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Ascent to Power	By : Hot4Gerry Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 5436 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
Week of Frustration
Katherine only waited a few days before she went to town to make an appearance at the office. She did not want to seem a coward by staying away. In the carriage she had tons of courage. Once the carriage stopped in front of the theatre and office building she was not quite so eager to face that horrible man, Mr. Fontaine again.
She convinced herself her heart rate sped up only because she anticipated a confrontation. It certainly had nothing to do with the dreams she had which she convinced herself she could not remember all that clearly. If Mr. Fontaine had been in her dreams instead of Raoul, well it must have been a nightmare. She had definitely not dreamed anything...well...anything personal. That shadowy man holding her while he kissed her senseless could have been anyone. She skirted around the issue of the man in her dreams wearing a mask.
She did not allow herself to remember too vividly how intimate she had been with this mysterious dream lover. Once the cloud of sleep had cleared she had almost been able to convince herself that it had not been Mr. Fontaine in her dream at all. Some other man with a mask had been in her dreams. She clenched her thighs together as the warmth began to spread with memories of a man's touch where no one had touched her before. Placing her hand on her chest she willed her heart to slow its fast pace.
Once inside the building she saw the operator was not in the elevator. She would take the stairs again. She still was not keen about getting in that box on her own, with Raoul it had seemed safe enough, on her own she would rather walk. She knew that little button raised the cage. It was not the going up that caused her concern. It was the fear of coming back down rather quickly, if something came undone that worried her.
"Miss Montgomery? Would you care to ride the lift up?" Katherine spun around at the sound of her name. The young man from the other day had only stepped out for a moment, now he had returned. He was coming out of the room which contained the downstairs facilities. He approached her with a wide smile. He knew who paid his salary. Besides he had no beef with her. She had never done anything to him personally. It wasn't as if she ran around scalping people or anything like that. She had been a victim just as others were victims.
"Oh, yes, that would be lovely. It is much to hot to climb stairs." She was rather glad she would not have to face Mr. Fontaine with a face dripping with sweat and out of breath. If she did not have all these trappings society forced on women she could have made it up those stairs before the lift left the ground floor.
"No problem Miss. If you ever need anything just ask me, the names William. Most everyone calls me Billy though. 'Cept, my mom, she calls me William, or if she's upset with me, William Howard Jefferson. Lord how I hate to hear all three put together. I know for sure I'm set to have my ears boxed if I hear all three names put together."
The elevator reached Katherine's floor. Billy opened the gate ushering her out. Before the doors closed he reminded her, "Now remember, just ask for Billy if you need anything. Anything at all Miss. See you later."
The doors swished closed before she could say anything. Swallowing an uncomfortable boulder in her throat she opened the door to her offices. At least hers in the sense that her name was on the deed along with Mr. Fontaine's she would guess now that her father's illegal transaction came to light.
Three men were standing in front of the assistant's desk. They all turned at her entrance. Mr. Fontaine murmured something to the other two men, which they seemed to give objections to, as they gestured with their hands. In the end he must have won since the other two left without even an introduction. Katherine raised her chin at this rude behavior. He should have introduced them to her. She swallowed the uncomfortable notion that he did not think she was worthy or being introduced to his colleagues.
Mr. Fontaine gave her a hot searing look. For a moment she thought it was a look like Matthew gave one of the women he was pursuing with lustful intentions. When he immediately turned from her she realized she must have been mistaken. The rude man had turned away from her without even introducing his associates, or greeting her himself. If they had any dealings with anything she held an interest in, that made them her employees, or business associates as well.
At least he did not leave her totally alone. He stayed by the desk shuffling papers, picking one up to glance over it from time to time.
With his back to her he continued to shuffle through papers speaking finally, but with his back still facing her, "Well Miss Montgomery what can I do for you? I did not expect to see you here again, at least not so soon." Erik had hoped not to see her for quite some time. He wished to get this confounded attraction he felt under control. He had to at last admit he was in some small, miniscule way attracted to her. The papers in his hands were shaking from the trembling in his hands. The palms of his hands were getting clammy. He was sure he felt moisture popping out on his forehead. Perhaps he was ill. Maybe it had nothing whatsoever to do with Miss Montgomery's presence.
