AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Wednesday September 27^th, 2000
"I might have said something like that to Jan," Clark finally admitted as he discussed his assistant's job performance.  He couldn't help but feel sorry for Tiffany as he watched the tears roll down her cheeks.
"Clark, she was really mean to me while you were out of the office.  She told me that you weren't happy with me and that she was told to watch over me."
"Tiffany she's right.  This has gone on a long time.  I've told you repeatedly that any press romantically linking an employee of mine to Amir could be damaging.  This shooting incident was especially harmful.  Your ex-husband being accused of shooting my client's bodyguard…that's bad press Tiffany.  I did warn you when I hired you that you would be terminated if you became involved with the clients," he said never allowing his face to soften.
"So you did say all of those mean things Jan said?" Tiffany said as her voice broke in pain..
"I don't know word for word what I said or what she said, but yes I talked to her."
"She was really nasty to me Clark.  She went through my personal appointment book and everything."
"She has a right and she's the client."
"She has a right to talk to me any way she wants?  You don't care?"
"You and Jan aren't ever going to get along are you Tiffany?"
"I'm trying Clark.  I'm really trying."
"Maybe it's not going to work out."
"Please don't say that.  I love my job Clark.  I'm not doing anything wrong.  I'll try even harder," she pleaded as the tears flowed more readily.
"Yeah, but we've had this conversation before.  Now we have this newspaper report of Skeeter hiring a law firm.  He might sue my best client Amir.  It's getting harder and harder for me Tiffany," he said watching her wipe her face with a tissue.
"We have the opening party coming up soon.  I'm working really hard on that.  You'll see everything will be fine.  Please give me a chance.  I can't help what Skeeter does."
"Okay, but I'm warning you Tiffany.  There can't be anymore problems with you and client involvement.  The last party the press went on and on about the shooting instead of the publicity I wanted and needed about the party.  If anything else goes wrong I could lose Amir as a client because of you."
"Nothing will happen, you'll see," she said knowing that Amir would never take his business somewhere else as long as he was in love with her.
"It better not.  I have a list of people that would like to have your job and I can't afford to keep giving you chances."
"Is it a list of people that Jan gave you?" she asked remembering how Jan had said she would provide Clark with someone more suitable for the job.
"There you go again.  See what I mean?  I don't know Tiffany.  I don't know if you can work with Jan.  This has been an ongoing problem."
"No.  I just asked because she told me that she had a list of people that she wanted to work here," Tiffany said hoping surely he would see how unfair this was to her.
"Jan does have a lot of people that she could send me."
"Can't you see how that would make me feel, just a little?"
"I think it better make you try harder to keep appearances good for the sake of your job."
"I mean that Jan threatened me with this while you were out. She's not my boss.  Can't you see how that would hurt?  That's all I'm saying."
"Jan is one of the most influential people in New York City.  Her Father could buy and sell most anyone.  She works with Amir.  She brought Amir's business to me.  Jan is your boss.  Jan is my boss.  You either like it, or you leave," he said coldly.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.
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