AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Friday February 8th 2002
"What do you mean Nicole might not be working here much longer if you aren't firing her?  Did she quit?" Starlene asked her older wealthy lover.  He held her arm walking with her quickly towards the lobby of his offices in the Empire State Building.
"I can't go into it right now.  Just go home okay?" he said in an urgent whisper as the receptionist looked up as they approached her desk.
"Did you fire her or not?"
"No. I didn't fire her."
"Then why do you say she might not be working here?  Are you trying to get rid of me so that you can be alone with her Stanley Morgan?" Starlene asked frowning. The memory of catching him with his secretary Nicole on the sofa in his office a couple of days ago was still very fresh in her memory.
"No.  Starlene, I need to talk to her that's all."
"Then I should be able to stay in the office with you.  How can I trust you again Stanley?"
"Starlene, I'm going to tell you something and I want you to keep your mouth shut about it, okay?" Stanley said pulling her closer to him as he whispered.
"Okay. I won't say a word," she said.  She glanced towards her confidant and Stanley's receptionist to see if she was listening to the conversation.  She watched as the receptionist quickly looked away when Stanley turned to look her way.
"Nicole's Father is a very important man and he doesn't want Nicole working here anymore."
"How do you know?" she asked worried that her interfering might have put her lover in a worse situation than she had anticipated.
"I talked to him on the phone a few minutes ago. Now just go home Starlene and I'll call you later."
"Why don't I just wait here?"
"It would be better for you to go home.  I'll have my car drive you if you want," he suggested knowing how much she loved to ride in his limo.
"Well…." She hesitated considering the offer.
"I'll call you later," he said not waiting for her answer but turning and walking back down the hallway towards Nicole's office.
"Wow!  What was that all about Starlene?" the receptionist whispered.
"I'm not sure, but I think we're getting rid of Nicole."
"I know you're happy about that."
"I'll believe it when I see it too," Starlene said as the phone on the receptionist's desk started to ring. Starlene walked to the coat rack and put on her coat.
"Stanley Morgan's offices," the receptionist answered.
"Is Nicole there?" a man asked.
"Nicole's in a meeting right now," the receptionist said glancing up at Starlene and winking.
Starlene quickly walked back to the receptionist's desk with her coat unbuttoned.
"Can you interrupt her, this is important," the caller said.
"No I can't. She's in a meeting with Mr. Morgan."
"This is her boyfriend Vinny."
"Yeah. I thought that was you Vinny," the receptionist said nodding her head at Starlene and smiling.
"Is Starlene there?"
"Could you hold on Vinny?"
"Sure," he said as he heard the receptionist hit the hold button and Madonna sang "Like a Virgin" in the background.
"He wants to speak to you Starlene. Do you want to talk to him?" she asked as Starlene quickly took off her coat and grabbed the phone on the desk.
"Vinny where are you?"
"In Florida.  Nicole's old man fired me."
"Why? Cause he's mad enough to kill, Starlene."
"Kill who?" Starlene asked feeling her legs weakening.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.