"Where is Arthur? I wanted to have him help me with some projects I have in mind. I thought he might be able to give me information about the last eight years."
"Mr. Pendleton has taken his lunch break. Perhaps I could assist you in some way? Anything that has to do with the opera house is of interest to me." Erik resented her for having controlling interest in something he wanted to take complete possession of, then, change the name of the building so he ended up with his opera house.
Katherine's chin rose a degree higher as he maintained his position of speaking with his back to her. The man was insufferably rude. "Why would you think I would not come to my own business? The theatre is part of what I own. I would like to inspect it and speak with the employees to get a feel for the place. As for you helping me, I very much doubt your motives in such an endeavor."
"You insult me Miss Montgomery. What makes you think I would not be willing to assist you in any way that I can? The New Richmond Opera House is being well taken care of I can assure you. I have taken over the reins personally."
"It is a theatre. The Richmond Royal Theatre to be precise, as I am the principal shareholder I do believe it is my prerogative to check in whenever I wish to do so. I do not believe I need your permission to come and go as I please." Katherine was very proud of the leaps she had taken in her vocabulary. For some reason she felt the need to impress Mr. Fontaine with her knowledge.
"My opera house does not need another overseer, especially a wo…." Erik caught himself a little too late into the sentence.
"A woman, Mr. Fontaine, was that what you were going to say? It may have escaped your notice but a man nearly ran the theatre into the ground. Perhaps a woman at the helm is exactly what this business needs." She smiled in triumph for having won the point.
"This opera house is..." Katherine interrupted Erik again before he could finish what he wanted to say.
"Theatre, Mr. Fontaine." Katherine smiled in challenge as she folded her arms across her chest in a manner Gamm would have deplored. It was not how a lady should stand. "Theatre, it is a theatre. That is why it is called The Richmond Royal Theatre. I would think a man of your intelligence would know that and be able to remember that."
Erik had turned away from the damn woman as his body reacted from the memory of his dreams upon hearing her voice. He had kept his back to her until such time he could face her without causing himself any humiliation. Her steadfast refusal to think of the theatre as an opera house drove out his libidinous thoughts. He wanted his opera house and come hell or high water, he would have it.
When he turned to her Katherine stepped back at his sudden movement. Her breath caught then released only to have her heart race while she could not seem to inhale quickly enough to satisfy her lungs. Her chest rose and fell in rapid succession. She was sure her upper lip was coated with the moisture of perspiration. Taking her handkerchief she raised it to her mouth. Under the guise of coughing she surreptitiously wiped her upper lip. Replacing her handkerchief in her bag she pulled the drawstrings together with a jerk from both of her hands. She placed her hand over her heart in an attempt to slow the pounding in her chest.
The movement of her hand drew his eyes. Erik's gaze drifted down to the straining bodice of her gown. He could see he disturbed her. He wondered if it was dislike for him causing her distress or if she felt the same sensual fascination for him that he had for her. In his mind he had bedded her so many times already. If he did not make it a reality soon he may well lose his sanity once more. Erik had not been with a woman in over a month. For him that was a long dry spell since he had come into his own as a sexual participant instead of merely an observer.
Erik pulled his wayward thoughts to a stop. What the hell was he thinking? This woman was nothing to him other than an irritating fly buzzing around his head. He could not control his dreams, but he would be damned if he let her take over his conscious thoughts. He was not interested in her. He could not control his body's reaction to her just as he could not control his dreams. He consoled himself with the knowledge that any red-blooded male would react to her just as intensely as he had. That thought did not appease him for long as it brought his mind back to the fact that Raoul now lived with her along with her so called brother. From those two men his contemplating took wing in the direction of Nadir and Darius. They had not really met her, but they had seen her, and looked quite avidly in her direction, damn them.
