Authors note: Hello readers! So, I love phantom of the opera, and wanted to do a modern version of it. I am taking a lot of inspiration from the Andrew Lloyd Webber version, but there are a few other versions that I am pulling from as well. Also, I don't speak French, so I'm not going to pretend that I speak French and make you look up what they would actually be saying in French. So, there's that. I love reviews, so feel free to give me any feedback, good or bad, questions, comments are always appreciated. The first chapter is a bit short, but the others should be a touch longer. Also, I made the executive decision to slightly alter everyone's names to give it more of a modern feel. Thanks!
Chapter 1
"Hello, thank you for calling Operius industries. How may I direct your call?" Christie transferred the caller and hung up the phone. She had been the
receptionist at Operius for almost exactly a year and she liked it, but it got pretty lonely working the front desk.
She had taken the job when her father had passed away from a long term illness. She had quit her first year of college when they found out he was sick and
she had to look after him. They tried to find a good nurse, but that hadn't exactly happened. Their insurance wouldn't cover it and if Christie had gotten a job
to pay for it then it would have taken all her money anyway. So she had decided to take care of him herself. She didn't mind though. She had loved her father
more than anything and she wouldn't have traded those last five years for a million college degrees.
She had recently celebrated her 25th birthday and it was the loneliest day of her life. Although she had received one anonymous card, it was delivered to her
work and wasn't signed. Working at the front desk meant that she didn't have any coworkers to make friends with. All of her friends from school had stopped
calling years ago. She supposed that it was mostly her fault though. Even she would have gotten tired of constant replies of 'I can't, I have to take of care of
my dad tonight.'
Things at work had been very tumultuous lately. The company had been recently sold to two men who had appointed themselves as CEO and CFO as soon as
the buyout was completed, although, no one could remember which one was which. The previous owner had mysteriously disappeared and sold the company
from a remote location, according to break-room gossip. The two new owners were named Mr. Farmer and Mr. Andrews. Christie had greeted them every day
since they had arrived three weeks ago, but they had been so busy that they hadn't noticed her even once. "I don't mind." She would tell herself every time.
Today was a windy fall day. There was apparently some kind of international consultant meeting happening this week because Christie had heard a different
language every time someone passed her desk. It was just after lunch and people were still trickling back in when she heard the shouting. She heard it before
she saw who it was. Mr. Farmer and Mr. Andrews were walking through the front doors guiding an older woman inside. The woman was shouting in French
and shaking her wrist in the air. Mr. Farmer was trying to lead her into the main foyer and Mr. Andrews was pleading with her to try and remain calm. Clearly
they didn't speak a word of French. Christie could, coincidentally. She immediately understood the problem and hurried over to the woman. "May I?" She
asked approaching Mr. Farmer hesitantly. He looked at her skeptically and raised his thick dark eyebrows at her. Christie spoke to the woman calmly and
reassuringly in perfect French. The woman calmed down exponentially and thanked Christie. She turned to Mr. Farmer. "She said that she left her bracelet in
the bathroom of the restaurant where you ate lunch. She said it was her grandmothers. I'll call the restaurant and have someone bring it over right away."
Mr. Farmer looked down at her in surprise. Mr. Andrews patted her on the back gratefully. "Her translator took a separate cab back here and we had no idea
what she was saying. Thank you miss…?" "Day. Christie Day." Christie smiled at the woman and went to her desk to call the restaurant after getting the
name of it from Mr. Andrews. After it was delivered, she personally took it up to the woman in Mr. Farmer's office.
The next day, when the owners walked into work and Christie greeted them, Mr. Andrews stopped at her desk. "A few positions just opened up on the night
call floor, it would be mostly sales. We have been looking for French/English speakers. Would you be at all interested? It comes with a pay raise plus
commission." He appraised her as he told her the offer. His eyes took in her wildly curly brown hair and mousy clothes, but he also saw potential.
Christie could hardly believe that learning to speak French would have paid off so well. She accepted wholeheartedly. "You will need to report to Ms. Gary next
Monday morning. We will hire your replacement immediately and have you train her a bit before you start there. By the way, where did you learn to speak
French so well?" He asked. She smiled and said, "I've been taking lessons from a private tutor."
There you have it! Review please!
