AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Friday February 22nd 2002
"Is Father in his office?"  Jan asked as she walked into the lobby of Stanley Morgan's office in the Empire State Building.
"I'll see Miss Morgan," the receptionist said starting to pick up the phone on her desk.
"You'll see!  Either he is or he isn't for God sake.  Don't treat me like a pedestrian," Jan said walking past the young receptionist towards her Father's office.  She quickly pushed open the door.
"You have to do something about that bimbo…" Jan said slamming the door as she walked into her Father's office. Stanley was sitting at his desk facing the window overlooking the skyline of the city as he slowly turned in his plush leather office chair to face his daughter.
"What's the matter with you?" Jan asked noticing her Father's ghostly white face.
"What?" he asked loosening his tie.
"Father what's the matter with you?" Jan asked taking a seat and opening her checkbook.  She planned to go over her expenses with him and get a raise in her yearly allowance.
"Nothing," he said picking up his empty water glass and putting it to his mouth.
"There is something wrong.  Tell me what it is because I need to talk to you about this budget," she said starting to lose patience.
"It's just Nicole's Father…." He said starting to light his cigar as he felt another pain in his chest and immediately placed the cigar back into the ashtray.
"Nicole's Father? You hired the little tramp, what else does he want?"
"He came by the office. It seems that Nicole's boyfriend got jealous over the photo shoot that Nicole was planning to do for Playbody.  Her boyfriend somehow got the proofs and showed them to her Father."
"He can't be angry with you. She wanted the job and you only arranged for the editors to interview her."
"He didn't see it that way."
"So her Father is angry with you, or her boyfriend is angry with you?"
"Both."
"Do they know that Nicole threw herself on you?" Jan asked referring to the fact that several people knew her Father had been intimate with his young secretary.
"He seems to be suspicious," Stanley said lighting the cigar and rubbing his chest.
"Where is her Father now?"
"He went back to Florida."
"Then there you go, you don't have to worry about it.  Fire her."
"She doesn't want to quit."
"If you fire her, it's not her choice," Jan said smiling smugly.
"Her Father won't have his little girl hurt."
"Call a head hunter.  Get her a job as a waitress or something," Jan said opening her checkbook hoping to get on with the budget discussion.
"That's not the kind of position he has in mind."
"Well, so what.  Who does he think he is?  He can't come up here from Florida and run your business like that."
"I think I have to find something else for Nicole right away."
"Well, I'm sorry Father.  I hope you'll straighten this mess out. I need to talk to you about my yearly budget.  I need more funding," she said smiling sweetly.
"I don't know Jan."
"What do you mean you don't know?  I need more money, you give it to me," she said waving her hand as if that were final.
"I'll have to talk with the accountant.  It might have to wait," Stanley said rubbing his forehead.
"Wait?" she asked shocked. "We're rich. I've never had to wait."
"I have to pay Nicole first," Stanley said his voice strained and trailing off as he turned his back to her to look out of the window.
"Nicole!  But surely it's not that much money," Jan said her heart racing in fear.
CONTINUED MONDAY. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.