Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"What's up with Murray?" Cliff glanced at the man drowning his sorrows in scotch, quietly sliding closer to York.

When they entered, Murray had been sporting a glower that could kill. The lively buzz of the party had noticeably dimmed.

"Somebody got blocked," Ever the instigator, York couldn't help but add fuel to the fire, reveling in the drama.

Murray's face darkened even more at the words.

Crash! He slammed down his wine glass on the glass table, his frustration palpable as he roughly undid the top buttons of his shirt, a hint of aggression in his movements. "I said, stop mentioning her. Can't you understand what I said?"

York just shrugged, opting to stay silent.

The mood shifted instantly. The singers fell silent, and the chatter around them died down, nobody daring to speak up.

Cliff almost choked on his drink. Roseanne was seriously not messing around, huh?

A bit tipsy, Corley leaned in and whispered to Cliff, "Did Roseanne come back yet?"

Cliff just shook his head and mumbled something noncommittal, not daring to say much.

got the hint, guessing Roseanne probably

someone suggested, "How about a game of Truth or Dare?" Everyone quickly caught on, eager

or Dare," announced a woman

over here. We've got a spot

beside Murray, the club's star attraction and no stranger

disinterested. "Have fun, you guys. I'm out

behind a group of stunned faces and a Janie, who had lost

bar, the driver asked Murray where to

of brandy, Murray felt his head

of the empty mansion, he muttered, "To the

and the assistant, ready to leave, was

Murray's irritation. Usually, Roseanne would nag him about his irregular schedule around this time, playfully demanding he go to bed

"Wrapping up

answered humbly, "Yes, Mr. Sherwood.

uncomfortably in his stomach. He turned pale. "Could you get me some soup? From the best

fast and came back within twenty minutes with a

upon opening it, he couldn't hide his displeasure. "Why is