Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Murray, let me fix your tie for you."

"Heh... I'm wearing a black shirt today."

Millie paused, a look of confusion crossing her face. "I know."

Forget it.

Murray gave up, thinking to himself that sometimes it's best to leave things unsaid when you're not on the same page.

A black shirt with a mixed-color tie, huh....

Only her kind of aesthetic could come up with such a combination.

Murray brushed off her hands, "If you can't do it right, don't bother doing it at all."

Without waiting for Millie's reaction, he strode away.

...

As night fell, Murray wrapped up his work and left the office.

Settling into his car, he lit a cigarette and lingered without starting the engine.

Once the cigarette had burned down, he stamped out the butt and drove off.

He didn't feel like going back to his mansion, so he ended up driving along the river, making a couple of loops.

called during the drive,

he found himself back at the

usual, he got scolded for his sloppy

something special with

like our little alley's getting quite the lineup of fancy cars lately, huh?

"Yeah, a Porsche!"

"Exactly, what's the deal?"

...

downstairs to take out

behind his windshield, Murray

dress today, her hair had grown longer, gently cascading down her back, and she wore flip-flops, looking effortlessly chic and relaxed. Murray got out of the car, ready to follow her, but

"Mr. Sherwood, fancy

"Move!"

Murray grew impatient. Owen stood his

you're one of the Reynolds, I won't take

voice was calm, unbothered: "Does Mr. Sherwood have

I do?! None

is every

just out of civic duty? You don't

remained unchanged,

How long have you known

of time means

El.ne

together and can't make it work, while others just

they're meant to