I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, although I do rather enjoy borrowing them from time to time.

A/N Poor Erik, he is so misunderstood! Oh well, all will be explained as we proceed. Thanks for all of your encouraging reviews! I love reading each and every one. Oh and a very special thank you to those of you that mentioned my Bradley, he is such a special boy, even though life is more challenging we wouldn't change one thing about him. Well onward we go, the letter will now finally be revealed. Please review and let me know what you think.

Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Author - ToryD

Beta – Potosynthesis (On vacation, please forgive the errors)

Choices

Chapter 4

Raoul monopolized the rest of the evening's conversation with his exalted opinion of the illustrious Erik Desmond. Christine smiled indulgently as she listened to his hero-worship of the man who in the last twelve hours had become her own personal nightmare.

"He started from nothing Christine, nothing! And look where he is today, one of the fifty richest men in the world." Raoul said with awe in his voice. Reaching across the table, he took her hand in his and began to rub his thumb gently across her knuckles in a slow caress. "And I now have a chance to actually do business with him, and it is all in thanks to you."

Christine felt somewhat guilty for allowing Raoul to hold her hand so intimately, as if she was somehow betraying Erik. Shaking her wayward thoughts from her tired mind, she smiled at the handsome man opposite her. "Let's not talk about Erik Desmond any more. How are your parents?" She questioned trying to distract him from his current line of dialogue.

"They are in London for the winter. Oh by the way, they want to know if we will be joining them for Christmas this year." He looked at her expectantly.

Christine drew in a deep breath, Oh, Raoul, her heart cried out silently. "I'm not sure; I will have to get back to you." She said as she looked down into her steaming cup of coffee.

Noticing that she appeared to be tired he signaled to the waiter for the bill. "Do you have plans for tomorrow evening?" He asked as he took out his credit card.

Plans? Oh God, I have to give Erik my decision tomorrow evening. "I have a meeting tomorrow evening." She said in a sad tone.

Raoul glanced up sharply at the dejected sound of her voice. Damn it! You idiot, she just had to go to the reading of her father's will this morning and you didn't even ask her about it! Not only that you stupid fool, you had to go on and on about Erik Desmond all evening. Damn! He cursed his insensitivity silently. "Christine," he called softly. "I'm sorry; I am the most unfeeling bastard. How was the reading this morning." He asked with concern on his face.

Christine smiled at his apprehension. "Fine, everything went fine." She lied. The waiter arrived just in time to save her from further scrutiny from Raoul.

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Darius held the twelve-foot hand carved door open for his employer. "Good evening Mr. Desmond." He said with a slight bow of his distinguished gray head.

Erik walked briskly through the doorway. "Darius," he mumbled on the way to his study.

As Erik entered his suite of offices within his twenty million dollar penthouse, he saw that Nadir was already hard at work. "Anything on the Tokyo markets?" He asked as he crossed to the small drinks cabinet. Pouring himself a large tumbler full of his perfectly aged brandy, he took a long drink to try to dispel the vision of Christine with Cagney.

Nadir watched with a raised eyebrow as he saw this uncharacteristic side of his boss. "No, nothing yet. Anderson should have the numbers in another hour or so." He informed Erik. "How was your evening?" He asked after a short pause.

Erik frowned at Nadir's intrusive question. "Fine." He lied not wanting to rehash the debacle of the end of his relationship with Cara.

Nadir allowed himself a small chuckle, as he was sure that Erik had a difficult time with the stunning redhead. Deciding that Erik needed to be tortured just a little more on this night, he continued with his questions. "Did she like the bracelet that I picked out?" He asked in an innocent tone.

Erik scowled into his drink, "She didn't open it." He said quietly.

Nadir looked down at the papers on his desk in an attempt to hide his smug smile. "Why didn't she open it?" He asked stupidly.

Erik turned to fix him with his menacing gaze. "How the hell should I know? Who gives a damn anyway." He said as he stormed into his private office.

Nadir allowed himself a soft laugh at Erik's expense. Rising to his feet, he knew that he had better smooth over Erik's ruffled feathers. "How is your headache?"

Erik looked up from the contract he was reviewing to glance at his assistant. "Almost gone." He said in a defeated tone.

Nadir frowned at the unusually hallow sound of Erik's voice. "Did something else occur this evening?"

Erik sighed and leaned back in his leather chair. Closing his eyes, he once again felt the burning rage race through his blood at the thought of Christine with the young Cagney. "I saw Christine."

Nadir's eyebrows creased his forehead as he wondered what could possibly have taken place to put his employer in such a dejected mood. "Did Cara do anything to jeopardize your plans for Ms. Daae?" He questioned thinking the worst.

"No, no." Erik paused before he went on with the replay of the night's events. "She was with someone."

Nadir felt sorry for his friend who unknown to himself was suffering from jealousy. "Who was she with?" Nadir asked fearing that he already knew.

"Cagney!" Erik said with a sneer.

"Ah, Raoul Cagney of Cagney Investments. He is a young up and comer if I remember correctly." Nadir said as he thought of the young man's accomplishments.

"That reminds me, he will be calling the office tomorrow. Set up an appointment for him to meet with Tom Reynolds. Get him to work with him on the India project. I want Cagney on the first flight out of here. I want him as far away from Christine as physically possible." Erik said with a determined look on his half-masked face.

