Hi everybody!

Curious to learn if Christine will accept that particular job offer? Then read on, but keep in mind that I do not own these characters.

And thank you all for reading, for putting this story on alert, adding it to favorites and in particular for reviewing! You are a source of inspiration. Chapter 9 is more or less finished (I do not have a title for it yet, though), and I already know what will happen in chapter 10, so the next update should not be too far in the future.

Chapter 6 – Decisions

When Nadir returned to Erik's office after having seen Christine out, he found his friend in a state of emotional turmoil.

"She is not going to stay," Erik wailed. "She hates me! Did you hear what she said to me and about me? Did you notice how she would rather not be anywhere near me? She would never have come here if she had known she would find me here!"

"Erik, calm down," Nadir tried to soothe his friend. "Yes, she did say some rather unpleasant things to you and about you, but can you really blame her? Did you expect her to be thrilled to see you here after what happened back in Paris?"

"You should not have brought her to me," Erik accused the Persian. "If she did not know about my presence here, she would have accepted the job. She would be safe here. She could make a living for herself and we could keep an eye on her and make sure that she was not bothered by unsavory admirers. But now she won't stay. She will go elsewhere, and while I have no doubt that she will find work thanks to her talent, wherever she will end up, she will be alone and unprotected..."

"No, Erik," Nadir interrupted him, "we did the right thing. We cannot trick Mademoiselle Daaé into accepting our job offer, even though we definitely would need her and would want to keep her close for her own safety. You heard that she is sick of being manipulated. We therefore have to be honest with her. That we told her the truth may even prove to be a point in our favor with her. But whether or not she will stay will be her own decision and hers alone. We cannot force her or trick her, she must do what she feels is the right thing for her."

"By revealing my presence here, we have turned her away!" Erik sighed. "We have made it impossible for her to stay here, when this would have been the safest place for her to stay!"

"Even if she does not accept our job offer, we will be able to keep her safe," Nadir tried to calm Erik. "Now that we know that she is unattached and unchaperoned, we will find ways to protect her. Maybe your good friend Antoinette Giry could help us. Once we know wherever Mademoiselle Daaé, or rather Mademoiselle Johannsen, will go, should she go elsewhere, maybe we could ask Madame Giry to join her there as her chaperon, or something. Of course this might blow Mademoiselle Daaé's cover. Or maybe we can get in touch with that aunt of hers and ask her to join her niece. I promise you, whatever her decision, we will not abandon her. We will find ways to keep her safe."

Erik sighed. He knew that was the best he could hope for. To keep Christine safe. The confrontation with her had made it beyond clear that she did not want anything to do with him. He had made too many mistakes in dealing with her in the past. And it did not really help to know that the Vicomte apparently had made similar mistakes, for he knew that every word she had said about why she had broken up with that pesky "boy" she could have said about him as well. He, too, was guilty of all those same mistakes, probably even more so than the Vicomte.

"Stop worrying now."

Nadir's words interrupted Erik's thoughts. "We do not even know yet, how she will decide. Just be patient and wait. Tomorrow night she will let us know how she has decided. She may still accept our offer. Though, by Allah, having to keep both your identities secret would be a major challenge for Darius and myself. For if one should be discovered, the other would probably be as well, and there is only one thing worse than having you recognized as the Phantom, that is having both of you recognized here together. That would probably cause a scandal even bigger than the one in Paris two years ago!"

"You think it would be best if she did not accept our offer?" Erik asked hesitantly. He had not even considered that possibility.

"That's not what I meant," Nadir reassured him, "I was just saying that there are pros and cons either way, as I am sure the lady is aware of as well and which is probably why she asked for more time to think about our offer. But I am sure she will make a decision by tomorrow night, and whatever it is she may decide upon, we will have to accept it. Promise me that you will not try to keep her here against her wish, should she decide that she'd rather not work for us."

Erik cringed. He had thought he would never see Christine in his life again. Her unexpected appearance at his theater had reopened all those barely healed wounds, had made his heart long for her yet again. He had let her go once already and it had nearly destroyed him. He knew that he would have to let her go once again, should she not accept their job offer. But he also knew that this time it would be much much harder to do so. She was everything he had ever hoped for, and with her newly gained assertiveness she would be an equal partner, not the child needing guidance that he had still seen in her two years ago.

