AUTHOR'S NOTE: I HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T UPSET THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE READING THIS, BUT I PUT IN 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA' INTO THE STORY. THIS WILL NOT BE TURNING THE STORY INTO A CROSS-OVER! THE REASON WHY I PLUGGED THE SONG INTO THIS STORY IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T USE IT IN THE ORIGINAL STORY (VISIONS OF THE PAST) AND WITH THE WAY THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS WENT, I HONESTLY COULDN'T RESIST IT. SO, SAME AS BEFORE; SOPHIA=ITALICS AND ERIK=BOLD. ENJOY! ~ DP

A Week Later
Sophia's POV
Friday – 3:00pm
A week had passed since the disaster that was the dinner at Erik and Emma's home. I didn't leave the hotel except when I needed a little retail therapy. From the vast amount of shopping bags that were in my bedroom, that little had turned into a lot. I hadn't spoken to anyone since the dinner, especially Erik. I refused to. Drake changed hotel rooms and was now staying a few floors below me. He would only come up to make sure that I was still alive, but we hardly said two words to each other.

I was still angry at him for revealing my "virginal" status to everyone at the dinner. Because of me being raped by James Buquet ten years ago, I never considered that to be my first sexual experience, and therefore, I was still a virgin. However, I never told Drake that I had given myself to Erik. At this point, after everything that happened the night of the dinner, it was better for him, and for me, if he didn't know any better until I felt that he could handle the truth. Even though I knew that he would never be able to handle it.

On this particular Friday, you could tell that June was just around the corner. There was a nice breeze and it was warm. The sun was shining after some storms had passed through the night before. I had the balcony doors open, letting the warm air fill the hotel room. It was comforting in a way, but then again, summer was one of my favorite seasons. I had begun to sift through all of the bags that were in my room, trying on the clothes that I had bought. I had just put on a pastel purple sun dress, looking myself over in the mirror. The dress was knee length, with a light hint of stitched flowers in places, and wide straps at the shoulders. The dress was modest as all of my clothes were, and it looked great on me. As I was about to take off the dress and try on the next piece of clothing, there was a knock on the door. I made sure that I looked okay, and then crossed the living room from the bedroom, going to the door and looking through the peephole. On the other side was Squelch, who was waiting patiently and wearing the usual black attire that they all did when they were not performing. I knew it was only a matter of time before he had sent someone to fetch me. I unlocked and opened the door slightly, looking out at him.

"Good afternoon, Miss Day," he said as he took off his hat, bowing slightly. "May I come in?"

"I suppose I don't have choice," I asked, looking at him.

"No, miss."

I sighed a little. "That's what I thought," I replied, opening the door and letting him in. After he was inside, I closed the door, cutting past him and getting a bottle of water from the mini fridge. "So, what is his message?"

"Mr. Y is requesting your presence for a meeting at his office this evening at 8:00 PM to review and negotiate the terms and conditions of your contract."

"I decline his request," I replied coolly, taking a drink of water. "I will not be summoned like some common lackey or like that wife of his."

"He was afraid that you would say that. He would also like for me to tell you that this meeting is mandatory and if you do not show up, he will come here with the press and force you to sign it."

"He can't force me to do anything, but if that's the case, fine. My manager and I will –"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to mention that. Miss Day, your manager will not be attending this meeting. It is to be you only."

"I have never been to a contract negotiation without him, and if he honestly thinks that –"

"His presence is not required," Squelch said calmly, but I could tell that his patience was wearing thin. I took another drink, looking at him. I sighed softly, knowing that there was no way out of it.

"I'm sorry, Squelch. I'm not trying to shoot the messenger. I know that you're only doing your job, and that you have nothing to do with this. Please tell Mr. Y that I will be there at 8:00."

"Good. I'll pick you up at 7:30."

"Oh, no, that won't be necessary."

"This is at his request."

I hid a smile as I shook my head. "I suppose he thinks that I won't show up."

"Precisely."

I stifled a laugh. "All right. I'll see you at 7:30."

