*DISCLAIMER* I DO NOT own The Phantom of the Opera, its storyline, or its characters. Please R&R.

Erik made his way up to the front of the conference room and waited for everyone to get in their seats. After everyone was seated, Erik turned the projector in the room on and waited for the screen to finish coming down before continuing. "Good morning everyone. I would like to apologize to everyone for the chaotic morning. To make up for this, I would like to invite you all for lunch at Vinoadri, the fancy italian restaurant near Destler LLC as a way to make it up to you all," said Erik. He looked around the room to see everyone in the room start to visibly loosen up and become much happier than they had come in. Erik was sure that he had finally regained control, and he had been able to rescue the disaster that he had established.

Erik composed himself and pushed himself to continue. "I apologize as I don't have any sort of agenda to hand out or a way for you guys to look at the numbers and charts individually as we go on, but I do have everything on my computer and for times sake we can project it all on the screen for everyone to see," he said. Just as he was about to reach out to open his computer, Centola sprung out of her chair with a large grin plastered on her face. "Not to worry, Erik! I made some pamphlets that everyone can look at with numbers and information for everyone to look at as they would initially pop up on our usual agenda," she said with a loud shriek.

Everyone in the room looked at Centola with their jaws dropped. As far as Erik could remember Centola had never actually been interested in the company, much less its financial endeavors. Erik thought Centola must have noticed everyone in the room with their shocked faces for she quickly explained the situation. "Okay, everyone. I know that I have never shown much interest in these kinds of things before, but I figured that if I'm going to be investing in this company then I might as well familiarize myself with its functions," she quickly retorted. Erik and everyone else in the room looked around the room at one another, shocked faces still intact. "Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say that I am glad you finally started investing more time and effort into the company and its well being," he said. Everyone in the room quickly nodded in agreement and looked on as they were each handed their pamphlets and focused in on the presentation.

I had been looking around everywhere in the basement and had yet to find a Psycless Copy Room. It felt like I had been looking around for ages when I walked around a corner and stumbled upon a small office with a glass window. I peered inside to find a security officer sitting in the room. He quickly looked up at me with a confused look on his face. "Ma'am, are ya lost," he asked. "Er, yes. I am Christine Daae, Mr. Destler's personal assistant. I was sent down here by a Centola Aziz-Khan to look for the um, Psycless Copy Room," I said. I noticed the confused look on the man turn even more confused. He quickly looked through a small map on his desk and looked back up at me. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't think that room exists, I think this Centola person might've sent ya on a wild goose chase," he said. I quickly looked away in embarrassment and gave him an awkward smile. "Oh! My bad, sorry for disturbing you. Do you think you could please give some quick directions for finding my way back up to the presidential area," I asked. "Of course, ma'am. It'd be a pleasure."

After making my way back up to my desk, I noticed the time on my cell phone. The meeting had been going on for almost 10 minutes already! Oh God! Erik is going to be so mad at me! What am I going to do?! I looked around on my desk for my pamphlets but I couldn't find them! Assuming that Meg must've grabbed them, I quickly ran to the conference room. Maybe they haven't even started yet and they are waiting for me. I stumbled into the conference room, nearly tripping over my feet with the Centola girl's coffee in hand. The entire room looked up at me with confused looks on their faces. "Er, um. I'm sorry I'm late… I was getting-"

I was quickly interrupted by a voice, "Coffee? You were busy getting coffee and now you're late to an important meeting which may I need to remind you, started almost 15 minutes ago." I looked to the source of the voice to notice that it was none other than the evil woman who had sent me on a wild goose chase. "But-"

I was interrupted once more, "But! There are no excuses. I think you may need a little refresher on time management and until you do so… you should probably dismiss yourself from this meeting." A look of pure shock and amazement made its way onto my face faster than I could ever imagine. Who the fuck does this lady think she is? And why isn't Erik saying anything? He should know I'm anything but unorganized or incompetent. I looked over to where he was standing, hoping that he would come to my rescue… but he never did.

