Raoul sat across from his business partner, his hands were clasped in front of him and his face held an expression of business. They had been trying to snag in the business of the man in front of him for quite some time and he had a feeling that they were ready to sign the contract. Raoul wore a business suit and tie, despite the sunny day outside. The golden rays of the early afternoon shone in through the tiny coffee house window.

The stocky man across from him paused from the document he was reading and looked up, instantly meeting Raoul's eye. They stared at each other for a long moment before the man picked up the pen from where it lay on the table and furrowed his brow as he finished reading the documents fine print. Raoul couldn't help but let a small smile spread across his handsome features, he was about to snag the corporation that he had been working on for months. It was a feeling unlike any other.

But just as the pen's tip was two centimeters from the white document Raoul's cell phone began to ring shrilly. It caused both Raoul and his partner to jump and Raoul cursed himself inwardly for not remembering to turn it off. Raoul grabbed it hastily, eager to silence it. It was from a number that he didn't recognize. Raoul flipped open the black phone and then quickly closing it, hanging up on the person who was on the other end.

"Sorry," he said, "It won't happen again. I'll just turn it off."

The stocky man across from him merely watched and made no move to sign the paper in which he had left empty. Raoul inwardly winced at the unlucky event, why did he have to have someone call him now?

Without any warning Raoul's phone rang again, causing him to jump and sigh in disgust. He realized moments after that the man sitting next to him was looking less and less interested with the piece of paper in front of him. Raoul looked down at his phone and saw Christine's home number blinking back at him.

As a rule, he never answered phone calls when he was working. Even if they were from Christine, and usually she was good about not calling him during his working hours. He had specifically told her not to phone him when he was in a meeting, and she had never done so before. It was such a glaring oddity that Raoul found himself apologizing and muttering a lame 'I have to take this," Raoul felt like an idiot as he walked over to the window of the coffee shop to answer his phone. He was intensely aware of his partner's eyes on his back and he didn't like it at all. Quickly he glanced behind him and saw as the man turned back towards his paper and continued to read the document. Raoul desperately hope that he didn't second guess his decision. It was something he could not afford to happen.

He hesitated a moment and stared at the familiar number on his phone before flipping it open and pressing it to his ear,

"Christine?" he asked, "Is that you?"

There was a slight gasp on the other end of the line, "Oh Raoul, I didn't think you'd answer…I thought your phone would be off and I'd get the machine…" she said more to herself then to him.

"Well, I'm here. What's the emergency? I'm in the middle of a very important meeting, and I told you never to call me in a meeting." Raoul said his voice laced with irritation.

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment and then Christine's voice entered his ears once more. She said,

"I'm sorry, I just. I didn't get to see you before you left this morning."

It was Raoul's turn to be silent for he had nothing else of use to say to her. He merely wanted to know what the problem was that she would interrupt him at such a time.

"I just…I saw your parents last night, though I suppose they've already told you about it, and I just wanted to explain….that…."

Raoul sighed heavily and ran his hand over his face, massaging his temples, "Listen Christine, my mother called me last night, but I can't talk to you about this right now ok? I'll talk to you later."

"Ok…But, you're not mad?"

Raoul was silent.

"Raoul? I told you I was sorry I…"

"Christine I can't talk to you right now. I'll stop by your house after work. Bye."

Raoul was about to snap the phone closed when he heard Christine's small anxious voice on the other end of the line,

"Wait Raoul!"

"What is it Christine?" Raoul asked angrily, his eyes finding the stocky man at the table, looking like he was packing up.

"I won't be home, I'm…I'm going out tonight."

Raoul's cocked an eyebrow, "Out? Again? After what happened last night?"

Christine was silent for a moment, "Yes, I am. I'm going to a movie with Meg. She wants to see this stupid chick flick or else I'd…I'd invite you."

Raoul was so preoccupied with the man who seemed to be standing to leave at his table that he didn't notice Christine's flustered tone.

"Fine, then I suppose I'll just talk to you later."

"Ok Raoul…"

"Ok Christine, I'll see you."

Raoul sighed and took his phone away from his ear and clicking it shut, before running over to where the stocky man was standing.

He didn't hear Christine mutter a last,

"I love you…"


Christine sat in front of her mirror and stared at her reflection. She slowly picked up her tube of black mascara and began to spread it evenly over her lashes, causing them to immediately come thicker. Christine paused to look at her reflection staring back at her. But she didn't see how she looked. Her mind was too alive with activity to focus on something as silly as her appearance.

She wasn't just thinking about the conversation she had had with Raoul over the phone earlier in the afternoon. She knew that it was a stupid idea of hers to call him when she knew he was working, even if she had expected his phone to be turned off. She wasn't even thinking about his parents calling Raoul the night before to report that his fiancé had become stupidly wasted and had talked poorly of them when she thought they weren't there.

She was thinking about what she was about to do, and where she was about to go.

It was Monday night, and she knew that Erik would be playing at the La Bayou.

Christine knew it was completely idiotic of her to go and watch him play. Raoul had specifically told her that he didn't want her to see him again, and at the state in which their relationship was in now if she got caught everything would probably fall apart. The foundation of their relationship was rocky and she knew that pushing it too far would be a dreadful mistake.

