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And she's back home!
I got all caught up on reviews and am posting right on schedule this morning.
It's good to have things back to normal.
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Chapter 29
~X~
As Erik parked the car and came around to open the door for her, Christine couldn't wipe the smile off her face. That had been beyond thrilling! She had always wanted to ride in a Ferrari, and at last she could mark that off her bucket list! Gerald had driven her to Juilliard that morning, dropping her off as he usually did, but once her classes were over, it was Erik who had come to fetch her. Taking her to Phantom Industries in his racy black sports car!
"Are you sure we can't just drive around the block a few more times?" she begged, stepping out of the car rather reluctantly.
"After the interview," he promised, chuckling at how much his little wife seemed to have enjoyed the ride. He understood the draw, for he too could think of nothing more thrilling than being in control of a magnificent machine such as this. Yet as he looked at Christine's wide eyes and flushed face, he supposed he could think of one thing that was better. But Erik had promised her time…and he planned on giving her that, even if it killed him.
"Right…the interview," she said with a heavy sigh. Christine had been dreading it all day, but she supposed the one good thing about it was that it required her cutting her exhausting dance practice with Meg short. Her legs were still tingling a bit from the workout she had been put through, and now as they headed for the elevator, she worried that she might not make it there without collapsing. For a tiny girl, Meg was sure a tyrant when it came to dance!
They climbed into the elevator without saying a word, but as Christine watched Erik punch in a series of numbers, she gave him a curious look. Noticing this, he quickly explained.
"This allows me to bypass all the other floors, and takes the elevator right to the top floor," he told her. "It wouldn't do for the boss to have to stop at every floor and rub elbows with the other employees…would it?"
"If you wanted to be the kind of boss that your employees felt comfortable approaching, it would," she reasoned.
"Well that sounds horrible," Erik protested. "Why on earth would I ever want that?"
Christine couldn't help but laugh at his obvious distaste over the idea. Her husband was not really the social type, but she supposed that he had good reason not to be…given the fact that he wore a mask and all. But her smile quickly faded as the numbers on the elevator climb higher and higher. She had spent a long time contemplating Antoinette's words of counsel last night, as well as Erik's, and she only hoped what she came up with would suffice. Christine had never been comfortable speaking in front of an audience, or talking about herself, and now she was going to be required to do both. She looked up at Erik, who appeared unaffected by what was about to take place. He apparently did this kind of thing all the time, or maybe not, if what he'd implied about issuing gag orders on all the newspapers and magazines concerning him was true. Still, Erik most likely spoke to rooms full of big-wigs all the time, and this was just another day at the office for him.
However, that was not the case for her.
"Erik?" she asked, her voice shaking just a bit. "May I ask a favor?"
"Of course, Christine, what do you wish?" he responded, looking down at her with concern.
"I know this was on your list, and I'm not asking in order to allow you to cross it off," she began, feeling a bit foolish. "But would you please hold my hand?" When Erik stared at her in utter confusion, she quickly clarified. "Well…it might look better if we did so in front of the reporters, you see. Give the illusion that we are…in love." At that her face turned a bit red, but she forced herself to continue. "But most of all, I really could use a steady hand right about now, for I feel like I might faint."
In answer, Christine felt his hand slip around hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze as a bright smile graced his lips.
"I would be honored to hold your hand and offer you support, my brave little wife," he told her, his voice husky with emotion. And just as the bell sounded, indicating they had reached their floor, he leaned over and whispered into her ear. "And I say it still counts, thus I plan on marking it off my list the moment we get home."
This caused Christine to give a snort of laughter, easing her tension just a bit as they stepped out and headed for the glass doors that led to the waiting area. Elizabeth was sitting at the front desk, yet rose to her feet the moment they came through the door.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Thorn," she greeted them as they entered. "And you are looking lovely today, Mrs. Thorn."
"Thank you…Elizabeth, wasn't it?" she said, doing her best to recall the woman's name.
"Yes," she returned with a wide smile.
Antoinette was there as well, and came directly over and fell into step as they crossed towards the door to the conference room.
"They are all here and waiting," she informed him, her tone all business. "As you stipulated, I confiscated all recording devices and cameras, telling them that there will be a brief opportunity for photos after the interview. I have also briefed them on what questions were, and were not, allowed. Stressing the importance of not overstepping their bounds or risk being tossed out on their ear."
