AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Wednesday July 17th 2002
Tiffany watched as Clark walked down the stairs and placed the last suitcase beside the door of his townhouse.
"That's it. Nicole really packed a lot of clothes," he said pausing to catch his breath.
"Where is Nicole?" Tiffany asked.
"She's over at her apartment on Bleecker Street this morning.  My driver and I will pick her up to go to the airport in about an hour. She's packing up some stuff in her apartment before we leave."
"This really is a sudden turn of events isn't it?" Tiffany asked as he walked towards her desk and took a seat.
"Yeah. Oh well, it might be better this way."
"You mean getting married quickly like this?"
"Yeah.  My parents would have invited so many people.  It would have been a huge wedding.  Getting married suddenly on a yacht in Florida has probably saved me from having to be around a lot of my family I don't really care to see anyway," Clark said smiling.
"Gee, can you believe it Clark.  When you come back you'll be a married man," Tiffany said smiling.
"Yeah.  It's hard to believe."
"I guess Nicole's excited too?" Tiffany asked.
"She seems to be.  Although I think she wanted to have the wedding here at the Plaza.  She tried to talk her Father into it, but he said no."
"Do you mean he never once told Nicole that he planned to tell the reporters of the arrangements until after he made the announcement on live TV?"
"Never once.  That really made her angry but she said that's the way her Father has always run her life."
"That has to be hard," Tiffany said.
"Yeah.  She was ready to cancel the engagement after our party, just because of her Father.
"You didn't tell me that."
"She was really angry."
"Were you?"
"Yeah, I was upset because I have my family and a business.  It was so sudden."
"Did you tell her Father you were upset too?"
"Yeah.  But he made me see things his way. He's going to help me.  I don't think there's anything I need to worry about."
"Help you?" Tiffany asked wondering how Nicole's Father that was a reported crime boss would help Clark in his party planning business.
"He said he can throw plenty of business my way. Plenty," Clark said his eyes widening as he thought about the money he'd make.
"I see," Tiffany said watching him thoughtfully.
"That's why he wants us to marry right away. He said if we wait until Christmas we'll miss all of the parties he can throw my way."
"But his business is in Florida, Clark."
"Yeah.  I know.  That's something I wanted to talk to you about," he said looking down and starting to pick lint off his trousers.
"What?"
"Things are probably going to change some after Nicole and I get married," he said as the door opened and his driver walked in.
"Mr. Masters, we have to leave now for the airport. There's been an accident on the bridge and traffic is backed up," the driver said.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.