He nodded and left the hotel room shortly after. I sighed heavily after he left, going out onto the balcony to get some fresh air. I looked out at the park, knowing what I needed to do. I knew in my heart that I still loved him, but I also knew in my mind that with our past, we wouldn't be able to work together. I would have to refuse to sign the contract, and that's all there was to it. There was nothing that he could do or say to convince me otherwise.

It was only a couple hours after Squelch had left when I began to get ready for the meeting. I showered and freshened up, putting my hair up in a style that I was taught in Paris. It gave the illusion that it was in an up-do, but it was merely twisted and held together by two long hair pins that looked like knitting needles. It reminded me of Christine's hair in the dream that I had the night after the dinner. I took the tags off of the sundress that I had on earlier, deciding to wear it to the meeting with matching flats that I had bought for it. I had finished putting on a light hint of make-up when there was a knock at the door. I looked down at my watch, seeing that it was 7:30. I grabbed my purse and a sweater for later, going and answering the door. I had to stifle a laugh when I saw Squelch standing there, who was now in the clown costume that he always wore. He only snorted, which was followed by a light chuckle.

"It's okay to laugh at me, Miss Day," he said as I made sure that I had my hotel key, leaving the room after I found it. "I'm supposed to be funny."

"I just don't understand how you can walk around in it, out in public outside of the park."

"I'm used to it. I would have changed if I wasn't in between performances. Call's at 8:00, so we better get going."

I nodded as I closed the door and walked with him. We took the service stairs down to a town car that was waiting in the back of the hotel to be away from prying eyes. He opened the back seat door for me and I got in, checking myself over in my compact mirror before putting it back in my purse. Squelch got into the driver's seat and began to drive after buckling his seat belt. "The meeting shouldn't take very long, so I'll get a cab back," I told him as he drove. He glanced back at me in the rearview mirror, his make-up glistening as the setting sun shined in the windows.

"How do you know that, Miss Day? He has a lot that he wants to talk to you about."

"Just trust me on this. I know what he's going to try and pull, and I'm not going to fall for it."

He merely looked at me. It seemed like he knew something that I didn't. It wasn't long until we pulled up to the park. However, this wasn't the entrance that I usually came through. We were next to the concert hall, and it seemed that this was where the other employees hung out. He parked the car and helped me out, leading me the concert hall. "This is the service parking lot. I'm going to walk you to the entrance of his office, and then you're on your own."

"Okay. Squelch, thank you for being so nice to me. I know that I was rude to you."

"There's no need to apologize, Miss Day," he said as we walked up the Grand Staircase and into the Grand Foyer. "I know that with everything that happened at the dinner you're probably still upset. Just don't let your emotions get the better of you." We came to the end of the Grand Foyer and we stood in front of a door that wasn't really a door. Squelch pulled on a statue to the right of the door and it opened automatically. "This is as far as I go. Just go up the stairs and the door to the office will be the only door at the top. Don't be afraid; it's not dark. There's plenty of light in the hallway."

I nodded, thanking him again as I stepped through the door. I was taken aback by the first sight of it. It was a long staircase, lit only by candlelight. The candelabras were mounted upon the wall and were statuettes of angels as they held a torch. I slowly climbed the staircase, finding my way in the light. I came to the office door, knocking gently. I heard his voice on the other side telling me to come in. I slowly opened the door, gasping quietly as I stepped inside.

His office was in the shape of a rotunda, and I knew that we were inside the round part of the roof. "Oh, dear sweet Mother of God," I spoke softly, taking a look around after I had closed the door. The walls were a cream color with accents of gold here and there, and glitter speckled on the walls. The floor was marble and there was a balcony to my right. The doors were open and the curtains were blowing lightly in the breeze. The office was beautifully decorated with items from Paris, along with everything that was once in the basement of his home. The same grand piano was to the left off his desk and there was a couch against the wall that was close to the balcony doors. The desk was in the center of the room, but closest the bookshelf and near the wall. I noticed a pile of manuscript paper on the desk, but I didn't dare go near it. I looked over and he was standing next to the desk, waiting patiently.

"I've been expecting you," he said as he came around the desk, gesturing to a chair that was sitting in front of his desk. "Have a seat."

I was hesitant in doing this, but I didn't want to be impolite. I walked over and sat down, setting my things below my feet. I watched him as he looked me over, smiling a little. "Well?"

