He remembered himself and his gaze darkened. "Do not bring a girl in from the street again. I cannot provide sanctuary for all the prost - rats of Paris." He quickly changed his choice of words, in case Grace was... who she reminded him of. The coincidences were just so uncanny. And it would be safer and probably healthier for them both to remain in the dark. He drew in his mind, a line that if crossed, could never be redrawn.

   "Alright."

   "And do not interfere with something that does not involve you."

   "I cannot promise that."

   "You will. I could have fired you for what you did today. I will not hesitate -"

   "Sir, I know what you are capable of. I am told, no, I understand, that you are a musical genius. More talented and gifted than any Greek muse. You are feared and adored, wealthy, handsome, as far as I can tell, and you have a kind heart caged by glass and unfeeling stone. You run a stable business. You create masterpieces of art, work with passion and determination. But you, monsieur, you still have an arrogant, cruel, intelligent personality. Anyone would be lucky to work for you. But I could work for the King or president of France, I could work for Shakespeare, or Zeus, or Hades themselves, and if they told me to do something that was wrong or to sit by when something happened that went against what I believed in, I would not do it. You could throw me out onto the street right now, and yes, I would feel regret, but only for not convincing you that what I feel is important. I would not regret refusing to change myself. You of all people should know this."

   Again, he wanted to slap her and give her a standing ovation at the same time. He settled for letting her keep her position. Erik admitted the dark, blistering cold fire of life and insistence burning in her eyes was not that different from his own. She was a stupidly stubborn girl. But she was innocently stupid and stubborn, and hiding a caking of dirt with a façade. An emotional mask similar to his own physical one. He warred with his mouth. It wanted to smile while he didn't want it to.

   "Very well. I admire outspokenness. You shall stay, but please, try to teach your strong sense of common decency to your colleagues. Just limit it though, I can't have them interfering in brawls."

   He opened the office door to let her out, adding, "And be careful around Guy. He doesn't let go of grudges easily. Tell Lefay if he tries something and I'll handle him for you." Wouldn't want him to taint our innocent angel of dance, would we?

  Grace nodded, looking at the floor. She didn't want to lie, but she did not feel the need to keep her guard up around Guy. She felt what they had was simply a small tussle. She had been through worse. She wouldn't look at Erik, not wanting him to see her thoughts reflecting in her eyes. Her eyes strayed to his shoes. Black and shiny.

  Hmm. For a man who seemed to pop out of the woodwork, lurked in shadows, and pulled girls off of men with ease, he was quite adept at keeping a spotless appearance.

   Erik recognized her avoiding eye contact, and guessed her lie.

   "Grace," he purred, bringing a hand under her chin to make her look at him. "You will tell me if Guy disturbs you, and you will be cautious from now on." His voice had turned silky, seductive, dominant, and compelling. The golden eyes staring into hers with a startling intensity were the same way. His voice... his eyes... they were so enchanting. Hypnotic....

  Grace's own eyes fluttered their lashes, and her mouth opened to agree. But the words he expected to hear did not come out. The script he wrote for her was rewritten by her.

   "No! This is wrong!" What was he doing to her? Grace fled, horrified.

   Something small cracked inside Erik. Never before had anyone broken his hypnotic spell. That skill had helped him kill... had brought him Christina.... His prey had always dropped their defenses and walked willingly into his nooses, his lassos, or his strangling hands and spidery arms. The skill was one of his greatest weapons, and an unimportant little ballet dancer had broken free from his seducing web. A cold shiver traveled up his spine, and stopped, warming something else inside him. What emotion that signified, he did not know.