The Negotiator

A BALL TO REMEMBER

Author's note:

Just letting everyone know that I've aged Levi down a bit for this fanfic, because Erwin is only like 5 years older than him so it would probably be weird if he was like 30 while Annabelle is meant to be like 18. So Levi is going to be 22.

~END~

I walked through the room full of noblemen and their wives. I wouldn't even be able to count on both hands the amount of men in this room who had enjoyed my company and who are now here playing husband to their unknowing wives.

It sickened me.

I sighed, grabbed my third glass of champagne from a waiter walking past and quickly downed it, needing the soft tingle of alcohol to loosen me up a little bit. I looked around the room when my eyes fell on a familiar commander of the scout regiment. I rolled my eyes slightly as I watched my father mingle among the men that he basically sold me to when I noticed that there were two other people with him. Section Commander Hanji and Captain Levi. I smiled slightly, swapping my now empty glass for another full one and began to make my way over to them.

"I'm so glad you've decided to contribute more funding to the efforts of the scouts, Mr Dashner," I heard my father say to the older man. 

The man in question was not an attractive man by any meaning of the word. He was stout and had an ugly personality, causing me to gain one of the many scars that I had acquired over the years. 

"Commander Smith, how lovely to see you," I smiled, making my presence known.

Mr Dashner looked at me nervously before excusing himself and his wife before quickly dragging her off, scared that I may say anything about our relationship. My father turned to me, his eyes suddenly hard.

"Annabelle, I didn't realise that you were in the capital in order to get drunk at social gatherings," he said, not bothering to hide his obvious distaste for me.

I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my drink. "How else would I be able to do my job if I don't make connections?"

"Annabelle!" Hanji exclaimed excitedly and grabbed me in her arms, her taller figure towering over me, "Oh how I've missed you. You never come to HQ anymore."

I gave a small delicate laugh and wrapped my arms around her before pulling away. "Well, you know I have very important work to do here, Hanji."

"But you never tell me what you're work is!" She exclaimed.

Erwin shifted uncomfortably and I smirked slightly at his discomfort. "Just a mission given to me personally by our dear commander."

"And who are you?" The man who was only a couple inches taller than me with raven black hair and steel blue eyes questioned.

I smiled at him. "Captain Annabelle Smith of the Scout regiment," I stated, giving a small courtesy, "at your service, sir."

There was underlying flirting in my tone, knowing that that was always the best way to get men flustered in my presence. The man let out a small 'tch' and looked away, trying to hide his emotion although I could see the pink now dusting his pale cheeks. 

I smirked and turned back to my father who seemed to be hoping that the glare he was sending me would cause me to burn alive. 

"Now father, is that really any way to look at your daughter after she did such great work with Mr Dashner over there?" I asked, nudging my head in the direction of the man and his wife.

The man with black hair snapped his head back and frowned in confusion, only for a second however before the facial expression had gone back to the neutral one he was wearing before.

Before my father or either of the other two could say anything another nobleman came over to us and grabbed my arm. 

"Excuse me, Commander, but I must steal Miss Annabelle away, we had a previous engagement," the smell of alcohol was strong on his breath.

I sighed at the obvious lie, however, this man was one of the scout's main contributors and I had to keep him happy for him to continue that generosity. I put on a fake smile to the three other scouts, two of whom were now looking at me with concern.

"Yes, I must've completely forgotten, silly me. Please excuse us," I gave another smile as the man led me away, not being subtle about the way he grabbed my ass as we walked away.

It took everything I had in me not to break the arm of this man as I allowed him to lead me out of the ballroom and into one of the many bedrooms of the manor, knowing exactly where this was going.

~LEVI POV~

I watched in disgust as the man straight up grabbed her ass as they walked out of the ballroom. Hanji turned to Erwin, anger present in her eyes, probably the most I've ever seen her look at the commander.

"How could you let some old drunk man lead your daughter away like that, Erwin?" She asked, for once actually trying to remain quiet.

I looked at the man in question, also wondering the same thing. How could any father just allow his daughter to be dragged off like that when it was so obvious what that man wanted with her?

"She is just doing her job, Hanji. Annabelle's well-being is none of your concern," Erwin stated in a cold voice.

Hanji scoffed. "None of my concern? Erwin, I helped train Annabelle when she was a cadet, one of the youngest cadets we have ever had mind you. I never questioned you when you wanted her to become a scout so young because she had promise, she could protect herself," she paused for a moment, seemingly trying to control her anger, "and now you let noblemen have their way with her for funding for the scouts?"

My eyes widened slightly. "What?"

Hanji looked at me. "Isn't it obvious, Levi? She said she worked with Mr Dashner who seemed to be in a hurry to get his wife away from her and the man who just came to take her away is the scout's highest contributor."

I looked at Erwin who had no regret in his eyes, if anything he looked like he couldn't be bothered with this conversation.

"You use your own daughter?" I questioned, feeling anger that I'd never felt.

"You two are to stay out of it," Erwin said in his usual cold voice, "that's an order."

I scoffed, turning away from the man and walking away and out of the ballroom, trying to ignore the obvious noises as I walked out of the manor. Knowing that it was Annabelle doing the job that her own father had given her. 

I knew one thing for sure. I respected Erwin less after that night.