A MAZE OF GREED

Florence was confused to see Rees with Thea and Ruth. How could Edwin O'Dell's bodyguard be connected with these poor women?

"You work in 'the great manor'." It was a statement. She knew that she was right about it but only wanted to confirm her guess.

Rees nodded his head with a passive face.

Florence glanced over him from head to toe, and with every passing moment, Thea's fists clenched even more in anger.

"I am surprised that we have not met before, Rees. But now that we have then I would like to have a conversation with you. I hope you do not mind it!"

Florence intentionally called Rees by his first name alone, even after he pointed it out to Claire. She smirked when he saw Rees clenching his jaw.

"So tell me, Rees. How is your Lord doing? I am sure he must be missing me after realising his mistake." Florence was desperate to know about Edwin.

After she was insulted by Edwin in 'the great manor', she tried her ways to get back to him but failed. The guard at the gates also denied her any information or access in 'the great manor'.

Any day could not be great than this. She had a chance to know about Edwin.

"I do not think you need to worry about Master. And yes, he is doing well after committing that mistake." Rees emphasised the word mistake sarcastically.

Florence's eyes hardened at his reply. She did not expect that answer.

"How dare you talk to me like this? Who do you think you are? You are just a low life, a pathetic servant!" Her voice raised by an octave, and so did Thea's bubbling anger.

But Rees was calm. He knew how to deal with this kind of person. Although he was a prince charming for many women, he had also faced some of their wraths. They always bad mouthed about him, threatened him when he was assigned to take care of them by Edwin.

"Florence, one more word and I will forget that you have ever helped Ruth. Do not cross your limits." Thea threatened.

Ruth rubbed her hands on each other nervously. She did not expect this turn of tables.

"Thea, let go. Please!" She whispered pleadingly.

But that only drew Florence's attention to hers. She walked towards the three of them with glaring eyes.

"Oh, little miss Innocent. What did you say that day to me? That I have no morals?! Then what are you doing with the O'Dell's loyal dog? Thea, my dear, has your friend told you how she repaid my generosity by insulting me and questioning my morals?"

Florence's every word was filled with venom that she spat at their faces aggressively.

Claire was confused. She did not know what had transpired between these four before. But she was shocked to hear that Rees worked for the O'Dells. She had many questions to ask, but she thought this time was for watch and enjoy. She kept those questions for later.

"Of course, she has told me everything, Florence. You do not need to repeat that. And what she did and what she said to you was right. You deserved it irrespective of your generosity. And if you insult my man one more time I would strangle you with my bare hands." Thea fumed.

Ruth gulped down the lump formed in her throat. An unsettling feeling coiled inside the pit of her stomach.

"Florence, please. Stop it!" Ruth tried again.

Rees tried his best to control himself. Every insult that Florence threw his mate and best friend's way angered his wolf. But he could not show it.

"What? Little miss Innocent has learned to speak up after all. Yes, Claire?" Florence looked back at the smirking girl who scoffed at Ruth.

"But I wonder how? Is this because of your man here? Let me guess, you have finally showed up your true colours, have not you? Using a man to gain money and comfort. Or may be two best friends are not sharing only the gossips but also a man. You do not need to hide it, Ruth. Stop pretending for God's sake!"

Ruth felt disgusted at her words. She wished the earth to part and swallow her whole. Finally, tears of anger and humiliation rolled down her eyes.

That was not the first time that Florence had said such things. But she kept disregarding them. But now that Florence had tainted her friendship with Rees, Ruth could not contain her anger anymore.

"Florence! I am warning you for the last time. Stop throwing garbage out of your mouth. You filthy woman! The man you are talking about is my fiancée and Ruth's best friend.

But how can a slut like you understand that a man and a woman can share a platonic relationship and that is called friendship?!

All you have seen in a man is money and greed. You do not understand the words like love and friendship because you are not capable of understanding their meaning. What else can we expect from a prostitute like you, who only knows how to use men for money and to satisfy her physical needs?!"

Thea's chest heaved up and down with anger. She looked like a she-wolf ready to pounce on her enemy to tear them apart. Rees looked at her in surprise. He knew that his mate was outspoken and did not care when she gets mad but this was the first time he was witnessing her that side.

Florence shook with fury from head to toe. Ruth gasped with wide eyes as she stared between Thea and Florence.

Before anyone could comprehend anything, Ruth's eyes widened more as Florence lift her hand to slap Thea. But before it could collide with Thea's cheek, Ruth held it.

Rees was stunned. He was distracted by looking at his mate and did not expect Florence to react that aggressively.

"FLORENCE!" Ruth's voice thundered in the premises of the building that drew people out of their homes.

