Author's Note: So, things are progressing well. I need to leave off for a while though, because life's becoming hectic again. I'll keep writing more chapters (this story is far from done, I'm finding) and so I wouldn't be surprised if there are 25 or more chaps...Hope you like the plot!

Chapter 15 – The Rumor

The dancers' barracks were packed full with women getting ready to bed down for the night. Pillows were tossed to their respective beds, extra blankets divided up for the night, borrowed clothes returned, and the daily gossip exchanged.

Meg was only half paying attention to the two ballerinas behind her as she wound her hair into a simple braid in front of her mirror.

"I always thought it was rather strange how they suddenly got along."

"Yes, but at least now we know the real reason they're seen together all of the time."

"But still. Monsieur Leroux and…the Phantom!"

At this, Meg spun around to look at her fellow dancers. "M. Leroux and the Phantom are having an affair?"

Everyone in the barracks stopped talking and looked at Meg, who only had eyes for the girls in front of her. They were shocked at her outburst but nodded their heads.

Clairé said, "I heard it from John." Her eyebrows creased and her lips deepened into a frown. "Do you think it's true, Meg?"

Meg silently shook her head, but her face didn't look so sure. She jumped to her feet and raced out of the barracks to find her mother. Once she was gone, all Hell broke loose with Clairé being the center of it all.

XXX

Erik and Nicole were happily engaging upon dinner together in Erik's lair when Mme. Giry came gliding through the arch in the boat.

Without waiting for greetings to be exchanged, "Do you know what the entire ballet corps are saying about the two of you?" Erik opened his mouth to ask just that when she continued on, "That you are both having an affair!"

Naively, Nicole asked, "With who?"

With a fierce look and a pointed finger, "With each other!"

Erik and Nicole looked at one another in shock, then Nicole blushed. Mme. Giry saw this and exclaimed, "You mean to tell me that it is true?"

Erik scowled at her, "Nicolas is not my lover, but Nicole is…at least since a week ago."

Nicole looked between the two of them. "Well that is not the point." Erik opened his mouth to argue, but – "Well, it isn't! What is important is who spread the rumor seeing as how Nicolas and Erik have never been in an intimate situation."

This was true. Despite the fact that Nicole and Erik had begun their relationship a week ago, the relationship between the manager (M. Leroux) and the artist (Erik le Phantom), had not changed. They still went about all of their business transactions the same as before, no improper intimacy involved. So who had started this unfounded rumor?

Erik looked over at Giry, "Where did you hear this from?"

Giry huffed indignantly as if the thought of her participating in mindless gossip was the norm for her, "I heard it from Meg, who heard it from Clairé, who says she heard it from John."

Nicole stood up. "Then we look for John and see who he heard it from."

XXX

John tugged nervously at his tattered coat as the intimidating forms of Nicolas Leroux and Erik le Phantom loomed over him.

"We will not ask again. Who told you about this filthy rumor?"

John's baleful eyes regarded Erik's own blazing amber ones with great trepidation. "Please sir…I don't want to get her in trouble."

At Erik's inhuman snarl, John shrunk further back into his chair. M. Leroux stepped up to him this time. "Whatever it is she said is slander and there will be punishment. But I wonder…which of you will incur the greater punishment?"

John gulped keeping his eyes on both employers. "Punishment?"

Taking Nicolas' lead Erik said, "Yes, John. You see, if you refuse to tell us her name then you are the one who will be – how should I put this? – let go."

They waited while he quietly absorbed this and knew the instant he decided to throw his partner to the wolves. Licking his lips he said, "Now, I wouldn't usually rat out a girl, but she has a shot at finding work, I'm just a lousy stage-hand – "

"Her name, John." Nicolas growled.

"Carlotta."

Neither partner was surprised.

XXX

Carlotta tried to hide her smirk when she saw her current employers outside her door. She didn't quite manage it. After inviting them in, Carlotta sank into a comfortable chair and crossed her legs in (as past experiences had indicated) a seductive way. "So, have you both come to apologize for your rude behavior?"

Nicolas raised an eyebrow, "Not quite. Actually we believe it is you who owes us an apology."

Carlotta caught on. "I can make that particular rumor disappear simply by giving evidence to the contrary."

"Oh really?" Erik purred, arms over his chest.

Carlotta seemed oblivious to the queer glint in his eyes. "All Nicolas has to do is be seen with a charming, vivacious woman on his arm and no one will even question your…preference." She smiled at Nicolas in what she thought was a sexy manner and leaned back in her chair, completely convinced that she had won this argument.

Nicolas and Erik exchanged a look, then turned to Carlotta and said the three words they had wanted to say for months, "You are fired."