A/N: Ok... here is chapter 2 :D...

But before, i would like to thank everyone who reviewed (123456, vanilla, Twilightloveretc, my anonymous reviewrs =D, i don't know who you are :P but thank you very much *winks*).

Also, thanks to all of you who put this story to your favourites, story alerts etc, it means a lot... and i would really like you to drop me a line with your thoughts sometime :D...

Now! s.e tudor thank you sooooooooooo much for the tip (you know=D)...*winks*...

AND! As always, a HUGE thank you to XxxCherikxxX for her help and great support ;)...

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN PotO nor the main plot of the story.

*AHEM*... ON WITH THE STORY ;)...

Judging by the cover

Chapter 2: Meetings under the dim light

Erik couldn't take his gaze from her as soon as she entered the large room.

Mentally, he cursed himself for not staying at his office to have a drink, but he had taken too much for a day in that place, especially after the boring call of his cousin, Carlotta. He pursed his lips in anger at her thought. Her impudence was unlimited since she was trying in every possible way to convince him that they were meant to be together. He recalled the first time she had flirt him and tried to become intimate, he clenched his fists, his knuckles becoming white...

He was only fifteen years old and she twenty five and preparing to get married at that time. Erik because of his mask and his difficult childhood was very shy and she was teasing him too much. Of course he didn't reciprocate her feelings and when he finally rejected her, she turned to him and said "Do you really believe in fairytales and romances? With that face, no woman will ever love you. I mean, not even your parents loved you. And grandpa simply pities you. I'm trying to do you a favour and you refuse... the problem is and will remain yours. Pathetic creature..."

His teen-heart was scarred after that and decided that women deserve nothing. Then, he became merciless and built a high wall to protect his heart... no one was able to break it or pass through it... especially women. For him women became simple things who offer pleasure for a couple of nights and nothing more...

So, he decided to go somewhere where no one could find him, since he also 'accidentally' forgot his mobile phone.

However, his mood didn't become better when he spotted Christine. He frowned while staring at her. She was looking around like she was seeking someone.

He inhaled slowly and tried to control his body's reaction at the goddess' sight. "What the hell are you doing?" he scolded himself. Any woman dressed like her was obvious what was asking for...he should pity her, not feeling hot and... Aroused...

Right then he turned his face in disgust. Of course he knew her! She was the one who had left earlier from the company. How didn't he recognise her immediately?

Well, in the morning she had light make-up, but now... her eyelids were heavy from the mascara, she had too much lipstick on, and her black dress was so short that left little to the imagination...

Christine started feeling nervous and was tempted to pull down the dress at its normal length.

Erik continued staring at her. "Jesus... it's obvious that she tries to attract attention to her breasts! And what breasts!" he thought and clenched his teeth as his mouth went dry, but still... he couldn't retrieve his gaze.

Christine felt that someone was watching her. She turned and froze at her place when she met Erik's eyes. For a moment, she believed that she would faint... He was definitely a pureblood male. Her heart started beating fast; her mouth went dry and her body...

But after reality hit her, she stopped because this guy must be Raoul and she was not supposed to feel this way about him. "Wait a minute! What is this? Meg never said anything about a mask... perhaps he has a problem...but still he looks like a Greek god. HEY! STOP IT GIRL! IT'S MEGHAN'S RAOUL! And keep that in mind..."

Nobody inside this place was this close to Meg's description. She recalled then the adjectives Meg had used; amazing, handsome, sexy...she had also said that he would wear a blue shirt... blue like the colour of his eyes.

Christine couldn't be sure about the guy's eye-colour because of the low lights and the distance between them. But she had to admit that he was the one that Meg described...

"Well, Meg has definitely a reason to worry about him. A man like him has hundreds of women after him... such sex appeal... " she thought. She had felt it by the time her eyes met his hungry gaze.

However, as the time passed his gaze turned from lustful to ironic and mocking.

"How dare he looking at me this way? I don't want to admit it, but I think Hillary was right. A guy who stares a woman this way does not deserve a sweet girl such as Meghan..."

In an effort to forget the butterflies in her stomach she thought of what Hillary had told her in order to seduce Raoul. How is he going to react? Of course Meg had informed her that he used to date a lot of women before meeting her... so... the options were unlimited...

Christine feeling more nervous than ever, moved her weight from her one leg to the other. No matter how much she loved her best friend, she had to admit that gentle, sweet Meghan could not keep a real male like the one in front of her. But, perhaps, Raoul had seen in Meghan her rare character... he may love her for her kindness...

And this was exactly what she had to prove...or not... This was the point of no return. Christine inhaled deeply and approached the stranger.

Erik saw her approaching him. "I'm going to be her prey." He mocked while seeing her rejecting every other guy's stare.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Christine said cheerfully as she tried to sit next to him at the bar and 'accidentally' lost her balance and fell on him.

Very fast she straightened her body and smiled apologetically at him.

Erik felt her scent reaching his nostrils. Not her light perfume, but the feminine scent of her skin. And like a fool he inhaled with greed.

Fortunately, he collected himself within seconds and put some distance between them, something difficult since the place was full of people pushing each other. So, without finding another way, he decided to face her.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" he asked abruptly, knowing that his tone would make her stop courting him. Although, he still found it difficult to understand why a woman like her had to go to places like this to find men. OR he could understand... she was one of those women who offered their... company to men and asked for something precise in return...

While making these thoughts, he observed her blood-red lips open and giving him a smile.

"I don't think so..." she replied "But I hope that we'll get to know each other."

Christine was really grateful that the lights were low. She was sure that by now she would be redder than a poppy. And she had every right to feel this way. After all it was the first, and the last time, she dared to do something like that, AND with a guy like him...

