A/N: I DO NOT OWN POTO>Ahhh I'm so sorry I have not updated in like a month. (I think it is actually a month to date) I've been so busy, and have barely had anytime to sleep. My adverage schedual for the day is get up, eat, school, band (until around 6:30), come home and eat, homework, and around 11 go to bed. Then the cycle starts all over agian. And my weekends consiste of band all day saturday, and sunday is church & homework. So sadly, writing hasnt been too high on my list of things to do. But the good news is drumrole that band is over in 3 weeks, and I will hopefully be back on my regular writing mode.
Another thing, this chpater would have been up a bit sooner, but I got sick on sunday, and it just got worse over the past couple of days, tuesday started with the worse and now I've had a fever for the past 2 days. But since I hate sitting all day like a bum, even though thats all the energy I have, i slowly worked on this chapter, and here it is. And a brief warning, its shorter than most of my chapters (both from being busy and now sick).
Now in note to all of my reviewers: ( You guys really help me push on! Thanks so much!)
Eriksangleofvoice: haha i loved your review, and that massage would be good, expecially if Erik is the one giving it! and i will say this much coughyescough to your question, and its breifly touched on in this chapter, but will hinthint be much stronger in the next one.
Kay Blue Eyes: It took me a while to actually figure out to the mystery guest was going to be, but i think who i made it will tie in good. Thanks for the complement. I love writing a moody Erik, and realized that I needed to put him back on the mean side.
Naomipoe: haha I'm glad that you think she's not a Mary Sue, cause personally I HATE mary sues and wouldnt stand writing Aslynn as one.
Anne K. Butler: I love POTO in French, but it would be better if i could understand french! thanks for the review.
Aislynn 'lesh' Meyers: Yay! another person who likes the mean Erik! woowhoo! thanks for the review
erik'sLittleLotte: Thanks for the reivew, and i'm glad you liek the whole tiem differnece thing.
Larien Telrunya: Another fan for the deep romance... well its coming. thanks for the review
WanderingChild24: THanks for the review, haha I'm glad you liked it.
The young woman's thoughts were interrupted when heavy footsteps of two men echoed down the hall. Shaking the remaining thoughts out of her head she watched as the shadowy men soon came into the light of the entrance hall. Two white haired men entered, only one whom Aslynn recognized. The other man with curly hair was shorter than Monsieur Garnier. The stranger was dressed in a black suit with a lavender shirt. When he entered the room he picked up a silk, black top hat from the hat stand.
"Ah, Mademoiselle O'Neil! I'm so glad to see you again." Monsieur Garnier said upon seeing the woman.
Turning to the stranger he addressed him, " Monsieur Andre, May I introduce you to mademoiselle Aslynn O'Neil. I told you about her brave deed." Turing back to the woman he added, "Mademoiselle O'Neil, Monsieur Andre."
Andre took this opportunity to step forward and take the young woman's hand. He bent down and gently kissed it. "It's a honor Mademoiselle," he said, straightening up.
"The honor is mine," she kindly replied, watching the two men.
Addressing the woman again Monsieur Garnier spoke again, "M. Andre is an old friend of mine. He is one of the two owners of the Opera Popular. I don't know if you've heard of it, since you've been in Paris, but it has been unfortunately closed for five long years."
"I've heard of it." Aslynn's eyes were briefly wide in shock. Yes, I've heard of it, I'm living under it. I wonder if Erik knows of this man?
"Well, it's going to go up for sale soon, and be remodeled. Monsieur Andre just came for my finical advice on it."
"That's very interesting," the woman replied, her head racing with images of the dusty, dark theater. I doubt Erik knows of this, he doesn't get out much. I wonder what he would think with the building being redone and changing ownership? "When is it going on the market?"
"In a bit over a month, around the middle of May, but that's for private investors. It will officially be on the sales market in June." Andre informed the woman.
She nodded as the man put his silk top hat on.
"Well, thank you for your time Donatien. I will send the paperwork soon," Andre addressed the master of the house. "And it was a pleasure meeting such a sine lady."
Aslynn blushed, "Thanks."
Monsieur Garnier said good-bye to his guest and once the door was shut he turned to the woman.
"How have you been?" he asked, his voice warm but raspy, as if he had a cold.
"Could be better, Erik has been very hard to talk to lately."
Starting his way down the hall, he waited for Aslynn to catch up. Leading the way he asked,
"Erik is the man you are staying with, right?"
"Yes." She replied, following her employer down the hall.
"Did you two have a disagreement?' The elderly man inquired, opening a cherry door.
"Well, it's hard to say. We do have our differences, but he's just been…" she said, looking for the right word.
"Has he harmed you?" Garnier asked out of concern, since she couldn't say what was wrong.
"No, oh no, he hasn't. It's just… well, he's very abstruse. I guess its because he's not used to sharing emotions."
The old man nodded, leading the way into the library. The library was full of shades of red and accented with gold. It was very exquisitely decorated, with books lining the walls. Odd trinkets from all over the world dotted the spaces in-between books. In the middle of the room was a cherry desk, with a gold lamp that fit in with the rest of the room.
Seeing the woman look around, the white haired man gestured, "This is where you will be working. It's dimly lit now, but the drapes can be pulled back to let in some sunlight." With that he pointed over to heavy tapestry drapes that flowed from the ceiling to the floor.
Aslynn nodded and walked over to the thick drapes. Slowly she pulled the chord and opened them, revealing a bright beam of sunlight and a view of an elaborate garden.
"So, you said I would be doing accounting stuff, but what exactly will that consist of?" She asked, backing away from the window.
"Well, I am getting very old," the wrinkled man said through a cough, "and my Company is still do very well, so that's mostly what you will be dealing with, the different bills and finances. Also I need someone to start documenting my estate."
When Aslynn realized what the man meant by documenting the estate she lightly gasped. "But sir, I'm not a lawyer, I shouldn't do that kind of work."
Garnier held up his hand to stop her protest, "Shh, you're not writing my will, you are just accounting for everything."
Watching the young woman meekly nod in reply, he walked over to the desk. He opened one of the doors and pulled out several folders and a stack of envelopes.
"These," he said, pointing to the envelopes that he just placed on the desk, "are from my captains, and consist of all of their income and bills. The folders are what I currently have on my estate. The old records of the Company are in the bottom drawer incase you need them."
Aslynn joined her employer at the desk and sat down in the leather chair. "I think I will be able to figure it out."
"Good, very good. Would you care to join me for lunch around noon?"
"Yes, that would be nice." She replied, pushing the papers around on the desk, looking for a pen.
Garnier nodded and headed for the door. Just before he left he turned around and asked, "Did you ever ask Erik if he would care to join us for dinner on Friday?"
Stopping what she was doing, the young woman looked up. "Yes, I did. But he didn't seem interested." Her voice was quite.
"Oh, that's too bad, I would have really liked to meet this gentleman whom you've been staying with." He said, his voice hinting disappointment.
"But, I think I can trick him into coming, at least for coffee and dessert." She said, her voice stronger, her eyes filled with a new life.
"Splendid! I will be looking forward to it. Well, I have other things to attend to, Charles will get you for lunch." The old man said, turning again and disappearing through the doorway.
I hope ya'll like it, even though it was shorter and didnt really have any Erik. This was more of a teaser chapter, getting ready for the next one hint. Please review!