"Very good," Erik nodded, only half listening, for the feel of Christine's hand in his was very distracting.
"Don't worry, Christine," Antoinette next told the nervous looking girl. "Just remember what I said and you'll do just fine."
"Of course she will," Erik said in a confident tone. "She's Christine Thorn, isn't she?"
"Well, right now I feel more like Joan of Arc…about to be burned at the stake," Christine countered, gripping his hand even tighter. "But we might as well get this over with. Bring on the fire"
Erik couldn't help but chuckle at her analogy, doing his best to imagine her in a suit of armor, a bobbed haircut, and holding up a sword. Oddly enough, he found it wasn't terribly displeasing to him.
"Right this way," Antoinette indicated, taking hold of the door and swinging it open, allowing Erik and Christine to enter, her hand still locked in his.
There were more reporters than she imagined there would be, with some sitting in the chairs surrounding the large conference table, as well as a few others standing around, or leaning against the walls. Yet the moment they arrived, everyone turned and stared right at her, making Christine tremble with over-active nerves. Oh, heaven help her.
"I have been informed that you have all been instructed on the type of questions that will effectively get you ejected from this room. I suggest you remember that, as well as your manners when addressing my wife," Erik sternly told them as he pulled out a chair, assisting Christine to sit, before taking the seat next to her. Antoinette remained standing by the door, acting as a stern sentinel, making sure things ran smoothly.
"Now, if you are all clear on the rules…you may begin with your questions," Erik offered, extending his hand towards the group. When everyone began at once, he called for them to halt. "No one could possibly respond when spoken to like that. One at a time, please."
This time it was a bit less chaotic, making Christine give a sigh of relief. And thankfully as they went around the room, the questions began rather easily. What was her full name, where she was born, describe her educational history, what classes she was taking at Juilliard, and so on. She answered each one honestly and without much difficulty, but soon, just as she feared, things quickly turned more personal.
"Tell me, Mrs. Thorn, is it true that your father is very ill and resides in a care facility just outside of town?" a tall man asked, as all eyes instantly turned to her in anxious curiosity.
"Yes…that is true," she nodded, clearing her throat as she went on, trying to do as Antoinette said and offer up as many benign details as she could. "He is suffering from a mutated strain of what the doctors call CIDP, or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy." Christine was rather proud of herself for having pronounced such difficult words correctly, watching as everyone scrambled to write what she had said down in their note pads. "It is a highly unpublicized condition, and I'm told that many times it will go undiagnosed due to the fact that many of the symptoms mimic that of other ailments. My father was one of those who slipped through the cracks, ending up in a near catatonic state simply because no one could figure out what had happened to him. Yet, they tell me that he is currently responding to the medication and will hopefully make a full recovery."
"And he was a violinist at the Met?" the next reporter asked.
"An excellent violinist," Christine corrected, her face breaking out into a proud smile. "He held the lead chair in his section for many years, having to step down only due to his illness. It is my dream to see him return to his former glory."
"Do you intend to pursue a career in music, or theater, Mrs. Thorn?" came the next question from a delicate looking woman with dark eye makeup.
"I intend to see how my classes at Juilliard go before I make any decisions about a future career," she replied.
"Yet, I do assure you, that if my wife wishes to perform on stage, she has not only the talent, but my full and complete backing," Erik added, having kept mostly silent the whole time. He had been enjoying himself very much, hoping that everyone there could see exactly how amazing his Christine truly was. The fact that she was answering their questions so calmly only further proved to him that she was destined for greatness. For if she could perform under these conditions, she would take the world by storm.
"Can you tell us, Mrs. Thorn…when and how did you meet your husband?" This was asked by a short little man with a hairpiece…something that was fooling no one. "This all came upon very suddenly, don't you agree?"
