A/N: I'm glad that many like the little twist I threw in about Raoul hating his great-great grandfather. Frankly, I don't like him period, but the future one is of my own design and he's way cooler I think. Thank you all for your reviews and to my beta Megan! Now… let the trouble began…

Chapter 5- The New Marguerite

"Cat?"

Raoul couldn't believe that the one woman he hoped he would never see again after breaking his heart was once more standing in his office, but this time in a fit of rage.

She stomped over, slamming a fist on his desk, causing both him and Adele to jump in their seats.

"What's this about a new singer!" Cat barked her voice laced in her thick accent from her anger. "Well? Aren't you going to speak?"

Raoul swallowed thickly as he managed to put on a smile. "Nice to see you to Cat." Smooth.

"Don't you give me 'nice to see you to Cat' crap with me! I want to know—did you or did you not hire a new girl?"

"Why does it matter to you? You left," Adele snickered.

Cat glared daggers at her, and Adele returned it in full, making the girl cower back. It didn't matter how tough Catarina Giovanni was, no one could ever stand up to Adele Garrison. It was an impossible feat.

She turned back to Raoul, her eyes lowering to slits, her voice growing low as she snarled, "Did you hire a new girl?"

For a second, Raoul forgot how to breathe. The same vivacious and bold woman that won him over was inches away from his face, her hot breath washing over his skin. Once more, Raoul felt like he was nothing but clay in her hands and he would gladly do whatever she wanted. His sanity was saved, thanks to Adele, who answered strongly, "Yes".

Snapping back to reality, he watched, as Cat's lips puckered in like a fish's before she bellowed out in a high-pitch screech, "WHAT?" deafening Raoul and Adele. "WHY on EARTH would YOU!"

Raoul was positive that all the dogs in the city were barking and howling in the streets. "Cat, there's no need to raise your voice," he said, trying to quieted her. "What did you expect me to do? You and your cousin walked out. We needed a singer."

Her eyelids rapidly fluttered open and closed, her breaths coming in short quick pants. He was afraid she was about to have a seizure any second.

"You could have WAITED!" she shouted. "Maria was traumatized after that encounter in her apartment! I was doing my best to make sure there was nothing severely permanent from it."

Raoul shifted to his side uncomfortably, glancing at Adele for interference. The older woman chuckled and mouthed, "She's all yours."

Standing up, Adele excused herself. "While you two work things out, I'm going to overlook the rehearsals. Good-bye M. de Chagny."

Raoul could have sworn that infuriated woman was laughing out in the hallway. His fists clenched nervously, swallowing excessively to get rid of the dryness in his mouth. This wasn't going to be pretty, that he knew, and that was because this was Cat. Had it been any other singer, Raoul could have handled the situation much better and be done in a couple of minutes. But Cat wasn't your ordinary singer. Like her cousin, she was a born Prima Donna.

Mumbling in Italian, Cat threw herself down in the chaise. Her lip stuck out, in a there God, a pout. She flicked her thick eyelashes at him as her lips quivered. "Raoul, I'm so crushed that you would do this… to us. You replaced Maria like it was the easiest thing to do! Did you ever stopped to think how this would make your leads feel? Lead and understudy? Maria was in tears when she heard about this slut from New York…"

"Okay stop Cat," Raoul interrupted. "First of all, Christine Dawson is not a slut. She's a fine performer on stage and has a very lovely voice. I hired her because she's just as good as you and Maria. And if Maria is so upset, well, than what you want me to do? She left and so did you."

"Yeah but you don't honestly think I would leave for good, now do you?" Cat asked, crossing her legs over so her shorts could rise up. "Come on Raoul. Tell me."

Raoul drew in a shaky breath. By God she's trying to seduce me! Be strong de Chagny. She's not what you thought she was. She used you and she's trying to use you again. Don't get your hopes high. She wants nothing to do with you. NOTHING!

Licking his lips, the next words that flew out of Raoul's mouth was completely shocking to himself and her, "Signora Giovanni, do I have to remind you that kind of behavior isn't allowed in my theatre? Either you cover yourself up or take your cheap self out and bug some other owner. I'm not going to tolerate this from you if you can't handle this professionally."

Cat's jaw dropped. "Raoul! You gained some backbone. How lovely," she replied sardonically. "Happy?" Cat pressed her legs straight against the chair and pulled down her shorts. "There I'm decent."

"Thank you," he answered curtly. "To be honest Cat, I didn't think you would come back. And hypothetically if I did it wouldn't matter. I would have gone off to find some other girl."

She sighed loudly. "Sure you would. Like any girl can replace a Giovanni."

