Thank you very much for the lovely reviews from the last chapter! I promise they were literally amazing to read. :) I hope you enjoy this next chapter as much as you all seemed to with the last. :)

Erik's Guest: Well done for your correct guess! ;) I hope you enjoy this chapter but let me know what you think of it. :) Oh and also...one of your earlier predictions might be proven correct in this one too... ;) His older brother's name is Philippe if I am correct. Is it sad that I know so much about everything to do with Phantom? Tee hee. :) Thanks for your lovely review! :)

EriksAngel70: Haha! ;) Thanks for the lovely review. Yes don't worry, Christine will be along shortly. ;) Enjoy!

Grapejuice101: Brownie points for your correct guess lol! :P Thanks for the review, hope you enjoy this update. :)

New Manager

"Why have you chosen to return now?"

The question fell from my lips too easily as I continued to stare. I found myself deeply surprised by his sudden appearance. The truth was that I didn't really believe that Christine and he would actually return.

He was dressed just as impeccably despite that it was becoming late in the evening. His white mask remained in place, as though the last few weeks had never really happened.

His visible eyebrow rose. "I might have been surprised that that is your first question given that nobody has heard from Christine since our disappearance but now I understand why. Clearly you and the Vicomte were otherwise engaged."

I could feel my cheeks redden from his accusation but I refused to become further embarrassed. I had nothing to hide and I didn't think we had anything to apologize for.

"This is the first time we have been in each other's company actually."

He shrugged at that.

"Where is Christine anyway?"

"I assure you that she is not in any harm."

I shook my head at that. "Your assurance isn't necessary. I knew she would be perfectly safe with you."

He sighed. "She is remaining with me by her own choice, though I cannot understand why she would wish to."

"Because she loves you," I smiled. "So from sudden appearance, I presume you want something?"

He paused for a moment, his eyes locked on mine before shrugging again. "I do as it so happens."

I remained silent, seeing for myself that he was building himself up to telling me whatever his request was.

"I have heard that Marcel Bonneville has become one of the new managers."

"Yes he has."

"I also know he was courting you shortly before the previous managers had departed." He added conversationally, watching for my reaction in the corner of his eyes.

I felt my forehead furrow in confusion. "Yes, we only dined together once. I still don't understand why you are asking."

He frowned. "I thought you were supposed to be observant!"

"Well I do not understand why you would ask such a question when it involves no interest for you-"

I stopped suddenly, having finally realized what he was asking me. My eyes widened in both shock and happiness. "Wait a minute…you want me to ask Marcel if Christine could return as prima donna now that Carlotta has left, don't you?"

"Well that is half the reason, yes."

"What is the other-" I trailed off again as I realized for the second time where this was going. "Wait, you do not mean to say that you want to become involved in the opera too?"

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Don't be silly. Christine suggested I offer my services as the conductor given Monsieur Reyer's swift departure."

"Oh that is an absolutely brilliant idea! But aren't people going to recognize you from the night of your opera?"

He smiled. "Yes, Christine thought of that too. She recently assisted in requiring another mask to my collection. It is an intricate design, created to match my skin tone so that I am able to appear like any other ordinary individual."

My eyes widened even further. "Oh that is brilliant! So then most people should not question your similarities to the opera ghost, because of this new mask."

He nodded. "Well that is the idea. It will appear obvious that I am wearing a mask should someone observe me closely enough but Christine suggested that we explain my deformity as simply what it is. A birth deformity that I am ashamed of, hence the reason for my choice of mask."

"That is a brilliant idea! Though I still don't understand why you chose to come to me about this: why not Madame Giry for example?"

"Well given your past relationship with Monsieur Bonneville, I thought that perhaps he would listen to your advice more closely if you were to recommend the both of us."

"But I hardly speak to him anymore! He already knows of mine and Raoul's relationship and it would be awkward if I suddenly advised him about this."

The Phantom's peered at me curiously, raising his eyebrows as a slight frown appeared.

"What?" I asked as he stared, flushing nervously under his probing gaze.

"So it is simply Raoul now?" He mocked.

I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment. I could feel myself blushing as he continued to stare before gasping out a response.

"Y-yes it is true, I have become more familiar with his presence these last few weeks."

"I would say you have accomplished far more than that." He insisted, his eyes remaining locked on mine before I glanced away nervously.

