A MAZE OF GREED

A man was clad in a black dress, his neatly combed medium coffee brown hairs that were tousled some time back was busy talking with the guest. A servant passed beside him after offering a drink that the man accepted gladly. He needed it then. The guests around him were all women of different ages. Their eyes glinted with excitement as some of them took the measures to throw suggestive glances at the man.

Ruth's eyes couldn't miss the group as it stood out in the hall. She was still getting a hold of the happenings. Her eyes couldn't decide where to stop for more than a few seconds as they were taking in the surroundings hungrily. Her brain worked hard to keep all those memories safe and fresh in her mind for the rest of her life, for there was no way that she would get another chance to look at any of them.

Ruth couldn't shift her attention away from the group for some reason. Unlike other groups that consisted of men and women, this group had six women and only one man in the centre. She didn't miss the stolen glares at him from other men. She wondered who this man was, that had popularity in only females.

He enjoyed his drink while a woman to his left talked animatedly about something. From this far Ruth couldn't hear their conversation, but she guessed that the woman was talking about the diamond-studded necklace that rested around her neck. She was gliding her fingers over the piece of jewellery time and again as she flashed it to the people around her. The other women held jealously and distaste look on their pretty faces. But that man's face was not visible as his back was facing Ruth's direction.

Before the first woman finished her talk, another one jumped into the conversation while others' faces exhibited resentment. It was clear that the women were only trying to get the man's attention.

"Thea, who is that man over there? He looks.... familiar." Ruth asked her friend, Thea, who forgot to utter a word contrary to her nature as she had already busied her mind in imagining her life as one of those cultured women.

Ruth's question brought Thea out of her fantasy land. "Who?" She asked unfocused.

"There! The one in black dress and coffee brown hair in between a circle of those women." Ruth pointed the group through the crowd.

Thea watched whom her friend was pointing. She carefully observed the features of the man and thought that he indeed looked familiar. Before she said something, the man turned around when another woman in a white dress came towards him. The man was no one other than Edwin O'Dell!

Though Ruth and Thea saw him only some time ago, he looked very different from then. His hairs were perfectly styled backwards, showing his large forehead. His oval shape face had high and sharp cheekbones with a pointed chin. He had a clean-shaven look with side whiskers. He smiled warmly at the woman, who came calling his name, showing off the dimples on his cheeks.

"Hello, Elsie! Are you having a good time?" Edwin shifted his attention to his younger cousin. His action made the faces of all the ladies in the group fell.

Edwin was not in a mood to entertain the women who would do anything to get in his good books. It was no secret that Edwin was a gal-sneaker. He used his charm, and god gifted looks to woo the women. And the title of the sole heir of O'Dell legacy was just a cherry on the top. Every woman dreamed of getting a part of his time at least once. Some for fame and money while some for the physical pleasures.

"Brother Edwin, where were you? Mother and I were looking for you." Elsie asked in concern.

At the same time, the maid named Fannie, who was with Edwin in the backside corridor of the manor, passed from their side. Edwin held her gaze as a sly grin appeared on his sculpted face.

The maid rushed away from them, and Edwin pulled his gaze away from her. "I was doing some important work." He said casually.

Elsie caught the underlying meaning of his words. There was no doubt that Elsie loved her cousin very much. They grew up together, and as an older brother, he took her care since childhood. He was always there for her when she needed someone to rely upon.

After her mother's unexpected death, she felt alone. She never shared a close bond with her father, Augustus. And her elder sister Eloise was not a person to be friendly or get connected with. Then came Theodora. Elsie was around four years old when her father married Theodora after a year then his first wife passed away. Little Elsie was getting a hold of the fact that her mother went to God's abode when she had told to call another stranger as a mother.

Even when Theodora didn't really try to fill the place of her mother, she maintained a healthy relationship with her. Eloise never came to the terms that Theodora had replaced her mother's place. She was hostile towards Theodora. But Elsie took efforts to maintain a good relationship with her new mother on the advice of Edwin.

Edwin had lost his parents when he was a child. So, he shared empathy with the sisters. But he was closer to Elsie as she was the youngest one in the family.

Edwin understood that Elsie knew what was the important work that held him back for a while by looking at her displeased expressions. "Why were you looking for me? Do you need anything?" He asked in an attempt to change the topic.

Elsie slid the thought of what her elder brother might have been doing aside. She smiled as Lester joined them. "Brother Edwin, do you recognise him?"

Edwin cocked his head while studying the features of a man who was around his age. "Nice to see you again, Idiot!" Lester flashed a bright smile in Edwin's way.

Edwin's eyes widened in realisation. He pulled Lester in a brotherly hug as his face radiated happiness. "Lester?! I can't believe it's you. Where were you all these years, Rascal?"

Lester pulled away from the embrace after patting Edwin's wide shoulders. "Life is an unfair thing, my dear friend!"

Both men laughed heartily and one could tell how happy they were to meet each other. They were childhood friends and had spent many days with each other. The crazy incidences of their childhood and friendship was always a topic of discussion in both families.

Ruth watched in awe how Edwin's features changed him within a short time. He was a gal-sneaker when he was with the maid. He was an arrogant, spoiled man when he talked with the servants. He was a charismatic man with women. He was a gentle and caring brother to Elsie. He was a good friend of Lester. And when he laughed like there was no care in the world, he looked like a 'normal' man.

Who is the real Edwin O'Dell? Ruth thought.

"She is Elsie O'Dell."

"Uh?" Ruth glanced at her friend, Thea.

Thea pointed in the direction of the trio. "The girl in the white dress. She is the younger daughter of Augustus O'Dell and cousin of Edwin O'Dell. But I don't know who that other man is. Well, he is good looking nonetheless." Thea giggled.

"Shhh... keep your voice down." Ruth warned her overexcited friend.

Thea nodded her head in agreement. A question came in Ruth's mind.

"Where are Augustus O'Dell and his wife? I have heard so much about them." She asked.

Thea moved her eyes over the crowd in the hall.. "There!" She exclaimed when she found the right people.