"Christine can and she did."

"Then she probably had her reasons."

Groaning, Raoul leaned back, grabbing the ends of his hair. "Cat enough of that! She's not like you if that what's bothering you."

"I can't believe you said that!" Cat cried, feigning her hurt. "Is that what you think I was doing? God Raoul… I told you this wouldn't have worked out."

"Only because I wouldn't do what you wanted. My company wasn't enough for your greedy ambitions," he sneered. "I get it. It's okay. I thought we had something special and I was wrong. No big deal like this is no big deal."

"This is too a big deal!" Cat protested. "This is an insult to Maria and I! Two professional singers being thrown to the side for some amateur? I don't think so!"

"She's not some amateur I picked up from a street corner Cat," Raoul gritted between his teeth. "She's been on the stage, she knows how it works, and she has a history in music like you and Maria."

"Have it ever occurred to you that perhaps Maria had her own idea of an replacement?" Upon saying this, Cat held out her hand examining her nails. She lifted an eyebrow as she looked up into Raoul's startled visage. "Well?"

Unsure if he heard her correctly, Raoul asked, "Maria had what?"

"A replacement," answered Cat. "Maria feels I should be the one to take on Marguerite. As former Prima Donna I think Maria has the first say."

Raoul shook his head in disbelief. Where's Adele when you need her? "Cat…"

"I know I know. It's all too sudden for me to say or her, but everyone knew that I would take over for her one day. It was a matter of time."

"Yeah if you stayed on. But you didn't," Raoul pointed out, exasperated.

"What did you expect me to do?" she scoffed. "Maria was being threatened and you know how superstitious she is. Imagine her scared out of her wits because the Phantom decided she was no good to the theatre anymore. Not only was that insulting and damaging to her pride, but add on the fact she was nearly killed in her sleep! I only walked out because it was respect and honor to my family. If I remained I would have thrown everything in her face and would have been expelled from the Giovanni name."

"Sorry Cat. That was your decision not mine. My answer is still going to be the same."

"Could I at least audition? To you or Roberts? I bet the old man doesn't even like taking on a newbie."

"For your information, Roberts likes Mlle Dawson. If you don't believe me here's his note." Raoul took the memo and handed it to Cat.

She distastefully glanced at it and threw it behind her back. "Oh he thinks she's a pleasure. All right she won over the senile conductor. If I remember correctly I was always his favorite."

Raoul snorted. "You did enough sucking up by telling him how youthful and handsome he looks everyday. And he never considered you a favorite. Hell, no one here is his favorite not even me and I'm his boss. So don't try to peg the old man in your plot."

"Then may I listen to her? Christine Dawson that is."

He gave her a blank look. "Pardon?"

"You know. Can I go down to rehearsals and hear this girl? I have no doubt that you're right and she's good, but I would do much better if I could witness this on my own. That way I know you're not being deceived."

Should I? Or I'm I inviting more trouble? Raoul looked at the hopefulness in her crystal clear olive green eyes. It's only to listen. How bad could that be anyways? You have got to stop reading so much into this de Chagny. No wonder you're being so paranoid.

"All right. But afterwards I want you to leave. And for the record, Cat, don't ever bust down my door again. You're not a little girl anymore and that behavior doesn't suit a woman your age."

The last comment made her growl in contempt. Raoul did his best to hide his mirth. This confrontation wasn't as bad as I thought.

xxXXxx

Christine was sitting down with Meg during a short break when Raoul entered through the side with a woman at his heels. She was pretty but Christine could tell from the distance she was peeved about something.

She poked at Meg and nodded to the dark-haired woman. "Who's that?"

Meg looked up and sighed. "That'll be Catarina Giovanni, Maria's cousin. I wouldn't worry if I were you. M. de Chagny won't hire her. You're the best the Garnier has ever had and I doubt he will be willing to part with you. And also they're not on the best of terms."

"So why is she here?" Christine asked.

Meg shrugged. "Beat's me."

"Psst! Didn't you hear?" Jamie came sliding over. "Cat wants Christine's part!"

"And how do you know Jamie?" Meg inquired.

"I overheard their conversation. What? I didn't mean to eavesdrop. It sort of happened when I was walking by his office."

"And what were you doing near his office?" Meg asked sweetly. She looked over to Christine with a smirk and then back to the teen.

"Oh I was… you know. Is that Felicity calling me? Talk to you two later!"

Jamie jumped up and ran off to the group of huddled dancers. Meg rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "By now you should know nothing gets by Miss Nosy."

Christine laughed. "You can say that again."

"Hey look now. Looks like your boyfriend is going to make an announcement of some sort."

"He's not my boyfriend Meg," she retorted.

"Yeah right and I'm the reincarnation of Marie Antoinette."

The American chuckled quietly as she looked over to the stage. The woman that came in with Raoul was far off to the side with some pleased appearance across her face. She didn't have much time to think on it as he started to speak.

But Christine wasn't listening to what the boss was saying to the company. Her eyes were on him all right, but not in an attentive way. Meg's teasing about him being her boyfriend came into mind and she thought about it. Is there a chance? Naa. Don't get your hopes up Christine. He's probably into girls with classy style than you. There's nothing you have that he would want so it's best to think of him as a potential friend and nothing more.

But how it was that simple! Just from where he stood, the lights from above hit him in that right direction. His honey blonde hair was slightly ruffled and his turquoise eyes glistened as he spoke. He was so incredibly handsome that if Heather were here she would dub him as the "Number 1 Hottie of the Week". Yeah and if Heather were here she would be pouncing on him.

The image flitted across her mind, eliciting a girlish giggle. She never was the type to drool over a man but Raoul de Chagny was a special exception. She wondered if it had anything to do with him being French and being in the city of romance and all. But if she were to say no if he asked her out, than Heather would surely have her head when she returned.

While her thoughts traveled, she failed to notice Catarina Giovanni slipped away behind one of the sets.

Then came Meg's turn to nudge her. "Earth to Dawson. M. de Chagny wants you to sing The Jewel Song now."

"What?" she said still half-dazed from her thoughts.

"The Jewel Song. He wants to hear you sing the aria as a little audition of some sort. Probably Cat was upset to hear about you being here and wanted to put in her own input to your singing. Make sure you kill the song."

"Um right." Cursing under her breath, Christine she stood up and headed over to where Raoul stood. All eyes were glued on her as she nervously looked up into Raoul's friendly orbs.

"Good luck Christine," he whispered, his voice making her knees weak.

She watched as he went off to the side to stand by Adele. When he took his spot, Cat came over to stand next to him, her arms crossed over as she smugly smirked.

Christine looked away and into M. Roberts down at the pit. She nodded once as the music began.

Taking a deep breath, the words poured forth from her lips as a soft, darker voice whispered in her ear, "Make them weep."

"Ah! Je ris de me voir

Si belle en ce miroir,

Ah! Je ris de me voir

Si belle en ce miroir,

Est-ce toi, Marguerite, est-ce toi?"

As the song continued, Christine became confident and let her voice soar throughout the theatre. This was what she always wanted. At last, she was doing a role her mother played and in this grand of a theatre no doubt. I hope you're listening Mom and Daddy. I hope I'm making you proud.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Adele wiping a tear away and Raoul with a large smile on his face. Cat glared at her, giving Christine the go ahead to show she was worth the part.

Focusing on the audience, she sang out Marguerite's joy. Closing her eyes, she gently swayed.

"Dieu! C'est comme une main,

Qui sur mon bras se pose! Ah! Ah!"

As the song started to grow to the end, Christine decided to stun them all by throwing in a crescendo. As she sang the last note, Christine looked up and right away something was wrong.

She watched a swift dark figure run across the rafters just as a scene above her began rattling. Christine froze, her mouth hanging open, as the scene was suddenly falling down. It was heading towards her.

Her brown eyes grew frighteningly wide. Move! She practically screamed but she remained paralyzed. Christine squeezed her eyelids tightly shut as it made impact.

An acute pain sprung up her leg making her cry out. She felt rather heard a crackling snap and prayed to let it be over soon.

Wait… Pain? Christine opened her eyes and stared up into the alarmed countenance of Raoul's. What Raoul?

"Oh my God Christine! Are you all right?" His blue eyes roved over her, checking for any damage. When they settled on her ankle, he pulled back. "Christine! Your ankle!"

She looked down and winced. Now she knew where the source was coming from. Her ankle was turning a purplish-blue and as his hand barely touched it, she leapt back yelping.

"Adele get a doctor now!" Raoul barked. The ballet mistress nodded, already taking off.

Meg was over by her side in seconds, panting. "Christine!"

"If you haven't been pushed out of the way Christine you could have—" began Jamie.

Meg shot her a look that made Jamie close her mouth. "She's alive that's all that matters Jamie."

Christine didn't hear the two bicker, she was still shaken up and stunned from what happened. The set was sprawled across the stage in the spot where she stood moments ago. Breathing hard, she knew she had come close to be stuck under that. Dead, she thought and shuddered violently.

Christine gazed up at Raoul who was cursing and yelling at the gathering cast members to stay away. He saved me… She blinked at the realization. My God he saved me!

He then was by right her, lifting her back up tenderly almost as if he was afraid to cause any more damage. His concern made Christine blush uncontrollably and her mind to erase all coherencies of thoughts. She didn't realize her unabashed staring until Raoul looked at her, a tiny smile playing at the corner of his lips. Christine tried to return his smile, but at the moment her body decided to let her know the excruciating agony she was in.

Christine hissed her lids clamped shut at the sudden pang of waves hit her. In all her life, Christine never broken anything and at the moment she wished someone would put her out of her misery. Tears pricked her doe eyes as she tried to put up a brave front. She never been in this type of pain before and she wanted it to end soon.

Then softly, she heard a sweet low voice humming to her. She stopped moving as the unnamed melody clouded her senses, the pain slowly numbing. Never had she heard anything like it! In her head, the volume picked up blocking her surroundings. A tingling sensation flooded her body, her heart pace quicken, as the true seductive nature of the voice seemed to raise her soul.

Christine felt herself falling in utter bliss. She could feel nothing. Nothing could touch her or bring her harm.

Sadly, the good feelings faded and when she looked down, she saw her hand tightly clasped in Raoul's.

Swallowing, she timidly faced him. His piercing blue eyes bored into hers, an unreadable expression passing through them.

"I-I'm sorry," he whispered.

"What?" Christine's brow furrowed in confusion.

"If I didn't asked you to… you wouldn't be…" his voice trailed off as Joseph Brolin came out on the stage. "Excuse me."

Standing up, Raoul rushed over to the older man, a furious rage gripping him. "What the HELL happened up there! Brolin were you paying any attention? You could have killed Mlle Dawson!"

Brolin staggered back. "A-apologizes Monsieur. I swear it was an accident!"

"Weren't the ropes checked?" Raoul spat.

Brolin nodded. "Aye but it wasn't my fault sir! I was gone from my post for a couple of seconds when the scene fell."

"Then who could have dropped it? The Phantom?" Raoul viciously hurled out. "Because of your irresponsibility my leading lady has a broken ankle!"

"But I would have never bring any harm to the lass sir," Brolin said. "She's a good singer."

"Well, thank you for your input!" Raoul snapped. "Get this mess clean up now or you're fired, understand me? GO!"

Brolin stumbled away. Raoul's shoulders sagged low, shaking his head.

"Um… Raoul!" Cat crept over to him, tapping his shoulder. "Look, I know this is bad timing, but what are you going to now that she's indisposed?"

"Bitch," Meg muttered. Christine looked up at her in surprised, but the blonde continued. "She hasn't changed from the last time she was here. If I would have known better…"

"Meg, I'm all right. It's just a broken ankle. It'll heal before the show," Christine told her, hoping she was right.

Meg shook her head. "I don't know Christine." She glared at the Italian. "Something doesn't smell right."

But she didn't have time to elaborate on it as the opera doctor ran over to the brunette.

"I'm sorry Mademoiselle," he said. "We need to take you to the hospital."

"But—"

"I'll take her," Meg offered.

Meg's arm wrapped around Christine's waist and hoisted her up with Adele helping her. "Don't worry, child. It's nothing serious. Happens all the time," Adele assured her.

Yeah maybe only to the dancers, Christine thought unhappily. As she was being carried out, Christine looked back to see Cat floating away. She had a triumphed smirk plastered on her lips.

Looking up at Raoul, he couldn't face Christine, but she saw his defeated façade. Oh God no! He didn't…

He did.

xxXXxx

C'mon. Where the hell is he? Cat thought impatiently, her toe tapping on the floor. She checked her watch and scowled. Late. Hurry up you lazy bastard.

"Signora."

She looked up, her jaded eyes narrowed. "You're late," she said flatly.

Brolin sighed. "I had to clean up remember?"

Cat shrugged. "Doesn't matter. If you weren't here in another minute I would have walked out."

"Just give me my bloody money!" he growled.

"Here." Cat handed him a wad of bills. "Nice I must say. Now that she's out of the picture for the time being I have my chance."

"Yeah," Brolin grumbled, counting his money. "I'm curious. Why did you want her out?"

"Look, I put four years of my life into this theatre as understudy. Understudy. Now, that should cover up your pitiful debt. Do not breathe a word to anyone, got it?"

Brolin rolled his eyes. "I know Signora. Old Brolin never goes back on his promises."

Cat eyed him. "Good."

Both parted soon after, Catarina Giovanni glowing and Brolin relieved another debt paid off. But also both were glad that no one would ever know of their arrangement.

At least that's what they thought.

TBC…

Please review if you're reading this!