Unmasqued

Perhaps someday, she would even enter the Opera House auditorium through the huge, sweeping staircase.

"Monsieur Moncharmin," called Madame Giry, seeing the flare of his dark cloak as he disappeared around the corner early the morning after Christine Daae's maiden solo performance. "Please wait for a moment."

When she caught up with him, she saw that his little round cheeks had turned apple red, and that he avoided looking her in the eye. However, his attention seemed to be caught and trapped by her generous bosom, covered modestly by her high-necked gown, but jutting out like a wide shelf, nevertheless.

Bien. This would make her task much easier. She gave a large, shuddering breath, sending her breasts jiggling mightily.

"Yes, Madame Giry?" he asked in a choked voice.

"I have something for you, monsieur. It is a letter." She handed him the stiff parchment, folded over and closed with a bloodred seal. Armand Moncharmin's name was written on it in sharp, bold black ink.

"What is this?" Armand was peering at the seal, no doubt trying to discern the intertwining initials on it. "O.Q.?"

"It says O.G. For 'Opera Ghost.' "

This statement garnered her the first full-faced look from the portly man. "Opera Ghost? Mon Dieu, what lunacy are you speaking of? That imbecilic rumor that caused Carlotta to run out on us last evening?"

"The Opera Ghost. Surely Messieurs Debienne and Poligny told you about their contract with him when they turned the house over to you?"

"Contract?" Armand had broken the seal and was scanning the letter. As Madame Giry was well aware of its contents, she refrained from speaking. "Salary? Box Five? What is this?" He appeared to have no problems looking her in the eye now that the subject of finances had been broached.

"It is very simple. The Opera Ghost wishes to have his monthly salary paid, which, for this month, you owe him approximately twenty-three thousand francs. Debienne and Poligny did pay him for the first ten days, as I believe he noted.

"The Opera Ghost also insists that you continue to keep Box Five-you know it, the one just next to the stage-available for him at all times. He was quite annoyed last evening when he attempted to enter the box and learned that you had let it out. In turn, he will keep his end of the bargain by keeping out of your way. In other words, you will need to continue the contract he had with the previous managers in order to be left in peace, which, I must say, he sorely wishes to do."

"We cannot-twenty-four thousand francs? Box Five? We cannot afford to do that!" Armand sputtered.

"But I do not see how you cannot," Madame Giry told him gently. She really was looking forward to getting him out of those trousers. He was no more substantial than a plump teddy bear-even with all of his bluff and bluster. She could not hold back a smile at the thought. Perhaps…

"Shall I take you to see Box Five?" she asked. Erik would not mind; he normally did not come up from his underground lair during the morning hours. Madame Giry slipped her arm under Armand's and gently but firmly turned him in the proper direction. She was taller than he was, helped by the heels of her shoes and also genetics, and the top of his head came just to her chin. That would be a lovely change, to have a man with such easy access to her very sensitive breasts. Perhaps, in order to give the poor man some warning of the delights to come, she would endeavor to trip and stumble against him when they walked down the steps from the managers' offices, where they were now, to the foyer of the Opera House.

After all, she had not obtained the coveted position of the Opera House's ballet mistress by being shy and retiring. Indeed, she had been a magnificent dancer in her day and perhaps could have gone on to be as renowned as La Sorelli if not for the unfortunate injury to her left ankle fifteen years ago.

She could still dance, of course, but her ankle could not hold her weight as well, and Maude would do nothing if she could not do it perfectly Thus, partly because of her talent and her reputation for hard work and perfection, and partly because she had grown up helping her mother at the ballet school, she was able to attain the position as the ballet mistress at the conservatoire. And when the Opera House was inaugurated a decade ago, Maude brought some of her rats with her to the new theater. Of course, it had not hurt that she had demonstrated her other… skills to the messieurs Debienne and Poligny for years. They had had quite a comfortable arrangement.

"I am quite certain I know which one is Box Five. It is the one that has always been reserved by Debienne and Poligny," Armand replied, but he did not sound convinced. Perhaps it was the massive shelf of her jutting breasts that had distracted him. But, no, to Maude's annoyance, he was back on another topic almost immediately. "And what is this about Christine Daae? I can barely read the creature's writing."