"No…not at all," she told him, sitting up a bit straighter as she prepared to defend herself. "You might think so, since we kept our relationship a secret in order to avoid the publicity, but Erik and I were very familiar with each other by the time we chose to wed." Here she felt a smidge guilty, for in truth it was only Erik who knew her on an intimate level, having apparently had her followed and looked into her financial situation. Still, it was the truth…since Christine figured that she knew him as well as anyone did. "As for where we met, it was at a restaurant, where I was working as a singing waitress. Erik came in, had dinner, we spoke a bit, and after my performance he left me a very interesting note. He came in each night after that and as they say…the rest is history." Here Christine dared to give Erik a quick glance, wishing to see if her retelling of the events met with his approval. They apparently did, for he was smiling fondly down at her.
"Christine quite literally swept me off my feet," he told the group. "I was instantly drawn to her personality and her fine voice. The fact that she also looks like an angel, is simply a bonus."
His words caused Christine to blush, not sure if he was speaking the truth, or just laying it on thick for the reporters, still, it was very flattering to hear.
"Now, Mrs. Thorn," a rather catty looking woman spoke up next, aiming her pen at her in an accusing manner. "Many are going to wonder if it wasn't the money that drew you to your husband. Can you honestly say that his financial situation wasn't what prompted this speedy wedding…or are you perhaps in the family way, thus forcing him to marry you?"
Both Erik and Antoinette seemed visibly upset by this question, with the dark haired legal counsel taking a step forward, perhaps ready to throw this rude woman out. But Christine surprised them both by holding up her hand, effectively stopping them from taking any action.
"While I'm rather offended by your question, I'm sure there are some people out there with narrow minds who might think that way," Christine told the woman, causing her to visibly flinch at the scolding. "However, the answer is no. I am not pregnant, so you can scratch that off the list for reasons we got married. And just because someone is rich, does not mean that has to be the only reason someone would find them desirable." Christine then pointed at the woman's left hand. "I can see that you wear a ring on your finger. May I ask…is your husband good looking?"
"He…yes, he is," the woman stammered, not expecting Mrs. Thorn to turn the tables and ask her a question.
"So, how would you feel if I were to assume that his good looks were the only reason you married him?" Christine pressed. "That if he had been unattractive, you wouldn't have given him a second glance?"
From where she sat, Christine could feel Erik stiffen, his back now ram-rod straight at the mention of physical appearance. She had not meant anything by her comment, simply trying to get her point across, and she hoped that he was not taking any of this personally.
"Of course I would have still married him, my husband has many fine qualities besides his looks," she replied, now sounding a bit defensive herself.
"Then why would you automatically assume that my husband doesn't have such qualities as well," she asked the woman, crossing her arms over her chest and giving her a pointed stare. "Trust me, there's more to Erik Thorn than simply dollar signs."
At this, most of the reporters in the room chuckled, apparently impressed by Christine's words. The woman who asked the rude question only nodded, having effectively been put in her place. Yet, best of all, Erik was now looking at her as if she had just given him the best compliment in the world, and riding high on his approval, she found herself continuing.
"Now…" Christine added, a sly little grin coming to her face. "That is not to say I don't find my husband's financial status appealing. Just because one buys a cow for the milk, does not mean that they would overlook the benefits of free fertilizer as well."
Not only did Erik's lips curl slightly into an amused grin, but Antoinette actually gave a rather unladylike snort of humor, causing the rest of the room to break out in laughter. Each one there enjoying Christine's humorous parallel as they did their best to write down every word as quickly as possible.
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After that, the reporters were indeed kinder, and all seemed genuinely friendly towards her. They even questioned her further about her father's mysterious illness, promising to make mention of it in their articles to help raise awareness. No one asked any more personal questions or made any awkward accusations, and by the end of the interview Christine was laughing and talking with them like old friends, even calling a few by name. As they ventured out into the waiting room, Erik and Christine posed for one or two photos, fulfilling their end of the bargain in exchange for being left alone after this. All the reporters exited with a smile on their faces, many already on the phone with their editors, in hopes of being first to publish what they had learned.
"Well…that didn't turn out so bad," Antoinette said with a satisfied smile.
"Really?" Christine asked, looking up at Erik hopefully. "Did…did I do all right?"
"Christine, you had them eating out of the palm of your hand," Erik all but beamed with pride. "I have no idea why you were so worried, you did splendidly."
"And you aren't upset with me over that rather silly joke about the cow, are you?" She had to cringe just a bit when she thought of how bold she had been with that one. Her father always said, 'laugh and the whole world laughs with you', and at least Christine had them laughing. She just hoped Erik was not put out that it had been a bit at his expense.