"I was just going to tell you that you look nice, but it seems that you want to get down to business. All right, then." He reached around and grabbed a document from his desk, which I could tell was my contract. I sat and waited patiently as he cleared his throat, beginning to review the terms and conditions of the contract. "Upon signing the contract, you will be agreeing to a one night only performance, which will be announced when I wish. When you sign the contract, I will be paying you $500,000 as the initial start fee –"

"You don't have to pay me that much. In fact, that's way too much."

"And after your performance, you will be paid $2 million. You and I will be working together with costume design, blocking, lighting and you will have the opportunity to sit in with my staff meetings with the trio, Emma, and her mother. Also, you will be free to go after you fulfill the contract and I will never contact you again."

"This is too good to be true. There must be catch."

"Well, yes, there is. When you sign the contract, you will be agreeing to daily voice lessons that will be taught by me –"

"Are you insane?! I don't need voice lessons anymore. I'm a star!"

He stopped, setting the contract aside. "Come here," he said, going back to the other side of the desk. "I want to show you something."

"I'm fine here, thank you."

"It wasn't a request."

I looked at him, shaking my head. I stood up, going over to the other side of the desk. He allowed me to sit in the chair as he brought up YouTube. He had an entire playlist of just me. The videos were performances of mine over the past ten years, including videos in the role of various opera roles such as Mimi from La Boheme. I looked up at him as he moved his mouse over to one of the videos, clicking on it to let it play.

"A bit obsessive, aren't we?"

He looked down at me as the video started to play, not answering me. "I want you to watch this. This is you when you were in The Magic Flute at the Met a few years ago."

"I'd rather not," I said as I moved to get up, but he pushed me back down to the chair.

"You played Pamina, if you recall. This is Act II, Scene Four; Ach, ich fühl's, es ist verschwunden."

"Ah, I Feel It, It Is Vanished; Pamina's Lament," I said the translation softly, looking up at him. "I really don't want to watch this."

"I figured not, but I want you to anyway," he said. "What is Pamina lamenting about when she sings this?"

"She's in love with Tamino, but she fears that Tamino doesn't love her in return. She feels that love's happiness is gone from her soul because of this, and her tears flow for him and him alone. She says if he can't feel the longing of love, there will be peace in death."

"Your professors at Julliard taught you well. However, if that's the case, why don't you show it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look at your eyes. They are completely dead, lacking of emotion. When you were Belle –"

"Do we really need to bring up the past?"

He moved slightly, opening a drawer of his desk, removing a picture from it. When set it in front of me on the desk, I saw it was a picture of me as Belle, singing. "When you were Belle," he continued, "You could read every emotion that she was carrying not only with her words and actions, but with your eyes. So, what changed from the time when you were Belle to now? Why are your eyes so dead, Sophie?"

"This is why I didn't want to watch this, but you didn't listen. I don't have to take this, and I don't have to sign your contract. In fact, I'm not going to sign your contract." I stood up, pushing past him and moving towards the door. "I am a successful person, Erik, and you cannot deny that. I don't have to take this from you."

"You are not leaving until we talk about this," he said, going over to his bookshelf, taking something down. It was a box. As he opened it, he pulled out vast newspapers from all over the country and the world. "I've been keeping track of you over the years. Most of these reviews are good, and they do lavish affection on you. However, I agree with the critics." He handed me a stack of newspapers for me to look at. "Your critics believe that although you are a great talent with exceptional training, you went from being so passionate about your work and the roles that you filled to being completely and utterly mediocre at best."

As I looked at the papers, I held back the tears of disappointment not only in me, but the disappointment that he showed towards me. I walked over, giving the papers back to him. "You know that we can't do this. I can't do this. This is just going to end up being a mistake and you know it. I won't sign the contract." I leaned up, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Drake never let me read the reviews. He knew that it would hurt me. However, I always needed that little bit of honesty. Thank you for showing those to me." I turned to leave, and had almost made it to the door when he spoke again.

"So why are your eyes so dead? Is it because he hits you?"

I froze, whipping around. "That's none of your business. Gangle shouldn't have interfered, let alone tell you."

"He had every right to tell me and to have interfered. You can't handle him."

