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 I'm so excited that this story is really grabbing you. I don't want to waste your time with this note so on to the story. Enjoy!

Author – ToryD

Beta – MJMod (She warned me that yall might try to hunt me down for this chapter)

Choices

Chapter 27

Two weeks later

Nadir gave a courtesy knock before he entered Erik's office. "I have the latest figures on the Morrison takeover." He announced as he walked into the darkened room. Frowning, he crossed to Erik's desk and pushed a button to activate the automatic blinds. As the room became bathed in the sunshine of the warm June afternoon, Nadir looked over at the man who had changed so much in the past two weeks. "Erik, have you eaten anything today?" Nadir asked as he set the report down on Erik's desk.

Erik looked at his concerned friend through defeated eyes. "I'm not hungry." He said in a flat voice.

Picking up the phone, he called to Natalie to order some lunch for his friend. "Nat, would you have a sandwich sent up for Erik?" He paused as he listened to her response. "You're right, as soon as possible." Replacing the phone, he took a seat in front of Erik's desk. "Erik, I spoke with Marie earlier today." He offered in a gentle tone.

Erik looked up sharply into Nadir's dark eyes. "Is Christine all right?" He asked with an anxiousness that tore at Nadir's soul.

"Yes, she is doing well. The nurse's reports state that her blood pressure is maintaining an acceptable level." Nadir said as he watched the relief wash over his friend's expression.

"Good," Erik said as he leaned back in his leather chair and closed his eyes to block out the worried look in Nadir's face. "Does she have everything she needs?"

"Yes," Nadir offered quietly. "She is going out to meet Raoul and his fiancée for dinner this evening."

Erik let a small smile grace his pale face. "Cagney, so she has renewed her friendship with him." He said in a flat tone.

"Yes, Marie told me that he has been to the penthouse with his fiancée a number of times in the last week." Nadir informed Erik as he watched his boss for any reaction to the news.

Nodding his head tiredly, Erik was somewhat comforted by the news that Christine was finding some small measure of happiness. "Any news on the Cara investigation?"

"Reggie is due with his completed report within the hour. He informed me that he found some of Cara's former friends who were more than helpful in revealing her plans for the demise of your and Christine's marriage." Nadir said as he studied Erik's face for any show of emotion.

"Good. I want her to hear every detail of what she has done to Christine. I want to be the one to make her pay Nadir. I want her to suffer the penalty for hurting what is mine. I want her to hurt, Nadir; I want to make sure that she hurts as much as she has hurt Christine." Erik said coldly as he turned his chair to look out at the view of the Manhattan skyline.

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Steve held the door for Christine as they entered Dr. Mesamore's clinic. "I'll be about an hour Steve." Christine said as she made her way up to the busy reception area.

Steve took a seat amongst the numerous expectant mothers within the professionally decorated waiting room, looking about as uncomfortable as any man could be.

"Hi, Mrs. Desmond," Marcy greeted with a bright smile. "Dr. Mesamore said to show you right in."

Smiling, Christine walked through the door to be met by Dr. Mesamore's nurse Sandy. "Hi Sandy," she said as she followed her towards the examination room.

"How have you been feeling Christine?" Sandy asked as she opened the door to an empty examination room.

"Tried," she said with a slight smile.

"That is understandable as you are now in the third trimester. Did you bring the blood pressure readings for the last week?" She asked as she made several notes on the thick chart.

Christine dug through her bag and found the requested readings. "Here they are." She said as she handed Sandy the readings.

"Thank you," Sandy responded as she took the offered papers. "I'll leave you to get changed, and then I'll come back to set you up for the stress test."

"Thank you," Christine said as Sandy exited the room. Stress test, she thought with a shake of her head at the irony of the term. If the machine could read the true stress that she was currently feeling, she was sure that she would set new records. "Stop it Christine!" she admonished herself aloud. Don't think about Erik, she thought to herself with a firm resolve. The baby is the only thing that matters now. Only the baby.

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Erik sat in stunned silence as Reggie gave a run down on Cara's inexcusable actions of the past eight months.

"I haven't been able to connect her with the stories in the press, but given the other information that I uncovered, I'd say that it was a pretty good assumption that she was responsible." Reggie said as he closed his notebook. "I assume that you will want to prosecute Ms. Johnson."

"Yes, I want her to spend the rest of her miserable life paying for what she has done!" Erik said through clenched teeth, barely able to contain the deep hatred that was coursing through him.

Reggie felt a shiver shoot down his spine at the rage displayed on his employer's face. "I think that I have an idea on how to really make an indefensible case against Ms. Johnson." He paused as he looked from Nadir to Erik.

Nadir looked at Erik and saw that he was waiting for Reggie to continue with his idea. "What do you have in mind?" he asked with a look of expectation.

Taking a deep breath Reggie forged forward with his proposal. "We need to get her on camera admitting to all of her deeds. Then and only then can we proceed with criminal prosecution."

Erik stood up from his chair and crossed to lookout at the late afternoon sun as it sank behind the tall buildings within the city. "How do you propose we go about this?" He asked in a low voice.

