A/N: Okaaaay, chapper twah!
It was a lazy Saturday evening. Levy was starting one of her favorite books when the phone rang. Picking up her phone, she sandwiched it casually between her shoulder and ear.
"Hello?" she headed over to the kitchen to make a snack. Opening her fridge, she paused. Cream cheese or hummus?
"Hello, Miss McGarden?" the voice said from the other end. "This is Pantherlily, calling from MetaTech Corporations."
"Hello, Mr. Lily!" she said, surprised. "To what do I owe this call?" Grabbing a butter knife, she began to prepare her food.
She could practically hear Lily smirking on the other side. "I was just calling to say congratulations."
Congratulations? Levy pause in the middle of spreading cream cheese on her bread.
"Miss McGarden, you have been accepted as Mr. Redfox's personal assistant. If I may, this is where I say 'I told you so'. Miss Levy?"
Her mouth hung open and she dropped the knife she was using with a clatter. Wait, what?
"Uh, yeah?" As if in a daze, she bent down to pick up the utensil she dropped. I got the job? Mavis! I got the job!
Forgetting she was on the phone, she pumped her fist and did a little dance. Yes! I got it!
"If it's alright with you, Mr. Redfox would like to schedule a meeting to discuss payment, insurance and other things of the like." Pantherlily interrupted her celebratory dance.
"O-oh, yes, erm… what time would that be?"
.:.:.:.
"Alright, three o'clock it is. We'll see you then, Miss Levy." Pantherlily flipped his phone shut, smirking at Gajeel. "She's coming on Friday at three. Hopefully I won't have to keep making these calls anymore."
"Aah." Gajeel nodded, feet on his desk. The tycoon was lounging around the office because he had nothing better to do. "Finally, someone to keep this," he gestured to his untidy office, "in order."
"She won't be your housekeeper, Gajeel." Pantherlily said sternly. "You need to treat her with respect."
"Yes, Mom." Gajeel said lazily. "Yeah, yeah."
Lily sighed, but walked out of his office. That boy would never learn.
"Friday at three, eh?" he wrote a note and stuck it onto his desk, only for it to be buried under a mound of papers.
Lookin' forward to that… I can't live this way anymore.
.:.:.:.
"YES! I KNEW IT!" Levy grimaced, holding the phone away from her face. Right after Lily hung up, she dialed Lucy. And the blonde had taken the news a little too well.
"Yay! Now you have a job and we can chat about PA stuff and you can wear all those clothes I bought you and ooh! Did he talk to you about wages and stuff?" Lucy was squealing with excitement, and Levy cringed.
"N-No, we're going to discuss that on Friday."
"Ohh, I see. Well, what are you planning to wear?" Lucy asked, her excitement simmering down a tad.
"Well, I don't know. Probably one of those skirts and a blouse, I guess." she replied.
"No!" Lucy exclaimed, startling Levy. "That will not do! I'm coming over now to help you pick!"
"Wait! No, Lu-!" she cried, but the line had already gone dead and she sighed. Crazy Magnolians.
In the span of ten minutes, Lucy was at her door. "C'mon, show me what you've got!"
Levy sighed. Nothing to do now but go along.
.:.:.:.
On Friday, Gajeel woke up and scratched his head. For some reason, he felt like today was going to be exciting. He had no clue as to why, though.
He shoved himself into one of the countless suits he owned, and grabbed his keys. Time to face the day. Not bothering to knot his tie, he headed out.
.:.:.:.
Levy spent her day lounging around and reading books. She had quit her jobs two days before, and had plenty of free time on her hands.
After a while, she headed up to make lunch and got ready for the big meeting. Deciding on a smart black blazer and a pair of nice slacks, she dressed and sat in her living room, all dressed up with nowhere to go. After an hour, she decided to head out. This time Lucy wasn't there to pick her up and she regretted not asking for a ride. Sure, the subway was good for commutes to her old work, but it didn't run anywhere near the Business District in Magnolia. Levy was forced to walk several blocks in her heels.
After a brisk (more like excruciatingly painful) walk, she found herself in front of the MetaTech building. When she checked her watch, she found she was almost going to be late! She speed walked into the building, and checked in with the receptionist. After slumping into one of the lounge chairs for a mere few seconds, she was called up by Pantherlily.
.:.:.:.
It was lunchtime when Gajeel realized what he had forgotten. It was his meeting with the shorty! He shrugged, diving back into his Chinese takeout. They were only going to talk about her pay and boring shit like that. It made him sleepy just thinking about it. Touching one of his piercings absentmindedly, he shoved more food into his mouth. Well, at least he would be able to have someone to help him with that.
.:.:.:.
"Miss Levy, you seem nervous." Pantherlily said, shaking her out of her train of thought. They were standing in the elevator, steadily climbing the floors.
"O-Oh, please, just Levy." she replied. She fiddled with one of the buttons on her jacket. "And, well, yes, I am a little nervous."
"Well then, Levy, you shouldn't be nervous. Gajeel has chosen you for the job. We're just discussing legal matters and such."
"I know, I just… he's a little intimidating."
Lily let out a bark of laughter, scaring Levy. "Yes, he is a little rough on the outside." he said, leaving Levy confused. A little rough on the outside?
"Oop, looks like we're here. After you." the man said politely, standing back.
