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

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

Dare," announced a woman who had

got a

Murray, the club's star attraction and no stranger to keeping Murray company.

suddenly stood up, obviously disinterested. "Have

of stunned faces and a Janie, who

the driver asked Murray where to go

a few glasses of brandy, Murray felt

mansion, he muttered, "To

at night, and the assistant, ready to leave, was surprised to see Murray

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

said coldly, "Wrapping up for

"Yes, Mr. Sherwood.

but felt a pang of hunger and the alcohol stirring uncomfortably in his

assistant was fast and came back within twenty minutes with

couldn't hide his displeasure. "Why