Christine's POV

If there was one thing I didn't want to do, it was attend a dinner with Raoul. But here I was, sitting in one of Erik's restaurants beside Nadir with Raoul sitting across from me.

"So, how have the last few years been?" Raoul asked while sipping on a glass of wine. I didn't want to talk to him, but I felt as though I was being forced to.

"The best," I said. "Nadir has been here for me, through the bad times and good."

"Bad?" Raoul laughed. "What could be so bad, Christine? Are you talking about your monster being killed right before your very eyes?"

This broke my heart, for he was joking about this as if it were funny.

"Oh, Nadir, if you haven't heard this before, Christine was in love with a deformed circus freak who lived below the Paris Opera House. She never admitted it to my face, but the moment she jumped out of that boat, I knew it."

"Monsieur DeChangy, Please…" Nadir said. "Don't speak to my lady like this. It upsets her greatly."

"I don't care that he's dead," I assured. "He meant nothing to me…"

"Oh, good," Raoul teased. "Then I think it's about time that you knew the truth."

"The truth?" I questioned.

"Yes, after I got out of that damp lair, I sent the mob down to look for your monster. I showed them the way and ordered them to torture him. The leader of the mob fancied men, and I loved every moment of watching him take your angel like a bitch in heat."

I was having a hard time holding back my tears, for now it was out… Now I knew how the mob found Erik's lair. It was because of him…Because of Raoul! I wanted to cry, but I knew if I shed a single tear, Raoul would know.

"How long do you plan on staying here in New York?" Nadir asked, quickly switching the subject.

"Not much longer… Ah, I went by the new Phantasma Opera House today and saw a poster that claimed Christine to be the lead diva. Is this true?"

I wasn't sure what to say, but when I saw Nadir nod, I knew it wasn't of any use to lie.

"Yes," I said. "It's true."

Raoul chuckled and took a big gulp of his wine. "Sweeping the owner off his feet are you? It's so like you, Christine, I mean, who wouldn't want a piece of your ass? Tell me, did you sleep with him?"

I gasped. "Excuse me?"

Raoul waved his hand up in the air. "Oh, I thought you heard me. I asked if you let him take you to bed. That's why you're his lead diva right?"

"No," I angrily snapped. "I auditioned like everyone else. I'm not a whore… I am faithful to Nadir."

"What's he like, anyway?" came his soft, yet seductive voice. "What's this owner like? What's his name? Mister P?"

"Mister E." Nadir corrected. "And we don't know. No one sees him."

"Oh, give me a break… No one sees him? He's the owner for Christ sakes… Surely someone around this God forsaken place has seen him." Raoul's eyes locked on my own. "Christine is into mysterious men. I'm sure you know what he looks like…I'm sure you know everything about him."

Raoul was making me utterly uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that my hands were sweating.

"I assure you, Monsieur," Nadir interrupted. "My lady has not seen him. He has workers that do his bidding for him. Perhaps you should go ask one of them."

From out of nowhere, Raoul produced a ticket and waved it in front of my face. "Box five tomorrow, Christine. I wouldn't miss your performance for the world. Perhaps I'll even toss you a single red rose like old times. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

My entire body was shaking in fear, but the moment Nadir pressed his lips against my cheek, I was instantly distracted by it.

"You have to excuse my lady," he said. "She hasn't been feeling herself lately."

"And you call that a kiss?" Raoul mocked. "If she truly is your lady, then give her a real kiss."

I didn't want to kiss Nadir, but I knew if we didn't, there would be trouble, therefore, the man leaned down and pressed his lips against my own. His kiss meant nothing to me, and it was strange, for his kiss didn't feel like Erik's. To me, kissing Nadir was like kissing a brother. When we broke away, Raoul clapped his hands together and staggered to his feet.

"That was absolutely disgusting," he slurred. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to piss…"

I waited until Raoul was long gone before sighing in relief and turning to Nadir.

"Nadir, I want this dinner to be over…I don't know how much longer I can sit here and take this."

"He's drunk, Christine," Nadir said. "Only a little while longer."

"He's coming to the show tomorrow… What am I going to do?"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he stays away. No harm will come to you… Hopefully, we will see him set sail in a few days and never see him again."

He leaned down and pressed a reassuring kiss to my cheek. "It's all right. Nothing is going to happen to you or Erik."

I sighed once again and placed my hand over his own. I was glad I had Nadir in my life, for he was the brother I never had.

"Damn it…" I heard Nadir grunt.

I looked up to spot Nadir staring towards the door. I wasn't sure what was wrong, but when I glanced his way, what I saw stopped my heart. There, standing towards the kitchen was Erik, and his eyes were locked on our table. The moment Nadir spotted Erik, he quickly gathered to his feet.

