Chapter 4
"Aunt Giry, how does one come to own an opera house?" Marinette had taken the whole night to weigh her next options. It was decided she would ask her aunt how she could save the opera house. "Why would you need to know something like that?" Her aunt was unfazed as she buttered a breakfast roll. "This place is in an awful state, if the financial situation doesn't kill you guys, I'm sure the mold and rotting wood will! This is an absolute disgrace!" Marinette let her emotions get the better of her, but she was only human after all. "Marinette, we are doing fine...not good but fine nonetheless. Besides, where would you find the money to buy the Populair? What skills do you have to even run an opera house?" Madame Giry set her breakfast roll down and brushed aside any crumbs that were only visible to her.
"My Nonna left me some money in her will, that should cover a good chunk of it, the rest I can take a loan out on. As for the second part of your question, I managed my family's restaurants account book for years, and I'm sure I can bring this place back to its former glory." Marinette looked between her aunt and cousin. Again, the two were looking at one another and shared a conversation only they could hear. "Even if you were to successfully take out a loan, we would need a patronage to pay for our performances, costuming, lessons, food, etc. Could you deal with the emotional, mental and physical demands?" Madame Giry sternly eyed her niece. "Absolutely, either way I have a representative from the bank coming to see us within the hour." Marinette shrugged and sipped her bitter tea. "What? How on earth did you manage that?" Meg choked on her tea and stared at her cousin with her wide blue eyes.
"Don't worry about how I got him here, it was through honest means, either way Madame Giry I want you with me when he interviews us. Put your best dress on, we've got business to do." Marinette stood from the rickety oak chair and dismissed herself. It brought a small amount of satisfaction to herself when she saw the shocked faces of her aunt and cousin. One thing was for sure, the first thing to go from this opera house was the God awful tea.
Mr. Reignburg was a small, sweaty bulbous man, had there been a drinking game invented based off of the amount of he dabbed his forehead with his handkerchief. Marinette had begged her aunt not to serve the tea to Mr. Reignburg, they were trying to save the Populair not run off the only financial hope they may have. "I do apologize for the lack of tea sir, we just ran out of it this morning." Marinette smiled as she lied right through her teeth. "I'm more of a bourbon man myself dear, now in regards to why I've been called here, so early I might add." Mr. Reignburg dabbed her forehead again. "Yes, well I'd like to purchase the Opera Populair, I have a sum of money left behind from my maternal grandmother. Now it won't cover the whole sum but I would like to withdraw a loan from your bank." Marinette smiled a sweetly as she could as she looked between the bank representative and her aunt.
"You are aware of this...establishment's history, yes?" Mr. Reignburg looked as though he'd seen a ghost. "Yes I am." Marinette's eyebrow twitched. "You must understand, Miss Gippetti, that the bank can not, in good faith, put our trust into an institution with such a dark history. The public wouldn't attend any of your performances in fear of repeating history." Mr. Reignburg looked as though he was about to conclude the meeting before it had a chance to truly begin. "Please, just hear me out sir, Madame Giry and I have great faith that if we bring back the Populair that it would be a benefit to both parties. People love to be entertained, tourists love to be entertained! I know that the people of Paris, if not the whole of France would love to see what truly lies behind those grand doors." Marinette leaned on her elbows and sized up the man before her.
"It's true Monsieur, often enough people love a fabled ghost tale more than the attraction itself." Madame Giry finally spoke up from her small corner she'd settled herself into. "Tell you what Mr. Reignburg, what if I can guarantee a patronage on top of paying more than half of the loan back by the end of this year? We have almost six months left, if we were to produce our most favorite opera on top of having a wealthy patron the money should just flow in. Wouldn't you like to be known as the man who participated in one of the greatest resurrections in French history?" Marinette smiled. "Well, if you hold that much faith in yourself and your co-workers then I would be a fool to say no. However, should you default on your loan...the repercussions will be grievous. I hope you know what you're doing Miss Gippetti." Mr. Reignburg began to draw up a contract and Marinette smiled deviously. "I assure you sir, you've nothing to worry about."
