A/N: HUGE thanks to everyone who reviewed :)... you are making my day =D...

Thanks to my anonymous reviewers 123456, MmeButterfly, Balack88 and vanilla.

MmeButterfly: I am really glad that you like this story :D... But i am going to let you down... Erik will not let Christine explain very soon ;)...

vanilla: Your reviews are wonderful and i feel honoured that this story is what you were looking for :D, i only hope i won t disappoint you :)... there are some more cliffhangers though ;), i cannot help it =D...

GREAT thank you to s.e tudor for her help with the story =D! YOU ROCK!

And of course, thanks to wonderful XxxCherikxxX for her help and support :D...

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

BUT...HMMM... I THINK WE HAD LEFT AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION IN THE MIDDLE...*winks*...

so... ON WITH CHAPTER 4...

Judging by the cover

Chapter 4: Indecent…proposal

"I have an offer to make..."

Christine gulped "What would it be?" she whispered.

"It is not about the one you know so well... the one you know how to perform. I have heard that some women become aroused by playing the whore's role..."

"I have never done anything like that!" she said passionately.

"In case you do not remember. I was there too." He spitted "And if my grandfather was at my place, he would have already fired you!"

"You don't have to tell him." she struggled to swallow her pride "Please..."

"Indeed, I don't have to. But whether I tell him or not, depends only on your answer to my offer." He sounded so calm and sure about himself.

"You cannot blackmail me!" Christine protested.

"Oh yes I can! And besides, the profession of the blackmailer is as old as the one you performed last night." He stated emotionless.

Christine started feeling panic while listening to his words, because she knew what was the only thing Erik Destler would ask of her. And, unfortunately, after her 'performance' he had every right to think of her this way. But she thought he was Raoul! If only he allowed her to explain...

In a last attempt of attacking she gave him a deathly look "I am impressed! I cannot believe that a man like you has to blackmail a woman in order to have sex with her." She was mocking him and added "I am sorry, but I would never ever..."

"Sex, you said?" Erik started laughing loudly and when he stopped he assured that his mask was in place. The only thing he needed that moment was a whore laughing at him. "Is this what you imagined?" he chuckled "That I would ask you to have sex with me?"

Christine felt insulted by his tone "You don't want sex? Then... what do you want?" she shivered like a leaf in a windy day.

"What I want from you, is to pretend... to be my fiancée."

"I beg your pardon?" Christine's eyes went wide "You are crazy!"

"Not crazy." He corrected her "Just in despair, and totally determined not to marry against my will someone that my grandfather picked for me. As my dear aunt said...The only way to get through this and prevent the destruction is making him believe that I am in love with someone else." Erik admitted coolly.

"And you want me... to appear as your fiancée?" She talked slowly "This cannot happen!" she finally said.

"You really think so? Then I'm afraid I have to inform you that the possibilities of losing your job are many...really too many..." her throat had gone dry "I hope that now I am clear enough." He smirked.

Christine was not able to mouth a single word. The realisation of the big trap he had prepared for her slowly entered her mind. She had no choice...

"So?" Erik asked while looking at her with pure irony in his eyes "Are you going to accept my offer or..."

"I accept." Her voice thin but firm. It was the voice of a beaten person.

"Brilliant!" Erik roared triumphantly "Now, I guess we have to create a little story about how we met." He paused "Hmmm, perhaps we could say that we met the last time I came here, but hence our positions, we didn't announce anything at that moment so as not to cause any problem to your job while the management was changing." He started approaching her "Also that... now, there is no reason to hide, so... For celebrating our freedom we are going to have lunch together... as a couple" he frowned and Christine held her breath "And something else! At the next week's end we'll fly to my grandfather's house for some kind of...family reunion. It's understandable that till then we have to learn few things for one another."

"Fly where?" Christine could not hide her shock "Absolutely no way! My grandmother..."

Erik, who already knew from Gilles' information that she lives with her grandmother, only raised his visible eyebrow. "But now that we're officially engaged, my precious, my love..." he said sweetly "Don't you think that I have to be your life's main priority? About your grandmother...I'm sure she's going to be startled by our fast plans, but I believe she will understand when you explain to her, the reason we had to keep our love secret. If you want it, baby, I can be by your side when you explain everything to her..."

"NO!" it was nearly impossible for Christine to hide her panic, no matter how desperately she tried. "There's no need to do so... My grandmother will be away for some days. However, this cannot happen! It will not work..." she sighed "Your grandfather will immediately understand that you and I are not... could not possibly be..."

"It is in our hand to prevent him from finding out the truth" he grinned at her "I can say that you are an excellent actress, as a result, I am sure you will find a way to convince him about our relationship. On the other hand, if you feel that you require some help in this..." his eyes darkened suddenly and Christine took a step back blushing at his hot gaze.

