Hello again, thank you for your lovely reviews, the chapters will get back to the comedy for a bit.
Nothing to do with original books musicals or films of The Phantom of the Opera belongs to me, nothing in The Kay book Phantom belongs to me either. Everything else is my own work.
The Morning After!
The following morning was not so pleasant. Erik was up first and stumbling around quietly as possible clutching his head and although he had remembered to put his day face on, he was still wearing his pyjamas. After nearly throwing up, due to cleaning up from and disposing of the stinking remains of the tuna steak, that Nadir had left on the side table and Ayesha had obviously eaten her fill of overnight. He started hunting through the kitchen. After not locating what he sought, he retired to his room to make a phone call and ended up waiting outside by the lift for Jerry's arrival.
"Top o the morning Mr J!" Jerry called happily, before noticing Erik was grimacing whilst holding his head like it was going to fall off. "Oh, sorry!" he then whispered as he carefully handed Erik the bag of items requested from the concierge. "These will set you up right again." he added sotto voce before quickly getting back into the lift and leaving.
Erik came back in trying to shut the front door as silently as he could; not because he was worried about waking Nadir who was snoring under the duvet on the couch, but because his own dalliance with the Aragh Saggi had left him with a hangover from hell, and every sound was magnified a thousand fold making his head feel like it was going to split open. He hobbled into the kitchen putting the kettle on, locating three mugs and preparing fresh ginger for making ginger tea for three.
Christine made it up next, she was also still wearing pyjamas as she wobbled into the kitchen her expression was a most peculiar pale green colour, almost like she was on a ship in the middle of a storm. It took less than thirty seconds for her to locate the kitchen bin, rapidly opening the lid she was promptly sick in it.
In a show of unity, her vomiting turned Erik's stomach and he finally had to be sick as well, using the sink next to her.
Once both student and tutor had emptied their stomachs; Erik reached up and located the kitchen roll tearing some off for both him and Christine. Then Christine wiped her mouth and managed to locate two glasses which she filled with cold water from the fridge dispenser and once Erik had rinsed the sink, they took turns to rinse their mouths out before sitting down at the kitchen table.
"Ugh!" Christine moaned, "Whatever that was last night I never want it again!" she declared, resting her forehead in her hands.
"Pianissimo please, and it was Aragh Saggi! And I completely agree!" Erik whispered back. His eyes now shut.
The click of the kettle boiling made both of them jump and Erik opened his eyes then groaned, before getting up and hobbling over to the counter to make the tea. "There are pain killers on the table please read the instructions in the box." He hissed gently as he poured the water on the ginger and added a spoonful of honey to each mug.
Gently stirring two of the mugs he added cold water to cool them down for him and Christine to drink and hobbled them back to the table.
ooo
Just under an hour, two mugs of ginger tea, and one set of pain killers each and Erik and Christine were starting to feel human again… just. Christine started to pay attention to the world around her.
"What on earth is that noise? It sounds like someone periodically trying to drill through concrete" she asked as Erik started grinning at her.
"I did warn you that Nadir snores." Erik chuckled softly, "let's go wake him up!" he suggested smirking, collecting the extra cup of ginger tea and the painkillers, before Christine went to fetch something from her bedroom before joining Erik and the still sleeping Nadir in the sitting room.
ooo
Completely oblivious to the world around him, Nadir slept on until his brain dragged him back to consciousness. Suddenly he could not breathe, and worse than that someone was trying to rasp the side of his head with sandpaper whilst cackling evilly.
ooo
Erik had Christine stand back as he approached the still sleeping Nadir and pulled the duvet back to reveal… "Ayesha!" Erik whispered as he and Christine started laughing. Erik's cat had decided to sleep with her new friend and keep his face warm, by laying on it, whilst licking where the tuna steak had been.
ooo
Opening his eyes, Nadir saw fur, cream fur. He sat up quickly; dislodging Ayesha from her comfortable location, as the now miffed feline stalked off to her room, he realised sitting up fast was a mistake.
