Welcome to the second Chapter of my new story, Thank you so much for following me this new story and my previous story and I hope you will enjoy this instalment.

I do not own anything by Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay or Andrew Lloyd Webber, everything else is my own work.

The Honourable Unemployed

The week of torture was up and at the end of seven days to the hour of Erik completing the last note of the seduction duet, a large number of Ladies that had been present at the gala, found themselves wondering why they had a letter from Erik Jardinier's Business partner thanking them for enjoying the Opera 'Don Juan' and explaining that he was happily engaged. Some of these ladies also could not figure out where a pair of their bloomers had gone. Nadir found that he could once again travel around Paris as himself and no one batted an eye lid and Erik was very happy indeed, one of the few letters that had not been requesting Nadir's attention had actually been from an English Lord, a cousin of the Marquis de Bordeaux, who had seen Erik's design for the Marquis's now completed summer house and wondered if Erik could design something for him as well?

Raoul was happy, Meredith had been woken from the trance at the soiree and ever since was making more of a fuss of Raoul in the bedroom sense, this was enough to make any husband happy.

In fact, of all the male friends, the only one not happy was Jean... He had a problem that was becoming more apparent and so far, nothing he had tried to resolve it had worked. The morning of Nadir's freedom from the confines of his disguise, had brought Jean a meeting with his father… A meeting he had been expecting since his marriage; and whilst not exactly stressful it left Jean troubled.

ooo

The morning began as usual for the now married Jean, breakfast with Meg before she went to the Garnier for the start of classes and then Jean told Meg each night, he normally went to visit friends or stayed in to read the paper, but for the majority of the time Meg was dancing this was not the case. This particular day when shortly after Meg left a resounding knock on the apartment door resulted in Jean finding his father's valet outside with a message from the Baron; Jean was required at the town house post haste and Jean sighed he knew what the request for his presence was about.

ooo

Arriving at his father's study door Jean had a feeling what was going to be discussed, knocking before entering he found his father sitting at his desk with a cigar and a cup of coffee.

"Ah, come in my son!" Aristide jovially called as Jean shut the door and walked over to sit in front of his father.

"You sent for me Papa?" Jean asked as Aristide pointed to a cup of coffee that was waiting on the front of Aristide's desk ready.

"Yes, my son, it is time for you to spread your own wings just like I did, until the day you become Baron in my stead." Aristide announced before sipping his coffee. Jean sighed, he knew what his father was getting at.

"Meg knows nothing of this but, so far I have asked for employment in a shop," Jean started, "I was declined because I should be shopping in the shop not serving," he continued, "I asked at the tailors and had the same reply, he added.

"Anywhere else?" Aristide enquired,

"I tried the gentlemen's club and was told exactly the same thing, I am also too old to sell newspapers and too posh to work in the bakery." Jean answered.

"Ah!" Aristide responded, before Jean continued.

"I do not know enough about finance to work in a bank, but they did ask me if I wanted to open a new account!" Jean all but wailed, "I fainted at the hospital when I went to see if I could become a Doctor, as I apparently, cannot stand the sight of blood. Also, I tried the music shop and was told that I cannot carry a tune in a bucket and so would not be suitable to sell instruments. Too posh to work in the market on a stall, have no ability to cut hair or trim beards according to the barbers." Jean added his defeat in his voice getting stronger with each admission of failure.

"Erm, what else have you tried?" Aristide asked, getting a little concerned.

"The insurance company that you worked for and then bought out will not employ me without your express orders as they are uncomfortable employing the owners son," Jean pointed out, "I begged Madame Giry for a secret audition possibly becoming a male chorus member at the Garnier both singing and as a dancer and discovered I cannot dance unless it is with a partner and so am no good on stage and I return to the premise I cannot carry a tune in a bucket! Too Posh to work in a café or restaurant, In the end I considered being a pavement artist, but everyone laughed because I cannot draw except for stick people! Nobody wants to give me a chance to show them I can work and work hard!" Jean finished his hopes completely crushed.

Aristide sighed, "Know this my son, you are trying and that is important, I will continue to support you and Meg until you find employment so do not worry about finances." Aristide assured his forlorn son, "It seems times have changed since I was younger, and well… As long as you keep trying, I will be proud of you." He finished as he rose from his desk and hugged Jean.

"Now turn that frown upside down, let us have breakfast with your mother and see what we can work out." Aristide said jovially trying to cheer his defeated and jobless son up.

ooo

Although breakfast was lovely and Jean did smile it was forced, so his parents did not worry too much about him, but Aristide was not daft, he knew the fact no one wanting to employ his enthusiastic son, was hurting Jean badly and suggested that Jean spoke to Erik for some more ideas.

ooo

Meanwhile at Angel Architecture, Erik was meeting his prospective new client. Lord Mountjoy-Loveday and his cousin the Marquis de Bordeaux were sitting in Erik's office nursing a large brandy each as Erik waxed lyrical about the gothic revival and the neo-classical movement and his own take on them in regard to the ideas, he had for the Mountjoy mansion.