"I will allow her to flee my despised presence, should she wish to do so," he stated miserably. "I know I ruined everything way back in Paris, and I have to live with the consequences of my actions now, even though it will destroy me."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Nadir tried again to calm him. "You have come such a long way those past two years. You know now what you did wrong. That knowledge will help you to avoid similar mistakes in the future. No matter what her decision may be, the way you will react to it could show her just how much you have changed. I do not want to get your hopes up, but if you handle this well, you may yet be able to win back her trust. And maybe, just maybe, I will yet be able to teach you some social skills," he added twinkling, making Erik smile, thus helping him to fight the onslaught of depression.

Xxxx

Christine sank into a chair, exhausted, once she arrived at her room at the bed-and-breakfast. Her knees still shook from the shocking revelation that job interview had brought upon. Her former teacher was here! The Phantom, the murderer, the criminal! The man she had never wanted to see again. The man that had abused her trust and had hurt her worse than anybody else on earth.

She had once held him in such high esteem, had hoped... she did not even dare admit it to herself, that she had had romantic feelings regarding her Angel, that even after she had removed his mask and had understood the reason for his secrecy and lies, she had hoped that their relationship could somehow be repaired, that she could help him to find happiness despite his tragic situation. But things had deteriorated rather quickly after that, he had turned into a raving madman and committed atrocious crimes.

Could he really be trusted now? True, he seemed to have somewhat changed. He was now obviously trying to fit in with society despite his handicap and to live a more or less normal life. Maybe he was not dangerous any longer? But then, he had not seemed dangerous to her before, during all those years he had been her Angel. Back then she would have never expected him to lose it so completely and to do all those despicable things he had done those last few months in Paris. Was there any guarantee he would be able to remain stable this time, to not suddenly turn into a raging madman again?

Christine was not sure she wanted to risk finding out the answer to this question. She did not want him to lose it again, deep down she wanted him to succeed in his endeavor to live like everybody else. But what would her presence – assuming she decided to stay – mean in that regard? Would he interpret it as a display of trust, of her appreciating his changed ways and would that help him to continue along that new path? Or would her presence, because of his obviously still existing feelings for her, put an additional strain on his fragile psyche and turn him over the edge again?

What about this signor Can? He seemed to have a certain way of handling her Angel, but would he truly be able to rein him in, should her teacher – Erik, she reminded herself, his name was Erik – begin to lose it again?

"You may leave at any time, if the situation becomes unbearable to you," signor Can had promised her. It almost seemed as if he, too, was not entirely sure how his associate would deal with the situation if she took them up on their job offer and worked for them.

But this promise was also some sort of safety net for her. If this clause was written into her contract, maybe she could accept the job? If she was certain that the moment she felt uncomfortable in her teacher's presence, she could leave?

She wanted a job and she knew that there were not too many cities left that she could check out for job opportunities. And as much as she feared her former teacher's reaction to her working for him, she had to admit that there were also some points speaking in favor of her accepting that particular job.

For one, she knew that her Angel was a perfectionist. His presence here, as shocking as it might have been to her, assured that the quality of any production staged at this particular theater would be of the highest possible quality. She would be able to be proud of being a part of this specific company.

Another point in favor of accepting was the fact, that her Angel as well as signor Can already knew who she was. Anywhere else she would have to constantly fear that by some chance her identity might be revealed and that then either her services would be no longer required or her name and the scandal attached to it would be exploited to increase ticket sales. Here she did not have to fear either development.

It might also be helpful that her teacher was in a situation similar to hers. He understood the danger of being found out and he and his friend had obviously become pretty good at keeping his true identity a secret, for nobody in town seemed to know that there was something wrong with the face of this signor Planchet, one of the owners of the theater. If her teacher and signor Can had so far succeeded in withholding this major piece of information, wasn't it likely that they would be equally capable of keeping her identity a secret?

The last reason in favor of accepting Christine did not really dare admit to herself, namely the fact that with her teacher here, she would not have to fear that a new role might prove too challenging for her. She remembered that she had not even asked yet which play they were planning to perform for their grand reopening. Knowing her teacher, it would probably be something big, not a stupid comedy like "Il Muto". She might have to learn a completely new part in a relatively short time, she realized. Even though she was confident that her voice was pretty much back to its previous excellence, the thought that in case she did run into a problem, her teacher would be here, somewhat comforted her. For whatever else her opinion of this man was, however justified the misgivings were she had about working with him and for him, of one thing she was absolutely certain: He was the best voice coach any singer could wish for.

Xxxx

When Christine returned to the theater the next evening, both, Nadir and Erik, were already waiting for her. Erik had been nervously pacing in his office until Nadir had told him to sit and calm down.

