He and his associates weren't operating at the level of metaphor.
( ( ( He and ) ( his associates ) ) ( ( ( were n't ) ( operating ( at ( ( the level ) ( of metaphor ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP He)) (CC and) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS associates))) (VP (VBD were) (RB n't) (VP (VBG operating) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN level)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN metaphor))))))) (. .)))
His associates' boss was operating at the level of the metaphor. 
( ( ( His ( associates ' ) ) boss ) ( ( was ( operating ( at ( ( the level ) ( of ( the metaphor ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP$ His) (NNS associates) (POS ')) (NN boss)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG operating) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN level)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN metaphor))))))) (. .)))