Later that night, after Erik went to bed, Eleana recalled what happened in the Moulin Rouge six hours ago.
Eleana walked into the Moulin Rouge, astounded to what she saw. It seemed to have thousands of party decorations, all really bright colors and all different shapes and sizes. She thought of the building layout like a dance room crossed with a circus.
She listened to her own footsteps echo through out the Moulin Rouge as she looked around. She saw a group of girls, who she assumed were the Can Can dancers mainly by the attire the were wearing, laughing and gossiping. But then she heard a couple pairs of feet coming her way.
"Yes, well the Duke is coming tonight my dear and we are hoping for him to invest in turning our Moulin Rouge into a real theatre."
The rough elated voice was coming from a man. Eleana continued to listen wondering who he was talking to.
"But we wouldn't even be able to compare to the Opera Populaire across town, Harold. Rumors are spreading that it's being rebuilt."
This voice came from a girl, who sounded mature enough to be around Eleana's age but younger.
"Nonsense Pumpkin. Once the Moulin Rouge is a real theater we will be showing productions people from Paris could never even dream of. Times are changing my dear, it's the French Revolution! No one will want to watch that Opera crap, no, they will be here watching you Satine, a real star, and you will be a-"
"A real actress."
The girl had cut him off. But Eleana could not believe what the man had just said. Who was he to call Opera crap? He had obviously never heard Erik sing, let alone Christine. Eleana was just about to turn around and leave when the man and women she was eavesdropping on, deep in conversation, came into view.
The man who she overheard the girl say, was named Harold. He was a medium sized man, overweight, and was in his late forties. He had blue bulging eyes and orange, bushy, untamed hair. He was wearing a bright red suit, something you would only see in circus's nowadays, along with a cane and a black top hat.
The girl, easily in her twenties, who she overheard was named Satine. She had her long, wavy, flaming red hair was pulled back into a pony tail. She had piercing blue eyes and fair skin. She was wearing a rather revealing black sequenced leotard along with a black top hat, pantie hose, high heels, and bright red lipstick.
She was obviosuly, without a doubt, the star of the Moulin Rouge.
Eleana wasn't sure if she should turn around and run for the doors, leaving the Moulin Rouge while she still had the chance or just stand their helplessly not knowing what to do. But Harold decided that for her once he turned his attention towards her.
"And who are you?"
He looked at her from head to toes. She had obviously looked out of place like a pink marble in a jar full of black ones.
"My name is Eleana Rochette, Monsieur."
She looked down at her feet the whole time while she spoke, suddenly regretting what she was about to get herself into.
"Why are you in my Moulin Rouge?"
Satine sniffled a giggle as Harold interrogated Eleana.
"I- I saw your sign outisde Monsiure."
Eleana tried to remember why she was even here in the first place.
"And what? You want to recommend a dancer to me I suppose?"
Satine had to turn around in order to hide her giggling fit.
"Yes," Eleana paused before she continued speaking so she could look up at Harold showing him her confidence, "me."
"HA! You? Surely you are joking?"
"Why would I joke about something like this? I cam here looking for a job and your the only business in town that seems to need help."
Eleana wondered why he was being so difficult but was glad she made her point.
"Mademoiselle Leanne-"
"Eleana." She cut him off to correct him.
"Whatever. Eleana," Harold emphasized, "you do not have what it takes to be a Moulin Rouge dancer."
How could he possibly know if she didn't have what it takes? He hadn't even heard her sing or seen her dance yet.
"Just let me show you, Monsieur, let me prove you wrong and then you can choose to keep me and make me one of your Can Can dancers, or make me leave."
Harold thought about this for a moment, then looked over at Satine to see what she thought.
"Oh Harold, give her a chance," then she whispered in his ear, "we could all use a good laugh."
He nodded in agreement and then demanded her to fetch Eleana a dance partner.
He walked Eleana to the center of the dance floor, examining her once again.
"Being a Moulin Rouge dancer requires a lot more than just singing and dancing."
His voice was lower and more serious, but Eleana tried to not let it intimidate her.
Eleana quickly remembered what Erik had told her about the Moulin Rouge dancers , how they sold their bodies to men for money, how they were prostitutes. Scared to hear what he had to say next, she looked down at her feet trying to hide any sign of weakness and continued to listen.
"This is a strict business. When Satine or I tell you to do something, you do it or leave the Moulin Rouge and never come back. Do you understand?"
Eleana noticed her mouth was extremely dry and couldn't find her voice, so she simply nodded in acknowledgement. She wondered what types of things she would have to do hoping they would never ask her to sleep or fool around with another man. Eleana silently waited Harold to continue.
"Are you married?"
She was caught off guard by his question, but answered almost immediately.
"No."
"Are you engaged?"
"No."
But his next question made Eleana want to run for the doors, leave the Moulin Rouge and be held in Erik's arms like a helpless child.
"Are you in love?"
Of course she was. She loved Erik. More than she thought was humanly possible. But if Harold knew that, surely he would make her leave this very second. But Harold didn't have to know about Erik, just as Erik didn't need to know about her working for the Moulin Rouge.
"No."