I am back now, so the story continues. Thank you for the reviews.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie -Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)

Karen -Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long, brown hair)

Ms. Jennison-Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 15

Erik became even more determined to avoid Christine in the days that followed that encounter. He buried himself in his composing, barely making room in his schedule for his private lessons.

However, Christine made it a point of finding him and issuing him a smile or a wide-eyed approving appraisal; she made sure he knew she was interested in him.

That thought both amused and tantalized him, but his common sense told him she pitied him and was only interested in him as a "stray dog" project. He could not bring himself to believe she actually considered him boyfriend material.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

After a particularly hard day at work, Christine was anxious to find Erik and strike up a titillating conversation with him. She had barely had five minutes with him in the past week.

Tonight, she had finished inputting all the student files into the computer and storing them on CD's, apparently the previous manager had no working knowledge of computers.

She had hardly gone a minute, in the last few days, without thinking of Erik. He was certainly a hard man to forget. His gorgeous eyes, handsome features, firm physique, and heavenly voice were enough to make any woman weak in the knees.

She finished up her last minute touches and closed shop. It was 7:30 pm when she walked out of the office and headed for her car. She fished for her keys and finally found them, nestled happily at the bottom of her purse.

She put the key in the ignition and nothing happened. The car didn't even turn over. She kept trying for a couple of more times, knowing that her attempts were futile.

She got out of her car, frustrated and irritated, and started walking back toward the school, when she saw a tall, lean figure emerge from the side entrance and head toward the Bronze BMW parked not far from the door.

She knew immediately that it was Erik. She called out to him and watched as he continued to walk toward his car, not even acknowledging her.

"Erik!" She shouted again.

This time he stopped and looked at her as she came toward him.

His first instinct was to put an unreadable, neutral look on his face that would not indicate the unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach.

But instead, he was questioning why she was at work so late.

"Christine? What are you doing here so late?" He asked when she stood in front of him.

His voice sounded a little more irritated than he had meant for it to sound, so he tried to smile after asking; but her presence rattled him.

She was slightly out of breath from running after him, so she calmed herself before speaking.

Erik was looking around for Meckenzie, but had not spotted her. Bile rose in his throat as he realized something could have happened to her. Was that the reason Christine was running after him?

"Is Meckenzie alright?" He asked with panic evident in his tone.

She shook her head and Erik visibly relaxed.

"I can't get my car started…I have no idea what is wrong with it." Christine moaned.

That had not been what Erik expected to hear but he looked bewildered, nonetheless.

"Could I borrow your cell phone to call the garage?" She asked.

Erik finally responded, "Certainly." He handed her the phone.

He stood by and watched as she fidgeted with the phone and finally put it to her ear to listen for a response.

"Yes, it is in the parking lot. Please tow it to 134 Devanshire Street….what! Of course there is gas in the car! I'm not an idiot!" Christine was loosing her patience, "Look, I need it towed…"

Erik persuaded her to hand him the phone.

"Excuse me; do you have a problem with the lady's request?" He asked in a smooth but deadly tone.

The man on the other end of the phone obviously stammered.

"Good. She said she needed the car towed, and you almost had her business." Erik's smile was menacing as he listened to the man come up with numerous reasons for his behavior.

"No, but thanks…I'll have my personal mechanic take care of it." Erik clicked the phone shut and called Louie.

"Louie…hey, it's Erik Trudeau…" Erik listened for a few minutes. "I need you to send Ricky to pick up a car in my school's lot and tow it to 134 Devanshire Street, put it on my account." He listened a little longer, "Thanks."

He hung up the phone and regarded Christine with a blank stare.

"Thank you…please let me know what I owe you." She insisted.

"It is of no concern." Erik responded, not giving her a chance to argue. "Where is Meckenzie?"

"She is with Karen…I knew I was going to be working late, so I asked her to pick her up." Christine stated.

Christine's stomach chose that particular moment to protest its emptiness and the sound made her blush a rosy shade of pink and Erik chucked.