"I've been handling him for the past six years, and I'm doing just fine. Is that why you didn't want him here?"

"He shouldn't be hitting you at all! How could you let yourself become so vulnerable? After everything that you've been through!"

"Why do you care?! You weren't there, and haven't been for years! Watching me from afar like…like…"

"Like?"

"Not important," I said softly, walking towards him. "Can't you see that this won't work?"

"Why don't we put that theory to the test?"

"What?"

"I have a proposition for you."

"Your propositions never end well."

He smirked, walking over to his desk, picking up a piece of music along with a CD. "I've been working on a piece of music for a while. I have the music, but I don't have the lyrics."

My eyes widened and I began to shake my head. "No."

"I recorded the orchestra playing the music yesterday. You will sing with me, whatever comes to your mind. If you like what we come up with, you will sign the contract. If not, you'll be free to go and I'll never bother you again." He put the CD in the stereo that was near the piano, pressing play. The music began slowly, playing a very light melody. "Are you ready?"

"No. I won't do this. I can't do this."

"Why not?"

"You know why."

"You can't continue to dwell in the past, Sophia."

"I'm not dwelling in the past. I'm thinking about the future."

"What do you mean?"

"You have a family. A wife and a child, and your wife was my best friend. I can't do this because I will ruin everything that you have."

"I think you're afraid."

"I'm not afraid."

"You're afraid of what will happen to you. Because of him."

"You're still so full of yourself," I said as I walked over to him as the music was beginning to grow with a drum roll. "I told you that I can handle him, but don't you understand? Things have changed, Erik."

All of a sudden, he slammed his fist on the piano, turning towards me, his powerful tenor full of anger as he sang.

Insolent boy
That slave of fashion
He basks in your glory
Ignorant fool
That cowardly manager
Sharing in my triumph

I stepped back slightly, speaking my reply. "I understand that you're angry, but you have to understand that things can't be as they once were. My soul is weak, so forgive me. I am sorry, Erik, for everything."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a mirror that was in the corner of the room, placing me in front of it. He sang to me again, this time more gentle than before, his hands on my shoulders.

Flattering star, you should know me
You know what secrets I hide…

He moved a hand over my heart. His touch took my breath away.

Look at yourself in the mirror
I am here inside!

His hand moved up to cup my chin, turning my face to his. I found myself drowning in his beautiful blue eyes, just has I had done before so many years ago. "One song, Sophie. That's all I'm asking for. If you like it, you sign the contract. If you don't, you're free to go."

"I can't," I said softly, backing away from him. "Things can't be as they once were, Erik. I'm sorry." I turned, but I didn't take a step. He wasn't going to let me.

I am your Angel of Music…

I whipped around, backing towards the door. "No. No, no, no!"

Come to me, Angel of Music…

"Erik, stop it! I won't do it!" I went to run for the door, but he was too quick. He grabbed me by the wrist, and pulled me to him. I knew that I had lost.

I am your Angel of Music
Come to me Angel of Music…

As the main part of the song began, I found myself completely enthralled with him. He pulled me to the center of the room, reaching up and removing the hair pins from my hair. The long curls that I kept up cascaded down my shoulders and back. As he stepped back from me, taking me in, words came to my mind and I began to sing.

In sleep, he sang to me
In dreams, he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again
For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind

Once I had sang, it was like my mind had come back and I realized what I had done. Yes, the words that had come from me were exquisite, and they went with the music so well, but I knew that I had to leave before I did something that we would both regret. I turned and moved towards the door once again, but my feet froze as soon as the gorgeous tenor voice of my former lover came, filling the room and filling my soul just as he had done before.

Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you
Grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me
To glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind

He crossed the room and took my hand, pulling me back to my original place. My heart was pounding against my chest, the heat of passion boiling inside of me. I had to fight it. As I fought my feelings and emotions back, I sang again, dropping my hand from his as he circled around me.

Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear

It's me they hear

He came behind me at this point, wrapping his strong arms around me to keep me from escaping. I tensed up immediately, and I knew that he could tell. As we sang together, he moved his hands to my shoulders and down my arms, taking ahold of my hands.