She wetted her lips with her tongue and tried to keep herself from grimacing at the lipstick's taste on her tongue. "Aren't you going to ask me if I want to drink anything?" she asked Raoul with a playful sparkle in her eyes, hoping that she looked charming. "I really like the colour of your shirt" she leaned closer to him "it suits the colour of your eyes."

"If you really think something like that then you have to check your eyesight, because my eyes are grey!" he said dryly.

He had started getting really really angry and mostly with himself who acted like a sixteen-year- old teenager. He was thirty two years old damn it and he allowed his body to respond to her tricks like... like...

Like wanting to take her over his shoulder, throw her on a bed and cover her warm naked body with his own, while listening to her; moaning his name with lips swollen from his kisses.

"Listen" he said abruptly trying to send his insufferable fantasies away "You're doing a big mistake with me."

"Oh! I don't think so..." although she knew she had to accept Raoul's rejection and go happily to Meg, something inside, told her that he was tempted, and she kept going on with her effort. "Because you could never be a mistake..." she said in a hoarse voice "For any woman..."

"I must have gone crazy" Erik thought. He should be ashamed for feeling such sexual desire for a woman like her. OUTRAGE! And of course he didn't dare to admit what was going on.

"I'm sorry, but you are wasting my time" he replied coldly at her statement "and yours too, since, if I'm not mistaken, the reason you're acting this way is money; why don't you go find someone who would...accept the things you offer?"

Christine's face turned pale when she watched him turning his back to her and finding his way out. So, he had rejected her... She cleared her throat trying to get over the shock and the shame. At least she had proven that Raoul was faithful to Meg. But he had looked at her like she was a... a...

She looked at the time at her watch "Crap!" she thought. She was in despair, she had another one hour till Hillary was to arrive and she couldn't find a cab in this isolated area.

So, she did the first thing that came to her mind... run to the ladies' room.

When she reached the hall's grand mirror she adjusted her dress to its normal length, then removed the whole make-up and replaced it with a lighter one, a little shade at her eyes and a little lipstick, and finally picked up her hair in a chignon.

...

After the time had passed, she found Hillary and entered the car with a sigh.

"So?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing, he just rejected me." Christine shook her head negatively.

"I beg your pardon!"

"Watch out!" Christine warned when she saw her not looking at the road.

"Perhaps you didn't try too hard." Hillary said.

"I assure you, I did my best."

"Did he tell you about Meg? That he's engaged?"

"No, but he clearly showed me that he was not interested. He was looking at me like..." Christine went silent; she wouldn't tell Hillary how angry she felt. "Where is Meg now?" she asked suddenly.

"At her apartment. She's waiting for us."

Christine smiled softly and tried to seem happy. But why was her heart as heavy as a rock? What was happening to her? She couldn't be jealous of Meg for finding a guy like Raoul. No! No! No! Something like that just cannot happen.

"Are you sure you tried enough?" Hillary interrupted her thoughts.

Christine inhaled deeply in order to control her rage. "I told him everything you told me to learn" she replied calmly.

"And he didn't respond?" Hillary still could not believe it.

"Not a bit, Hillary. From the way he acted, I can say that he deeply loves Meg."

"That's for sure. Since he remained faithful in front of such a temptation." Christine rolled her eyes at this comment. "Meghan is cute and I love her with my whole heart, but geeze girl! I cannot compare her with you!" then she frowned "Are you sure he didn't understand our little fiasco?"

"For the thousandth time... NO WAY!"

This whole thing had tire Christine. The only thing she wanted was to return home. But first, she had to talk to Meg. As they parked in front of Meg's house, her stomach turned into a knob while trying not to think how devoted Raoul was to Meg.

Her first impression was that this particular man was not able to create a family. On the contrary, it was the first time in her life that she met such a sexy and charming male. Something was telling her that the woman, who would taste the bliss of his arms, would get to know such satisfaction she would forget her name.

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?" she scolded herself strictly, and shook her head in order to send away her thoughts. "Raoul is Meg's! My best friend's!"

...

It was obvious that Meg was waiting anxiously; because she opened the door before the two girls had the time to ring the bell.

"Everything is all right!" Christine said quickly in her effort to spare Meg. "Raoul is absolutely faithful, and by the way I wanted to ask you why is he wearing a ma..."

"I know... I know..." Meg interrupted her, shining from happiness "He came and found me, and explained me everything. It was so foolish of me to think so little of him. But how could I imagine what he was planning? We're leaving next week... on vacation! Can you imagine it? It was his co-workers that were calling him. Ah, Christine I cannot believe it! I always wanted to travel to Caribbean and Raoul organised a trip there! I'm so sorry that you had to waste your evening for me. When I learned the truth I tried to contact you, but you didn't answer, nor on your mobile phone, but since you wouldn't find Raoul, I assumed that..." she suddenly froze watching her two friends exchanging glances "What happened?" she asked reluctantly.

"You told me that you talked with Raoul!" Hillary said suspiciously.

"I did! He was exactly as you described him Meg and he also wore..."

"No way, Christine! Raoul was with me the whole evening." Meg smiled sheepishly.

Christine felt dizzy and leaned onto the wall for support. Because, if the man she had met was not Raoul? Who was he? She became pale, realising suddenly that she acted like a harlot in front of a complete stranger. A man that...

Her throat went dry, but of course she would never see him again...wouldn't she?

"Christine what is going on? You don't seem well." Asked Meg concerned.

"I am fine!" Christine replied cheerfully.

But Hillary had totally understood the reason she looked so nervous and couldn't suppress the question "If the guy you met tonight was not Raoul...who on earth was he?"

"Indeed... Who was he?" Christine repeated the question in a husky voice.

A/N: so, how was it? just let me know :)...

(And a little reminder, this story will turn to M...)