"Ooh! My head!" he groaned as reality hit him and he realised the evil cackles were actually Christine and Erik laughing at him. "'Snot funny!" he moaned, rubbing his face. "Yowch my eye!" Nadir complained as he carefully felt the swollen area surrounding the shiner Christine had presented him with the night before.
"I am happy to see the Aragh Saggi was no nicer to you than to us." Erik said smirking, as he placed the ginger tea and pain killers on the table beside the delicate Iranian.
"I am so sorry about the eye, Nadir!" Christine apologised as she handed him her little handbag mirror.
Taking the mirror, Nadir stared at his reflection, "Agghh!" he cried, then cringed and moaned with his hangover, as Erik started laughing in earnest.
"I look like I went ten rounds with the world heavy weight boxing champ!" he complained, putting the Mirror down and reaching for his ginger tea and pain killers.
"Yup and lost!" Erik added now sniggering, "Beaten by a lady!"
"At least I do not need a cushion for my bruise!" Nadir retorted, and you too were beaten by a lady." He reminded Erik who pursed his lips.
"If it makes you feel more manly, I can cover your bruised eye with make up!" Christine told Nadir, as a picture formed in Erik's mind, and he grinned evilly.
Nadir saw the grin and shuddered, "Thank you but no thank you Christine, I suspect if Erik got half a chance, I would end up leaving here made up like Widow Twanky on LSD. Nadir commented.
Christine could not help but play along, "Oh no you wouldn't!" she chirped grinning.
"Oh Yes he would!" Erik confirmed his grin still in place, "Not sure how I would do the eyelashes, however." he mused, as Christine started laughing.
"Please do not encourage him!" Nadir begged, "Annette did that once and the rotter shaved off half my goatee and moustache!"
"Pardon?" Christine had to ask, "Surely a shorter goatee and such would not be that rotten?" she enquired, as Erik now started to laugh again.
"It is a problem when you wake up with a hangover and your upper right lip and Chin is covered with a moustache and goatee and your left upper lip and chin is bare as a babies bottom." Nadir clarified as Christine looked at Erik who was now in danger of needing to change his trousers from laughing.
"That was a rotten thing to do Erik!" Christine chided "Funny but rotten." She added giggling.
"Do not worry, I will get him back one day!" Nadir vowed, the smile on his face showed there was no malice behind the threat.
"Everyone ready for a decent cup of Tea?" Erik enquired, as Christine and Nadir nodded gently to agree.
ooo
Mid-Morning saw Annette arrive. However, the only person she wanted to see was Christine and she swept past both men with a polite greeting before giving Christine a hug.
"Annette didn't even notice my poorly eye!" Nadir complained as Annette and Christine made their way to Erik's library.
Reappearing a few moments later, Annette approached both men, "I saw your black eye." She informed Nadir, "I hope neither of you are getting Christine mixed up in your silliness, the young lady needs to rest, not to be refereeing your bickering matches!" she scolded them both before heading into the kitchen.
"Christine caused my black eye!" Nadir whimpered, as Erik sniggered at him before shooing his miffed friend into his own bathroom and locating some clean clothes for him to change into.
Meanwhile Annette had located the new tea set, made tea for herself, Erik and Christine then headed back into the library with the tea tray leaving orders for them not to be disturbed.
ooo
In the time it took Nadir to shower and change, Erik had done some toast and jam for everyone, rang Annette to say hers and Christine's was ready; then delivered it, completed some urgent paperwork, fed Ayesha cleaned her litter tray and was relaxing in his chair with the newspaper that had just been delivered, when Nadir reappeared.
"Real tea?" Nadir enquired noting Erik had yet another barely touched cup of Annette's English blend beside him.
"Now that sounds like a cracking idea!" Erik replied getting up from his chair as the two men then headed into the kitchen.
ooo
Meg had arrived by the time Annette and Christine had finished their chat and was sitting with Erik and Nadir playing a game of whist when the two ladies reappeared.