Your spirit and my voice (My spirit and your voice)
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind (Inside your mind)

"Why are you fighting this," he asked me, during the musical interlude. "Don't be afraid of it, Sophie. Let your heart take over. Let the music fill you as it did before." The key changed and I was completely gone, lost in the melody and his words.

In all your fantasy
You always knew
That man and mystery

I slowly turned to face him and he took a small step back, watching me closely.

Were both in you

And in this labyrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the Opera is here (there)
Inside my mind (Inside your mind)

He took another step back, grinning from ear to ear. He knew that he had won, and he was basking in all of the glory. "My Angel of Music!"

He's there
The Phantom of the Opera

"Sing!"

Ah…

"Sing!"

Ah…
Ah…

"Sing!"

Ah…
Ah…
Ah…

"Sing! Sing for me!"

AHHHHH!

As the high note echoed through the office and through some of the park, I raised my hand to my throat, completely breathless and amazed. I placed my hand over my mouth, breathing heavily as I watched him.

I have brought you
To the seat of sweet music's throne
To this kingdom where all must pay homage to music
Music
You have come here
For one purpose and one alone
Since the moment I first heard you sing
I have needed you with me
To serve me
To sing
For my music

"No…"

Our music…

Erik's POV
I stood there, my heart pounding against my chest as I watched her. My God, she was still so beautiful. When I took out the hair pins and watched her hair cascade down her back and shoulders, it took my breath away. The Sophia that I knew had returned, along with the emotion that she had buried away, and it was all because of me. I knew that she wouldn't be able to resist. And it was obvious that she liked what we had come up with together. I walked over to my desk and picked up the contract, looking at her. Her hand had dropped from her mouth and she was breathing heavily, staring at me.

"Sophie, are you all right," I asked, walking towards her with a pen and the contract. She could only nod, still in complete shock from what had just happened. "I can tell that you enjoyed that. The emotion that you once had has returned. I could see it in your eyes. Sign the contract, Sophie, and we'll begin our work on Monday."

I watched her as she slowly grabbed the contract from my hand. I watched her gaze travel from the print to me. "And what am I to sing," she asked, her voice soft and timid, as if she were afraid of what else would come out of her mouth.

"One song, which will be chosen by me."

"And then, I will be free to leave?"

"After, of course, I pay the final fee."

She looked at the contract again before she took the pen from me, going over to the desk and signing the contract. I went over to open the door. As I did so, the trio fell upon the floor, all three of them looking up at me. "What did you three think, since you were listening at the door?"

"She sounded beautiful," Gangle said first as he stood up, then helped up Fleck and Squelch.

"Angelic."

"Perfect."

I smiled softly, going back over to her. She handed me the contract, still in a daze. I cupped her chin, bringing her gaze up to mine. "We'll begin the voice lessons on Monday," I said softly, grabbing an envelope that was on my desk, which contained the cashier's check worth $500,000 for her starting fee. I handed it to her, but she didn't take it.

"I don't want it," she said softly, looking down. "It's way too much money to be paying me, when I'm only mediocre at best."

"To me, you're worth this much money and a whole lot more," I whispered, placing the envelope in her hand. She took it, and then grabbed her purse and sweater, heading towards the door. "Gangle, make sure she gets back to the hotel okay."

He nodded, following her out and shutting the door. I sighed happily, sitting at my desk while Fleck and Squelch sat down in the chairs in front of it.

"It seems that you are incredibly pleased with yourself," Fleck observed, sitting back in the chair.

"You have no idea, Miss Fleck. She is going to be fantastic."

"I imagine that this will be a secret until a press conference is held," Squelch asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"Of course, Mr. Squelch. I wouldn't have any other way. I'm just wondering what I'm going to do with this," I said as I turned the computer monitor towards them. I had recorded the entire session via webcam, and was now a saved file on my computer.

"If it were me, sir, I would keep it secret and safe. No one needs to know about it."

"I agree. If this was leaked, it would be disastrous not only to her reputation, but to yours as well. When you're walking around the park, you're seen in a mask. If people saw you like this, it would hurt your business."

I nodded, putting the file on my flash drive and locking it back in my desk. "I don't know what I would do without you three. Come. It's been a long day. Let's go get Emma and Christine."