Sorry that it is taking me so long to post chapters, my internet it still down at home and I have no floppy disc on my computer and the CD-ROM is not compatible; so there ya go, all my woes. I must retype each chapter at work and upload from here, sorry for the delays that are going to happen.
I have written 25 chapters; however, I am making some storyline changes. There will be some mature chapters coming up, I WILL WARN YOU! There is more "courting" to come and the all-important, "first kiss" but things need not be rushed…Erik is still Erik, after all, he has much to overcome. I know…I'm evil
I stated my disclaimer earlier.
True leaders place the needs of others above their own.
God's Best for Your SuccessCHAPTER 19
The weekend passed and Karlie did not see Erik. It seemed he had dropped off the face of the earth. She had purposefully sought out his company on Saturday morning; she wanted to know more about the wonderful singing voice he had, its qualities fascinated her.
She had enjoyed being in his company, more than she had ever enjoyed the company of any other man, except her father.
Monday morning was the first opportunity she had to approach Roland about Erik's absence.
She walked up to him after rehearsal and smiled, asking in a concerned voice, "Roland, have you seen Erik…I would like to talk to him about the other night, but I haven't seen him all weekend and he wasn't at rehearsal." She did not want to sound panicked, but she could not begin to guess where he would be.
Roland squeezed her arm and spoke softly, "Hold that though Karlie, I will answer you in a moment, I have some business I must take care of."
Karlie watched him walk to the middle of the stage and greet the woman Karlie knew to be Dominique Chandler, Erik's accountant, assistant, and friend.
Roland quieted everyone down and spoke loudly, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this young lady is Mrs. Dominique Chandler. She is Mr. Clairvaux's accountant and she has some business she needs to tend to on his behalf." Roland stated, and moved aside to give Dominique the floor.
Demi cleared her throat and looked around the room. Everyone was seated on the floor or standing against the wall so she proceeded.
"Good evening, everyone, I will be handing out some envelopes that Mr. Clairvaux personally addressed and stuffed on Saturday. When I call your name, please come forward and retrieve your envelope; please, no one open their envelope until all have been passed out." Demi instructed.
She called out each name by each department, and finally it came time for the heads of each department. Karlie; Blevin from the art department; Walter from the kitchen; Dolly Perkins from housekeeping; Ms. Clara Hannaford from costume design; Henry Jenkins from props and lighting; Lance from building and grounds, and finally, Janice from make-up.
Finally, Roland's name was called and Demi did a double check to make sure that each person had his or her personal envelope.
Demi pulled out a sheet of fine parchment and began to read.
"Merry Christmas to each of you,
This will mark my first Christmas to ever participate in, so I am happy to be able to participate with you. Each of you has made my coming to America worth everything that I left behind in Paris. The fact that I am accepted beyond reason and no one I employ has questioned my past, my mask, or any other aspect of me, makes me very pleased."
Demi indicated for each person to open his or her envelopes. When all were staring unbelievingly at the contents, she continued,
"One check represents your ongoing monthly salary, as notated on thecheck. The other check is a Christmas gift from me to you; I hope it will help make your Christmas season a special one. Thank you for all that you have done and for all the hard work you have put forth. Each of you will have the week of Christmas and the following week off to spend with your families.
"Treasure these time, not all of us has a family with which to spend the holidays.
"I will see you after the New Year.
"Erik"
Demi watched as each face she looked at was covered in tears and surprise. Erik had derived such joy from giving these gifts and it was good to be able to see the people he had blessed react to his generosity. He had even given her a Christmas bonus.
Karlie sat in the corner and cried. She had never been given a salary before and had never expected to be given one. She had assumed it would always be that way; and to be given such a generous one…and a bonus too; she was overwhelmed.
She wiped her eyes and walked toward Demi, intent on finding out where Erik was and why he was going to be gone for so long; she found that she missed more with each passing moment.
"Ms. Chandler, hi, I'm Karlie Bordeaux." Karlie reached her hand out and Demi shook it firmly.
"Hello, Ms. Bordeaux." Demi said, noting the concern on Karlie's face. "Are you alright?"
Karlie was not sure how much she should share with this woman. They really did not know each other, but she had been such a good friend to Erik.