"You texted me to bring a set of clothes with me for Christine, Mama?" Meg enquired as she got up and greeted her friend.
"Yes, how about you and Christine go out for the afternoon and do a bit of shopping, it appears that Christine's entire old wardrobe needs replacing." Annette informed her daughter.
Christine was about to point out that she was thinking of heading to the charity shops due to her lack of savings when Erik waved his empty hand and suddenly something platinum flashed in the air and caught her eye.
"Do not argue with me!" Erik instructed, as he held out the credit card, "Take this and use it, buy what you want." He insisted before looking straight at Meg, "If I see one item not new and not from a decent retailer or boutique, I will make you return it!" he insisted.
"Okay so no charity shops and no Primarni!" Meg confirmed taking the credit card from Erik, as Christine looked horrified.
"I cannot spend your…" Christine started as Erik looked straight at her.
"You are not spending my money, Meg is!" Erik retorted, his expression brokering no arguing. "Night clothes, loungewear, day clothes, evening clothes for cocktail and white tie, swimwear for the pool and hot tub, gym clothes, new shoes, jewellery and accessories, anything else you think may be needed for an up and coming Prima Donna. When you have too many bags to carry contact the concierge and they will collect them and deliver them here for you." Erik added before blushing, do not forget the Urm… underpinnings either, a whole new wardrobe for Christine if you do not mind!"
"Erik… Thank you!" was all that Christine could say, before Meg gave her the bag containing fresh clothes and ushered her overwhelmed friend back to her bedroom to change, as Annette and Nadir exchanged urgent glances. That talk had to be today and soon, they both decided.
ooo
With Meg and Christine safely delivered to go shopping, Erik needed to urgently confirm some architectural work and left Annette and a finally awake and sober Nadir comfortable in the sitting room waiting for Meg and Christine to return, each hugging their choice of receptacle and tea blend.
"I think He's fallen for her..." they said simultaneously.
"Sorry Annette, you, first." Nadir added taking a sip of his tea.
"Thank you Nadir." Annette replied, "I think Erik is in love." She announced before elaborating. "First the private lessons, then moving her in here with him, now a whole new wardrobe of clothes. I wonder?" she asked rhetorically.
"Well as far as I can remember he has never shown any real interest in anyone like this until he heard Christine sing. I have to admit that I keep catching him smiling at her, he is also not as quick to temper as he was, but he's become very protective of our Miss Daae." Nadir interjected as Annette nodded.
"Yes the incident at the restaurant proved that, thank you for stopping him. The poor girl has gone through so much that needs as my sister would say 'Unpacking' that would have really not helped. However, Christine I do not think would survive currently without Erik's protection and I catch her smiling at him when he's not looking every so often and so has Meg, it may take a while to come to fruition but maybe feelings could run both ways?" Annette said as she tried to interpret the Erik and Christine conundrum.
"I do know that Christine was very nervous around him at first, but she has settled down when not at work, and Erik; out of the opera house seems to be a little nervous of her. She is keen to support him and learn what she can to avoid causing upset. Nadir noted, "Right now I suppose it is a supportive and respectful relationship both sides… Talking of support, have you made an appointment with Delphine for her?" Nadir then enquired.
"I have, Erik texted me earlier to request me to do so and to put her sessions on his account. At the moment Christine and Erik seem to need each other and are getting on well together." She sighed, "My gut feelings tell me that currently, we will have to watch and wait to see where this goes, I'm afraid." Annette responded.
"What if this goes horribly wrong? I appreciate you have known Erik longer than I, however I have seen the nastier side of him." Nadir reminded the ballet Mistress.
"True." Annette agreed, "However we both know that was due to his past and he has been and still is working on that." She added before taking a sip of her tea. "Besides, what if this goes well, interfering could ruin everything as well." She concluded sagely.