Nadir nodded in understanding. "Do you need anything further tonight?"

Erik shook his head. "No, go to bed my friend. I fear tomorrow will be a very exhausting day."

Nadir crossed to the doorway and paused as if he was about to say something, with a deep sigh he decided that he was too late to stop the events that were about to unfold. Too late, to prevent the pain that would surely engulf his long time friend. So instead, he bid Erik good night as he softly closed the door.

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Christine stared down at the envelope that Mr. Townsend had given her earlier in the day. With a trembling hand, she turned the envelope over and broke the seal to pull the hand written note free. Taking a deep breath, she opened the letter and began to read.

Dear Christine,

Well I guess if you are reading this then I have failed you yet again. I am sure that comes as no surprise to you, the one person in the world who deserved my love and protection, but who had to settle for my unjust indifference. Oh Christine, how do I begin to atone for all of the wrongs I have so grievously bestowed upon you in your twenty-five years? It is too late to make up for the pain and loneliness you must have suffered with me as your father.

Father…I do not have the right to call myself that title, as all I have ever been to you is at best, your benefactor. No, it is too late to change any of my past sins, so all I can do for you is to offer you an explanation of my past actions.

I adored you mother beyond all comprehension. She was my whole world. When we found out we were to be parents, we felt as if God was indeed smiling down upon us. But then as all things must come to an end, so did our happiness. During the pregnancy, the doctors informed your mother that she would more than likely not survive your birth. Something to do with the position of her uterus and the threat of hemorrhaging, they recommended an immediate termination of the pregnancy. But your mother had already fallen so deeply in love with you, and she would not hear of ending your life, even if it would save her own. We argued for about a month with no resolution, she would not let any harm come to you. Of course, you know that she did die shortly after she gave birth to you. But I am ashamed to say that I have never told you that before she died she held you in her arms. Oh Christine, I have never seen such pure and unselfish love as I saw in your mother's eyes as she held you in those few precious moments. Her last words about you. She said 'Look Charles, she is our perfect angel. Promise me you will tell her that I loved her and that I will always be with her. Tell her that I was proud to be her mother even if it was only for a short time. Do not let her blame herself for my death, you tell her that she has given me the greatest joy of my life. Tell her Charles, promise me.' I of course promised as she asked. After a minute or so more she passed away still holding you in her arms.

Christine raised a hand to her lips to hold in the painful cry that her dying mother's words elicited. With tears in her eyes, she at last felt as though she was loved, even if it came years too late. Smiling sadly, she thought of her mother and all that she had given up for her daughter. Her mother's unselfish sacrifice so that her daughtercould live, so beautiful in its pure simplicity and unwavering love. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she once again focused on her father's letter.

I have failed your mother for not keeping my promise. But more than that, I have failed you Christine, in so many ways. I will not even begin to beg for your forgiveness, as I don't have the right. I have no excuse for my actions other than that to look upon you brought back such grief, as you look so much like my beautiful Celia.

So now, we come to the current and arguably the most heinous of my mistakes. Erik Desmond. Oh Christine, what can I say about the terrible situation that I have placed you in. Erik Desmond came to me in a time when I was desperate for help. And God forgive me, I accepted his offer. I sold my own daughter to the devil for thirty million dollars. I cannot begin to tell you how painful that is to admit. God Christine, I can barely write the words. So, now as you read this letter you know how little character your father possesses. You are truly better without me to encumber your life.

But back to Erik Desmond, the man has an obsession for you that cannot be explained. Be careful Christine, he is a very dangerous man. I assume that you have already become aware of the dire situation that Daae Industries faces. Without Desmond's help, Daae Industries will have to close. Oh Christine, I have put you in such an untenable position. If you refuse him, he will close down the company, all of our employees will lose their jobs and pensions that they have worked so hard for. The house will also be lost. Marie and all of the other staff will have to be let go. Arlene will also have no place to go. I know that she has not been the kindest stepmother to you, but Christine, she is not as strong as you might think. I believe that it would cause her irreparable harm if she were to lose the house.

So again, I have put the needs of others before yours. I have placed the lives of over eight thousand people in your small hands. The decision is yours Christine; I have no right to ask you to give up your life for the well-being of others. So I simply ask for your understanding. Understanding for a father who has failed you yet again.

Goodbye Christine

Your unworthy father

Charles

Christine carefully folded the letter and replaced it in the envelope. Reaching for her purse, she reached for the card that Erik Desmond had given her earlier that day. Picking up her phone, she dialed the private number listed.

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Erik was making notes on the contract he was reviewing when his cell phone signaled an incoming call. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw that it was Christine. His heart began to race at her unexpected call. "Desmond" he announced himself into the small phone.

Christine closed her eyes at the strong timber of his voice. "Mr. Desmond, this is Christine Daae." Inhaling a deep breath, she gathered her courage to make her next statement. "I have made my decision." With those five simple words, she had set in motion the unchangeable events that would change so many lives forever.

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A/N Gosh darn it I have to go back to work tomorrow. It may take an extra day or so to get the next chapter posted. Sorry. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks!