A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin and Ruth were about to share their first kiss after confessing their love for each other. When their lips were only a few centimetres apart, Edwin's body stiffened, his eyes darkened.

It was a good thing that Ruth had her eyes closed, in the anticipation of their first kiss. Her eyes flew open when she lost his warmth around her. She saw him facing the other side by showing his back to her.

Ruth was confused and still in the daze. She did not understand what happened.

"E-Edwin?" She slowly took a step forward and placed her hand on his back.

She could feel his tensed muscles twitching under her touch. She was shocked to see that his wound had almost healed and only scars left. But how?

She was taken aback when he whirled around speedily and began picking one of the shirts she had thrown previously on the floor.

"Edwin what is going on?" She asked desperately.

He avoided meeting her eyes, for he knew he could not bear to see the hurt and disappointment in them.

"I have to go." He said in urgency while he wore the shirt he thought was too tight for him.

Ruth knew it was a lie before, and it was proved by the way it fitted well on his muscular body.

"Where?" She demanded.

He could sense the change in her tone, yet he tried acting oblivious to it.

"I have something important to do." He answered while buttoning up his shirt.

Ruth was angry and frustrated. She could not take it anymore.

"You did not remember this important thing when you were teasing me. You did not remmeber it when we... when we were about to ki-"

Ruth stopped without completing her sentence. She felt embarrassed that she thought they were going to kiss. She thought she had all of his attention. Little did she know that although he was present with her physically, his mind was somewhere else.

Edwin faced her finally. As he had expected, the look on her face tore his heart apart. He instantly regretted looking at her, but then... he needed to take accountability for this situation.

"I am sorry!" That was all he had to offer.

"Sorry? Seriously Edwin?! Every time we come close to each other, you have to step back. Why? This is not the first time we have shared such an intimate moment. You freaking confessed your love, Edwin!

And then the next moment, you are running away from me as if... as if something about me repulses you. Is it so Edwin? Am I not worth your complete attention?" Ruth was crying by now.

The things she was feeling since the beginning of their budding relationship made their way in the form of her salty tears.

"Ruth, it is not like that." Edwin tried telling her.

"Then how is it, huh? Why do I have to be the one watching you run away from me? Why do you need to stop yourself from... from touching me? Why can not we share our first kiss like every other couple?

Why do we have to keep suppressing our emotions? Why?" He could feel her frustration from her words. Her small hazel eyes were waiting patiently and expectantly for his answer.

Though he had them, he could not tell her just now.

"Ruth" He called her name earnestly, in a hope that it would calm her down.

"You can not leave before you answer me first!" Ruth declared.

Edwin clenched his fists to his side. Everyone was waiting for him. Lester told it was an emergency. Edwin was short on time.

Looking at her with a face void of any expressions, Edwin said, "Please understand that I really need to go. I promise I will give all the answers at the right ime. But now, I must go! I am sorry!"

And then he left. He left, leaving her behind alone, shattered and hurt.

*

*

*

Miles away, in Vincardine Augustus's meeting room was filled with Theodora, Douglas and Harold. They all were there with different intentions but with the same mood.

They were concerned due to the recent events.

"Who would have imagined that Edwin would change so dramatically and began acting on his will?" Douglas said.

"He kept us all believing in his pretence of negligence when he was actually paving his way to the heights." Harold added.

"Gentlemen, we can not change what is actually done, but we have to see that it should not keep going like this." Theodora pointed.

Augustus, who was silent for long, finally nodded in agreement with his wife.

"Edwin is a threat for every one of us and also to our allies. We can not do much about his authority as a leader, but if he assumes the complete charge of the O'Dell business then we all will be on his hit list." Augustus reminded them.

"No, My Lord. We can not afford that. We have already invested a large sum for expansion of our trade. Our and our friends' ineterest is invested in it. Edwin will not spare any of us for keeping the large share of profit for ourselves."Douglas voiced out his worry.

He had to take cautious steps to reach this point. For him, his business was the foremost priority. He even had Theodora wrapped around his finger so that he could use her for the benefit of his business.

And if Edwin comes into the picture, then it all would go in vain.

"Harold, you look little lost." Augustus pointed.

Harold had a deep frown on his face as he removed his hand from under his chin before saying, "I am wondering what has caused this sudden change in him? Something must have encouraged him to come out of his facade."

A silence fell on the table as they all tried to think about it.

"As per my information, he has not visited a single brothel in months. He even has not invited any woman to his bed. He has stopped consuming alcohol and spending on nuisance things." Harold had his eyes everywhere.

And Douglas was not behind too. "He is spending most of his time in his ofice or in his training. I have noticed some changes him recently, My Lord. He has become... mature than before. We have not heard about his reckless actions and their consequences lately."

For once, Harold agreed with Douglas. "Instead, what we are getting is increasing support and praises for him."

Augustus clenched his fists that rested on the table. He was not blind to not noticing these changes. But he could not understand what could be the possible reason behind it.

"Augustus, we need to do something before it gets too late. He has started defying you publically. With this rate people will lose faith in you. They will start demanding for Edwin taking all the charge. What are we going to do then?" Theodora was more worried about her authority and privileges than anything else.

She did not want to bow before Edwin and eventually before his mate... if he found her. That was not why she had married Lord Augustus after losing Gerald.

"When an enemy gets too strong the easiest way to weaken him is cutting his support." Harold suggested.

"What do you mean?" Douglas was curious, for he know that Harold's mind runs faster in such situations.

After all, once a roughneck is always a roughneck!

"I mean if we cut his supporters one by one then he may loose his stronghold." Harold explain.

Theodora scoffed at it. "Mr Davies, are you referring to Lester here?"

"Yes, Lady Theodora."

"No!"

All three heads turned to Augustus, as he banged his fist on the table.

"Lester is Elsie's mate Harold. He is my future son-in-law. I cannot trouble him for the sake of dealing with Edwin. I want my daughter to be happy!" Augustus declared.

Harold was annoyed by his so-called love for his daughter. He came with a fully prepared plan beforehand. He was always jealous of Lester, for he considered himself better than Harold.

Just like Douglas, Lester also believed that Harold could never be a true elite; because to be there one needed elite blood running through his veins. And Harold was far from achieving that status by his achievements.

Harold decided to take advantage of the situation and kill two birds with a single stone.

He had not expected Augustus's newfound love for his daughter.

"But Lord Augusus, great goals demands great sacrifices." Harold gave him a meaningful look that Augustus understood well.

"I have already sacrificed much Harold and I will not hesitate for more. But this is my goal and not my daughter's. She will not sacrifice anything for the sake of my goals. Get that clear in your mind!"

That was the final decision of Augustus that made Harold realise that there was no way he could touch even a strand of Lester's hair.

"I think we should be patient for now. Once we find Edwin's motivation we will attack directly on its source. And then we will see if the great leader can stand that loss."

All three men agreed with Theodora.

That woman was indeed born with a wicked brain.