I Have An Objection! [ Levi x OC ] [ Moderate Editing ]

Ch. 14: Three Tender Words

 "My sole purpose was for you to fall for him."

Unable to form a coherent response to Levi's words, I stared back at the raven-haired man in shock. However, behind it was a think layer of disgust, realizing that the person who I shared so many precious moments with was working for our manipulative boss the whole time.

"Why?" I whispered, lips curling into frown from my constrained anger. "All this time, you were pulling my strings like I was some puppet, and you were enjoying yourself knowing I was oblivious to this sick charade!"

Levi bowed his head in defeat. "I know, I know I'm a horrible person already! I've known it my whole life, so I don't need you scolding me about it!" He inhaled, then exhaled on a shaky, but steady breath. "But if it makes you feel better, continue. I deserve it. I fucked up. I'm at fault for this shitty mess."

I contemplated, thought about the satisfaction I would gain if I slapped him right across the face. Would it make me the slightest bit happy if I ripped our laced hands from each other's grip and stormed out, only to run back home into Marco's arms? Or would it snap my already shattered heart in two, abandoning one of the few men who had shown me compassion and a loving touch?

"Just do something, Roxanne." His grasp on my hand loosened, only to firmly grab ahold of my shoulders, yet his gaze never returned to meet mine again. "Anything, please. I know you're mad at me, you don't have to hide it. Just do something."

Levi was begging now, practically submissive to his mentality's pitiful state. It was heart wrenching to look at, to even be in the vicinity of it. I thought to myself, longer this time, to keep a silence between us. All the while I waited for him to tilt his head back up and let me see his glassy blue eyes, for him to take back what he said prior.

"Something?" I repeated, olive hues fixated on his coal-black locks. "Would you like me to leave? Is that it? Should I walk out your door and never look back? Would that make you happy?"

"No, it wouldn't," he replied after some time--most likely to think his actions through--then straightened his posture and glared at me with narrowed eyes. "If anything, it would make me pissed."

"Levi, you had the audacity to go behind my back and pander to Erwin, before and during our relationship just shows me what kind of person you really are," I said, the anxious feeling of tears beginning to well up causing my voice to falter. "All this time, you've had some secret agenda planned out in order to set Erwin up with me."

"I didn't plan anything," he retorted, never breaking eye contact. "He was the one who came to me for assistance, I was only helping a good friend of mine. How was I supposed to know he would take things this far?"

"Then why didn't you stop when you realized he was getting out of hand?"

"You really expect me to break a commitment I made to him?" he inquired back, dropping his tone to a loud whisper. "I'm a man of my word, Roxanne, I promised him, but then you showed up and screwed everything up for me!"

"I screwed everything up?" I clarified, pointing to myself. "How are you going to blame me when you're the one working for him?"

"Because I developed feelings for you that I couldn't control," he said softer, placing his hands on either side of my face. "I fell for you, Roxanne, I truly did. What I felt for you was real--it still is--and I realized that early on. There was no way I could tell Erwin, he had the power to fire my ass if I went against his wishes."

"So you didn't confess to him for the sake of losing your job?" I asked, blood now boiling.

"Don't play me as the selfish type, I did this for you." Levi leaned in, pressing a desperate kiss to my lips. "I knew you would be happier if you were with me, I studied that fact so many times. I knew you were frightened by Erwin sometimes, and I wanted you to see I could treat you so much better than him. That's why I took initiative when you told me your feelings for me, it was my chance to save you from him."