"Could you tell me where Erik is…I know you are his friend?" Karlie stated, trying not to let the jealousy show.
Demi looked at this very petite and extremely beautiful woman and wondered her interest was in Erik. The reflection in her eyes seemed to be one of deep affection…but could she possibly have other interests?
"All he told me was that he had some personal business he needed to tend to with some investments he was interested in and that it would take about three weeks." Demi offered, "Why?" She asked.
Karlie felt a certain bonding with this woman. She was close to Erik and that made her a wonderful person just by association.
"I find myself in a quandary over him…on the one hand, he is everything I swore I would never want in a man again," she looked at Demi's inquisitive eyes, "you know; handsome, rich, eclectic…I've had enough of those kind of men." Karlie said, but then she smiled, "But Erik is so different. He is all those things but not in the least bit affected by them…and he is brilliant and kind also." Karlie paused for a moment and looked deep in thought, "In his eyes, I see shadows of a pain that I want to remove from him…I want to give him happiness and joy instead."
She stopped and looked at Demi's smiling face, "Is that strange…I mean, I hardly know him?" Karlie asked.
Demi leaned over and hugged the petite woman, "I don't think it's strange at all. Erik has a way of pulling you in…even though he doesn't mean to."
Roland was bounding toward them with a huge grin on his face. He looked to the middle isle as two women made their was toward the stage.
"Audrey!" Karlie exclaimed, as she ran toward the older woman.
Audrey dropped her bags and hugged Karlie as she ran into her arms. "Karlie, you look radiant! You certainly grew up into a beautiful woman!" Audrey said, hugging her again. "Let me introduce my daughter, Meghan Giry." Karlie took Meg's hand and shook it with vigor and as she was doing that, Demi approached them.
"Hello, I am Demi Chandler." She offered as all eyes turned to her. She shook Audrey and Meg's hands and they all stood and talked as if they were old friends.
Roland came up and hugged each one, "I was so pleased to get your wire saying that you coming to spend the holidays with Erik…but he's not here." Roland offered, dejectedly. "He's on a business trip and will return before the New Year."
Audrey was slightly upset, but she understood. "Well, we will just have to celebrate when he gets here then."
"How are Raoul and Christine?" Roland asked.
Audrey pursed her lips and smirked, "Those two are so indecisive. Neither one of them is ready for marriage so they postponed the wedding. Christine is still hung up on Erik and Raoul has women in his past that are causing his problems, not to mention his family." Audrey looked exasperated, "It's a mess."
Roland shook his head in agreement; they had seemed very young.
"Christine begged me to allow her to come on this trip but I told her to leave Erik alone, he had moved on and hopefully found a woman to steal his heart and him steal hers." Audrey stated, without asking questions.
Demi chimed in and took this opportunity to tell of the new and improved Erik, "I am not saying that the darkness has disappeared from him, I think it will always be a part of him…but it no longer dominates him." Demi stated with pride.
Audrey smiled with tears in her eyes, "I always knew that Erik had a kind and giving heart…he was never allowed to show it. People assumed he was a monster only because he refused to show his face…perhaps if he had been straightforward about it to begin with, like he was here…things would have been different."
Demi shook her head in agreement, "Perhaps."
Audrey looked at the smile on Karlie's face, "What do you think of my Erik? Is he everything I said he was?" Audrey asked, with a wink.
Karlie smiled, "I have only just begun to explore the depth and length of my feelings for Erik." Karlie stated, "He was a torn and broken man when he arrived five months ago…Demi and I have literally had to piece the man back together again."
"Not long after he arrived, he had a horrible nightmare. I held him in my arms and quieted his trembling body. The fear in him ravaged his mind and body…he literally tore the skin from his marred flesh." Karlie shivered at the memory, "He relived the torture over and over again…I bandaged his wounds and soothed his furrowed brow; never once repulsed by the sight of his scars."
Karlie smiled impishly, "I guess my feelings for Erik are to be determined…but I will tell you this, the only thing I have thought about for the last few weeks…is kissing those beautiful, sensuous lips of his." Karlie said with a seductive wink.
Then, she walked out the door.
To be continued…