AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Tuesday June 11th 2002
Clark opened the door to his townhouse near Washington Square Park.  He walked inside closing the door behind him.
"How did it go at the Plaza?" Tiffany asked as she watched him walk towards her desk.
"Oh. Okay I guess," he said taking a seat on the sofa.
"Where's Nicole? I thought she went with you to the Plaza to plan the engagement party that Stanley so generously offered to host."
"Oh she did.  But then we ended up riding around town for a while afterwards and she was almost late for her meeting with her Father."
"I didn't know he was in town."
"He just came into town.  One of his business associates called and there was some kind of emergency meeting he had to go to."
"Well, have you and Nicole set the date for the engagement party?"
"No, not yet.  We are going to talk to her Father and see when it's convenient for him."
"Do you like her Father?"
"I guess."
"What's the matter Clark.  You seem uncertain or something."
"It's just that… I don't know. I shouldn't be telling you my problems."
"What?  Go ahead. We're friends too."
"I wonder if I should marry Nicole," he said thinking about catching her the other day at the Plaza with Stanley.
"Why do you say that?"
"I just hope I can trust her."
"Have you talked to her about your insecurities?"
"Yeah. She's assured me that she is in love with only me."
"So?"
"She says that your sister Starlene is the problem.  That Starlene is so jealous.  She said that's why Stanley had her transferred over here to work for me. She said that Stanley feels guilty and that's why he's offered to pay for the engagement party at the Plaza. That's why they met at the Plaza the other day."
"Do you believe that?"
"I want to. Believe me, I want to."
"Well, what's keeping you from believing it?
"When I saw them together having lunch at the Plaza that day. They hadn't seen me and…" he stopped and rubbed his forehead with his hand.
"What?"
"I thought they looked like two people that were talking intimately…you know?"
"Maybe it just looked that way," Tiffany said not wanting to tell her boss how much her sister Starlene had overheard of the phone call between Stanley and Nicole.
"I noticed that he had his arm around her, and she was so close to him."
"Maybe it was just an accident."
"He had lipstick on his collar too."
"Oh…" Tiffany said looking down to avoid his eyes.
"Nicole said that she thinks Stanley has a thing for his secretary and that's how the lipstick got there."
"I don't know.  I don't think Stanley is having an affair with his secretary."
"What does your sister say about all of this Tiffany?  I mean I know she is jealous of Stanley and Nicole.  But what does she say?'
"Clark. Do you really want to know the truth?"
"Yes.  I have to," he said looking into her eyes pleadingly.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.