"Moo," Erik said in a droll voice, yet winked at her as he did, causing Christine to sigh with relief. "While I was rather startled at being likened to a milk cow…I did indeed see your point, and it was well played," he told her with a nod of approval. "And if nothing else, it would appear you made Antoinette's day."
"Forgive me, Mr. Thorn…but you had to admit, it was very humorous," she giggled, doing her best to pull herself together.
"I will…but only once, and then you will immediately forget I ever said it, and never speak of it again," he conceded with a roll of his eyes. "Now, I think it is time to head home. You have been in the lime-light enough for one day, Christine."
"I can't agree with you more!" she nodded, the two of them waving goodbye to Antoinette and Elizabeth as they headed for the elevator.
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Christine was already grinning like a fool by the time they arrived at the garage level, in eager anticipation of getting to ride in the Ferrari again. As Erik opened the door for her and she slipped into the leather seats, she looked up at him in expectation.
"If I learn to drive…would you let me take one of your cars out for a spin around the block?" Christine asked hopefully.
"I believe you mean our cars," Erik reminded her, raising an eyebrow at her slip of the tongue.
"Yes, fine…our cars," she agreed, giving an exasperated sigh. "If you do let me though, I promise to study really hard and drive super slow."
"You will do no such thing!" he said, shocking her a bit by his reply. "If you are going to drive a car like this, it would be a sin to take it easy and drive slow! They are built to drive fast."
"Oh…all right, I'll drive it very fast then…but carefully," she added, knowing that it would destroy her to damage such a beautiful machine.
"Would you like me to enroll you in those driving classes I mentioned before?" he questioned as he rounded the car and climbed in the driver's seat.
"Well…maybe you could teach me?" she suggested, giving him a bashful glance out of the corner of her eye. "Or Gerald, if you are too busy."
"I am never too busy to spend time with you, Christine," Erik assured her, his tone revealing that he was rather touched by her request. "We will begin your lessens right after your recital…for until then, I think it best we concentrate on that alone."
"Agreed," she nodded. "Now…aren't you going to start the engine? I love it when you make it roar."
"Of course, my little Mario Andretti," Erik laughed, turning the key as the engine sprang to life. "Your wish is my command."
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Later that night, after their singing lesson, the two of them sat in the entertainment room, Erik working on papers at his desk and Christine flipping channels looking for anything about the interviews, she ended up on a local station that she knew had been represented that afternoon. Within minutes, her diligence paid off, and they did indeed listen as the anchorman announced the segment.
"Many of you are familiar with the fourteen story building bearing the name Phantom Industries that is located on Townsend Street, yet what you might not know is that its owner recently got married. That's correct, ladies, Erik Thorn, reclusive billionaire and philanthropist, is off the market." Here they put up one of the photos that Erik had allowed to be taken, showing the two of them standing side by side, Christine's hand cradled in his, as he looked down at her, the exposed side of his face revealing a rather pleased look. She in turn was blushing slightly, and for the life of her she couldn't quite remember what he had said to have caused it. The whole day had been a bit of a whirlwind, but at least they both looked happy, and that had been the point, had it not?
The anchorman went on to talk about Christine's background, her interest in music, and much to her joy, her father's medical condition, listing off many of the symptoms one should look for if they had contracted CIDP. When they were done, and had gone on to other matters, Christine gave a sigh of relief.
"Well…that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," she stated, turning around as she gave Erik a hopeful look. "Did they do all right?"
"They did fine," he nodded in approval. "That channel, at least, will remain in business." He added a little wink to his words, softening the threat just a bit, and making Christine laugh and roll her eyes.
As Erik went back to his paperwork, Christine listened to more of the local news and weather, until another segment came on about a store going out of business.
"This will be the last week that the 'Tickles and Treats' adult fantasy shop on ninth street will be open for business." The pretty on-location reporter said into the camera. "The highly controversial sex store will be closing their doors for good next Friday. So, if you're interested in something to spice up your love life…now's the time to get it - and all at the tune of seventy-percent off retail prices. Come early for best selections, everything must go!"
