AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Friday August 30th 2002
Tiffany watched as her boss Clark walked past her desk towards the stairs to go up to his office.
"Clark…" she said.
"What?" he snapped turning to look at her.
"Jan's back in town?" she asked referring to the remark he made earlier that she should be out of the office while he went into a meeting with Jan. Tiffany had always suspected that Jan was secretly seeing her estranged husband Skeeter and that was probably why Jan wanted Clark to fire her. Jan never made it a secret that she hated Tiffany's younger sister Starlene and was furious that Starlene was involved romantically with her wealthy older Father Stanley. 
"Yes.  She's been abroad visiting friends. We'll be going over business for several hours. You may as well go out.  I know you resent her," he said staring at her from the foot of the stairs in his townhouse where they worked.
"Would you like for me to order lunch for the two of you before I go?"
"No.  We'll go over some business plans and then I might take her out to lunch. If Nicole comes back in time the three of us might go out together," he said referring to his new bride.
"Oh. Okay," Tiffany said as she watched him turn and walk up the stairs towards his office.
Tiffany quickly picked up the phone and hit speed dial to her apartment overlooking Washington Square Park.
"Hello" Starlene answered as she flipped through the channels on the TV with the remote looking for the report showing Tiffany's lover Amir leaving their apartment building last night.
"Hi Starlene," Tiffany said holding back the tears.
"Hi. I still haven't seen that tape of Amir that made Clark so mad."
"I'm sure they'll play it on the evening news again."
"What did he say when you had to hang up just now," Starlene asked referring to their conversation a few minutes ago when Tiffany had to hang up quickly because Clark came downstairs.
"Oh God.  It just keeps getting worse and worse," Tiffany said as her voice cracked and fresh tears fell dampening her cheeks.
"What now?  What could be any worse than your boss accusing you of having something to do with your married lovers' wife's disappearance," Starlene said giving up and tossing the remote on the sofa.
"Jan.  Jan's coming over."
"Oh God. That's the worst ever. When did that nasty woman get back in town?"
"I guess last night."
"Oh no. Now she'll be causing me trouble with Stanley. Just when I've got him almost ready to commit to a date to get married," Starlene said worried that Jan's father would put a halt to their wedding plans.
"I think the trouble will start with me," Tiffany said.  "She's coming by here and he doesn't want me around. He said they will be talking over business.  I'm afraid he's going to fire me," Tiffany said reaching for a Kleenex.
"It might be the best thing. Then you wouldn't have to be there."
"But I need a job. There aren't that many jobs around Starlene. Damn Skeeter I just know he called the reporters last night when he stopped by and knew Amir was in the apartment with me.  I knew Skeeter wouldn't leave that easily. He's too mean. He had to be sure that I got punished."
"Well, I wouldn't worry about Skeeter now.  You've got enough on your mind. Why don't you come home and we'll have a nice lunch?" Starlene asked feeling sorry for her sister.
"No.  I've got something I'm going to do," Tiffany said as anger started to slowly replace her sorrow.
"What?"
"I'm going to Skeeter's apartment. I'm sick of him. I just know he called the reporters and that's causing me all of this trouble."
"I don't think you should do that Tiffany."
"Why not?"
"It might make matters worse."
"It can't get any worse Starlene. I'm going now," she said hanging up the phone.
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Skeeter watched Nicole get out of his bed and walk towards the bathroom.  "I'm glad your honeymoon didn't slow you down Baby. I was afraid Clark might be enough for you," he said as he admired her firm young body.
"I told you everything would be okay Skeeter.  Didn't I?" she said turning to smile at him.
CONTINUED MONDAY. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.