Ok , I know I said my last update was it until I returned after the holidays but I had this chapter swirling around in my head and I was inspired so here is another update!
Erik
has his own house! Yea! Enjoy:) Also don't forget
to read and review. I appreciate constructive criticism!
They walked out of the hotel in an uncomfortable and frustrated silence. The memory of his lips being so close, the smell of his cologne…she wanted to scream in frustration at the interruption. She gripped her crutches harder than necessary as they made their way down the streets. Both of them lost in their own thoughts.
They entered a small shop; Jenna looked around and smiled when the man behind the counter approached them. It was at that moment Jenna was thankful she was fluent in French, she thanked her au pair growing up who insisted she learn French as well as English. She slipped into French easily and told the man what she was after.
He looked over Erik carefully; if he was shocked by the mask he hid it well. He complimented Erik on his fine cut, and took his off to show him some suits and shirts. Jenna smiled and sat herself down and let the man do his work.
3 hours later, both Jenna and Erik were exhausted though he had a stunning new wardrobe. She was proud of herself and him for keeping his composure much better than expected.
The bellboy seemed relieved when they arrived at her room, she tipped the young man well and slumped down onto the sofa. Erik sat down across from her looking equally weary. "Would you like some dinner?"
He shook his head "No thank you." He responded tiredly. She was sore and tired. All she wanted to do was lay down. Erik looked equally tired.
"Erik if you would like to lay down you may use the spare room. I use it to store my luggage, but you may certainly use it."
He looked pensive, he was tired. Being around people exhausted him, he wanted to go hide and retreat into the darkness. But he also wanted to spend time with Jenna. He thought for a moment, his fatigue winning.
"Thank you for your kindness"
She made a dismissive gesture, "It's nothing Erik really, and I'll just go move my luggage"
"There is no need…I can manage," he said.
She looked anxious for a moment before nodding. "Aright, if you don't mind terribly I'm going to go lay down. It's exhausting walking around with these damned crutches."
A pang of guilt spread through him. She saw the change in his eyes.
"Erik, I wanted to do this. Don't go feeling guilty on me. I didn't force myself…"
He nodded "Go, lay down. You need to rest"
She smiled appreciatively "Thank You. When I get up I'll order us some supper and we can discuss what you'd like in a house"
With that said she disappeared into her room, the memory of their near miss running through her head, frustrating her even more.
She slept longer than she expected, when she woke her clock read 5:47pm. She rubbed her eyes and pushed herself off the bed and made her way out to the living room. Erik was nowhere to be seen, she wondered if he had indeed returned home. She saw the spare bedroom door cracked; she opened it and peeked in. Erik was sprawled on the bed, sleeping. She smiled at the sweet picture it made.
She shut the door quietly and picked up the envelope that Bernard had left at the front desk for her. She emptied the contents onto the table, pictures of houses…no more like mansions with descriptions and prices. He started doing his homework.
She began to thumb through them; he had left his opinions as well. There were 3 that looked ideal. All of them were located out of the city in the country. 2 of them were chateau style, looking very old. From the 17th or 18th century. She discarded the more modern one, thinking Erik would be happier in an older style home.
The first one looked beautiful. It had gates in the front, a long drive leading up to it. The front of the house was covered in Ivy; it was a three-story chateau with servant's quarters on the third floor. A wine cellar, and 25 rooms in all. Stables in the back, as well as what appeared to be a gardening shed. In the back was a rose garden that looked carefully tended to. She fell in love with the picture of it; she imagined that the home itself was breathtaking.
The interior had undergone some minor renovations, the kitchen updated with more modern appliances and cables laid for better Internet and cable services. This looked like the perfect house for Erik. The price seemed high but it was nothing compared to the budget Bernard had come up with.
The second house was not nearly as exquisite, a smaller style home with only 17 rooms. No servant housing or stables. A modest garden in the back, it needed some repairs. Nothing major, in fact Erik might actually enjoy doing them himself. She pulled the two sets of photographs aside, she would let Erik decide.
She decided to order some dinner for herself and Erik, she figured she would wake him up when it arrived.
She couldn't help but look at the photos of the first house…it was so beautiful. From not only an artist's perspective but from the eyes of someone who could appreciate beauty and architecture. Whoever designed that house certainly knew what they were doing.
Erik roused himself from sleep not too long after that, he walked out and watched Jenna unnoticed for a few moments. She was stunning, breathtaking. Her hair fell over her shoulders as she studied photos; she absently played with a stray curl. Her lips curved into a sensual smile. He shook himself and walked over to her.
