AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Wednesday October 4^th, 2000
Tiffany forced a smile as Clark opened the front door of the townhouse and walked into the living room.  From her desk in the dining area she could see that he wasn't very happy.  Her boss had become increasingly difficult to please in the past few days.
"Hi Clark, how did your meeting go?"
"Okay until I stopped by the accountant's office," he said placing his briefcase on the floor.
"Oh," she said as the ringing of the phone interrupted her.
"Manhattan Party Planning", Tiffany answered.
"What do you mean calling here accusing me of other women when you might get fired for fooling around with the clients?'"  Skeeter said angrily into the phone.
"What are you talking about?"  Tiffany said wondering how he would know she had problems at work.
"I mean the word gets around about you Tiffany.  Some of my clients use your party planning business and the rumors are flying that you are too fast with the clients," he said in his southern drawl pulling his arm away from Jan as she tugged on his sleeve trying to stop him.
"Who?  Who are the clients that said that?" she asked softly watching Clark take off his jacket and hang it on the coat hanger by the door.  He picked up his briefcase and started back towards her desk.
"More than one Tiffany.  I know.  I just got a call from a man that said you made moves on all of the clients there," he lied.  "What's the matter? Your Amir doesn't have enough money to keep you happy?"
"There's nothing to this.  I have to go," she said watching Clark's stern face  as he approached her desk.
"What's the matter Tiffany the money ain't satisfying you?"
"I said I have to go Skeeter," she said feeling her face burn with anger.  She glanced up and saw Clark stop walking and watch her when he heard her accidentally mention Skeeter's name.
"You're a disgrace Tiffany.  I'm glad I left you," he lied for Jan's benefit as she stood next to him motioning for him to hang up the phone.
"I left you," she said and hung up the phone with shaking hands.
She watched as Clark walked over to her desk never taking his eyes off of her.
"That was Skeeter on the phone?"
"Yeah"
"We need to talk," Clark said taking a seat beside her desk with a solemn expression on his face.

"What did you do that for Skeeter?" Jan asked as he slammed the phone on the receiver so hard that he almost broke it.
"You told me she's about to lose her job cause she's messin' with the clients.  What do you expect from me."
"Don't you think she might know that I told you?"  Jan asked still stunned at his quick temper.
"How would she know?"
"She might ask you which one of your clients use Clark's party planning business," she said loving the thought of Tiffany being suspicious.
"She'll never figure it out."
"Why do you care what she does?"  Jan asked rubbing his arm trying to calm him down.
"Cause we're still legally married.  I ain't havin' my wife making a fool out of me," he said with narrowing eyes as he looked at the phone thinking about calling her back again.
"You're not the fool Skeeter.  She is. Maybe it's time you got rid of her.  She's probably only still married to you hoping to get your money too", Jan said as her fingers stroked the hair on the back of his neck.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.
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