After The Opera Burned || Phantom Of The Opera

Chapter 32 - Questions

A/N: I can't believe we're coming up on the final chapters of After the Opera Burned! This is going to feel so surreal when I finish this story. Only a couple of more chapters left my dears.

"Shoo! Everyone back to your awaiting positions!" Madame Giry quietly yelled to the rest of the cast and crew, flinging her arms as they scrambled back to their positions as instructed. Madame then turned to her dazed daughter, watching her starry eyed demeanor as she realized her daughter had a true taste of stardom tonight with all the attention she received. She placed her hand on her daughter's exposed shoulder, seemingly obtaining her complete attention, "You Meg, astounded this stage tonight. He will be quite pleased with you as I am sure you are aware."

Meg nodded as the smile on her face only grew wider. She then felt her mother practically dragging her off of the stage so that the show may continue, catching a slight glimpse of Gangle rushing towards the stage that the audience could easily view. Meg could not fathom how they were going to clean up all of those flowers but she was sure there were more then where that came from.

"Come Meg, let us get you changed as they do the final act. Surely there might be a reporter or two, as well as some investors that you could charm with your innocence," Madame continued, walking her back to the dressing room from where she felt as an angel only moments before. Meg still  felt as if she were an angel, her hair still in place and her dress still sparkling in the dim light she had within the room.

Meg continued to stand in place as her mother lifted the heavy fabric off of her petite frame, setting it back onto its hanger as she raided the wardrobe for another outfit that would charm, or even seduce, some of the prospective investors. Her mother searched until she found a dark green dress more suitable for such an arrangement, only slightly more flattering than the dress she wore on stage and not as poofy of a skirt. Her shoulders were covered with long sleeves but it left some of her cleavage  shown as the rest of the cloth hugged her every curve in the most flattering of ways. The dress also had lace details surrounding the edges of the seems to which she found pleasing. Her mother then quickly let down her updo and fixed some of the curls that had gotten tangled from before, giving her hair a relaxed curled demeanor as she touched up her makeup. In a few minutes, Meg looked as if she were ready to wine and dine with the finest in New York City and she was prepared for it with Erik at her side. In fact with Erik at her side she could do anything. Suddenly she felt something soft be placed upon her head, to which she looked up and noticed a matching green hat with two feathers sticking out was placed on her head. Meg mentally sighed, knowing this was the current high-class fashion trend in New York.

"Now Meg," Madame began, snapping Meg from her thoughts, "these men are going to say some disturbing things or words you do not necessarily understand. Play the part, flirt a little even-"

"But I don't want to flirt with them," Meg interrupted, looking at her mother oddly as her hands fell from the hat above her head, "I love him mother."

Her mother ignored her comment, fixing Meg's cleavage only slightly to make it more appealing, "and as I am sure you are aware, we need more money to keep this dream alive. We all have a part to play Meg, play yours."

Meg bit her inner lip at her words, fighting back her anger as she spoke, "If I have to stoop so low as to flirt with men for the sake of this dream it is not worth it. No, I will not go there again."

Madame paused at her words, releasing her hands as she looked at her daughter, "what do you mean again?"

Meg's eyes widened at the realization of what she just said, shaking her head so she did not answer her question. Before Madame could inquire further, the applause from the theatre could be heard through the dressing room door and Gangle stepped inside quickly, shutting the door behind him.