A MAZE OF GREED

In the left wing of 'the great manor', there was a huge hall situated at the end of the corridor. The large and thick wooden door obstructed the inner view of the hall that was simple in look but had that classiness that suited the status of the owners of the place. The stone walls were coloured grey with a large symbol of a roaring lion fitted on the front wall.

There were not many objects in the hall except a round table in the centre of it. Eight chairs were placed along the circumference of the table and were spacious and comfortable to sit in.

The main chair that belonged to Augustus O'Dell was a little larger than the rest of them with a designer backrest and was placed right under the golden lion symbol.

A shelf was at the side of a wall in which many files and papers were arranged systematically. The windows were closed but the curtains were pulled aside to let the daylight enter into the hall. The walls were so thick that not only the voices but also the tangible tension in the room couldn't pass through them.

Eight men, their faces portraying worry, were sitting in the chairs. Two maids had served drinks and snacks some time ago that remained untouched by most of the men. Everyone was ordered to not disturb them till the meeting finishes.

Theodora was waiting in the room near to where the meeting was conducted. She looked the usual self of hers, confident and graceful but one could tell that she was restless by looking into her hazel eyes.

"Good morning, Lady Theodora!" A man named Douglas Morgan bowed in respect.

Theodora's face softened at the sight of him. She immediately dismissed her maid, Fannie.

"Fannie, inform me when the lord finishes with his meeting. And... make sure that no one disturbs us unless and until it is something urgent."

Fannie, the young and trusted personal maid of Theodora, knew the drill. "Yes, milady!" She glanced at Morgan then left, not before closing the door of the room.

"Good morning, Douglas!" Theodora shifted her attention to the man in front of her, whom she wanted to meet for the last two days.

He slowly walked towards her and stopped when he was right in front of seated Theodora. He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead. The soft and lingering kiss made her close her eyes in contentment, her heart swelled with craving. Morgan then stepped back and took a seat in front of her.

"What are you doing here this early?" Theodora asked after inhaling deeply to control the passion of lust that evoked in her.

"Am I not allowed to come and see the love of my life?" He had that smirk on his face that fascinated women of all ages. And the loud beating of her heart that fell on his sharp ears was a sign of how much effect he had on her.

"No, you can't!" Came her clear answer.

All playfulness drained down his face as Douglas knew that Theodora was not a person who made jokes or say something without reason. But he masked it with a neutral face.

He cleared his throat before getting straight to the point. "I heard they are having a meeting right now."

Theodora narrowed her eyes. "It's interesting that you get to know these kinds of news in no time."

"What can I say? I have my ears everywhere!" He crossed his legs while leaning back in the chair.

Theodora chose to not comment on it. Her mind was occupied with other important things.

When she didn't say anything for some time, Douglas opened his mouth again. "So what now?"

Theodora gave him a glass of wine then took one for herself. "Now we have to wait till they come to some conclusion."

On the other side of the corridor, the eight men who were having an important meeting looked tense as they couldn't come with any solution to the problem.

"Lord O'Dell, please say something." A man said.

Augustus looked around the table at every man's face, his gaze lingering on the man who sat exactly in front of him. "I do not know what to say, Sir. This situation is very complicated."

"Then what should we do?" another one asked.

Again silence fell over as none of them had an answer to that question. The eight men were no one but Augustus, Edwin, Lester and his father along with three members of the council and the last one was the head of the council.

The council worked independently and aided the King in delivering justice and in controlling the administration. As the royalty got busy in colonial expansion, the council rose to importance as it lessened the burden of responsibilities and duties from the crown's shoulders.

The members of the council held a very high status all over the land and they were the main link between the people and the royal family. Drawing their pique meant getting on the bad side of royalty.

That was the reason why Augustus had to trade carefully through this mess.

The head of the Council, Barrett Addington, finally opened his mouth to say something who was quiet all this time.

"Recite every detail again, from start to till now."

"But-" Mr Wright tried to say but he got interrupted when Barrett Addington shot a glare in his way.

Everyone knew better than debating with the man as Barrett Addington was no joke. He was a man with few words but whenever the words left his mouth they had to be taken seriously.

Augustus cast a look to Mr Wright, Lester and Edwin to tell them to follow the order of the head of the Council.