"Wonderful!" Lord Mountjoy, remarked, "but tell me, will the design be pretty?"

"Pretty?" Erik reiterated,

"Yes Pretty, has to match the house, don'tcha know." Lord Mountjoy explained.

Erik sighed, "Yes the design will be pretty!" he replied.

"Wonderful! Have not had an addition to the old pile since the seventeenth Century," he finished with a grin as he drained his now third glass of Erik's brandy.

With Lord Mountjoy becoming increasingly intoxicated on the proffered brandy and no potential business agreement in sight, Erik decided that maybe something sweeter may increase his chances of getting this client to agree to sign contract and then Erik happily send the client and his cousin on their way.

"Would you care for a little pastry to go with your drinks?" Erik asked trying to sound casual about it.

"Absolutely! Spiffing idea!" Lord Mountjoy declared as he waved his empty glass and grinned as Erik topped it up before exiting his own office.

Erik was losing patience; this potential client had wasted three hours of his time and imbibed almost a third of his decanter of brandy and the only comments he had contributed to the actual discussions were relating to if the design would be pretty. Shutting the door behind him Erik leant on it and sighed, "give me strength!" Erik grumbled as he wandered over to Nadir's desk as the Persian looked up from his paperwork.

. "Had enough of English Chintz?" Nadir quipped as he chuckled at Erik's peeved expression

"I think the man is quite mad!" Erik replied with a huff, "He actually asked if my designs would be pretty!" Erik exclaimed shock ringing clear in his voice. "I am not cut out for meeting clients and sweet talking them!" Erik huffed as the front door to the office opened and Nadir and Erik watched a morose Jean enter, shutting the door he stood in front of Erik.

"Erik, can I have some advice Please?" Jean asked,

Remembering the last time Jean asked for advice, Erik shuddered, this was not what he needed on top of the current lunacy drinking brandy in his private office. "Please tell me you and Meg have not had another argument?" Erik all but pleaded.

It was Jean's turn to look concerned, "No we are fine, but I am unemployable!" Jean wailed softly.

"Pardon?" Erik and Nadir both responded simultaneously.

"I need a job and all I keep getting told is that aristocrats do not work, what am I to do?" Jean clarified.

Nadir looked concerned at that point, not only because of Jean's clear distress but because of the thoughtful look that appeared in Erik's eyes.

"Humm, it could work and if it does then life will be so much easier, and Jean will have a guaranteed job if he succeeds," Erik said under his breath before turning to Jean,

"What is your mind concocting now?" Nadir asked suspiciously,

Erik turned back to his friend, "Simple, I hate meeting and encouraging clients to sign their contracts, I am only interested in working out what I need to create the designs, Jean needs a job fit for an aristocrat and I need someone who understands the upper classes and how to convince them that we are the right choice!" Erik declared brightly as he grinned at Jean. "Jean can be my 'Aide to Clients'" Erik continued, before his tone darkened and his volume dropped, "But only if he gets that idiot in my office to sign that damn contract." he finished with a glare.

Jean gulped, he had forgotten just how menacing Erik could be and this was a rather clear reminder, "Y… Yes Sir!" he replied staring at Erik's shoes.

Nadir finished the paperwork on his desk before turning to Erik and flourishing the completed paperwork at him. "It is a good thing I have just finished drawing up the contract then!" he declared as he handed it to Jean.

"Wow this looks like it was drawn up by a notaire!" Jean remarked cheerfully as he carefully folded the document and placed it in his inner coat pocket ready for getting it signed.

"Thank you!" Nadir replied smugly, "I have had to become quite the expert in French Law since I arrived in Paris due to our friend's perchance for getting into trouble," Nadir quipped looking directly at Erik.

Erik looked back incensed, "Erik Jardinier has never been in trouble with the law!" he grumbled.

"Vicomte de Chagny!" Nadir whispered almost inaudibly as he inspected his nails,

"What did you just say?" Erik growled back,

"Um, I said you might have eventually!" Nadir replied innocently.

"Humm!" Erik responded glaring at Nadir, having heard exactly what he had said.

Jean looked at the two men and then at Gilen who was head down and scribbling furiously in a book at his desk whilst trying not to laugh.

"When do I start?" Jean asked anxious to delay the current bickering match that was brewing between Erik and Nadir.

Erik's mood changed instantly, "Right now in fact!" he replied happily, "I shall introduce you to Lord Mountjoy-Loveday and you already know his cousin the Marquis de Bordeaux."