"Christine, when was the last time you had anything to eat?" He asked.

Christine smiled lightly and looked up into his handsome face. He seemed to be innocent in his asking, unaware that his invitation sent shards of delight rushing through her. She shrugged her shoulders; something her mother would have frowned upon.

"Come, I shall provide you with nourishment." Erik announced in a light, playful tone, as he opened the door to his car and motioned for her to have a seat.

Christine smiled at him as she sat down in his leather seats. He appeared genuinely at ease in her presence this time.

As Erik walked around the back of his car to get in, he mentally berated himself. What was he doing asking her to dinner? His heart was already leaping for joy and his body was pulsing with anticipation.

'It's just dinner, old man…don't start picking out China patterns.' He mentally chastised.

What seemed even more miraculous was the fact that she had willingly accepted his invitation – of course, she was very hungry and would have probably followed a lion into his den….but that didn't matter.

Erik pulled out of the parking lot and drove in silence for a few minutes.

"I will take you to my place and I am sure I can rustle up something for dinner." Erik stated.

His voice was so seductive and beautiful, and Christine was almost incapable of hearing anything he was saying; but she did respond.

"Your place will be fine…" She smiled, "…but I must insist on doing the cooking, I owe you that much, at least."

Erik's face suddenly felt flush, the image of Christine in his kitchen cooking him dinner caused a swell of emotions he was not ready to deal with.

"On second thought, allow me to take you dinner." He entreated.

He was not fond of public places, and he was sure she would not want to be seen with him, but he was regretting – more and more – his suggestion to take her to dinner.

Christine looked over at his profile and quivered at how attractive he looked. He was trying to avoid being alone with her, but she was one step ahead of him.

"No, I owe you a thank you for allowing Meckenzie into the school on a scholarship." She insisted, "It is the least I can do."

He had been hoping she would not be disgusted with the prospect of being seen with him, but he had been wrong; but that did not make the hurt any less profound.

He diverted his eyes back to the road and spoke dejectedly, "As you wish." He murmured.

His tone caused her concern. He seemed to have pulled himself back into an invisible shell; hiding his true personality and character behind the façade he had so long been forced to exude.

Christine chanced a view of him while he was driving. The white mask was in her sights, and she found it was strangely…him. She wanted to know what he hid beneath it, but she wanted him to want her toknow…she would never betray his trust.

Erik was not aware of her eyes being on him or of the thoughts that were occupying her mind.

"Your daughter tells me you used to be on Broadway." Erik commented, wanting to rid the air of the silence.

Christine looked down at her hands and smiled sadly, "Yes, my career ended almost six years ago." She reflected, painfully. "My ex-husband was my manager and vocal coach…he had a great deal of influence in the theater and made me a diva. The name of Raoul Chagny worked wonders with the directors and playwrights. After the marriage ended, he black listed me…I never sang again."

The minute he heard the name, Erik knew exactly who she was. Her voice had mesmerized him with its purity and clarity; he had never heard a more beautiful instrument.

Erik had the misfortune of knowing Raoul Chagny on a personal level. They had been involved in many of the same projects throughout college, in the music program. Raoul felt that a person needed to look a certain way, act a certain way, and be near perfection in every way to be a star.

He had refused to promote blind musicians, or anyone with a disability, and openly berated them and their work. Erik understood why he had turned his back on his blind daughter and his sympathetic wife.

Erik had never had the privilege of meeting The Countess, or even knowing what she looked like. He had admired her from afar, as he did the entire female population; but he had loved her from the moment he first heard her sing.

"I did not recognize you…you're stage name was The Countess, was it not?" Erik stated, trying to get the memory of her voice out of his head.

"Yes, yes it was!" Christine was excited…he had heard of her.

Erik dropped his eyes from her features and continued to drive. "Your voice was the best I have ever heard…" he admitted, "…Broadway has never been the same."

Christine knew that he had to be joking; she had not even been on the scene that long. She had never had the chance to impress anyone.

TBC