Ask and you shall receive! I have listened to my wonderful reviewers and this will be a cliffhanger free chapter! I really hope you enjoy the introduction of Erik's father ;) It is also very late so I have not had a chance to proof read. Please forgive the grammatical errors as I just wanted to get this chapter posted. Oh ya and don't forget to review I finally got over 100, yay!

Erik's father calling her had been surprising to say the least. After her initial shock had worn off she found curiosity easily taking over. Mr. Duvone, or Rich as he insited she call him, was apparently the new owner of L.D. Records. He claimed one of his clients had brought in a video of her singing the other night at the club. Furthermore, he wanted to meet her, hear her sing in person, and discuss a possible recording contract. He never mentioned Erik and she certainly wasn't going to bring him problem was, she didn't know if he was being genuine or this was part of some sick plan to get to Erik.

First of all, Christine had no aspirations to start out as a recording artist. She wanted to perform live on a stage in front of an audience. She knew that recording could possibly open up those doors one day, but she wanted to watch her first success through the faces of her audience, not through album sales. She wanted to see the expressions on the people she sang for, she wanted to watch them connect to how she interpreted a song. It was important to tell a story with what she sang, not simply produce some mediocre auto-tuned mess which seemed to be all the rage. Or have her music defined by how she she was half naked in her music video. Now, if her sucess in opera gave her the opportunity to put out a few albums one day she wouldn't object, but she wanted to be part of something bigger.

Christine knew she should have just hung up the phone right away and told Erik. Instead, here she was, waiting outside the office of the man responsible for driving Erik away from her. Erik had warned her he was dangerous, but Christine had to meet him face to face. She had to see the man responsible for making Erik who he was today.

The clock on the wall ticked incessantly as she anticipated their first encounter. Should see just come out and say she knew who he was? Should she play it coy and see if he brought it up? Or should she just admit this was a foolish thing to do and hightail it out of there. Just when she had almost made up her mind to do exactly that, the secretary picked up her phone, muttered something incoherent and looked up at Christine, "Mr. Duvone will see you now."

Christine gulped. "I guess here goes nothing."

Once inside his office she found he was not at all as she expected. The last memory she had Richard Duvone had been the day she had come to his office looking for Erik. He was a complete and utter wreck back then. She had expected to find him fat, bald, appalling, as well as considerably aged from his drinking. Instead, the man standing before her now was a complete picture of health. She estimated he should be around 65 but he didn't look a day over 50. The hair she had expected to have disappeared still remained above a distinct face though with a few added touches of gray. A small neat mustache sat above his upper lip and gave him a look of utter refinement. If this was how Erik would age, Christine mused, she was certainly a lucky woman. Richard smiled as he made his way over.

"Christine, I am delighted to finally meet you in person."

Christine reached for his extended hand and took the seat he offered.

"My, that video didn't do you justice, you are simply breathtaking."

Christine blushed. She decided compliments were always lovely to hear, even if they came from your enemy.

"Mr. Duvone," she began.

He put his hand up, "Stop right there. My name is Rich to everyone here and I won't answer to anything else."

"Very well...Rich, I..."

He interpreted her by saying. "Christine I know what you are going to say."

She crossed her arms. "Oh do you?"

Slowly he rose from his chair, leaning forward he braced both hands on the desk and stared straight in her eyes. His voice grew soft and hypnotic.

"You are going to say how you aren't interested, how since you were a little girl you dreamed of what it would be like to captivate an audience. You want to touch the very souls of those who listen to you. You want to be on stage, not in a studio, am I right?"

Christine nodded, the man was good.

Rich seemed please with her compliance. "You see my dear, you think you won't touch anyone's lives taking this path." He paused, "But you couldn't be more wrong. May I show you something?"

Christine nodded once more and allowed him to escort her to a set of enormousness bay windows that touched the floor. Below her she observed a posh shopping center overflowing with people. Parents were watching their children play in a center fountain, girlfriends were sharing lunch, and others were strolling leisurely by. His voice remained calm yet strong. He took his time, letting his next words sink in.