Florence threw daggers at Ruth. She could not believe that a timid woman dared to stop her and raise her voice on her.

Ruth was more than furious. Her hazel eyes radiated anger. She was being patient, but when Florence crossed her line by attempting to slap Thea, something inside Ruth came breaking loose, and then she lost it.

Placing her frame between the two women, Ruth glared straight into Florence's eyes. Florence tried to wriggle her hand to get free from Ruth's clutches, but the woman she considered weak turned out to be stronger than she seemed.

"How dare you, bitch? Leave my hand!" Florence yelled while people watched the scene unfolding with shocked eyes and mouths wide open.

Rees was quick to drape his hand around Thea's shoulder as she leaned in his side. He was stunned, to say the least.

"Ruth!" Thea tried, but Ruth did not listen.

Words fell on her ears, but she was long gone away from the sense of rationality to succumb to her eminent feelings.

Her hold on Florence's hand grew painfully that Florence's face contorted in pain.

"You are doing all this because of these worthless people. Have you forgotten how I helped you with your rent when your landlord was about to throw you out?! It was me who saved you the humiliation and spending life on the streets. Where were your friends then?

It was me who helped you. And now you are repaying my kindness with this? Look, everybody. Look what an ungrateful woman she is. Her innocence and morals are only disguising that she uses to fool us. This is who she really is. Look.. look at her!"

Claire discreetly stepped back to become a part of the spectators. This had been stretched too far, and she did not wish to be a part of it.

People murmured between each other. They were shocked to see Ruth like that.

Taking a threatening step towards Florence, Ruth's gaze drilled through Florence's soul. She struggled but stopped immediately when Ruth commanded, "Look at me!"

Florence was nervous. She looked into Ruth's hazel eyes as if she was summoned to do so willingly or unwillingly.

"I accept that you helped me once, and I am truly grateful for that. I have also repaid you by making a dress for you. I have already saved the remaining amount from my wages, and I will give it to you.

You insulted me, humiliated me, questioned my chastity. But I stayed silent. I heard it all, bore it all because you once helped me. But this time you have crossed your limits, Florence!"

Ruth's every word came stronger and firm. She neither hesitated nor stuttered while speaking. Her eyes did not leave Florence's. Rees strained his ears to listen to her steadily beating heart.

He could not say that Ruth was furious if he had not witnessed the incident that just happened with his eyes.

"This is the last time I am warning you. If you have a problem with me because I saved your embarrassment that day and tried to talk sense into you, then take it all on me.

If you want to crawl on your four while begging for a man's attention, then you are free to do so. I do not care! I stopped caring about that the day you showed me your true colours. If I see you insulting my friends one more time, I promise you will not like the consequences.

Is that clear?"

Rees watched as Florence struggled to say otherwise, but somehow she ended up nodding her head as if someone had made her do that forcefully.

Her eyes were wide with fear. The shock was clearly visible in her brown hazel orbs. Tears gathered into them, but her heart- it ran at the same and steady pace.

"Now you will apologise to my friends. Right NOW!"

Ruth's eyes hardened more than before. She did not know what got into her that led her to this bravery. All she knew at that moment was that she was extremely furious, and after that something changed inside her. But she did not know what, and neither she cared at that time.

Florence's hand was still in Ruth's tight grip. Unable to look away from Ruth's hazel eyes, her lips parted then quivered slightly.

"I-I am sorry. Please forgive me for misbehaving with you." The words left her mouth, and she meant it. But Rees doubted if they came from her heart or it was something else.

Even after Florence's apology, Ruth did not move even an inch. Florence looked scared, but she could not move either.

Sensing the strange aura around him, Rees's wolf stirred in his chest. He inhaled deeply to know what made his wolf react, and all he could smell was Ruth's anger.

"Rees, please do something!" He heard Thea whispering in urge beside him.

He slowly extended his hand to place it on Ruth's shoulder.

"Ruth!" He called gently.

He felt her body turning stiff under his palm, but he did not move his hand, rather pressed it further on her shoulder. As if breaking from some kind of trance, Ruth's body relaxed slowly.

She retreated her hand with lightning speed as if Florence's touch had burned her skin. Her eyes scanned the shocked faces of her neighbours. She did not know why everyone was staring at her like that.

What happened?

'Did I do something stupid?' She questioned worryingly.

The moment Ruth freed Florence, she fell on the ground when her knees could not hold her weight anymore. When Ruth again looked down at her, Florence's eyes screamed nothing but fear as if she had seen a ghost with four heads. She scrambled back away from Ruth, trying to keep a safe distance between them.

Not wasting another minute, Rees took Ruth's hand in his and hurried to her room with Thea following them after the last glance in Florence's way.