AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Thursday May 16th 2002
The sound of the bed bumping into the wall upstairs had stopped.  Tiffany glanced up as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs in the townhouse where she worked. 
"How are you doing Tiffany?" Stanley said walking towards her desk adjusting his tie.
"I'm fine Stanley," she said looking down to avoid his eyes.
"Do you have any coffee left?" he asked taking a seat at her desk.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Could I have some?" he asked.
"Sure," she said getting up and walking towards the kitchen. She poured the last cup of coffee from the coffeepot and turned it off.  She walked back towards the living room through the swinging doors and saw that Stanley was on the phone.  He smiled at her and hung up his cell phone when he saw her coming towards him.
"Here," she said handing him the coffee and taking a seat at her desk.
"How's life Tiffany?" he asked taking a sip of his coffee.
"Fine," she said looking down at her appointment book hoping to avoid his eyes.  She wondered how he could so calmly sit at her desk after being upstairs with Nicole.  She heard the water turn on in the shower upstairs.
"I guess Nicole is finally going to get dressed," Tiffany said.
"Look Tiffany.  Nothing happened between Nicole and me just now," Stanley said watching Tiffany's face.
"I didn't say that it did, did I Stanley?"
"Well, I know it looked kinda funny."
"Oh.  I don't think funny was the word I had in mind Stanley."
"She's like that Tiffany.  Nicole's fast.  You're a different kind of woman. You wouldn't think of inviting me upstairs if you were only wearing a sheer robe like that."
"Never."
"See.  Well, I know Nicole.  I thought she might try to seduce me.  I wanted to talk to her."
"Oh.  You only talked to her for an hour," Tiffany said.
"Look, nothing happened.  I gave your sister Starlene a diamond ring. I don't want her upset."
"Then you don't want me to tell Starlene?"
"Of course not.  It would only upset her.  I told you nothing happened just now.  Nicole's marrying Clark."
"Are you marrying Starlene?"
"I gave her a big diamond didn't I?"
"That doesn't mean you're marrying her does it Stanley?"
"We'll see."
"What if Nicole's Father finds out you were up there with her?'
"Tiffany that's one of the reasons I had to talk to poor Nicole.  She's mixed up. Her Father is so intimidating. That's probably why the girl is the way she is. She needed to talk."
"I see.  I still don't think her Father would like that.  That's why he had her transferred here so you wouldn't be around her anymore Stanley."
"Tiffany.  Look.  There were only three people in this office today. You are the only one that has a problem with us talking alone.  If this goes any further, it's will be you that said something. Is that understood?"
"Yes Stanley.   It sure is understood."
The phone on the desk rang and Tiffany quickly picked it up. "Manhattan Party Planning," she answered.
"Tiffany.  Are you busy?" Starlene asked.
"No Starlene, I'm not busy," Tiffany said as Stanley placed his coffee cup on her desk.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.