Happy Saturday! Yes, our super couple did hug but we have a long way to go because I for one, will never be satisfied with just a hug. Wink, wink.
One of my reviewers signed in as a Guest, thus I am unable to send a private comment but I did want to let them know that while I do like the idea, my outline is already established for this story. Maybe it can take flight next time. I do appreciate the thought and please keep reading!
On with the show….
Erik froze when he felt Christine's arms around him. He literally had to look around the room a few times and force his eyes to focus on the back of her head to actually accept that this was reality and not a long ago buried dream. Just when he sensed she was about to pull away, he brought his arms across her waist and clung tightly to her slender frame. He was nervous about such a bold move but when he felt Christine cling back tighter and sigh, he knew it hadn't been a mistake.
"I…I can't believe this is actually real." He didn't dare move, for apart of him was testing his theory to make sure it wasn't make believe. "You can't image how many times I have wanted to hold you."
Christine moved slightly so she could look directly into his eyes. "You? I think I cried myself to sleep so many times praying that maybe I could have one moment in time where you and I could actually touch. Oh angel, you have no idea how long I wished for this."
"Angel…" He whispered and smiled back at her. He then brought her head to rest on his chest. "I can't tell you how good it is to hear you call me that. No one ever has or ever will, other than you."
She shook her head. "I don't think that's true."
"Christine, I am far from the angel you thought you knew. I…"
"You are not an angel, I understand. You're more than that. You're a real live person. You aren't just here for me but for all of us and while I have thousands of questions, all I care about right now is that you are real. The voice…. the being I thought was lost forever, has returned and he is still helping me, as always."
"About those questions…."
"Not now." She looked up at him. "Tonight is only for happiness. Happiness of seeing a wonderful friend who is no longer bound by a lie. We are finally free to spend as much time with one another as we want and during that time, we will have all our questions answered. You no longer have to hide, angel. You have finally come to me after all."
"You mean you still want to spend time together? You still want to sing again?"
She laughed a little. "The teachings of my angel were the ones I never wanted anyone to rival or make me forget. It turns out that it was my angel all along. Oh Erik, I know you aren't a real angel but you are a real tutor and hopefully, in time we can reconnect our friendship. It was so precious to me and even before I knew who you really were, I was starting to feel a bond form again. It will just bind us more quickly to one another, knowing that we share a past."
"The past isn't always something one wishes to cling to, angel."
She was about to respond but stopped when she heard him call her angel. "I confess, I haven't heard your magnificent voice call me that in a long time and it feels incredible." Her smile beamed at him.
"It does?" He touched her chin.
"Do you really doubt it?"
"I don't want to but I have a hard time forgiving myself for the past and as you told me, there are many unanswered questions." He took her hand and grasped it protectively.
"We have all the time in the world to address them but first…."
"Yes?" He looked worried.
"Aren't we going to go to dinner? I'm famished." She giggled.
"You still wish to dine with me?"
"I can't remember when I accepted a more appealing invitation."
He smiled and kissed her hand, realizing that he was still holding on to it from before. He gently let go of it and escorted her to the door. "The honor is all mine."
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The new café was crowed and Christine seemed very pleased at all the people coming and going. She felt very proud to be standing next to her angel in that moment.
"Angel, this looks wonderful. Not only is it absolutely lovely but the people seem to be raving about it."
Erik nodded but felt a little self-conscious. He knew he would have to deal with some of the people staring but now that Christine knew who he really was, he was afraid she would remember why he had to hide in the shadows and thus happy thoughts of her angel would be replaced by the realities of being seen with the Devil's Child.
He didn't know what to say, so he talked about his idea for the café. "Does it remind you of anything?"
Christine looked around once more. "Well, it looks very fancy. Almost as if we were back in Paris and…." Her mouth dropped. "Erik! You designed it that way on purpose?!"
He nodded. "Many people outside the city can't afford to dine is such a place. Here, they can. And at reasonable prices. Fantasy meets reality at Phantasm."
She clung to his arm all the more. "Those words were never more true."
A man saw them standing and he went to greet them. "Monsieur, it is an honor to have you dine with us tonight." He then addressed Christine. "Mademoiselle, welcome." He then turned back to Erik, "I think it's a huge success, Erik. I was a fool to doubt you. As usual, you were right."
Erik merely nodded. "Christine, I would like you to meet Miquel. Miquel is actually from Italy but he is a genius at French food. Imagine that?" He winked.
Miquel laughed. "Someday, we shall I have to tell the beautiful lady, how we met."