Next, they cut to some static shots of the outside of the building, followed by a few close-ups of the rather risqué merchandise they offered. This caused Christine to scrunch up her face in disgust, her hand immediately coming up to change the channel with the remote.
"No! Wait, Christine," Erik said, halting her before she could continue surfing.
At his words, she turned around and looked at him curiously, wishing to know what had prompted him to stop her. She felt her jaw drop just a bit as she saw Erik writing down the address to the sex shop very rapidly, mumbling to himself about how he would need to look into that. Once the segment was over, he turned his attention back to his papers, informing her that she could change it now if she wished.
Christine was horrified! Did Erik truly mean to check out the merchandise sold at 'Tickles and Treats'…for himself? Was he really into such things? And worse still…did he expect her to participate in such fetishes? She turned back to face the television, sinking lower and lower as she did her best to hide her panic from the man who sat behind her. What was she going to do?
The rest of the evening dragged on, with Christine no closer to any ideas about how to deal with all this. Not even the half hour sit-com could tear her mind away from her fears. Was Erik into kinky sex? What exactly might that entail? Christine had no idea what most of the items shown from the store were even used for! How could she tell Erik that she was just not interested in such things?
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When it was at last time for bed, Christine went through her usual routine like a robot, her mind still centered on one thing only…gently letting Erik know that her proclivity didn't run in that direction. Oh, why hadn't she thought to mention this when going over the contract, insisting that their bedroom activities be kept in the realm of what most considered normal. Yet such a disquieting idea had never occurred to her, and why should it? This was insane!
"Christine," Erik spoke up as they climbed into bed, a place that now appeared to be causing his wife a measure of discomfort. "Is anything wrong?"
"No…I'm fine," she lied, instantly rolling over and burying herself beneath the covers. "Good night."
"Good night," he responded, still certain that something was nagging at her. Yet, Erik had come to realize that pestering her was not the way to get answers, and that given enough time, Christine would eventually work up the nerve to speak about whatever was upsetting her. He just had to be patient. So, shutting off the light, Erik laid there in the dark, waiting. It was less than fifteen minutes later that he knew his diligence had paid off.
"Erik," Christine said, suddenly sitting up in bed and turning to face him, her eyes as wide as saucers in the moonlight, telling him that she was indeed ready to speak. "I…I…"
"Yes, Christine?" he prompted, wishing for her to get her concerns off her chest so they could both get some sleep.
"I…I'm not into kinky sex!" she all but shouted, instantly covering her mouth with her hand as if she had surprised herself with the force of her declaration.
And yet, if Christine had been shocked by them, Erik was completely floored by this revelation.
"WHAT?" he gasped, now also sitting up in bed.
"I'm not into all that BDSM stuff," she clarified, not wanting there to be even a hint of misunderstanding on the subject. "I would not be at all interested, or remotely comfortable, if those kinds of things were brought into this house."
At this Erik bounded from the bed, taking a few steps back as he stared at his wife as if she had gone insane.
"And why on earth would you think that I would wish to do so?" he demanded, his tone still one of utter confusion. "Have I ever given you even the smallest indication that I am into such things? Any at all?"
"Well…tonight you did," she told him hesitantly. "When that commercial came on about that sex store going out of business…you told me to stay on that channel, and then I saw you write down the address for it. What else am I to assume?"
"That I was interested in possibly buying the property once it had been shut down!" Erik stated, his hands now fisted in his hair, as if still unable to comprehend how Christine had managed to jump to such a wrong conclusion. "I have several clients who are looking to build in that area, and I wrote down the address so that Antoinette could look into the financial advantages of purchasing it. I had no interest in the store itself, and certainly not in the merchandise it sells!"
"Oh…" was all Christine could think to say, thankful that the darkened room hid the blush of utter shame that she now wore. "I…I guess I didn't think of that."
"Apparently not!" Erik continued, pacing back and forth a few more times as he did his best to calm himself. To hear Christine talk about such things…and while they were in bed no less…had been rather shocking. And while Erik had spent a fair amount of time dreaming of what intimate acts they would one day engage in, not once had…had…well, any of that stuff she had mentioned ever been a part of it! "Did you truly think me capable of such ideas, Christine? That I would insist that you submit yourself to those activates, simply to please my sexual preferences?"