Reggie felt an uncomfortable silence fill the room as he tried to find the words to explain his plan.

Nadir looked at Reggie with an inquiring gaze. "Reggie?' He prompted in an insistent tone.

"I believe that she will reveal all to Mr. Desmond if he pretends that he has left Mrs. Desmond and wants Ms. Johnson to assume her former role within his life." Reggie said in a rush of words.

Erik felt disgust at the suggestion that he would ever entertain the thought of leaving his wife. "No!" He said in a sharp tone.

Nadir leaned back in his chair as he pondered the suggestion with an open mind. "Erik, I think that this maybe the only way we can ensure that Christine learns the truth. She deserves to know the truth Erik." He said as a matter of fact.

Erik closed his eyes at the thought of allowing himself within ten feet of Cara. "I don't think I can do it Nadir." He said in a despairing tone.

Nadir rose and crossed the office to where Erik stood. "You don't have a choice Erik." He responded with unmistakable truth.

After several minutes of silence, Erik stiffened his spine in resolve to do whatever was necessary to ensure that Cara paid for what she had done to Christine. "What do need me to do?" He asked with a look of intent within his angry eyes.

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Debra entered the room with Christine's latest test results. "Everything looks very good Christine." She informed her patient as she took a seat on the small metal stool. "I do want to talk to you about the delivery. As we discussed when you were in the hospital, I want to perform a c-section on your thirty-sixth week, which will be in three more weeks," she said as she did a quick calculation in her head.

Christine frowned at the thought of placing her baby in danger in order to protect her against the threat of hemorrhage. "Dr. Mesamore, are you sure that the baby will be able to survive such an early delivery?" She asked with a nervous tone.

"Medical science has advanced dramatically in the last decade. I assure you that at thirty-six weeks, your baby will be just fine." She said with an encouraging smile. Seeing that Christine still seemed reluctant, she leaned over and took her hand. "Christine, we must do this in order for you to have any chance of survival." She said in a gentle voice. "If we wait any longer, you could go into labor outside of the hospital setting, where you would more than likely bleed to death before you could seek medical attention."

Christine nodded her head in agreement. "All right." She agreed with a resigned tone. "So I guess my baby will have a July birthday."

Debra smiled as she stood to help Christine up from the table. "July is a great month to have a birthday, and I much prefer the Ruby birthstone over the Peridot." She said in a conspirator tone.

Christine felt her heart ache at the memory of Erik giving her the most exquisite Peridot necklace when she told him of the birth of their child.

Debra saw that Christine had tears in her eyes. "Christine?" she asked, concerned that her patient may be in pain.

"Erik gave me a beautiful Peridot necklace when I told him about the baby." She said in a sad little voice.

Debra felt her heart break for both her patient and for Erik Desmond, who had made it his mission over the last two weeks to make sure that Christine had everything she needed to ensure her safety. Never had she seen a more devoted and loving husband than Erik Desmond. "Christine," she began in a hesitant tone. "I don't know everything that has occurred between you and Erik, but I do know this, that man loves you more than anything else in this world." Seeing Christine stiffen at the mention of her husband's name, Debra wondered if she overstepped her bounds. "I'm sorry Christine. I don't mean to upset you. It's just that sometimes things aren't always as they appear." She offered in a motherly fashion.

Christine looked up at her doctor with a strange expression on her face. "Do you know why I have refused to see my husband Dr. Mesamore?" Christine asked with a hurt look on her wan face.

"I know what I have read in the papers Christine. But what I also know is that Erik is the type of man that can only love one woman. And that woman is you." She said with a conviction that caused Christine to question her beliefs of the last two weeks. "I'm sorry Christine; this is none of my business. I just want you to be happy and at ease with your delivery."

Nodding, Christine looked up and smiled. "Thank you. I will think about what you have said."

"Good, now let's get you out of here. I want to see you here again next week, so make an appointment at the front desk." Debra said as she opened the door.

Christine sank back down on the table with a little difficulty with her enlarged stomach. Have I misjudged Erik, did I allow Cara's lies to poison my belief in my husband, her mind began to spin with the possibility that she was duped into believing that Erik had betrayed her. "I need to speak with Marie", she said to herself in a resolved tone. Pushing herself up with her arms, she got to her feet and began to dress, she knew that she needed to remain calm for her baby, but more than that, she needed to find the truth.

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"Are all the cameras and microphones in place?" Nadir asked Reggie as they prepared for Cara's arrival.

"Yes, but let's do a test. Give me two minutes to get to the back room and they move about the room and talk." Reggie said as he made his way to a small door that led off to a small dressing room. Taking a seat at the multitude of controls, he used a small lever to manipulate various cameras throughout Erik's office apartment.

Nadir heard Erik enter from the bedroom area freshly showered and changed into a dark form-fitting t-shirt and dark slacks. "Reggie is adjusting the cameras in the other room." He informed Erik as he moved about the room saying 'test…test' at varying levels of loudness.

"I spoke with the front security officer. They will call to let us know when she arrives." Erik said as he tried to calm his nerves.

Nadir looked up into the tense expression of Erik's half-masked face. "This is the only way Erik." He said in a low voice that tried to reinforce the determination that Erik needed to go through with this charade.