Erik's demeanor changed when Miquel commented on Christine's beauty but when Miquel tapped his arm, he seemed to relax.
"Pay no attention to me, my dear lady. I am Italian and therefore I always appreciate the virtues of the opposite sex. Yet I am also much too smart to not notice that you are already taken."
Christine blushed and Erik panicked but neither seemed to correct Miquel in his assessment. The man then brought them to a table in the back.
"There you are. It's the best table in the café. You two can have some privacy, while the Master can check in on the comings and goings of the patrons. Enjoy yourselves!"
Christine thanked him and then was surprised to see Erik pull the chair out for her. "Thank you, kind Monsieur."
"My pleasure, my lady." He then cursed his boldness. He quickly sat down and explained himself. "Christine, I didn't mean…. That is, I hope you weren't embarrassed or annoyed by what Miquel said and I merely said my lady because…"
She touched his hand. "Erik, it's alright. I wasn't offended by any of it. I actually…."
"What?"
"I rather liked it. It's a real treat to be here with the Master." She giggled.
"You say that now but in a few moments, when you see people snickering or whispering about the freak in the mask…."
"You mean the mysterious handsome man in the mask?"
He paused. "Handsome?" He turned around. "Who else is here in a mask?"
"Erik, I was talking about you. Your face does not define you. You define yourself and you have a thousand features. The face is only one."
He tried very hard not to acknowledge how her words went straight to his heart. "I seem to have a feature for every question that you have." He felt it was important to bring up some of the realities from tonight.
"Perhaps but…." She looked around the café and smiled. "Tonight is where fantasy meets reality and I am dining with my Angel of Music, who is also my teacher, my boss and my friend." He is my friend and I know that despite all my questions, he is not the man that Raoul said he is. How could he be? Not him. Not my angel.
Christine was trying very hard to block out a few ideas that kept running through her head each time she looked into Erik's eyes. For years I begged he would be real, so I could pledge my love to him as a real man and not as an angel. And now he is real. But I was merely a child. Idealized, worshiped, respected, cared for, admired, are all true but love? I loved him as a child but as a woman? I did think he made that mask look good the very first day I saw him at the audition. I did call him handsome and how many times have I marveled over his physique? Her mind was so lost in thought that she didn't hear Erik's question.
"Christine? Where did you go just now?"
"Hmm? I…. I'm sorry I just…. I can't believe I'm dining with you, is all."
"Christine, perhaps I didn't think things through."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't eat…. That is, I can't eat a full meal as a normal person with my mask on."
"So? Please take it off. Erik, I know what you look like without it and I'm…. Oh!" She realized that other people may not be so comfortable without him having his mask on.
"Are you self-conscious because of me or everyone else?"
"Well…."
"Erik, the reason I ask is that I don't want you to include me with the rest of them. I'm not like them."
He smiled. "No, you're not."
She smiled back, happy to know that he didn't see her as someone who would gawk at him. "I have an idea."
"What do you suggest? I place the menu up over my face the whole time?" He chucked so she knew he was teasing.
"Not quite but it would require you to trust me. Do you?"
Erik had to laugh. It was he who should be asking that of her, not the other way around. "Do your worst, Mademoiselle."
She grinned. "Then call Miquel over here, order up something to go and meet me by the lake in 20 minutes."
"The lake?" He was confused.
"Trust me, angel."
It was in that moment that Erik knew his heart had been stolen.
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Christine hurried to her room, so she could change and pack a few things for the lake. As she was getting dressed, she heard something at her window. She put on a robe and then opened the window and looked down.
"Is someone out there?" She wondered if it was Erik playing a trick on her. "Erik?"
"Christine…." His voice was in a whisper. "Over here."
Her smile faded away when she saw it was Raoul. "What are you doing? Are you insane? You'll get caught!"
"Don't be silly. That Freak is still at the café. I must applaud you for your acting. You are really very good."
"What are you talking about? How did you know we were at a café…Are you following me?!"
"I am merely making sure you are safe, that is all and after tonight, I am glad I did. I appreciate your willingness to help me, Christine but don't do anything you will regret."
"What are you talking about, Raoul?"
"You're getting the old fool to think you are have feelings for him. I knew it! Yet you denied it when I brought it up before but I can tell…."
"Get out of here! Raoul, I am warning you, stop following me and stop thinking I would ever do something like that."
"Then tell me why you want to be seen with him?"
"That is none of your business. Raoul, you are all wrong about Erik. I have never been more certain of it."
"Is that a fact? Then tell me how did you come to this realization."
"Not here. You need to leave before someone sees you."
"Fine but you will meet me tomorrow. Alone and somewhere we can talk. I am very concerned for you, Lottie."
"Raoul, I don't need you to rescue me. I will tell you everything tomorrow, just go."
"You promise?"
"Yes, I'll meet you."
"Come to the house."
"Fine, just go!"
"Two o'clock."
"I'll be there, now go!"
No sooner did Christine closed the window did Raoul smirked. "Until tomorrow." He then hurried out of the park.
Unfortunately, Carlotta saw him as he left.
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Annie woke up feeling disorientated. She didn't recognize her surroundings and felt as if she had slept on a hard surface. When she realized she was on a couch, she closed her eyes to try and remember how she got there.
"Good morning." Claude greeted her with a tray of coffee, tea, juices and fruit. "I thought you might be hungry."
"Where am I… Oh." Realization washed over her face. She had spent the night at Claude's and had told him some of her deepest secrets. "I can't believe you allowed me to fall asleep for the whole night! What will people think?" She threw the blanket off of her and looked for her shoes.
"Annie, please calm down. You were tired and needed to sleep and I certainly wasn't going to wake you up in the middle of the night. You are safe and nothing happened. That's all that matters."
She looked ashamed. "I didn't think you would…."
"I would what?"
She looked up at him. "Still want to see me after what I told you last night."
Claude walked over to her, placed the tray down and sat beside her. He reached for her hand and to his surprise, she did not resist him. "I want nothing more than to see you each and every morning, day and night. My feelings have not changed."
She fiddled around a bit but Claude stopped her and placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Annie, you trusted me last night and I want you to know that you did not make a mistake in doing so. You also have not lost me. I am right where I want to be."
"Claude, you are an inspector and I told you I helped commit a murder."
"Over 30 years ago and many would argue it was self-defense."
"Would you?"
"I used to see the world as black and white. You have no choice when you are in my profession but there had been times in the past, where I struggled to not get mixed up into the gray. I realized after hearing your story last night that in always keeping my distance, I lost some of the emotion that is necessary to be able to not only do one's job well but to also live one's life well. I will not say I condone murder but Annie, you are not a murderer."
"And what of Erik?"
"What does he have to do with us?"
"His is closer to me than a brother would be. You must accept him to accept me."
"Annie, I hardly know the man. I only know a fraction of the boy from your eyes. I have no right to pass judgment on him. At this moment, I cannot see a wrong he has committed."
She didn't move and Claude sat back onto the couch. "Does this mean, you will stay and have breakfast with me?"
"Claude, I can't separate my life. I make no apologies but I understand if it is not what you want. All I ask is that you let us be in peace."
"Antoinette Giry, you are infuriating!" He sat up. "What does a man have to say to get through to you? I find you courageous and strong and proud and loyal. Not to mention beautiful and wonderful and kind and…. Annie, I'm not leaving. I am staying right here and I will do so until you fall in love with me, as much as I have with you."
Her mouth dropped to the floor. "You love me?"
He swallowed hard. "I do." He kissed her passionately and Annie responded back with equal vigor.
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Meg walked into Thompson's office and waited for his secretary to acknowledge her.
"Yes?"
"I am here to see Monsieur Thompson."
"Is he expecting you?"
"I believe he is."
"She gave Meg a look and then moved away from her desk. "I'll announce you."
A few minutes later, she told Meg to go in and that was where her nerve started to disappear. She knew what she had to do but that didn't make it any easier.
"Hello there." Thompson said. "What an unexpected surprise. You must have liked my little trinket very much for you to come running to me so soon."
"I hardly call myself running to you, Monsieur."
He smirked. "You know that spitfire edge you have is growing on me and I find myself wanting to see that reaction more and more." He started to come over to her. "Are you ready to…"
"No! I am not ready to do anything with you. I will never be ready… But that doesn't mean that I don't know what I have to do."
"You make it sound like a chore. I assure you, I am rather good and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised."
"Please, don't make this into some sort of flirtatious game. It is a business transaction."
"Yet you are the one who wanted roses and wooing, now all you want is the act of business. My, we are full of contradictions, aren't we?" He admired her form for a moment. "No."
"No what?"
"No, it will not be a business transaction. I want to have some fun with this devious proposition of yours. You are much too delectable not to and how often does this happen in a man's life?"
Monsieur, please. Don't…."
"Now don't go and do that. Don't get all pleading and crying. That won't interest me, that will only anger and bore me and trust me, you don't want to see me bored." He grabbed her and pulled her towards him. "I'll tell you when I want you to fight me back!" He then assaulted her lips with his own and roughly pushed her down on the floor.