The thought of going to one of his many women who kept a door open for him did not even enter his mind. Katherine had begun to possess most of his conscious thoughts as well as his unconscious mind. Once in a while Christine came to his mind. Memories were mostly what came to him concerning Christine. One would think after yearning for her for so many years he would be consumed with making her his own. He did still wear the ring, although he no longer touched it throughout the day. He was hardly aware he still wore it. If he gave it some thought he might come to the conclusion he wore it out of habit more than need or love as once was the case.
Erik drew his gaze back up to catch Katherine eyeing him as intently as he had been eyeing her. It was hard to say later who made the first move. Neither one would admit to being the first to move if anyone had asked, or to moving at all. Eyes locked upon one another they drew closer together. When they were only a few inches apart their heads began to move toward each other. Erik's head began to dip down toward Katherine's with his eyes locked hungrily on her lips.
Neither looked away, both seemed to require a great lungful of air. Rapid breaths could be heard. Their lips were within a couple of inches of touching when the door to Erik's office opened just down the hallway. Nadir stepped out holding a sheaf of papers. Not looking up he asked, "Erik could you spare me a few moments? I hate to interrupt, but this is somewhat important." Nadir finally looked up unaware he had disturbed them in a near intimate moment until he saw the quick jerking back of their heads and quick steps they took away from one another.
They had been extraordinarily close to one another. If he was not mistaken it did indeed look as though they had been about to kiss. Had they been just shy of touching lips? They had been that close. Nadir had not missed Erik's head jerking upward as well as back from the woman in front of him. That would indicate he had been in the process of lowering his head. Since Nadir had long ago given up the notion Erik was a vampire, he did not think biting her in the neck had been his goal.
They had quickly stepped back from one another. By the time Nadir looked at them intently, to study them more closely, Erik was pushing around the papers on his now absent, assistant's desk. He saw that Miss Montgomery was quite agitated. Her cheeks were quite flushed. She was biting at her lower lip while her hands fiddled with her gloves and twisted the drawstrings of her cloth bag. She looked everywhere except in Erik's direction.
Looking from one to the other Nadir began to wonder just what he had interrupted. Had a kiss already been exchanged? Taking a closer look at Erik he saw that he had a slight tinge of high color to his cheeks. Recalling how extremely close they had been they had either been about to kiss or were in the middle of a heated argument. Since Nadir had not heard one word issuing from either party he began to suspect the former was the case. Yes indeed he was convinced they had been close to kissing if he had not interrupted them. Perhaps the deed had even already been executed. Mentally Nadir rubbed his hands together.
"We can do this later if you would like to continue your," a short pause then he continued, "discussion." Erik's head snapped toward Nadir at the emphasis on his last word. He narrowed his eyes threateningly at Nadir who seemed oblivious to any such threat.
Erik cleared his throat hoping his voice when he spoke did not contain any of the sexual tension he felt in every nerve of his body. "I believe Miss Montgomery and I were finished, unless you have anything further?" He dared her to contradict him. Katherine was oblivious to his threat just as Nadir had been, as her mind was still reeling from what had almost happened. What would surely have taken place if this Mr. Nadir person, had not interrupted them when he had at just that moment.
Katherine began to question her sanity. How could she have even contemplated kissing such a pigheaded man, someone so chauvinistic? Briefly she wondered if she had chosen the correct word. Having reassured herself she had, she continued mentally berating herself. He had the manners of a camp dog. That moment when she had felt that irresistible pull toward him had been an aberration. It would not happen again.
Erik's irritated voice asking her a question broke her silent reverie. "Miss Montgomery if there is nothing else I would like to continue with my work. It would seem your father has created somewhat of a financial maze for me to work my way through. Just let me make this perfectly clear Miss Montgomery, I will not give up any ownership in any of my recent acquisitions. That includes The Richmond Royal Theatre, soon to be The Richmond Royal Opera House."
He did not need to tell her that her father had already signed over his shares of the whole building to him. He was still working on the warehouses and the other property located around the city. One of which was an apartment that Katherine and her father had shared interest in. Erik would not mind having that apartment as a place he could entertain his women friends for an evening.
