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Imbri took the hallway leading to the grand stage and was instantly rewarded

with numerous staff members. She was amazed at how many were there, and she

finally eased her mind with the comfort of knowing this would be wise decision.



She stood tall and allowed her voice to carry over the constant chit chatter

that went on below her.



"Excuse me. Hello." All eyes flew to her and she smiled. "Hi, and welcome to

all whom have decided to acquire employment with us. My name is Imbri Garet. I

have had a lifelong dream of acquiring this magnificent opera since I was a

child. And I want to thank each of you for helping me accomplish this dream. I

know in the past the horror that befell here, and I want to assure that everyone

understands what happened occurred because of a man's passion for his love and

the love of a woman whom did not return it. I also want it to be known that the

man that held residence here will always have his memory kept alive. To do so,

we will restore the opera just as he created it.”



“I will need all of your help to make this place live the way it did before.

Dancers and singers alike are charged with repairs, cleaning, and more. You

will be paid slightly higher than your normal salary for your work.” She

stepped off the stage and heard a man's voice filled with contempt



“So we have a woman as an owner and now she wants to make slaves of her

artists."



Imbri looked down and saw a man of considerable size and a very lean frame. "If

you do not care to make this opera grand again, then you will need to look

elsewhere for employment, Jean Patrick. But I know that you lost your position

at the theater and that is why you are here, so let’s not play games and get

started, shall we."



She had picked a secluded spot so that she might clean in silence. As she

cleaned, she dropped the broom and bent to pick it up. Something fell from her

person and she looked to where it had fallen. She saw the menacing skull

grinning up at her. She felt the shock once more. She had forgotten the letter

and looked around to see if she was being watched. She could feel that

something watched her. It was an odd feeling and it made her nervous. She

stuffed the letter in her cloak pocket and made for the safety of the garden.

The sun was starting to set and she took in the beauty of it all. She felt

happy once again as her dreams of fixing up the opera became reality. She saw a

small bench and sat upon it to read the letter for which she held fear. She

carefully broke the seal, and the skull broke in half as she opened it.



The writing was intricate like some wonderful masterpiece.



. . . . . .



Hello Mademoiselle Garet,

I am pleased to see that you have acquired a taste for the Phantoms vision. I

assure you, it has not gone unnoticed. I also wanted to extend my gratitude for

getting under way with repairing my Opera House.



On that note, I require to meet with you regarding some personal issues

pertaining to how my theater should be run. I am willing to forego my salary in

return for your services. I will meet you in the garden at exactly six a clock.



Yours Sincerely, O.G.



P.S.: Your beauty exceeds you, Mademoiselle. The world seems to be at your

hand, as will I.



. . . . . .



I stared at it for a while and touched the rose I had shoved inside my hair. I

took the rose out and wanted to throw it to the ground. How dare these men try

to make a fool of her! She knew that they thought they had to sweet talk her

because of her gender. She was contemplating her first employee fire when she

almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of a voice.