"If you look at an album sale and just see numbers you aren't seeing the real picture. Each one of those numbers represents a person. A person who is taking you with them to work, to pick up their kids, to romance their husband, to propose to their future wife. You are sharing every intimate moment in their lives. Why? Because you have touched them with your music. They can't turn off your voice because not only have you affected their souls, you have made your self accessible. They don't have to scrimp and save every dime they can simply to attend some big city show where you will aloofly sing from far off on some type of pedestal. Afterwards they will go home, get in their cars, and turn on someone else's music, each mile causing the memory of your voice to grow fainter. You might touch a few this way, but only for a brief moments and its gone."

"Christine," he turned her around to face him, keeping a grip on each shoulder, "with my help we can touch millions of people's hearts. We can make sure your words stir and captivate the world forever. Tell me, that doesn't sound too terrible does it?"

Oh yes, he was definitely good. What he promised sounded incredible. She could almost see herself signing anything he put in front of her. He could have written a book on persuasion. But he was Erik's father and she knew he was dangerous. He might not know who she was but she knew exactly who he was. She could and would never betray Erik like that. Her curiosity had beaten out her common sense for the last time. It was time to go.

She was about to thank him for the offer and leave when she sensed they were no longer alone.

"You will remove your hands from my fiance immediately before I do it for you."

Rich released Christine and whipped himself around.

"Hello father." Erik said calmly.

Christine took a step away. On the outside Erik appeared completely in control, but she knew him well enough to see he was furious.

"Erik...Eastcote is it now?" Rich countered. He had composed himself quite quickly. "If you don't mind, Christine and I were just settling a little business matter. You are welcome to wait in the lobby."

Christine narrowed her eyes. So he did know who she was.

"That won't be necessary Mr. Duvone. I will be leaving with Erik right away.

Rich turned toward Christine, "You don't have to go with him you know, my offer still stands."

"And what offer is that?" Erik's calm exterior was starting to slip.

"Why make her a star of course."

Christine walked straight over to Erik and too his hand. She could feel him trembling with rage.

"You won't go near her again, do I make myself clear?"

Rich smirked. "Crystal. However, if she comes looking for me, well then, that wouldn't be my fault would it?"

"That won't happen."

"Well, it happened already, didn't it?"

Christine felt Erik's hand clench around hers, nearly breaking her fingers.

Erik's voice grew deadly. "Let me make myself clear, if I ever see or hear you try to contact her, if you so much mention her name...I will kill you." With that, Erik turned around and dragged Christine out the door.

The two sat in silence the entire way home. Christine didn't know what to say and Erik was too angry to speak. Only once they got back into the sanctuary of his bedroom did he snap, "What in the hell did you think you were doing?"

Christine hung her head. "Erik, I know I made a mistake going there, I never meant to make you angry I just needed to meet him."

"Meet him?! Why?" he snarled.

Christine wrapped her arms around his waist, trying to force him to hold her. "I wanted to meet the man who took you away from me."Christine was now crying. "Erik I am so sorry. He called me out of the blue and I...I just felt like I had to face him."

Erik's anger vanished, his arms swiftly enclosed her. "Christine, don't you realize he could have separated us again?" his voice broke. "I can't lose you again. He wants nothing more then to hurt me, you are just a way to do that now."

"I didn't think..."

"No more thinking." he growled.

Then he was kissing her passionately, bruising her lips to his. Christine knew there was still much more to discuss, but she didn't fight his need. Instead, she gave herself over to him completely, attempting to sooth the storm of emotions he had raging inside him. The made love that night in a frenzy. Erik drove into her relentlessly almost as if he was punishing her for her disobedience. He demanded not only her body that night, but every part of her soul. If Christine was shocked by his need she never showed it. She met his demands willingly and readily. When he reached for her again she didn't turn him away but welcomed and met his hunger touch for touch. When morning came both were exhausted but Christine saw the demons in Erik had finally subsided.

Uh oh, Erik's not to happy with Christine, but you know he can't stay angry forever :) As usual...To Be Continued. Just a heads up, I have two very busy weeks ahead, so if I don't update for a bit, do not worry, I will get the next chapter posted as soon as I can!