"No, no I believe we have concluded our business." Katherine was much too confused to argue with him at the moment. She did not correct his use of the words opera house instead of theatre.
She would take herself to lunch while she sorted through all that had happened. All she needed to do was sit quietly for a few minutes and gather her wits about her. He meant nothing to her, absolutely nothing, other than an irritation in her business. She did not find him attractive in the least. Her dream self may find him irresistible but she did not. Inside her mind shouted loud and clear, liar.
"What exactly was the business matter you wanted to discuss? We seemed to have gotten off track as to the nature of your visit." Erik looked at her quizzically. Katherine scrambled around in her mind to recall what had been her intention when she came here today. Not one intelligent thought came to mind. Her traitorous mind was much too focused on remembering when Mr. Fontaine's lips had been bare inches away from hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face as he had neared just as if it were happening again. Giving herself a mental shake she scolded herself inwardly. She had to stop this kind of thinking right now. Good heavens what if she had actually let him kiss her? The frightening realization was, she would have welcomed his lips on hers. She would even have participated in the exchange. He cheeks reddened with this knowledge. She turned away from him, not willing to let him see how discomfited she was in his presence.
Her body all too willingly reacted to the memory. Her nipples tightened in response. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest. This was not how a lady behaved. She should not be entertaining anything so...well so scandalous. Especially with a man she hardly knew, and one that she disliked for the little she did know about him.
Forcing herself to turn and face the two men she bid them an abrupt farewell. She quickly made her way out of the office. Instead of waiting for that contraption to come up she took the stairs. She hoped the physical exercise would take her mind off of a certain infuriating, although be it, attractive man. It did not work as well as she had hoped. She ran past Billy who had been standing by the information desk.
Once outside in the sunshine and she breathed fresh air she calmed somewhat. She would swear the man's scent was forever imbedded inside her nose and his sensual voice was branded on her mind. As her head cleared she recalled how rude she had been. She had not even waited to be introduced to that man Nadir. She had fled past Billy without so much as a good-day after all his kindness.
To make up for her behavior she would have two complimentary tickets set aside for Billy for the performance by the Saturday night symphony. Every week there was not a play or opera being performed musical presentations were presented to keep money flowing in as well as an interest in the theatre. Raoul had gone over many aspects of all she owned.
She did not know if that man Nadir was a drinking man or not, she would bet he was if he had to deal with Mr. Fontaine on a regular basis. In any case she had sent him a bottle of the finest brandy with an apologetic note for being so rude by not introducing herself or even making an inquiry as to his name. She only knew him as Nadir. Whether that was his first name or last she was unsure.
Entering the theatre she went to the little window which had a sign stating they were open. She approached the opening. Tiptoeing she leaned over the little counter to call out, "Hello? Is anyone here?" She did not want to call too loudly fearing her words would echo around in the lobby, as the ceiling was quite high and it was deserted.
A young man's head popped around the open door just behind the counter. The ticket office was not that big of an area. If she had sit back there for any length of time she would be leaving her position many times over the course of the day. She would not reprimand this person for seeking a little space.
"How may I help you Miss?" The young man eyed her appreciatively. He stood a bit taller as he straightened his jacket and tie.
"I hope you can. I am Miss Katherine Montgomery. I shall be taking a somewhat greater interest in the theatre than I have recently. As for how you can help today, I need two of our best seats. If you would be so kind, please place a note with the tickets that complimentary refreshments are to be given as well I would appreciate it greatly. If you would be so kind as to give me a piece of paper so I could write a note that would be wonderful."
Hells bells, this was the woman the upper echelon was gossiping about. What a real treat this was. Yes a real treat. Damn if she wasn't the best looking woman he had seen in….well, in forever. Wait until he told the guys tonight at the poker game.
"Well Miss Montgomery let me be the first to welcome you to the theatre." Realizing this was not only a good-looking woman, but one who could fire him for deserting his post. Glancing behind him he gestured over his shoulder with his thumb as he said, "Hope you don't mind, Miss Montgomery, but it gets a bit claustrophobic in here at times. I step out into the hallway to take a few refreshing breaths." He bent down under the counter handing her a pen and paper. While Katherine was writing her note he went to the metal box that held all the tickets. He chose two he considered the best.
Katherine instructed him to take the note to Billy Jefferson, the young man who operated the elevator in the annex building. Robert, the young man behind the counter grinned with glee. He and Billy were best friends. They would be seeing each other tonight at the game. They would have plenty to hash over tonight. Robert assured Katherine he'd take care of everything.
The liquor store was happy to serve her. The owner an immigrant saw no difference in the money from one person as opposed to another. his outlook in this matter carried over into his belief that people were pretty much the same once the language and customers barriers were knocked down. When Katherine chose the most expensive bottle in the store he saw his daughters getting those piano lessons they had been wanting.
Having eased her conscience with these two gifts she made her way to Raoul's hotel. After her experience on her first visit to town, Katherine thought it might save everyone some discomfort if she went where she was sure of her welcome. Raoul she knew had made threats to his employees, even if he did not say anything to her about it. The change in attitude would indicate he had a hand in adjusting their attitudes in some way. At least it gave her a place to go when in town other than the theatre where she knew she would be welcome. At least if Mr. Fontaine were not present. She had only ventured into the auditorium once. She had met a few of the people. Everyone seemed nice enough. At least she had heard no outright disparagement from anyone. Today, meeting Robert had been pleasant. He had been quite cordial. Of course she held the jobs of all these people in her hands. They have to be pleasant to her.
Deciding to push all thoughts of business, the theatre and most assuredly Mr. Fontaine from her mind, Katherine took the seat at the table the waiter had shown her. If a certain attractive face along with an equally mesmerizing voice entered her thoughts she chased them away. She could not chase the image of his body pressed firmly to hers as she lay on top of him nor the kiss that almost happened, but had gotten interrupted in the nick of time.
Erik was battling his own recollections of what had nearly taken place earlier. He was seated in his office, the office that had once been Daniel's. Since the day of the confrontation, Daniel had made himself scarce, which in Erik's opinion was for the best. The man had no real part in any of the business now. Since Katherine came back and reclaimed her shares, Erik had simply forced Daniel to sign over his forty- seven percent of the building, which included the theatre. Now if he could convince Hayden to sell him his three percent Erik would have equal control of the theatre and the businesses.
If that woman was going to be taking over Daniel's office Erik wanted to be able to keep track of what she did in there. He could think of only one way to do that without being present. He would install one of his two-way mirrors. He had never made one quite as small as it would have to be to fit behind the mirror that was hanging on the wall at present. Yes, that would work quite nicely. Nadir did not need to know he had taken to spying again. Well really he never had stopped. If something caught his interest he made it his business to know what was going on.
Erik's mind turned to contemplating ways to sway the young man to see the benefit of selling to him. Hayden's godfather had been asking Erik for the last few months to contract as a financial advisor to the governor's planning commission. It would seem the governor had noticed his financial successes. The rate of rebuilding in Virginia was moving at an astounding rate. Projects needed financial overseers to make sure the money was spent in the most lucrative way possible. Erik was seen as an expert even if he had no credentials to support such a label. The governor was pushing for more aid to the mentally handicapped. His programs for bringing public schools forward were well known. He even supported the education of teachers who would later bring education to children.
The man had many things to recommend him. As of yet he had no scandals rattling around in his closet waiting to be freed for public censure. Perhaps Erik would throw his hat into the political arena even if it was only as a non-titled advisor. In the communications he had received it had been hinted that if he aligned himself with Governor John J. Jacob certain concessions could be made in business matters. This had been offered by an underling, but Erik had no need for any shady dealings. He was intelligent enough to make things happen without resorting to blackmail or threats. At least lately that had been the case.
Considering Katherine's current slight discontent with him he may have to revert to his old habits to win control of the theatre, soon to be opera house. He wondered briefly if she would be susceptible to his hypnotizing voice, as Christine and others had been? A smile slid across his face as his mind drifted into fantasyland.
Nadir had been sitting across from Erik for the last twenty minutes watching as Erik sifted through his thoughts. His facial expression changed little so his thoughts were not of the violent nature. He was not planning on eliminating Katherine or anyone he deemed in his way to get what he wanted. Erik had been quite preoccupied with this new woman. He had not said much after his first few days of angry ranting, other than she was an irritating thorn in his paw. Perhaps this little distraction was just what Erik needed to keep his mind off of his former love. A love Nadir deemed to equal a bouquet of flowers that hid a viper. Christine was not what Erik needed. She had only been beneficial to him when she was younger and needed him just as he needed her. Once Erik realized she was a young woman he should have left her alone. He had let his emotions rule his heart and head to a disastrous end.
Erik would not at that time listen to anyone. In the intervening years Erik had come to the realization his obsession with Christine had not been all that healthy or indeed founded in any real love. Not the kind of love a man and woman should have for the one who will nurture their soul. They had shared a destructive type of love that had taken what little sanity and humanity Erik had left. In the throes of his passion with her he had lost himself. She had been all he cared about. Nadir did not want to see Erik fall into that trap again. Not now when he had come so far.
"So Erik, what do you think of your new partner?" Nadir was hoping all the vocalizing Erik had been doing over Katherine Montgomery meant more than he had been infuriated with her for her part in the dent to his ego. Nadir and Darius both had ideas what was going on behind all Erik's loud protestations. He did seem to protest a bit too much as the old saying went, well that was the gist of the saying anyway.
Nadir's question brought Erik's focus away from his inner retrospection. Erik did not wish to delve to deeply into what his feelings for Katherine were just yet so he played ignorant, "Who, Daniel?" He leaned forward looking as if he were interested in the papers before him. If Nadir asked what was printed on the papers he could not have said.
"The young woman who was in here less than a half an hour ago, the one you were nose to nose with when I interrupted you. If one were to make an observation it looked suspiciously close to a kiss to me. If one were inclined to speculate on the matter."
"We...I was...she and I...Damn it we were not about to kiss. Why I...I dislike the woman completely. She...I...we can hardly be in the same room without getting on one another's nerves." Erik cursed his floundering speech. It would seem he had developed a speech impediment, no doubt caused by that woman. This along with the tremors and sweating gave him cause to believe he was allergic to Miss Montgomery or something about her person. For all his intelligence it did not strike him as odd that he was having trouble speaking even though the supposed cause of his symptoms was not present.
Erik could have embraced his assistant when he knocked on the door. He was carrying a wrapped gift that was obviously a bottle of some type of alcoholic beverage. Since Nadir was not really a drinking man Erik assumed it had been sent by one of his women in an attempt to remind him of their existence. Erik stood to take the gift from Arthur's hand. Instead of approaching the desk Arthur went to Nadir's chair and stood in front of him offering the wrapped gift.
"A deliveryman left this for you Mr. Khan."
After Arthur left Erik waited patiently for about twenty seconds then asked, "Well who is it from? Do you have some woman I do not know about?"
Nadir read the note then smiled as he folded it, then, stuck it in his pocket. He unwrapped the gift, his brows rose at the bottle of brandy. The brand guaranteed it was of good quality. It also allowed him to know how much Katherine had paid as it was the brand Erik enjoyed as well as himself once in a while.
"Well?" Erik was irritated that Nadir was keeping something from him. He had to force himself not to tackle Nadir and rest the note from his pocket. He liked his own secrets while hating the fact that others kept them from him.
"Well what my friend?" Nadir had trouble keeping the knowing smile from curving his lips.
"Who sent you such an expensive gift?" Nadir looked like the cat that ate the canary.
"Well if you must know, Mr. I want to know everything while telling nothing, I will tell you." He paused to admire the bottle knowing he was prodding a tiger once again, but it was so seldom he got to tease Erik with anything. It occurred to him a shot would go down pretty smoothly about now. Erik had been particularly irritating of late. He had been out of sorts for some reason not discernable by either Nadir or Darius, other than the fact that Daniel Montgomery had committed an act of larceny by selling him business interests he had no right to sell, at least not his daughter's shares. Nadir was beginning to suspect Erik's temper had more to do with a certain recently returned young woman, who was not Christine. It was all Nadir could do not to jump for joy at the thought of it.
"I am glad you have finally concluded it is useless to try to hide anything from me, now quite stalling. Tell me who sent my brand of brandy to you?"
"Miss Montgomery." Nadir's stark answer took Erik completely by surprise. A streak of some long forgotten emotion gripped him as he looked from the bottle in Nadir's hands to his face. The self-satisfied look on Nadir's face rankled Erik as much as the knowledge that Katherine had taken the time to personally choose a gift for someone who...well someone other than himself. He quickly denied to himself any such objection or slight feeling of jealousy he thought he might be experiencing. That unknown emotion he had felt earlier he would not label as jealousy. It had been three years since he had felt that emotion for any other person. It took him completely by surprise that he was feeling such a strong emotion for a woman he had only met a couple of times and knew not at all.
"What? Who? Why? Why would she send you a gift?" He very much wanted to add, and not me, to the end of that, but he refrained.
Nadir was enthralled by Erik's loss of eloquence. "Yes indeed it is from that young woman. Perhaps she discerned my charm from our brief meeting. She is such a beautiful and charming young woman." Nadir could not help his tendency to poke the tiger again. He really should not, but he so seldom got the chance as Erik rarely showed any emotions about anything other than business or music.
"But...but you do not know her. You...you have not been seeing her without informing me, have you?" Erik glared suspiciously at Nadir. If Nadir had been seeing her behind his back there would be hell to pay, was what Erik was thinking. Why he should feel betrayed or even the least upset by the thought of Nadir seeing Katherine, he knew was ridiculous just as he knew the emotions were there all the same.
"Erik if I were seeing her or any other woman I would not be obliged to inform you. As it will drive you to distraction I will tell you, besides if I do not you will simply invade my privacy looking for any scrap of evidence until you learn all you need to know. I am not now nor have I ever been seeing that young woman. I do wonder if she would be open to an invitation to dinner if I were to ask." Nadir watched for Erik's reaction to his question. He did not have long to wait.
"You...you had best stay away from her. She...I..." Erik could find not one legitimate reason for his objection. His eloquence in speaking seemed to have deserted him yet again.
"Erik I do believe this is the first time I have ever seen you unable to express just exactly what you mean. You are a man who knows how to make his opinions felt and heard. Does this lack of the ability to express simple thought indicate you yourself might have an interest in the young woman?"
Erik began his useless shuffling of papers as he replied with assumed nonchalance before he replied a bit disjointedly, "Do not be ridiculous. That woman...well she and I can barely stand one another. To think that I...that she...Well damn it are you going to sit here all day wasting time? It is a good thing I do not pay you an hourly wage. I would have just wasted a good two hours on this trivial matter. Shall we continue with more important matters instead of idiotic speculation as to whether or not, I may or may not have an interest in some beautiful woman I barely even know?"
"Ah, so you think she is a beautiful woman?" Nadir looked at his watch then smiled as said, "According to my watch we have only been in here for a little over an hour, most of that time you were in meditation. If you spent your private time thinking of the woman am I to blame?"
Erik ignored his last remarks as if he had suddenly been struck with deafness. Suspecting his conversation had ended Nadir said he would return to his own office to finish his work as Erik was so busy all of a sudden.
As Nadir stood up he realized the bottle of brandy he had set on the edge of the desk had mysteriously disappeared. It could only have been taken by Erik. Nadir could have teased him further with this display of childishness, but he felt he had pushed Erik enough for today. A little more and Erik may well let loose his temper. Nadir left the missing bottle as an unexplored and unexplained mystery.
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