„Hanji! You look pale, did anything happen to you?"
This was the first thing Hanji heard from her boyfriend when she got home. He stood in the small kitchen, with a terrified expression.
The woman sighed.
They met each other 7 years ago, when they were in collage. She didn't really have a lot of friends, since people considered her crazy. But this guy was always running after her, not questioning her strange habits. Back then he was her only friend. Both of them started working at the same university 3 years ago. And last year he confessed her his feelings. Hanji still wasn't sure if she was a girl who's suitable for a relationship, since she often neglects people around her. But this guy was tough; he didn't care much about this, since it was 'a part of her personality'.
"No, Moblit, I'm fine. I'm just a little nervous because tonight I'll meet a new … business partner." She smiled, trying to signalize him that everything was alright.
"Oh, who is it?" he asked curiously.
Hanji looked at him. She didn't know what to answer. Oh, it's the Mafia! - would definitely sound wrong.
"I don't know yet … I just met one of his workers," she stuttered, trying not to think about the short, grumpy man in her lab.
"Where are you going to meet with them?" Moblit continued asking.
That was one of the things Hanji loved and hated about him at the same time. Since she always talked much it was nice that there was somebody who'd actually listen to her and ask her for more details. But today it was tiring.
"To the 'Emperor' hotel" she replied him.
"Emperor? Wow, that's the most expensive hotel in the area! Your new partner must be rich. Do you know what dinner costs there?" He was totally impressed.
"I'm sorry, honey. But I need to take a shower and get ready now." She gave him a half-heartedly smile, before she left the kitchen.
She didn't even know what she should wear for tonight. She didn't have clothes which were elegant enough for the 'Emperor'.
/
A motorbike stopped with screeching tires in front of the 'Titan'-nightclub. The driver supported the weight of the machine on his right leg, not turning the bike off. At the same time a tall, blonde man with designer stubble stepped out.
"Levi! How can I help you?" the blonde mumbled, with a cigarette between his lips.
"God dammit, Mike. How often do I have to tell you: Get the fucking cigarette out while you're talking to me!" the driver replied grumpy, propping the helmets visor up; "Anyway, do you know where Erwin is?"
Mike pointed at the building he just came out: "He's inside."
"What the hell are you guys even doing in a nightclub in the afternoon?" the short man asked uncomprehending.
"I carried out some modifications inside. Wanna come in and see it?"
"Tell him that he should be at the 'Emperor' in one hour; I've found a scientist", Levi told him, ignoring Mikes's question. Since Erwin put Mike in care of the club, he had reconstructed it a few times. Levi didn't care about the whole decoration, as long as the money they're earning from it was right.
"Why don't you go inside and tell it him yourself?" Mike asked him.
"Because compared to you, I have a job to take care of," Levi replied harshly, putting the visor down. With those words he drove away.
/
Just as Hanji finished her make-up, someone rang on the door. The woman glanced at the mirror. Usually, she didn't wear make-up, or dresses. The only dress in her possession was a dark green silk dress, which ended just over her knees. Her reflection seemed strange to her.
"Hanji, they've sent you a driver!" Moblit told her impressed, after opening the door.
Hanji gulped as she recognized the man who visited her with Rivaille that morning.
"Good evening, Madam. I'm Erd and I'll be your driver tonight", the blonde introduced himself with a charming smile. "Ready to leave?"
"I like your dress", Erd said as they were sitting in the car. It was an expensive-looking Audi with black leather seats inside; "Did you pick the colour on purpose?"
"What do you mean on purpose?" Hanji asked confused.
In the rear-view mirror she could see Erd grinning. "It's nothing" , he said and for the rest of the drive neither of them spoke a word.
When they arrived at the hotel, Erd even opened the door for her.
"I'll accompany you to Mr. Smith's suite", he explained, leading her inside the hotel.
She followed him, wondering why he was that nice and polite towards her.
As the elevator stopped on the last floor, Erd didn't exit, though.
"Just go straight ahead, the dining room is behind that door", he said, pointing towards it.
When Hanji stepped closer to the ajar door, she could hear Rivaille's voice coming from the room. However, she couldn't understand what he was talking, since it wasn't in English. Curiously, she stepped closer, glancing through the half open door.
He stood in front the glass wall, holding his mobile and facing a stunning skyline of the city.
Hanji recognized the language; he was talking in, as French. She stood there and listened amazed to his voice. It seemed much calmer.
Well, maybe just because it's not in English; she thought; Right now he could be giving instructions to kill somebody! - Hanji tried to convince herself, annoyed that she was charmed by his voice.
"Aren't you going to come in?" he suddenly said; in English; making Hanji jump away from the door-frame appalled. He put his phone away, coming towards the door, opening it completely.
"Did no one teach you, that you mustn't eavesdrop?" he asked, with a provoking undertone.
"It's not that I understood anything", Hanji mumbled, turning her blushing face away.
He mustered her with his gloomy look. However, Hanji could spot a spark of delectableness in it too. She felt like a prey being mustered by his hunter.
With a nod he signalized her to enter the room.
"You sure are an interesting woman", Rivaille whispered as she sat down at the table, handing Hanji a glass of wine. His breath being that close to her skin made her shiver.
It turned out, that Mr. Smith, the don, was in the room as well the whole time since she came. Hanji however only was focused on Rivaille and his voice that she didn't noticed him.
She felt visibly uneasy between the two men, even though Smith didn't seem like a mafia member at all. He seemed more like a friendly CEO to her.
"So, Hanji", Smith started with a gentle voice. "You're working at the university, aren't you?"
Hanji just nodded, she was afraid that her voice would break if she tried to speak.
"Not feeling like chatting, huh" he commented, as she didn't enter his try to small talk.
"Told you, she's a tough woman, who has no time for chatting and comes straight to the business", Rivaille explained to Smith, just like Hanji wasn't in the room.
The don just nodded; "Seems so."
"Well then, Hanji. Want to talk about your job for us now, or do you have time until after the dinner?"
/