AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Wednesday September 18th 2002
"I don't know exactly how to tell you this Clark," Tiffany said as her heart raced in fear.  She knew her boss wanted to fire her because his new bride Nicole wanted her out of the way.
"We've always been honest with each other Tiffany.  You've worked for me four years.  I think you can understand though. I don't have much of a choice here.  Nicole's father is booking parties for me to do in Florida.  Jan wants to handle the business while I'm gone, but Nicole doesn't like Jan."
"Do you think it's because Nicole had the affair with Jan's father Stanley?" Tiffany asked hoping that reminding him of the truth would wake him up to the fact his new wife was a cheater.
"I don't think there was anything to that."
"Clark.  With all due respect…Nicole was caught with Stanley. Starlene caught them together on the sofa in his office," she stopped short of reminding him of the intimacy they had been sharing when Starlene opened the door.
"That was before Nicole met me.  It didn't mean anything and they probably were just kidding around," he said shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, maybe all of that is why Nicole doesn't like Jan.  Not that I'm defending Jan or anything," she said realizing that she certainly didn't want to have to work with Jan if she could possibly help it.
"I know. I know you don't like Jan."
"I'd work with her while you're gone though… if I need to."
"The truth is I think I'm going to have to let you go. Nicole and I've talked it over and that seems like the only way."
"Me?  Who would take care of the business?  I'm sorry but Nicole's never answered the phone or booked a party here," Tiffany said her voice cracking in pain.
"She's my wife now and I have to trust her.  I can fly back and forth a lot."
"She wants you to fire me because she knows…" Tiffany said wiping tears from her eyes and looking down to avoid his gaze.
"Knows what?"
"I saw Nicole.  I saw her somewhere she wasn't supposed to be Clark."
"What? What are you talking about Tiffany?"
"I don't know how to tell you this?"
"What? If there's something you want to say then just say it."
"Starlene and I were having coffee yesterday and we saw Nicole coming out of my estranged husband Skeeter's apartment building."
"Skeeter?" he said his eyes narrowing as he watched her.
"Yeah."
"Nicole's got an apartment over on Bleecker Street near his. That's probably what you saw.  She goes over to water the plants."
"I certainly do know which building my husband lives in Clark. That was my apartment before Skeeter moved to New York."
"There has to be a mistake.  I know Nicki can explain this.  I'll ask her," he said sure that Tiffany was lying to him to keep her job.
"I think she wants me fired because she knows I saw her. Maybe she wasn't seeing Skeeter, but I called his apartment and I think I heard her voice in the background too."
"Oh, that's enough.  That's more than enough Tiffany.  I think you need to clean out your desk now," he said jumping up from the chair and walking towards the stairs to go up to his office as the front door opened and Nicole walked in.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.