The Affair

Chapter 2 *

Raoul woke up early the next morning. He stepped out of bed and got dressed before slowly walking out and down the hall, "Christine?" he called.

"She left, Monsieur." Henrietta spoke up after a few moments, "Said she was going on a walk." she said.

"It's six in the morning." he replied, "Where's Annette?"

"She's in bed, Monsieur." she answered.

"Why?" he asked, his tone changed to a little more of a stern one.

"She told me about you two. Said she felt awful and that she was going to bed, Monsieur." she looked at him with a look that could only be described as a shameful one, making sure he saw it before she continued to clean.

He ignored what she'd said and looked down the hall for a moment, then back at her, "Did Christine say anything before she left?"

"Yes she did." she said, then walked into the next room to dust.

He paused, then followed, "Well? What was it?"

"Oh, Monsieur. I was instructed not to tell you." she looked to him.

"Instructed? Not to tell me? Last time I checked this is my home and you, Henrietta, you work for me." he raised his voice slightly, "Tell me."

She looked to the floor, his raised tone made her feel uneasy and not exactly safe, she stuttered for a moment, trying to make out words. She didn't want to rat out her friend, but she knew she may have to if she wanted to keep her job,  "Um- Well, I- Um..."

"Spit it out!" he snapped, he stepped closer to her, "Now, Henrietta."

"M-Monsieur, I swore!" she let out.

"You have 3 seconds to tell me before I call to have you removed from this house." he threatened.

"No." Henrietta said quietly.

"One." He started.

"Monsieur De Chagny, please!" she said.

"Two."

"Stop it!"

"Three." he stepped closer to her and pushed her up against the wall, "You should have told me."

She looked at him, she'd never seen him so violent and angry the entire time she's worked for him,  "You used to be so kind. Please... please stop."

"You don't know me." he snapped again, irritated with her strong will to keep his wife's whereabouts a secret.

"Please, Monsieur- I-I'll tell you."

He promptly let her go, "Talk."

"She's at the opera house, Monsieur. She's been going every morning with your son for weeks." she spoke with a quiet, shaky voice.

"Good. Now leave. You're fired."

"What? Please don't- I did what you wanted! If you make me leave, then...  then I'll- I'll tell Christine. Everything." she threatened him.

"You wouldn't dare." he stepped closer to her again, "I'll make sure you're never hired by anyone again."

"Then what have I got to lose, Monsieur," she said quickly.

"I have to go." he narrowed his eyes at her and clenched his jaw, "You can stay. You won't say a word." he stormed out of the room and walked out the door after grabbing his jacket, "Get my horse." He said bitterly to Gerard, the stable attendee.

"Yes, Monsieur." he responded and went to the stable.

Raoul sat and watched the sun slowly rise, in the midst of all the beauty he was watching, his mind raced with pure confusion and anger. Confused as to what the hell his wife may be doing at that god forsaken place and angry that she was there at all. When he felt that he had been waiting too long he shouted, "Gerard!"

"Here you are, Monsieur." he responded promptly, coming with his horse.

He looked at him,however, said nothing and hopped onto his horse before riding off. He rode straight to the opera house, he put his horse in the stables and practically stormed inside, "Christine?" he repeatedly shouted as he looked around. He walked up the stairs and to Madame Giry's office and knocked, "Giry!"

Madame Giry, quietly sitting at her desk, glanced up at the door, startled a bit by the abrupt and loud knock on the door. She slowly got up and answered it, "May I help you?" she asked as the door opened, "Oh. Monsieur De Chagny, how are you? Is everything alright?"

"Where's my wife." he demanded, ignoring her kind gestures.

"It's awfully early, Monsieur, how can you be sure she's here?"

"I was told she came here."

"I haven't seen her." she said, keeping her kind demeanor,  "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Nothing. I don't understand why she's here, or why she would even come here after... everything."

"That was years ago." she explained, "He's long gone now." her tone became a bitter one.

"Why do you seem so mad about it, I have every right to be completely worried."

"You know why," her tone became increasingly more agitated, "You may leave now, Monsieur." she didn't hesitate to shut the door in his face.

"Giry!" he yelped and held his nose, he then huffed and stormed off, however, he didn't leave. He proceeded to search around the opera house.