"I know Nadir," he said with a deep sigh of regret. "I will do this for Christine."

Reggie came back through the door with a satisfied expression on his face. "All set Mr. Desmond."

"Thank you Reggie," Erik said as he walked over to the small bar to pour himself a much-needed drink. Raising his glass, he gave a mocking toast. "To Cara, may she get what she truly deserves."

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"I've been such a fool!" Christine cried tears of self-regret within Marie's warm embrace.

Patting her back reassuringly, Marie smiled in relief that Christine had finally seen past all of the hurt and anger to the truth. The certain truth that Erik's love for her was undeniable and everlasting. "No, my dear. You have only been tricked by the most vicious of women." Marie said in a voice that held all the contempt in the world for Cara Johnson. "Come, you must go to Erik immediately. It is past time that you set right this wrong that was perpetrated on you both." Marie said as she pulled Christine to her feet.

"Oh Marie, what can I say to him? How can I even begin to beg for his forgiveness?" Christine asked in an anguished tone.

Smiling Marie put her arm around her shoulders and led her to her dressing room. "You will begin by telling him how much you love him. The rest will follow Christine. You will see. The rest will simply follow."

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Cara knocked on Erik's apartment door that was housed within his downtown Manhattan office building with a seductive smile on her face. She was more that a little surprised that he had called her to meet him this evening. He had said that he had made a terrible mistake in marrying Christine, and now that they were officially separated that he need her back in his life. She was wearing his favorite dress, the emerald green Versace that he had insisted on buying her last fall. She felt a shiver of delight as she recalled the last time she had worn it for him, for he had shown her just how much he desired her that night so long ago. Adjusting the bodice to reveal a little more of her perfectly sculpted cleavage, she struck an enticing pose as she heard the door begin to open.

Erik took in her appearance with a feeling of disgust. Carefully hiding his emotions he smiled in welcome as he held the door wide for her to enter. "Thank you for coming. I have your favorite champagne on ice." He said in a low throaty voice.

Cara leaned up and took his lips in a slow seductive kiss, allowing her tongue to briefly trace the line of his bottom lip.

Erik grabbed onto her arm tightly as he forced himself to return the kiss of his most hated enemy. "Cara, I want this evening to last." He whispered in a sexy voice against her lips. "It has been so long, please let us take it slow."

Cara pushed herself into his body, enjoying the feel of his strength. Smiling she took his hand and pulled him into the room. "You said something about champagne?" she inquired with a throaty purr.

Erik crossed the room to the small bar, relieved to put some much-needed distance between him and Cara. Expertly uncorking the expensive champagne, he poured two crystal flutes with the bubbly liquid. Turning he saw that Cara had made herself at home on his navy suede sofa. Handing her one of the glasses, he took the nearest seat and raised his glass in a toast. "To the future, Cara, may you get everything you deserve." He said with a husky tone.

Cara felt warmth spread through her at Erik's passionate expression. Touching her glass to his, she took a drink of the pale amber liquid. Never taking her desire filled eyes from his, she placed her half-empty glass on the low coffee table in front of them, repeating the gesture with his glass. "Now, Erik. Tell me why it was so important that you see me tonight?" She said as she began to slide her hand up his thigh in a slow practiced caress.

Erik tried to bank down the feelings of revulsion he felt at her touch. "I wanted for us to resume our relationship." He said in a forced voice that sounded strange to his own ears.

Cara reached down and slid off her three inch stiletto sandals as she leaned over to rub her breasts against his side. "I think that we can take up were we left off." She whispered into his ear as she began to run her hand slowly over his crotch.

Erik felt bile rise up in his throat at her aggressive touch. Taking her hand in his he brought it to his lips for a soft kiss that betrayed his inner feelings of disgust. "I want to talk a little bit first Cara. I want to know what you have been doing in the last several months." He said as he caressed her back.

Cara felt a small sense of frustration at his need for conversation. But knowing him as she did, she knew that he would be the one to set the pace. "I've not done much of anything if you want to know the truth." Smiling into his green eyes, she reached out to caress the unmasked side of his face. "Well, other than wait for your return."

Erik stiffened involuntarily at her words. Just as he was about to question her further, the phone began to ring.

"Don't answer," Cara ordered as she straddled his hips and began to slide down the side zipper of her dress.

Erik grasped her hips tightly with his hands to still the slow rocking motion that she was perpetuating. "Cara," he called in a tight voice that Cara mistook as passion.

With half-closed eyes, Cara let her dress drop to her waist. "Yes Erik, tell me what you want," she said as she guided his hand to her uncovered breasts.

Erik closed his eyes to try to garner the strength to uncover her lies. Just when he was about to remove his hand and renew his questioning he heard an agonized whimper of pain coming from the direction of the door. Opening his eyes, he saw his Christine silhouetted by the bright light from the hall. The look of utter pain and sorrow so evident in her features that he was sure to his dying day that he would never forget that look.

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A/N I have been waiting for two long months to write that scene! Poor Erik, talk about getting caught red handed, I mean that quite literally! Let me know what you think in the reviews.