"Remember, if you handle this well, she might begin to trust you again," Nadir told his friend. "You do want her friendship back, don't you?"

Erik nodded, unable to speak. He sat down as Nadir had told him and tried to at least look as if he were calm and relaxed.

When "la signorina Johannsen" was announced, Erik gripped the armrest of the chair he was sitting in to steady himself. He was so nervous that he almost fainted.

When Christine entered the room, she looked just as uneasy as he did. She shot an uncertain glance at the masked man behind the desk. How would he react to what she was going to tell him and Monsieur Can?

Nadir was the only one calm enough to handle the conversation.

"Good evening, signorina Johannsen," he took the initiative, "may we assume that you have reached a decision regarding our job offer?"

Christine nodded, nervously playing with her purse. "You said I could leave at any time, if for some reason the situation at hand were to become unbearable for me," she mumbled, looking straight at Nadir and avoiding looking at Erik. "Will this condition be in my contract, if I accept?"

Had she bothered to glance at Erik, she would have noticed the glimmer of hope in his eyes at those words. Surely, if she had no intention whatsoever of accepting, she would not have had to ask that?

Nadir was quick to assure her, that this particular clause could of course be added into her contract.

"Then, I am willing to give this arrangement a try," Christine whispered.

Erik felt like a huge weight was lifted off his chest. She was going to stay! His Christine would be singing in his theater, he would be able to see her fairly regularly and maybe talk to her on occasion! He would be able to make sure she was safe here! He was about to go over to Christine, kiss her hand and thank her profusely for trusting him enough to stay, when a warning glance from Nadir stopped him. He therefore remained seated and silently observed the exchange between his friend and the woman he loved.

With a pang of jealousy Erik watched as Nadir beamed at Christine, telling her how relieved they were to have finally found their leading lady.

"It would not have felt right to start rehearsals without the lead soprano," Nadir explained. "Especially, since the play we have in mind features the soprano heavily."

Christine then reminded him that the play had not been mentioned yet in their negotiations and was surprised to learn that they were planning to stage Bellini's Norma.

"It is a tale of betrayal," Nadir explained, "of a man between two women. But in the very end he returns to his first love and they die together."

Christine had never sung that part, but said she was confident that she would learn it quickly.

Erik was slightly disappointed. She had not said anything about maybe needing his help in studying the part. Was she so confident she could do without him... or did her pride not allow her to ask him, her old teacher, for help?

Nadir once again shot him a warning glance, so he remained silent. It was probably for the best if he said as little as possible, Erik decided. Maybe that way Christine could somehow blend out the fact that he was here, that she would have to work with him. He would fade into the background as much as possible if that meant she would feel comfortable here.

Nadir and Christine discussed a few more details, such as rehearsal schedule, her salary, etc. Finally Nadir asked her to come back the next morning at around ten o'clock, in order to sign the contract which would be ready by then, and to have the seamstress take her measurements for the costumes.

Christine finally rose, telling Nadir that she was looking forward to working for this theater. Nadir shook her hand.

"We have to thank you, signorina, for being willing to give us a try," he said. "We were beginning to fear we might have to put on another play with a much smaller role for the soprano. You really are a godsend for us!"

Erik stood as well. "Thank you," he mumbled, not daring to offer Christine a handshake. "For giving me the benefit of the doubt. I will try my best to justify your undeserved trust."

Christine was moved. She had never before seen her Angel so contrite, so humble. Could it really be true that he was attempting to change for the better?

"I hope that our collaboration will be successful," Christine replied, keeping the conversation on a strictly professional level.

Erik nodded in understanding. That she talked to him at all was more than he could expect after the way he had behaved two years ago.

Xxxx

Once Christine had left, Nadir put a reassuring hand on Erik's shoulder.

"I am very proud of you, Erik," he told his friend. "You were able to keep your emotions at bay, and not to frighten her away with the intensity of your feelings. This was a first step. She will now know that we respect her wishes. If you manage to leave her alone as much as possible, I am sure she will learn again to trust you. And yes, I have noticed that you would have wanted to offer her your help in studying the part, but be patient. Should she encounter difficulties with the role, I am sure she will ask for your help. Wait for her to come to you, Erik. Show her that you trust her to have learned enough from you to handle the role by herself. I am sure she will appreciate that."

Erik nodded. He was not convinced Christine would ever approach him with anything, not even regarding a singing lesson. She had more or less ignored him during the whole conversation and negotiated exclusively with Nadir. And the worst thing about this situation was that he knew he deserved her contempt.