AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Thursday February 21st 2002
"Could I get your some coffee Mr. Montorsol?"  Stanley said putting his hand on the intercom ready to buzz his receptionist.
"No. No coffee," Nicole's Father said lighting his cigar and glancing at the view of the skyline from the window of Stanley's office in the Empire State Building.
"Oh.  I smoke too," Stanley said lighting the cigar in this ashtray.  "That makes two things we have in common already."
"What is other thing?" Mr. Montorsol asked in his thick Italian accent.
"My wife died leaving me with a daughter to raise too," Stanley said hoping this would ease the tension between the two men.
"Then you understand my position."
"Uh.  Yes.  I certainly do," Stanley said not really knowing what position Nicole's Father was taking since he just dropped by.  Stanley glanced at the well-dressed older man with the dark hair and graying temples.  He remembered the story Nicole had told him about the death of her homeroom teacher after she had been caught in the supply room intimate with the older man.
"A man protects his family," he said tapping his cigar on the brass ashtray that Stanley had slid across the desk for him.
"Absolutely.  My daughter isn't married either. I hope that changes one day soon."
"Now we cut the crap.  I come here to discuss my Nicole and the pictures Vinny show me."
"Vinny?" Stanley said hoping to appear innocent.
"Her boyfriend.  He come to my office and show me pictures of my Nicole for Playbody Magazine.  Vinny tells me you arrange these pictures for my daughter to model for this magazine."
"Well.  I know the editor and Nicole wanted the job."
"Your daughter poses for this magazine?"
"Well, no. No.  My daughter didn't," Stanley hesitated thinking about how different his straight-laced daughter Jan was from the beautiful Nicole.
"Of course not. You want the best for your daughter, no?"
"Yes."
"Then why would you think my Nicole should do this?"
"She wanted to."
"Why didn't you ask first for permission for such a young woman?" he said suddenly pounding his fist on Stanley's mahogany desk.
"I did ask her if it was okay with her family.  And she said yes."
"I talked to you on phone before you hire my Nicole.  I thought you uomini d'onore."
"Excuse me?" Stanley said choking as he felt the now familiar pain in his chest return.
"Man of honor. I trust my Nicole to you.  My only daughter."
"I asked her if she talked to you about the pictures.  I'm sorry," Stanley said glancing at his cigar and re-examining his urge to smoke after he felt another pain.
"Vinny told me that there might have been more to this than just the pictures," he said raising his eyebrows in suspicion.
"No.  No.  Of course not," Stanley lied shaking his head. He tried to avoid looking in the direction of the sofa where he and Nicole had spent many lunch hours sharing intimacies.
"Good.  That I would never forgive. Never."
"Of course not," Stanley said feeling the perspiration on the back of his neck.
"You tell this editor I better not ever see another picture of my Nicole like that."
"I will certainly relay your message.  I'm glad we understand each other," Stanley said feeling some relief.
"Now we discuss my Nicole's future."
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.