"Well…I didn't know!" she moaned, flopping back on her pillow as she covered her face with her hands in shame. "I mean, you've obviously been around the block a few times, where the most I've ever done was kiss a guy!"
"And I am extremely grateful for that!" Erik huffed, stepping forward and sitting down at the foot of the bed, rubbing his temples as if he were now sporting a headache. "But please, rest assured that I have never been interested, nor ever will be interested, in anything of that sort. You can put such concerns out of your mind, Christine. My desires in the bedroom are very…normal, I promise."
Normal, Christine thought to herself, feeling even more like a fool for not realizing it sooner. Ever since she signed that contract, Erik has appeared to want nothing but the typical, routine, nothing out of the ordinary, kind of relationship. Why on earth would she expect him to suddenly switch gears now?
"Erik…I'm sorry for jumping to such a ridiculous conclusion," she told him, inching her way down the bed just a bit, until she was kneeling in front of him, doing her best to apologize. "I should have given you the benefit of the doubt, and not simply assumed the worst."
"Thank you, Christine," Erik said with a sigh. "However, looking back now, I can see how I might have easily given you the wrong impression. I'm only glad you chose to address the matter with me right away, instead of allowing it to fester and cause a rift to form that I was unaware needed to be fixed."
"There, you see," she said, her tone turning to one of happiness. "We're getting better at this! We're well on our way to mastering the art of communication."
"I only hope we conquer it soon, for I doubt I could take too many more of these heart-stopping misunderstandings," he chuckled, recalling just how shocked he had been when Christine had brought up such a sensitive subject. "Now, if this is at last cleared up…might we try and get some sleep?"
"Yes, I think that would be best," she smiled, crawling back to her spot and snuggling down beneath the covers. "Thank you for understanding, Erik."
"You're welcome, Christine," he responded, his voice sounding calm once again. He too returned to his spot, lying on his back as he stared up at the darkened ceiling. Yet after a few minutes, he felt his wife roll back over, resting her right cheek on her pillow as she looked at him.
"Erik…can I ask you a question?" she whispered, apparently worried he might now be asleep.
"Yes, Christine," he told her, knowing it would be a long time before sleep would find him this night.
"When you said you would have to hunt down and eliminate any man I had previously slept with…had I actually done so…you were just kidding, right?" came her nervous question.
Erik was silent for a moment, deciding how to answer that. At last he gave a heavy sigh, speaking into the darkness.
"No, Christine…I was deadly serious," he informed her. "Yet, I suppose eliminate was probably not the best word I could have used. Perhaps relocate would better describe what I had in mind. I fear my ego would not have been able to tolerate the idea of you running into one of your former lovers on the street or in a store. So I would have seen to it that all were offered a lucrative job in another state, or something along those lines. I might not be able to undo the past, but I could seriously alter their future. Yet, I would not have harmed them, if that is what you were thinking."
"I'm glad," she mused. "Yet, as I said…I've never had any lovers. So you don't need to worry about that. You…" here she paused and swallowed hard. "…you will be my first."
Once again, Erik was silent, instantly overwhelmed by the implications of her statement. He couldn't believe his fortune. To have not only found the one woman he could truly love, but then to know that he would be the only man to ever touch her in an intimate fashion. It was almost surreal, and it left him full of excitement and awe.
"And it will truly be an honor to be so," he responded at last, his voice nearly cracking from the emotions he felt. "Thank you, Christine."
Once more they lapsed into silence, yet it was painfully clear to both that neither one was able to fall asleep. At last, the curiosity became too much for him, and Erik had to ask.
"Christine…you said you had only kissed a man before," he probed, wondering if it was idiotic to ask, knowing it would only upset him…but he had to know. "Would that be only one man, or men…as in plural?"
"Why…do you plan on hunting them down as well, and cutting off their lips?" she responded, a slight giggle escaping at the thought.
"No, Christine," Erik huffed. "I was simply curious."
"What about you?" she countered, turning the tables on him. "How many girls have you kissed…or slept with?"
"I do not see how that is relevant," he argued, not wishing to talk about his past liaisons.
"Quid pro quo, Erik," Christine told him, not giving in. "I'll tell you about mine, if you tell me about yours."