Jean went to step towards Erik's office door when Erik caught him by his arm, "This is a potential fifty thousand franc contract, get him to sign it and the job is yours," Erik pointed out quietly to Jean before reaching into his trouser pocket and pulling out a roll of bank notes with his other hand. "Take this money and entertain our clients, I do not care if you have to visit a bordello, or the finest restaurant or both, to keep them happy take them where ever they want to go, except the opera house!" Erik finished as he handed Jean the money. "Now let me introduce you and you get them out of my office!" Erik finished releasing Jean's arm and heading to the door.

ooo

Introductions made, a carriage and departure later, Erik was found seated at his desk by Nadir in his office his head in his hands, "Ugh! That damned idiot, I have such a headache!" Erik groaned, "I think I shall finish early and head home," he added as Nadir looked on.

"You have gone a horrid colour even for you!" Nadir remarked as Erik looked up from between his hands, his eyes narrowing at the comment.

"Thank you… I think!" Erik grumbled.

"I shall be escorting you home," Nadir replied, "I know your temper when you have a headache!"

"I have no intention of lassoing anyone today," Erik replied testily

"No but the last time you went home on your own with a headache, you made the carriage driver cry!" Nadir pointed out.

"If he had not chosen to take me over every pothole in Paris on the journey, he would have been fine!" Erik retorted as he stood up and wandered over to the coat rack to collect his fedora and cloak.

Nadir gave up, there was no arguing with his masked friend when he had a headache. "Let me get my hat and we shall travel together!" Nadir remarked as both men left the office.

ooo

Back at the house on the lake and one cup of tea each later and a glass of willow bark extract for Erik, the two men were settled at Erik's chess board.

"I wonder how Jean is getting on?" Nadir asked rhetorically, as he sipped his second cup of tea whilst waiting for Erik to make his move.

"Probably having a very fun time at my expense!" Erik retorted as he placed his current chess piece in its new position, "Check!"

"What!" Nadir yelped looking at the board and realising that he was indeed in check and realising that any further move he made would result in him loosing the game, "Best out of five?" he asked as Erik grinned smugly.

"And why not?" Erik replied as he started to reset the board, "There is nothing more we can do until Jean gets back hopefully with the contract signed." Erik continued, "If he has had a lovely afternoon on my francs without getting that contract signed, I will throw him in the lake and let the catfish nibble him!"

"That is not very nice," Nadir pointed out,

"No, you are right," Erik sighed, "they do not normally eat junk food!"

Nadir looked agog at Erik's off the cuff remark, "I give up!" he grumbled, as he made his first move of the new game.

"You give up already?" Erik queried, as he deliberately wound his friend up with a grin "We have only just started this game?"

"That is not what I meant, and you know it!" Nadir replied hotly, "Oh for heavens sake just make your move and I hope that Jean does get that contract signed for all our sakes!" Nadir finished as Erik continued grinning at him.

ooo

Meanwhile out in Paris, Jean had had anything but a fun time, so far, he had been required to take his clients to an inn for the working classes since Lord Mountjoy wanted to try French peasant food like a French peasant, and Jean spent the entire time the Marquis and Lord Mountjoy sat in the inn happily eating and drinking, worried sick they would get robbed and mugged. Then came the next visit, thankfully Jean had managed to get both clients to go up market for their 'dessert' and so he spent over an hour on his own in the waiting room of the Hotel du Papillion, which was the most upmarket bordello in Paris whilst his clients enjoyed themselves. Alas his day unknowingly to Jean, was to his horror only going to get worse.

Next stop was the gentlemen's club and as Jean sipped a coffee, Lord Mountjoy and the Marquis poured themselves into a bottle of Absinth, before Jean had to assist both men back to the carriage to continue their day.

It was during this carriage journey, that Lord Mountjoy came up with yet another ridiculous idea.

"I say Louis old boy, is not the new family mausoleum in a cemetery somewhere around here?" Lord Mountjoy asked with a hiccup.

"Yes," the Marquis replied it is situated in Pere Lachaise Cemetery not far from where we currently are travelling." The Marquis replied.

"That does it!" Lord Mountjoy cried out, "Jean dear boy get the driver to take us to Pere Lachaise, I wish to pay my respects to our ancestors!"

Jean inwardly groaned, he could just imagine Erik's reaction if he found out about this, but he also remembered that Erik did give strict instructions to take his clients anywhere but the opera house, so leaning out of the window of the carriage he gave the driver instructions and settled back as the carriage took the three men to their chosen destination.

ooo

Over an hour had passed since Jean and his clients had made their way to the cemetery and back at the Lake house Erik and Nadir were into the best of ten games of Chess, when one of Erik's alarms went off suddenly halting the game.

