Erik spent the next day working. He felt he was relaying far too much to Antoinette and since Christine told him of their latest conversation, he thought it best if he involved the old woman a little bit less. Although he would much rather be composing, especially now that Christine had asked that he be her only tutor. He could barely contain his excitement.
All in good time, Erik. All in good time. Patience. If I want this to really happen, she needs to see me as patient. I must surrender all my urges to push. There's too much to lose if I don't…
He looked at his pocket watch and saw that he had some time before his next appointment and then Christine was going to meet him for a lesson. Their first lesson since…. He shook his head. "None of that, you old fool. This lesson will be out in the open and it doesn't have to be kept secret." He decided to watch the latest rehearsals first to ensure that Tom was indeed following instructions.
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Camille sang the first few notes, and the company did their best not to moan but Molly and Sally made faces and Tom was quick to call them on it.
"Alright you two, stay in character!"
"I will, if she tries staying on the right note!" Molly replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, Tom." Sally replied. "I'm not going to keep singing loudly so the audience can't hear her, while I am stuck behind her!"
Camille looked at them in horror. "Why are you two always picking on me?" She started to go towards them, but Tom pulled her back.
"Just take five, honey. We'll be ready when you get back."
Molly squirmed. "We'll be ready? Tom, what the hell?"
Madame Giry interrupted them. "Stop that vulgar talk right now."
"But Madame, Camille is awful, and I can't keep…"
"What the devil is all this arguing for?" Erik came on the stage in a flash. "I could hear it all the way from the hallway. Is this what I pay you all to do?"
Tom approached Erik. "Mr. Y, I have it under control. I'm afraid what we have is just a little case of jealousy. Happens all the time."
"Is that so?" Erik looked at Molly and Sally and saw how they reacted to Tom's comment. "Tom, if you ask me, I would say that what we have here is another case of you, overstepping your authority."
Tom was standing off to Erik's side. He had a look on his face, as if he knew what Erik was about to say but when Erik's words registered with him, his mouth dropped. "What?"
"I heard the young, lady singing. She is awful. How dare you use her as a headliner? She should be running one of the amusement rides."
Molly and Sally had to cover their mouths from laughing so hard.
"Mr. Y, I know she isn't Meg but with a little more work…"
"I told you I wanted high caliber only. What I heard was…."
"It was only a few notes, Boss…."
"Every note should be sung with care and precision. What's worse is that poor girl thinks she is good, no thanks to your lies."
"Mr. Y…."
Erik turned to Madame Giry. "And you?"
"Me?! What? You think I am to blame for that?"
"You're employed to tell me things. How dare you know what replaced Meg and never even bring it to my attention!"
"You were the one who took it upon yourself to replace her."
Erik sneered. "This will not be tolerated ever again. Just because you want every other girl to fail so you can somehow tell yourself that Meg was the greatest star at Coney Island, doesn't mean I am going to let you stand by while people start coming here for cheap thrills as opposed to a real performance."
Madame Giry looked at him fiercely. "The Oo La La Girl." She huffed. "In your eyes you felt that was sufficient for Meg but if it were say…."
"Don't you dare bring up her name. They are different performers."
"With the same tired, old routine, Erik. Remember that." She walked off the stage.
Molly and Sally wanted to do the same, but Erik stopped them. "Young lady, you name is Molly is it not?"
She was shocked that Erik was talking to her, let alone knew her name. "Uh yes, Mr. Y."
"Starting today you are my new Stage Manager. Tom, you are fired. Leave quietly and you will receive your pay for the week."
Molly's mouth dropped to the floor. Sally didn't know what do to, but somehow her mouth moved.
"Uh, Mr.…."
"Sally, isn't it?" He said calmly.
"Yes, Sir."
"Can you cover the numbers? We'll try it out for a while and if the audience likes you, I'll renegotiate your contract. You had a nice sound from what I heard before."
Molly suddenly found her voice. "Mr. Y…"
Tom started screaming, "Now you listen to me! You can't just…."
"I can, and I just did." Erik said
"Why you masked, deranged…" Tom was about to hit Erik, when Dr. Gangle and Mr. Squelch came up from behind Tom and carried him off into the streets.
Erik turned back to Molly. "Yes, Molly?"
The girl stood there as if she had seen a ghost. "I…. I mean…. Look, I can't believe that is happening, but I want you to know that Sally and I…. We aren't…. We aren't…."
Sally finished the thought for her. "We aren't going to sleep with you or anyone for this. We know that means we may be out on the street, but we can't do that."
Erik crossed his arms. "Are you both quite finished? Don't take this the wrong way but I am not interested in either one of you like that. I want a stage manager and a headliner. I'm going to try you both out. If you're good, you'll stay. You work and do your job, nothing more than that."
The girls looked at each other. "No fooling?" Sally said.
Erik rolled his eyes. "Molly, your first state of business as my new Stage Manager is to tell that poor girl outside that she is dismissed, unless you can find something else for her to do but I think we all can agree it is not singing. Perhaps she can dance?" He noticed she wasn't moving and was starting to lose his patience. "Can you do that?"
"Yes, Mr. Y."
He then looked at Sally. "Work with Billy this afternoon. Tell him I said that you are his top priority. We need tonight to be a success."
Sally couldn't say anything, so she simply nodded.
"And Molly, we will need a few more girls. Madame Giry and I listened to a few the other day. They will be fine for chorus and backup. Have her give you their files."
"Me?"
Erik grimaced. "You'll have to get along with her. That's part of the job and …."
She stiffened. "And what?"
"Tell me if anyone mistreats you ladies again. This doesn't happen at Phantasma." He knew he was going to be late now and hated it. "I have to go."
"Mr. Y?" Molly called out to him.
"Yes?" He said in a huff.
"Thank you, Mr. Y. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."
"Me too." Sally said.
Erik shook his head. "It's not charity. I merely gave you an opportunity. You need to prove you deserve it."
The girls smiled. "You can count on us, Sir!"
Erik walked swiftly away before not even the mask could hide his smile.
A/N: Well what do you know. Erik is a part of the Me too movement in a positive way. Atta boy! LOL