I shrugged coyly. "I wouldn't agree. After the night of your opera, this is the first time we have even managed to be alone together. I do not feel that we have done anything wrong in doing that."

"Well you appear more convinced of his feelings since we last spoke." He griped and I could still sense his gaze on me as he suggested this.

I offered another shrug. "I suppose I am a little."

"Hmm," he replied in what sounded like discontentment. I finally returned my eyes to his to catch him frowning before he waved a dismissive hand. "It matters to me not. You will talk with Marcel Bonneville?"

"Yes," I grumbled. "I shall see what I can do but only because it would be nice for you both to return here. I fear should he disagree that the two of you will suddenly leave Paris and…well I have to admit I would miss you both. Meg would miss Christine too."

He nodded. "Then please be persuasive with Monsieur Bonneville. It appears that both of us would not wish to make Christine unhappy and I fear that taking her away from Paris, away from you and Meg might achieve just that."

"I promise I will," I insisted, knowing I couldn't argue with that.

"Thank you…" he trailed off, his eyes lowering as another frown appeared again. "I realize that I also need to apologize for my behavior the night of my opera."

I quickly shook my head. "There's no need, honestly. I understand why everything happened-"

"Nevertheless, I should not have acted aggressively towards you. You were only there to protect Christine. But I was not myself that night either. I am just thankful that Christine chose to stay with me. She has treated me with more kindness than I deserve."

I smiled. "It's because she cares. She always has. And you do deserve it, more than anyone else probably does."

"You have also treated me with the same kindness as Christine. I fear that the two of you are wrong in your assumption that I deserve such compassion though."

"You're wrong," I insisted. "That was why I attempted to help with Christine. I always believed that you were meant for her."

He nodded. "Even when Christine ran from me, you treated me as though I was any other man. You accepted me when nobody else really did."

"Well it was nothing. Christine must feel the same now though."

He offered a shrug, looking surprisingly more vulnerable now, even with his mask remaining on.

"I haven't removed my mask in front of her since that night. It will only frighten her away again."

"She wouldn't have chosen to stay, if she didn't accept you."

He frowned, waving a hand to his face. "Nevertheless, I should spare her from this repulsive image given all that she has given up for me already."

"But Erik, she barely blinked when she saw your face that night. Anyone can see that she accepts you more than ever-"

"Please," he interrupted quickly. "Make certain that you speak to the managers as swiftly as possible."

I nodded. "You know I will, but Erik-"

"Thank you."

He turned away from me then and I knew that I could have followed him, could have pestered him further but I didn't want to. He didn't seem in the best place, despite having Christine remaining with him. He was obviously worried that she would be terrified should she ever see his face again. I just hoped they would be able to sort it between them.

I wondered up the staircase and towards the dormitories. I couldn't keep the smile from my face as I opened the door. I was excited to speak to Meg about my night with Raoul.

The smile dropped from my face as I spotted her pacing the floor though, biting on a fingernail. She stopped as she spotted me, her eyes widening as she turned to face me.

"Oh you are back…did you have a good night with the Vicomte?"

"Yes, yes, it was alright," I replied, shutting the door behind me as I wondered further into the room. "What has happened to cause you to look so worried?"

She frowned for a moment before reluctantly nodding to my question. "Alfred Montague has suddenly changed his mind about becoming a manager apparently."

"Well that's a little strange." I frowned. "What do you mean by apparently anyway? Who did you hear that from, Marcel?"

"Well t-there was a man here a little earlier. He seemed a little strange…he was asking about Christine and the Phantom." She confessed, her eyes trailing towards the door behind me.

My eyes instantly widened, catching her gaze again. "Wait, what? How did he know about Christine or the Phantom?"

She shrugged. "Presumably he heard it from the newspapers. He did say he was doing some research as he heard about Alfred Montague changing his mind. He said he'd like to become a new manager."

I began to pace as she admitted this, shaking my head at her words. "This seems too strange. And it seems a little convenient that this man has suddenly appeared, asking questions about the two of them and enquiring into the manager's job at the same time that Alfred Montague has changed his mind."

She nodded in agreement. "I did think the same. Nobody would have heard about Alfred changing his mind yet."

"Well did he mention his name?"

"Yes he did actually. He said it was Nadir Khan."

My eyes instantly widened at the familiarity of his name. "No way," I gasped out.

DUH DUH DUHHHHHHHHHHHH! What did you think to that then? Tee hee. ;)