"Excuse me, Christine. If Raoul comes back, tell him I stepped out for a few moments."

I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but I knew this wasn't good at all….

Erik's POV

Nothing enraged me more than spotting Nadir and Christine sitting at a table with one another in my restaurant! She had betrayed me! I wasn't even supposed to be in my restaurant, but during my rounds, I had become extremely thirsty and stopped by for a glass of water and to pick up the receipts. I was just coming out of the kitchen, when I spotted Nadir leaning over and pressing a kiss to Christine's cheek! Sewing his shirts, indeed! The bastard had lied and told me he was going to my house tonight to have Christine mend his shirt! It was a lie! He was trying to steal Christine from right under my nose! He knew I admired the girl, and yet, he dare attempt to steal her from me?!

The man seemed surprised when he laid eyes on me, but immediately shot to his feet and came walking towards me. If I wasn't the owner of Phantasma, I would have laid him out right in the middle of the Phantasma Filet, but seeing that I was a respected businessman, I grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and dragged him out back.

When we were alone, I threw him towards the wall of my restaurant and demanded answers.

"How dare you lie to my face!" I growled. "You told me Christine was sewing your shirts! In all the years I've known you, never once have you ever lied to me! Why now? Why like this? You can have any woman you want in Coney Island, so why my Christine?"

"Erik, it's not what it looks like." He assured. "Christine and I are just friends."

"I know what friends are!" I cried. "And friends don't kiss each other and hold each other's hands! No…You knew I liked her, and yet, you stabbed me in the back! You're my assistant in Phantasma and my most trusted advisor…But no more! Do you hear me? NO MORE!"

All the yelling I had done was making my body hurt. It wasn't like me to shout like this, and I couldn't remember the last time I had done so. I was so angry! He was trying to take the only girl I liked away from me. Rage began to build up from within me… Oh, so much rage! I tossed my staff aside and began stepping towards him.

"Erik, you don't know what you're doing…"

"I know exactly what I'm doing, Persian!"

I backed the man against the wall and raised my fist into the air. It was over in a matter of seconds, for I had punched the man square in the face.

"A black eye!" I sneered. "A black eye for a black rat!"

Nadir rubbed his sore eye and I believed the fight was over…but it had just clearly started. The man came at me, tackling me from behind causing me to fall to the ground. I fought back, punching him in the face again, but not before he swung his fist and hit me in the neck. Injuries from the past had caused his blow to hurt me, so much, that I staggered back to my staff and gathered to my feet.

"Enough with this, Erik!" he pleaded. "You're going to hurt yourself."

But I wasn't listening, for my heart was already broken.

"Erik, I was just trying to be nice and take Christine to dinner. Don't take this to heart…"

But I wasn't listening, for I was already half way down the street. In this life, I could trust no one, not even myself.

Christine's POV

I wasn't sure what was keeping Nadir so long, but our desert was already on the table. Of course, Raoul came back before Nadir and seemed amused that I was alone. He retook his seat and reached across the table for my hand.

"Where's your lover?"

"He…He stepped out," I stammered. "He said he would be right back."

"Well, until then…" He took a seat beside me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. Oh, this was so uncomfortable. "So, Christine, what would you say if I asked you to come back to my hotel room with me for just one night? I'd make it worth your while…"

"Raoul, I'm not single any longer… I would not betray my lo…"

"Your what? Lover? Oh, come now, Christine… You're not in love with him. I seen it when you kissed him. Your body was not into it…No, your taste is much more exotic. I still have it, you know…" he said, whispering into my ear. "I'd wear it for you if that would spread your legs."

"What?"

"The mask," he said. "The one your Phantom was wearing when the mob raided his home."

I was absolutely horrified by Raoul, and was glad when I saw Nadir rushing back towards the table. But something was wrong…His right eye was bruised and he was a complete disheveled mess.

"Nadir…" I stood to my feet and embraced him, glad to be in his company once again. "What happened?"

"I just stepped outside and was robbed…." He turned to Raoul. "You must forgive me, Monsieur for cutting the desert part of dinner a little short. It was nice meeting you and Christine and I look forward to seeing you at her performance tomorrow evening."

Nadir and Raoul shook hands and proceeded to split the bill for our meal. I couldn't wait for Nadir and I to go home, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel as though Raoul was up to something. He smiled evilly at me as we exited, and the last thing I heard from him, was his mischievous voice say "I'll be seeing you real soon, Christine… Think about what I asked…"

"What was that about?" Nadir asked as we walked home.

"Just promise me that we never have to have dinner with him again…"

"That sounds fair enough to me, Christine."

Hearing that, I knew I would sleep a little easier tonight.