AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Thursday August 16^th 2001
Tiffany opened the door to the townhouse where she worked near Washington Square Park and closed the door behind her.
"Is that you Tiffany?" her boss Clark called out from upstairs.
"Yes Clark," she said walking to her desk and taking a seat. She had dreaded coming to work this morning after the talk they had yesterday evening.  He had told her he wanted her to be interviewed by the media and tell them that she had met her lover the mayoral candidate Amir while employed at his business Manhattan Party Planning. Clark seemed to think the publicity would help spark bookings for his sagging party planning business in the downward economy.
"Morning," Clark said walking down the stairs quickly towards her desk.
"Mornin' Clark."
"I guess you saw the interview that Starlene did for the "London Link" TV reporter?" Clark asked smiling.
"Yeah.  I saw it Clark. I had no idea she was going to do something like that although I shouldn't be surprised.  Starlene loves publicity."
"Yeah. It's great."
"You like it?"
"Tiffany I know I put you on the spot about wanting you to be interviewed.   I know you feel loyalty for Amir and don't want to hurt his chances of being elected.  Now that Starlene has spoken up I've gotten the publicity I need and you don't have to say anything, yet."
"Yet?  You mean you still think I should be interviewed and talk about my private relationship with Amir?"
"Tiffany New York is a tough town.  If you want to make it you have to be very competitive.  I'm just saying you should use something like this to your advantage.  Think it over.  You don't have to decide now, but it would be the smart thing to do."
"I'm not comfortable with it Clark.  My relationship with Amir is personal."
"Not any more Tiffany.  It's on the front page of the newspaper and it's all over the web.  You've gotten more hits than Pamela Anderson," he said smiling.
"I could just die," she said imagining the photo that was circulating on the web that she hadn't seen yet of her and Amir kissing on the veranda of his Upper East Side mansion.  A detective had taken a picture of them when her sundress had fallen open revealing her bare chest.  The newspaper had at least put a blurry spot over her bosom but on the web the original photo was circulating, so she had heard . 
"Look it was really a nice picture, don't feel so badly."
"You've seen the original?"
"Yeah.  A friend of mine in LA emailed me a copy," he said glancing at her sweater.
"I'm so humiliated Clark," she said feeling the tears coming to her eyes.
"You're all woman Tiffany.  There's nothing to feel so bad about.  It's not like you posed for the photo."
"But what if this ruins Amir's chances of becoming Mayor?"
"You can't help it Tiffany. Look Amir's been having fun with you.  He's just as much to blame here.  I wouldn't look at it this way.  If he were ruined then he probably wouldn't have won anyway.  You may as well get the most out of this as you can.  Are you busy tonight?"
"No why?"
"I've picked up a new client and I'm catering their party tonight.  They requested that you attend."
"Whose party?"
"The London Link TV Network.  I can count on you to attend, right?" Clark asked picking up his briefcase and walking towards the front door.
"I guess…." Tiffany hesitated feeling more awkward every minute.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.