Nadir nodded, "This is all very unsettling, but I bow to your judgment. It really is a wait and see." Nadir finished as Erik reappeared, work completed.
ooo
Christine and Meg were having a great time, once Meg had convinced Christine that Erik was not going to give up until her wardrobe had been replaced.
"You have two options really!" Meg had declared as the girls grabbed a coffee before their shopping began, "Either you choose what clothes you want or Erik will simply give your measurements to the concierge and they will buy your clothes for you." She had informed her friend. "Men also have no taste in women's clothes and just NO on the underwear shopping!" She added.
Christine sighed, "I don't want to take advantage of him… I think I am taking advantage." Christine replied as Meg looked on both incredulous and annoyed.
Meg huffed, "You would have to get up very early in the morning to take advantage of Erik. Stop the overthinking and finally live a little" she chided her cautious friend, "You never know, you might actually finally get your Knight in shining armour at last." Meg added with a grin.
"My last one turned out to be a psychopathic twat in tinfoil!" Christine pointed out, with a sigh.
"Sociopathic narcissistic twat actually." Meg retorted, "But I never approved of him anyway." Meg added, "Let's go wild, get you some lovely clothes and what not, and then you can find the man you deserve." She added draining her cup, before standing up to leave. What sort of man would you like?" she asked as Christine finished her drink and stood up clearly in thought.
"Let me think about it." Christine replied. "Just not blonde, buff and beautiful, I think I have worn that look out." She added as they made their way to the first shop.
ooo
Four shops down and a several purchases later, and the girls took a break, grabbing an ice-cream each from the nearest parlour, they walked towards the largest, high end department store in the city.
Crossing a small piazza where a fountain tinkled in the centre and was surrounded by benches, Meg and Christine took a seat facing each other to continue chatting whilst enjoying their treats.
"Well, have you thought about your ideal man?" Meg suddenly pushed as Christine sat deep in thought as she ate her ice cream.
"Erik." Christine said still deep in thought.
Meg nearly choked on her ice cream. "Erik is your ideal man?" she spluttered.
Christine snapped out of her thoughts "What!" she cried aghast, "I didn't say that I was just thinking I need to use some of my own money to buy him a thank you gift... Nothing else!" she tried to correct, getting nervous.
Meg's smirk implied she was not buying her friend's correction. "Well there is nothing wrong with that, I mean he's tall, thin, dark and brooding. Loves music as much as you do. A good choice!" Meg teased.
"Why would Erik even consider me!" Christine bemoaned knowing that any denial, correct or not was going to make Meg tease her more, "We're poles apart!" she added flinging her arms out to emphasise her point.
"I do not know this Erik personally, but even I'm now asking myself that!" a strange male voice suddenly enquired as Meg looked beyond her friend and had to slap her hand over her mouth before she started laughing at the bemused bald headed man who was calmly sitting behind them, now sporting Christine's ice cream as head wear.
Looking at her now empty cone, Christine could not apologise enough before throwing it in a bin. Meg came to the rescue with a pack of wet wipes, helping Christine and the man clean his head whilst biting her lip.
"You seem to be a bright and intelligent, beautiful young lady." The man stated after Christine and Meg had restored him to his previous ice cream free state. "You could do anything your mind and heart wants… Just one thing." He added as Christine and Meg listened closer, "Get this poor Erik a shelter so he can court you without wearing ice cream!" the man insisted as with further apologies Meg and a mortified Christine then headed for their next shop.
As they scurried away, Meg could not help herself and burst out laughing. "I cannot even take you out in public without you creating chaos!" she cried as they hurriedly entered the store.
"Then stop making me nervous!" Christine requested as her blush of embarrassment finally lifted.
All I said was that Erik is I think a good choice for you!" Meg reiterated before stopping dead in her tracks and shutting her eyes in anticipation of the disaster to come as Christine; still walking forward turned her head to reply and bumped straight into a stand of battery operated children's toys.