"Very good!" he congratulated her "Just don't overuse this innocent, virginal expression. My grandfather is not an idiot. He could never believe that I would fall crazily in love with a woman who lacks of sexual experience. In my family, passion is as important as personality and soul..."

The only thing Christine wanted right then, was to turn her back to him and start running. She felt the whole situation turning from bad to worse. What if Erik Destler found out that her only sexual experiences were some kisses and a few innocent caresses? Of course, responsible for this were her parents...

Christine was born when Gustave and Catherine Daae, her parents, were only sixteen years old. The result? A fast-without-thinking marriage which led to a bad divorce and an even worse car accident.

These facts made Christine avoid boys' and later men's company. She was afraid to do things that others took for granted. But of course the charming masked man had no idea about these things.

Erik checked his watch"Now, it is almost ten o'clock" he informed her "I advise you to go to your office and work till one o'clock. Then I'll come to take you for lunch. With this simple gesture we are going to make our relationship known. The faster, the better..."

While talking, he started moving towards her. He circled her like a wild-cat its prey. Christine forgot to breath and her panic turned to horror as the door opened by the time Erik had caught her delicate wrist into his larger, warm hand.

A gasp was heard and the flabbergasted secretary didn't dare to move.

Erik's skin was dark...tanned, Christine observed as he was standing close, so close, to her. His eyes were a piercing grey and his white mask, which covered the right side of his face, from his hairline to his perfect upper lip, made him look more intimidating. His high cheek bones, strong jaw line and the little cleft at the middle of it gave him the air of a strong male... a warrior... as for his hair... they were black and slightly wavy pulled perfectly back with gel.

"Oh Erik!" it was obvious that the secretary didn't know how to hide her shocked expression while watching her supervisor pulling Christine close to him and into his arms."Sorry for disturbing you, but your grandfather called, for the second time today!"

"I will call him shortly." Erik replied calmly and looked at the trembling woman into his arms. He could make her tremble from bliss if he wanted to and forget every other man that had been with her. "Now, what was that? Concentrate damn it!" he cleared his throat.

"And cancel all the meetings between one and two thirty at noon. I will take my fiancée to lunch."

Meanwhile, his soft gaze was caressing Christine like it was impossible to control his desire for her. Christine felt dizzy and... Incapable of doing anything else, she returned his gaze. At the same time she was wondering what would have happened, had Erik looked at her this way the night before.

"Is anything wrong?" Erik asked his secretary who remained staring at the couple like a statue.

"No, it's just... I wanted to say that... No! Not at all..."

"Good then." Erik Destler shook his head in satisfaction. "Oh! And something final, book one more ticket about my trip next week, next to me of course. It's for Christine." Announced to her and with that turned and locked eyes with Christine "My sweet angel, I am looking forward to the time I'll introduce you to my family." he gently said and ran his thumb on her cheek "She's so soft." he thought "I could lose myself within her." and being unable to resist he nuzzled her neck softly and placed a soft kiss below her earlobe.

Christine had frozen when she saw Erik leaning towards her. For a second she thought he was going to kiss her lips. But after what followed, she couldn't be sure if nuzzling her neck was better than a soft peck on the lips. She shivered and felt Erik's smile on her neck. Without thinking she put her hand on his lips and pushed him gently.

Erik was taken aback and felt angry for she was pushing him away, and quickly saved the moment by keeping her hand to his mouth and kissing softly the pads of her fingers.

"But before..." he began with a husky voice and pulled Christine even closer "I have to buy you a ring, my angel, for your naked finger." he pressed a kiss on her palm and nuzzled his uncovered side against it. "My grandfather would be deeply hurt if I introduced you to him without wearing the holy symbol of our love."

Christine was in a loss of words and simple stared back at Erik as the secretary made a sound. Erik had said she was an excellent actress, but he had forgotten to mention his own indescribable acting skills.

Finally, the secretary left the room silently.

"I hope you are aware that by noon the whole company would know about us." Christine's voice trembled once again.

"Only the company?" he asked with shiny eyes "I want... I hope, my dear that the news will travel much farther than the company's walls." Her confused face made him explain "At least till they reach my grandfather's ears."

Suddenly, Christine realised that she wanted to ask him so many things about his family, his grandfather and this other woman he was forced to marry. But as she was making these thoughts Erik had already free her hand and walked to the door, he opened it and let her leave.

...

"Are you ready?"

Christine felt her cheeks turning red as Erik approached her, and she knew that although her colleagues didn't turn their gazes to them, they had their full attention.

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

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