"Ah, I see Bernard has wasted no time in spending my money" he said wryly.
She smiled up at him and handed him the stack of photos "I think this would be perfect for you"
He took the pictures from her, his fingers brushing hers lightly. Sending shocks through him and her. He studied them, admitting it was beautiful and artistic in design. It would suit him nicely.
"I think this house would serve my purposes very well," he said.
She clapped her hands happily "I think so too" she said enthusiastically. "There would be plenty of room, you could have a study, a music room. A library, you would have that wine cellar and your staff could live on the property…if you wanted them to" she added quickly.
He smiled as he saw her enthusiasm; her eyes shone beautifully when she was happy. An electric blue that he wanted to lose himself in. She blushed when she saw him watching her.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when their dinner arrived. They sat down to dinner, as she speared a carrot onto fork she smiled.
"I'll go with Bernard to start the paperwork on the house tomorrow" she could hardly hide the glee. She was excited about this new chance for Erik, though secretly she wanted to share in it with him.
1 Month LaterThe paperwork was finalized with the realtors and bank, Erik officially owned his own home. Then the fun began; first they had to pack Erik's meager belongings. He decided to abandon his batter old piano and organ. It would have been impossible to move them. He also decided to leave the furniture that had once belonged to his mother in Christine's old room. He had no use for them, when all they held was painful memories of both Christine's abandonment and his childhood.
Really all he took with him was his books and music. Though Jenna convinced him to take the tapestries, Persian rugs and furniture. This was done at night when it would be the least noticeable. With her ankle healing, she was no longer on crutches but limping around with only her hideous boot. Bernard hired a van, which he backed up to the gates of the Rue Scribe. He and Erik loaded his belongings into it and took it to his estate. He disconnected the electricity and water, and sealed his home and sanctuary and turned and left without looking back.
Jenna watched as he looked at the stonewall before him longingly. She took his hand and smiled at him as they left his underground tomb together.
There had been no repeats of their almost kiss, to the frustration of both people. But they had both been busy and preoccupied.
With Erik moved out of his home under the opera house Jenna was delighted when he asked her to purchase the furniture for his new home. She and Bernard scoured all the antique shops and furniture stores. She was delighted when she found a dining set of dark cherry. A table that could seat 13 to go in the formal dining room. She found an antique Oak table for 4 that would look perfect in the breakfast nook off the kitchen.
Though she was especially proud of Erik's bedroom suite, a huge four poster bed of dark mahogany and a matching dresser, desk and nightstand. His room was to have dark midnight blue carpeting. She found a linen set of white and a lighter blue that matched perfecting. He had wanted black but she convinced him to go with a less dramatic color.
She made him close his eyes, making sure he wasn't peeking she guided him into his room.
"Okay, you can open them now"
He slowly opened his eyes and was speechless, the room looked marvelous. She had truly outdone herself with this room. His walk in closet had been filled with his ever-growing wardrobe. Everything looked perfect, he was speechless, and he opened his mouth to say something but found he couldn't. He merely squeezer her hand, which he had not released. She laid her head on his shoulder innocently smiling, very proud of herself.
Finally he managed to form words again.
"It looks exquisite"
She grinned "Thanks…this was the last thing I had to buy. Everywhere else is taken care of; I got all your guest room fixed up. Bernard is getting all the toiletries and extras, like towels and bath stuff right now"
"You have outdone yourself my dear, truly. I don't know how I would have done this without you"
She smiled and blushed "Thank you, it was fun"
She sighed when she realized that her time with Erik was coming to an end, she had done what she had promised. Soon she would have to return home. The thought of leaving Erik hurt her more than she had expected.
"I should return to the hotel," she said sadly.
"No"
She looked up surprised, "What?"
"You have spent far too much money to remain here. You may of course stay in a guest room until you must leave. It's the least I can do, after all you've done for me."
"I couldn't"
"Ridiculous. Of course you can…I insist"
She opened her mouth to say something, but shut it knowing it was useless to argue. "Thank you Erik, you are far to kind"
"Nonsense, have Bernard arrange to have your things brought here and your account settled at the hotel"
She nodded and departed, calling Bernard and giving him Erik's instructions. Though she insisted on him using her credit card to pay the hotel bill. She then chose her room, the room across from Erik's. This had been her favorite since she had first laid eyes on it. It had a beautiful view and she had done it in cream, blue and gold. Light oak furniture decorated the room and the bathroom was white marble.
Yes I think this will suit me nicely…she thought happily.