Meg swore she was in some sort of gameshow, as the entire stand of toys all started to make childish giggling sounds and vibrating themselves off the stand due to the force Christine had bumped into them with. Quickly helping Christine to put the giggling wiggling toys back on the stand, before the shop assistants threw them out, she then dragged her accident prone friend into the next department.
ooo
For the rest of the day Meg avoided mentioning Erik especially when they went to be nosy in the China and Glass department. Finally, all shopping for Christine done, including a long spell in the beauty and skincare department selecting fragrance, make up, hair and skin care, befitting a soon to be prima donna, followed by a quick trip to the Pets boutique for a little something for Ayesha. The ladies had one last stop before heading back home.
"Hello, can I have a look at some of your Fountain pens that can be engraved, please." Christine asked the smartly dressed lady in the stationary department. The lady sighed then reached for several trays displaying Pens.
"This one!" Christine decided, pointing to the Navy blue and gold coloured pen that was one of the selections to choose from.
What would you like the engraving to say?" the lady enquired as she filled a form out for the pen.
Christine wrote it out for her and was told the engraving would take several days, then Meg politely tapped the platinum card on the counter.
The lady then said she had to make a phone call, disappeared off the counter and then returned a few moments later with a whole new demeanour. "We can have the engraving completed within the hour!" she suddenly said, "If you would like to take a seat and have a coffee in our VIP café, we will bring the Pen to you gift wrapped." She added.
Despite Meg keeping the Platinum card on display Christine paid with her own cash before the lady showed both her and Meg to a discreet door leading into a lush lounge area and sat them down as a waitress took their orders.
"Have I missed something?" Christine asked looking a little dazed.
"The power of money!" Meg leered, "They have rung and checked with Erik that I have his authorisation to use this card, seen what the limit is and how much I have spent and well, you look after customers that spend well!" she said, as she produced her phone from her bag and showed Christine the text from Erik, 'Store has contacted me re card use, all use authorised and make sure you use their VIP service, flash the card near any employee and let them do the rest. Have fun E.' "See!" Meg declared, it has gotten us your gift completed and wrapped today, a coffee and cake gratis, a seat cause my feet are now killing me and we can have Jean and Jerry pick us up with the shopping from the VIP exit there!" she declared pointing to another discreet door marked exit.
ooo
"Are there any clothes left in the shops?" Erik questioned with a grin as he opened the door to the two large piles of shopping bags that turned out to be Jerry and Jean, closely followed by two smaller piles that were in fact Meg and Christine.
"There are but they did not suit so we left them there!" Meg called out as the two men deposited their bags by Christine's bedroom door. Jerry and Jean then bid their farewells, leaving the friends, as Meg and Christine staggered into Christine's bedroom with their bags before they came out to collect the rest. Meg exited first and handed Erik back his card. "All items bought as requested including several sets of beautiful underwear!" she told Erik deliberately, grinning as the poor embarrassed man's ears and neck caught fire. "Maybe a fashion show?" she added cheekily.
"Maybe not!" Erik said panicking at the thought, his mind going straight to how he might react seeing Christine parading around in front of him in nothing but her new scanties.
Christine had indeed changed into a new outfit purchased by Erik, a sweet and demure warm soft fluffy lounge set, top, trousers and Cardigan, with coordinating sheepskin slippers all in a lovely sapphire blue.
"No fashion show today, I'm afraid I am very tired." Christine mentioned as she joined everyone in the sitting room getting comfortable on the couch beside Meg. Annette and Nadir watched Erik visibly relax. As Meg appraised her friend's first new outfit.
"Darker Blue definitely suits you and coordinates so well with black I think?" Meg declared looking at Erik wearing his usual black trousers and black shirt. Not realising her mother had spotted the twinkle in her daughter's eye when she was up to something.
"Humm quite!" Annette responded glaring at her daughter, before she and Nadir refreshed the tea, for everyone.