Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Murray suddenly pulled back his hand, looking nervous. "I'm so sorry, Anne. I didn't mean to... I don't even know what got into me... I just didn't want you running off, getting away from me..."

"Don't touch me!" Roseanne clutched her head, pain welling up so fiercely it threatened to bring tears to her eyes.

Just then, Cliff finally arrived, huffing and puffing, with Corley in tow.

"Are you okay?" Corley brushed past Murray, rushing to Roseanne's side, his voice thick with concern.

Corley had been at a business cocktail party when Cliff called. He was about to seal a $60 million deal that evening. But the moment he heard Roseanne might be in trouble, he ditched his clients and bolted. Racing through the streets, he made it in ten minutes, catching up with Cliff right at the corner.

Without exchanging a word, they headed straight to Roseanne's apartment building, only to find Murray losing his cool.

Roseanne shied away from Murray's advances and equally repelled Corley's attempt at comfort.

She stepped back, and only then did the overpowering scent of his cologne start to fade. She shook her head slowly, "I'm fine now." Corley's gaze fell on her disheveled hair, noticing the redness swelling on a large patch of her scalp, yet she insisted she was fine.

"You're a woman, you know. There's no need to always play the tough guy," he said, a hint of tenderness in his voice.

"Who

can. What are you gonna do about

his eyes the only giveaway to his simmering

this bastard here? To mock me? Or to let him hit on my girl right in front of

loss for words, managing only a bitter

frowned. "If you're angry, take it out somewhere else. Cliff came here because he considers you a bro. Otherwise,

scoffed,

Don't forget, Roseanne is my

broke up

we broke up? Ever heard of 'brothers before others'? How could you go

I'm not mistaken, it was you who initiated the breakup at

Murray was momentarily speechless.

at Roseanne, saying, "You go

Roseanne frowned.

trust me," Corley

nodded at her