"That is an odd alarm!" Nadir remarked as Erik silence the alarm on the panel.

"Humm indeed, that is an old alarm, it is situated on my emergency escape route via the catacombs and is set just inside the tunnel exit to Pere Lachaise. It has not been activated in years," Erik commented as he went to fetch his cloak and fedora.

"That is nearly three miles from here!" Nadir pointed out as he placed his astrakhan hat on his head intent on joining Erik.

"Above ground yes, it is much shorter via the sewers and the catacombs, Erik replied lighting a lamp and handing it to Nadir. "That trap was set to be lethal so we must be quick before it becomes so!" Erik retorted dashing out of the front door with Nadir hot on his heels.

ooo

Jean was in a lot of trouble, and he knew it, knew it the moment Lord Mountjoy wandered around the back of the Mausoleum and found a seemingly long forgotten entrance to the catacombs.

In his absinth addled brain, Lord Mountjoy had deemed it a good idea to see where the secret tunnel led and entering had promptly set off some kind of device. Jean knew without a doubt, that Erik would now be very aware what had happened, since the device had to be one of his traps.

'Oh, good heavens I am going to be fired and killed on my first day!' thought Jean as he and the now soberer Marquis struggled to get Lord Mountjoy down from the wall of the tunnel where a net of ropes had trapped him.

Lord Mountjoy was thankfully, still drunk and very amused by these events he gave a small commentary on his situation, "By Jove this is ingenious the more one struggles the tighter the ropes get!" he remarked, wiggling his arm and watching as the rope holding it grew tighter.

"Please stop struggling!" Jean earnestly implored as he reached into his boot for the small pocket knife he kept there and tried to cut the rope nearest Lord Mountjoy's neck.

ooo

A little while later after more struggling, Jean's rising panic was interrupted by a familiar sound, the clearing of a specific throat, and as Jean turned towards the darkness of the tunnel his heart rose and sank rapidly, for there exiting the gloom was a very annoyed Erik and a very worried Nadir clutching his lantern.

A few minutes later Erik had freed the errant lord from his rope prison, and the five men looked at each other in silence which was broken by Lord Mountjoy's humorous laugh, "I say Monsieur Jardinier, you should give this dear boy a raise I have not had so much fun in years," Lord Mountjoy retorted before he yawned, "though I am very tired now and would like to return to my bed for a rest!" he finished.

"I am very glad you have had a good day!" Erik replied woodenly staring at Jean who saw in Erik's eyes, not the promise of a raise but the threat of a good clout, for his part in this debacle.

"Jean, show our clients into their carriage and direct the driver to taken them back to the Marquis town house," Erik ordered, "Then you and I need a little talk!" Erik instructed.

As Jean took the Marquis and Lord Mountjoy back to their carriage and got them settled in Erik turned to Nadir, "It is a good thing that trap was old, this would not have been a good end to the day otherwise," he sighed.

"Just do not hurt the lad," Nadir implored, hoping vehemently for Jean's sake he had gotten the contract signed.

ooo

As the carriage drove away Jean returned to where Erik and Nadir still stood wondering if what had just transpired in the carriage was enough to prevent him requiring his own epitaph. Reaching into his pocket Jean located the remains of the roll of bank notes Erik had given him that morning.

"Here is the money left over from today," Jean nervously stated as he placed the now much smaller roll of notes in Erik's hand. "And…" at this point Jean reached into his jacket and produced some familiar paperwork, "Here is the contract all signed, and…" at this point Jean started grinning, "Lord Mountjoy had added a bonus of five thousand francs for our hospitality!" he cheerfully informed a now incredulous Erik as he handing the signed contract to him.

"It appears that you will live another day!" Erik grumbled as he put the contact and the roll of francs in his own jacket.

Jean looked puzzled, and Nadir interpreted for him, "It means you still have a job and we shall see you back in the office tomorrow morning at eight!" Nadir informed the now relieved Jean.

"Do not be late!" Erik barked as he rapidly turned and entered the tunnel once again, Nadir grinned at Jean,

"Good work and well done for surviving your first day!" Nadir congratulated their now overjoyed new employee before turning back to the tunnel and disappearing along with Erik.

ooo

Jean stood for a few moments in the peaceful surrounding of the cemetery grinning like a fool until he suddenly realised something, he was alone, did not know the tunnels back, Erik and Nadir would be long gone by now, and he also had no carriage to get him home.

"Oh, well!" Jean said to a nearby stone angel, as he pulled the collar of his jacket up, "I just need to find my way out of here and walk home."

And with the smile of someone who has finally found employment after no luck at all, Jean strode down the pathways to the nearest exit and home.