But yet, she found that she wanted to see his face again, she wanted to speak to him again. But most of all, she wanted to hear his music. It was almost like from the one time she had heard his music she had become addicted to the haunting melody, and now she was going through withdrawal. She needed another dosage of his strange melodic harmonies that all complemented each other so well, she needed to loose herself in the bittersweet pain and agony of his music. The triumphant tunes till tainted with a sadness and cause Christine to feel things she had never experienced. Erik's music was like a drug and she couldn't stop thinking about it.

So that was why at 7 o'clock she walked down her driveway and got into her car, fully intending to see his performance. She didn't give a second thought about the consequences of her actions. She didn't think how easily it would be for Raoul to figure out where she was and what her intentions were. But he, not being a lover of music, would never understand the need for her to share her passion with someone else. Her father always used to tell her that people were sometimes just born with the gift of music already inside of them, and some were not.

It was not a choice.


Jeff paced fervently outside the restaurant. His eyes scanned the dark streets, trying to find the one he was looking for. His white converses made a soft noise on the pavement and the sound reverberated in his ears over and over again. He paused and ran a hand through his short hair, beginning to think that the whole idea of what he was about to do was pointless. He was doing what his master asked him to do, and that was all he knew. He was supposed to find a woman, with a very specific appearance. She was supposed to have information for him. He would have to go about any means to get this information before passing her over to his master. If his boss was a normal man he may have it all himself but because of certain unfortunate circumstances he could not.

There was no possible way that he could gain a woman's trust without a lot of time and careful manipulation, thus, Jeff had to step in and do it quicker. Once she trusted him he would bring her to his master, it was a method that Jeff found to be most tiresome. He did not see why he could not just kidnap her and force her to tell her everything she knew. But he had learned never to question his master's ideas.

Jeff's eyes were immediately snapped forward as he heard a car drive up. He recognized the dark exterior and black windows, so no one could see inside. A tall man stepped out and walked forward meeting Jeff by the doors.

"Good evening, "he said, "You know, it would be beneficial for you to wait inside the restaurant. You don't want to come on too strong."

Jeff said nothing and watched as his boss walked right passed him and entered the restaurant. He hesitated for a moment before turning and walking in.


Christine parked her car in the parking lot and stopped for a moment in the darkness of her car to stare at La Bayou across from her. She knew that the night could very probably end in disaster but she couldn't stop herself from opening the car door and walking across the street to the entrance way.

She opened the doors and was immediately greeted with the soft murmur of conversation and the faint light of candles. She did not ask to be seated but merely sat down at the fancy bar and ordered herself a drink. Christine glanced around the room awkwardly, and was aware that the man she had come to see was not sitting at the piano. A very skinny man was sitting at it, pounding out a tune of Mozart.

Christine was suddenly aware of a man, no older then her, seating himself down beside her. He was relatively short, with captivating light brown eyes, and short black hair. His face was very striking and Christine smiled as he sat down. He turned to her and smiled as well.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," Christine replied.

"Are you here by yourself?" he asked after a moment's hesitation his light brown eyes never leaving hers.

"Yeah…" she replied, aware of how odd it sounded.

"I'm Jeff," he said extending his right arm awkwardly from across the table, a boyish smile on his face.

"Nice to meet you Jeff," Christine returned, taking his hand, "I'm Christine."

"Hello Christine," he said, allowing his arm to fall back to his side after giving her a firm handshake. "How are you tonight?"

Christine smiled, "I'm alright, can't complain."

"Good to hear." He said before taking a long swig from his drink.

Christine watched him curiously for a few moments before turning back to the table. A silence riffled through the two of them before she had anything half decent to say.

"How about you?"

Jeff looked at her for a long moment before replying, "I've been better."

"Oh?" Christine asked, her interest peaking.

She wasn't even sure why she cared, but something about the man sitting in front of her made her want to know.

"Work's been tough…"

"Oh, I understand."

He nodded and let his eyes scan the rest of the restaurant. His eyes fell on a lady across the room with jet black hair and a red dress a little too short to be considered modest.

"Excuse me Christine, there are things I must do."

Christine looked at him questioningly, she couldn't be sure. But she had thought she had heard a tinge of regret in his voice.

He turned back to her and offered her a small smile, "It was a pleasure talking to you Christine."

"You too Jeff, Good Luck with whatever you're having trouble with…"

Jeff paused and turned to her, a small, genuine smile playing across his lips, "Thanks."

Then he was lost amidst the incoming crowd of new customers.

Christine's mind was momentarily hung up on Jeff, the stranger whom she had only conversed a few moments with. His young face had seemed to be forever etched in her memory. She sensed there was something he had to do that he did not wish to, a fear of failure, all hidden behind a striking smile. It was something that Christine identified with.

But the thoughts were forgotten as quickly as they came when a soft piano melody began to lovingly caress her body.

She knew in an instant it was Erik. Christine had never had the same reaction to anyone else's music. She also knew that it must be something original, for it held both modern and classical elements to it, and it was something that very few would dare to venture into.

Christine allowed her head to turn to where the grand piano lay at the corner of the room. No other people seemed to notice the mysterious pianist that sat behind it. But her eyes never left his back.

Christine didn't regret anything.

She didn't regret meeting him…

…and she didn't regret going there that night.


A/N: Here's chapter 13, I hope you enjoyed it. Leave me a quick note, and tell me if you like the direction this is going. There's still quite a bit of story left, it's not going to end anytime soon. I've planned many twists and turns along the way. Thank you for all of your reviews and support, they mean a lot to me.

Thanks for reading!