"Erik," I said. "It is Mr. Destler or Sir to you, Ms. Daae and I believe that Ms. Aziz-Khan is right. You are dismissed for the day… hopefully you can manage to find a way to arrive on time tomorrow," he said. I was practically in tears. How could he do this to me? Was I not the best assistant to him I could possibly be these past couple of days? I looked up at him with tears threatening to fall from my eyes. You can NOT let him see you cry Christine, you are better than that! I quickly looked away as I felt the tears start to run down my cheeks and walked out the door.

Erik wanted nothing more than to run after Christine and check on her. Why? He wasn't sure. He felt that he might have been a little too hard on her… but how could he not? The incompetent girl went out for coffee instead of doing the only job she was told to do. He most definitely should have gone about things differently and he sure as hell shouldn't have let Centola talk to Christine the way she did. He would be sure to speak to her on the matter as soon as the meeting was over.

"Erik, are you good to continue so we can wrap this up," asked Nadir. Erik turned towards Nadir and gave him a quick nod before continuing. "Uh, as I was saying… our representative team will be traveling to Ibiza in a couple of weeks in hopes of doing business with a couple of large companies in hopes of selling them new technology that will surely help their company sales skyrocket through the roof and in turn giving everyone in this very building their much deserved raises and more," he said. At the sound of this, everyone started clapping and cheering at hearing this good news. "Nadir and I will be at the front line of this deal including both of our personal assistants, Magdalena Gutierrez and Christine Daae," he continued.

"Eri, do you think it wise to take Ms. Daae, I mean look at how she destroyed this meeting. Can you imagine what she could possibly do for the business deal," said Centola from her seat at the table. Erik shot daggers at Centola, it was one thing for her to yell at Christine and embarrass her in front of the board of committee but to speak about her when she wasn't there to defend her honor? That was the lowest he had ever seen Centola stoop. "Ms. Daae is more than capable of helping me with a business deal. I would not have hired her if I didn't think she was good enough for the job," he retorted.

Erik looked around the room after his remark. "Does anyone else have any concerns about how I wish to run my business, or perhaps my judgement on hiring employees," he asked. Everyone in the room immediately shook their heads in return. "Very well then, let us finish this meeting with no more interruptions."

The meeting went on for no more than 10 minutes afterwards. All of the members of the board were starting to make their way out of the conference room. "Centola, may I please have a word with you in private," asked Erik. Centola was almost out the door but instantly turned and looked at him, a grin on her face. "Why of course, Eri… you can have whatever you want from me," she said flirtatiously.

Erik went around the table and stood at the front of the room once again as he motioned for Centola to take a seat. Centola did just that and waited for Erik, in hopes that he was finally asking her out. "Centola, I do not appreciate the way you spoke to my assistant today. She is my employee and I choose when and how I decide to discipline my employees, is that clear?" Centola went completely red in the face, not knowing how to respond. "But, Eri… she was late and for what? A coffee," she retorted. Erik put on hand in the air to silence her. "Do I need to repeat myself? It was not the time nor the place and you certainly did not need to speak to her like that in front of the entire board of committee. She is my employee and I will speak to her when and however I damn well please, is that clear," he asked once again. Centola swallowed her tongue and nodded knowing she wouldn't get anywhere with Erik. "Oh, and might I add… my name is Erik and you would do well calling me so. I am here to do my job, just as you are here to do yours. I do not need you throwing yourself at me at inappropriate times."

With that, Centola nodded and gathered her things to leave. She was wearing the same scowl on her face as she had when she got notice of Erik's new assistant. She was a lot more sure of a thing now than she was back then, Erik was starting to have feelings for his assistant. She knew she had to do something, but she wasn't sure what, and she knew she needed to do so before either of them discovered how they felt. She would be back, and the next time she knew she would not fail.