his knees to bring himself closer to my height, ''I just think if you're goal is to show how the business operates , and how friendly it can be , you need to be a little friendlier too''

I scoffed , ' Eyebrows , more than anyone you should know that I don't do friendly'

'I know that Levi' , he laughed gently before abruptly straightening his tie and pulling at his collar to try and let some air in , 'That's why I have a proposition' 

I smirked half hazardly, 'Pretty bold of an employee to be making a proposition to the boss' , 'What is the proposition?'

He swallowed ever so slightly, yet loud enough for me to pick up on. Something is up with him     'Levi I think we should get someone in , to monitor your writing -

My gaze snapped back to him , who does he think he is? I've always done everything by myself, I built a fucking empire by myself. I can handle a shitty book by myself too.

'No' I retorted

'Levi just liste-'

'Erwin , I said no'

He sat back in his chair , his eyebrows furrowed together. 'I've already hired one Levi' he paused slightly , eyeing me up and down before closing his eyes , 'You may think you're all this and that , but I'm you're friend, and I care about you'.

And then he opened them suddenly , 'So I have to be honest. You're not perfect , nobody is , and you're shit at writing , so a little help wouldn't harm you. You're a modest son of a bitch , and quite frankly I am concerned that not only have you not had any time for yourself because you're stretched so thin, but the last time I saw you speak to another human was your sister, and even that was a video call'.

I clicked my tounge , as I said he was always protective. But I've always been smarter. 'Erwin , I know you're worried but I'm fine , honestly'. I stood up slowly , and gathered my things off of the desk. I liked my workspace to remain organised , so this wasn't a difficult task. I turned to him and offered him a hand , 'I built this place , the office you're standing in, the chair you're sitting on,  I built it alone. If you want my book to reflect my true values as much as you say you do , then I cant have assistance , it has to be authentic and individualistic , and that can only be achieved if I do it alone'.

He stood and brushed his rather large hands over his jeans , he was an attractive man I'll give him that , and if I was anyone else I would probably have tried my luck with him , but we're too close for any of that , it would be like fucking my brother which I do not want. Needless to say that our values do not align , and maybe the biggest factor of them all - he's not my type. 

He smiled sincerely at me , ' Okay Levi if that's what you want'. I curtly nodded in return. 'Then you can discuss that with your writer at 5 pm this afternoon', And with that he walked out of the room. 

I looked at the door that he had just exited through , I hated that man. With all my being I hated him , and his fucking eyebrows too. I knew damn well that he probably took advantage of the fact that he didn't work here and had left the building so that I couldn't follow. I also knew damn well that he had probably spoke to my assistant about this , so everything was running smoothly.

I picked up my coat and left the room , headed to the receptionist desk a few doors down. Fuck he might have a point , I know what my values are, but I might have a small problem putting them into words , and words onto paper. I walked over to the desk where Hanji was sitting. 

Shitty glasses was another one of my associates , however she actually worked here. When I was going through a tough time in my life , she was there for me , so when she came to me out of pocket and recently separated from a boyfriend that she caught in bed with another woman , I had no problem with allowing her to work here.

She looked up and smiled , normally she would have leapt over the counter and tackled me but on this occasion there were other clients in the room , and I assume for the first time ever , she wanted to remain professional. 'Heeeeey Levi ~ , how is my baby cakes doing today?' 

I glared at her , 'Call me that again , and ill take away your paycheck for this month shitty glasses , did Erwin schedule me in for an appointment at 5? '

She swivelled around to her computer and let her glasses fall down to the bridge of her nose , 'Yes he did. In fact he attached a note saying-' , she pumped out her chest a little , and furrowed her eyebrows imitating his voice,  ' Tell Levi this is an important business associate , its actually a writer that he needs but is too stubborn to admit it'

I sighed and dropped my head down slightly ' Do you know who the writer is? I want to look them up before hand'

She smiled and pushed her glasses back to their original place , 'Yes! A lady called Mikasa Ackerman , she's 20 Levi! Maybe this is the start of a romance! Oh can you imagine! An office romance - How scandalous!'

I assume she looked up , I don't know - I fucking left once I got the name.

Once I got back to my office I let out a sigh and unbuttoned my collar. The room was hot as hell , and I just wanted to get comfortable. I sat down on my chair and typed in the name 'Mikasa Ackerman' , and candidate of the same profile immediately popped up. 'Mikasa Ackerman , 1 brother , no sisters' ... ' Studied at the university of Literature'...'Lives in London'..

I scanned the information , this had to be her, it was too coincidental. I clicked on the icon that accompanied the article , in all her glory , a short raven haired woman scowled at the camera. Although no writer would be the best scenario , I was glad that I would have a meeting with someone who was around my age , and looked liked they kept themselves clean. Erwin has a tendency to bring in incompetent employees.

I sat back in my chair and looked at the clock , only 1 hour till 5.