"Fine!" he grumbled, pausing for a moment before answering. "Besides you, I have been associated with three different women in my past…only two I've been intimate with, though I will admit to multiple occasions with both, while the third I only kissed." He felt himself flinch just a bit at the memory of that lone kiss…one that had scarred his mind, as well as his chest. "I ended things with all of them some time ago, and since none reside in New York, you will undoubtedly never chance to meet them. I harbor no emotional attachment to any of them, and I can guarantee that I will never avail myself of their company again."
"Interesting," Christine mumbled, her mind spinning a mile a minute. His words had been both honest, yet full of secrets. She found it strange that she felt a twinge of jealousy knowing there were other women who were more intimately acquainted with her husband than she was…yet Christine could hardly hold his past against him in that department. Still, what had her most curious was the one woman whom Erik had only kissed, but never taken things farther? Why was she different from the rest?
"And you, Christine? What is your magic number?" he questioned, not about to have given up his private information with nothing in return. "How many men have you kissed?"
"Three," she informed him, seeing no reason to hide this from him. "Yet two were simply pecks on the cheek at the end of dates, and I never saw either of them again."
"And the third?" Apparently, Erik thought to himself, this was the one he needed to be concerned with.
"The third…which was actually the first…was my high-school boyfriend," Christine revealed. "We dated for about six months during senior year."
"And his name?" Erik pressed.
Christine once more paused, not having said it out loud in a very long time due to the pain it caused her.
"His name was…Raoul."
'His name was Raoul'...words that might just end up killing Erik. ha ha.
So, how did the interview go? Was the cow joke funny? Moo.
And look, Erik gets to mark 'holding hands' off his list.
Looks like Christine has a need for speed. ha ha.
So, she thought Erik was into kinky sex? I guess he set her straight on that.
Three women in his past...two he slept with, one he only kissed...more on THAT soon.
Now, we deal with Raoul. Oh, joy for Erik.
Guest Reviews:
For chapter 27
Guest: Why did I leave you on that cliffie? Because I am mean? Or that's just where the chapters fell. Sorry. Yes, hearing Erik sing is the highlight of our lives...*sigh* Meg is just full of energy. I hope the story of M. Giry's past was to your liking and that it made up for making you wait. Thanks!
Kristin: Yes, Antoinette is like a motherly figure for Christine in some ways. Erik is beginning to realize that he will catch more flies with honey than vinegar. ha ha. I think Amir likes Antoinette too...what WILL Erik have to say about all this though. And I think Amir gets enough money but he is too lazy to shop and cook for himself. And someone has to keep Hungry Man dinners and Starbucks coffee in business. ha ha. They have not even been married a full month yet...they still have a little over a week to go. Thanks.
Guest C: Erik is quite in his element telling people what to do, right? Teaching is his forte. And the best part is...he is talented enough to do it well, too. Christine is a good influence for him, he is starting to mellow. Yes, Amir is a very good dinner guest, he does have such fun stories too. Amir and Antoinette would be a good pair, I just hope they can see that as well. And Erik. ha ha. Thanks.
Gummy: what did you mean by old men humor? Did I miss something? And yes, Erik with kids should be fun...I can see him loving the baby and toddler stages, but once the terrible teens hit...watch out Erik...especially if she's a pretty girl! All boys her age should just leave the country now. It would be safest. Thanks.
For chapter 28
Guest: Well, now...that was a very fine threat to Mr. Robert Giry...and if he has any brains - which I don't think he did, seeing as how he treated Antoinette so horribly - he will never darken their door again...assuming he is still alive to do so. ha ha. You are welcome for the pillow...but better yet, how about Erik stand under that cliffie next time and just catch you in his strong arms? Better? Erik likes marking things off his relationship list. Thanks.
Gummy: I really like your original list Erik would have had under the opera house. I especially like how you kept commening "update...did not go as planned" ha ha. That made me laugh. And Erik drowning his sorrows in Ben and Jerry's Ice cream is quite the mental picture. I will share some rocky road with him. Thanks for the laugh.
Kristen: We will find out what happened to Mr. Giry soon enough. I agree with Christine, Antoinette needs to tell Meg all about it. She is old enough now to understand. Yes, Christine is the type who will not want sex before there is love. Erik needs to figure that out. So get with the love Erik! Thanks.