"Thank you." She said, grinning a little. Even if her boss was a bit scary, at least there would always be a friendly face around.
.:.:.:.
Even after seeing her a second time, he still laughed from behind his hand. This woman was tiny! Today she wasn't wearing her glasses and had her hair down. He noticed she glanced around his office like a frightened animal. He had no doubt that this was her first professional business job.
After a moment's hesitation she pulled up a chair and sat down. She stuck out her hand and said stiffly, "Levy McGarden." He took it, his hand enveloping hers. "Gajeel Redfox."
"I'll be your employer." He immediately regretted his words. Of course she would know that! It's what she applied for, isn't it? "Uh, here's your card." He slid a small plastic rectangle across his desk.
"My card?" Levy took it curiously.
"It's your identification in this building." Pantherlily interjected, startling the two of them. "You use it to operate the elevators and gain access to files."
"Oh, I see." the woman nodded and slid it into her purse, in turn taking out a small notebook.
"Well, Gajeel, I think it's time to start discussing payment and the like?" Gajeel blinked and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess so."
.:.:.:.
Levy stared at her notepad in awe. 900,000 Jewel a month? (A/N: That's roughly $9,000 a month and $108,000 a year) This job was going to treat her well.
"T-Thank you Lily! And Mr. Redfox." she said, smiling. This was turning out to be a good day. She still was a little scared of her boss, though. Well, that can't be helped. I'm sure he's a nice man…
"Good-bye Miss Levy. I trust we'll see you on Monday?" Pantherlily asked. Gajeel was silent.
"Bright and early. Good bye!" she chirped, and headed down the elevator with a little wave.
Well, that could have gone worse. Levy mused as she walked towards the subway station. I mean, it's not like he was mean or anything. He just looks scary. And I'm sure that he's a nice man! Lily vouched for him, right?
She frowned. It was too soon to have doubts about the character of her new boss. She hadn't even worked for him yet! I'll see on Monday. Besides, the pay!
In a sudden change of mood, she grinned. With this, I'll be able to pay my rent for a few extra months, and have money for new books! Levy clasped her hands together, her eyes starry. Ooh, I could add more to my library! Hmm, Star Crossed Lovers or Twelve Angels in Paris? With renewed energy, she walked back to her apartment.
.:.:.:.
Meanwhile, Gajeel was thinking about the woman he was going to work with. Even though inside he was deep in thought, his exterior stayed stony.
"Whaddya grinnin' about?" he said, eyeing Pantherlily suspiciously. The man had the expression of a cat who ate the canary.
"Oh, nothing." he said calmly, despite his knowing smile. "You just seem quite taken with her."
"What?" he spluttered, his calm, lazy façade shattered. "I- I'm not 'taken with her'!"
"Oh, yes, you are." Pantherlily said, "You couldn't keep your eyes off of her the whole time."
"T-That's because her hair color is strange! What woman would have blue hair?" Gajeel scoffed. His ears were heating up, Lily noticed with satisfaction.
"You know two women with blue hair, Juvia and Wendy. Besides, you know a man with long green hair, and your own cousin has pink hair. Why does a little blue hair enrapture you?"
"I, she's really short!" Gajeel stammered.
Pantherlily raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, shaddup, 'Lil."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Redfox."
"Shaddup!"
Gajeel stalked from the room, ears glowing. Stupid fucking meddler…
.:.:.:.
As soon as Levy got home, she searched up her boss. Typing Gajeel Redfox into came up with plenty of hits, so she clicked on one and read.
Gajeel Redfox, sole heir of MetaTech Corporations, age 21. So not much older than me. Levy thought, He's young. The article went on to list how he was raised by his father, Metallicana Redfox, and how he (Metallicana) went on to found MetaTech Corp. It also said that one day Metallicana disappeared, leaving Pantherlily (one of his executives) to tend to the company. That's interesting… Levy mused. How can a wealthy business man just up and disappear? Apparently Gajeel became mixed up with a gang, Phantom Lord, with another future tycoon Juvia Lockser. She went on to make a fortune on bottled water and is partnered with Gray Fullbuster, owner of Pendant, the leading air conditioning company in Magnolia.
Levy went back to the search engine and looked at some pictures of Gajeel. Most were candid photos of him in suits, talking to the press or driving places in his fancy car. She noticed some older pictures of him in Phantom Lord, with a gang tattoo on his shoulder. He looked frightening, not only with his piercings and angular face, but his body was heavily built with thick, corded muscles and his arms were scarred. To top it all off, he wore studded gloves and shredded clothes. All in black, of course. But what scared Levy the most was the grin on his face. It wasn't a happy smile. It was a dark, cruel expression that said, "I like to hurt people!" He was looking directly at the camera.
Levy shuddered, clicking out of the picture. That's going to give me nightmares. I haven't even started working for the man! Scrolling down a little bit, she saw a few photos of him and Juvia Lockser, and a few with his abundant cousins.
He wasn't smiling in any of them.
A/N: And that's all for chapter two!
Thanks to all five of you who reviewed. You know who you are. ;)
Shout out goes to Lumi Susi! Thank you for your feedback and suggestions! :D Also…I'm sorry, the sections were pretty short this time too… -_-"
This AU is definitely going to be interesting.
I'm open to suggestions so if you have one leave a review!
Signing off,
Miss Quiet Writer