A MAZE OF GREED

The tension in the living room of Thea's home was so thick that it could be cut by a sharp knife. Oblivious to the impending swarm of stress, Thea's parents were engaged in the conversation with their guests.

Both Edwin and Rees drank the water that Thea had brought after getting scold by her mother. Both of their eyes were trained on nervous Thea.

Her eyes darted towards the kitchen now and then as if she was silently asking Ruth's assuring presence beside her.

"Thea, where is Ruth?"

As if reading her mind Mr Green asked. His question alerted both men. One became more nervous than before while the other one grinned, for his guess was right.

She was here!

"R-Ruth, she... um... she is busy in the kitchen." Thea stuttered, sneaking a peek through her worried eyes at Edwin's calm face.

He was all composed and cool as if he didn't know who Ruth was.

"Ruth is also here?" Rees couldn't help but ask and Edwin didn't miss a slight ripple of worry in his voice.

"Yes, she is. Thea invited her yesterday. Thea has told us how you and Ruth became friends with each other. I am very happy and wanted to see you three together." Mrs Green answered ecstatically.

Rees's eyes again shifted towards Thea but this time they held disapproval clearly written in them that Thea couldn't understand the reason behind it.

~"Why didn't she tell me this?"~

Edwin heard him loud and clear through the mind link that Rees was ordered to not close tonight.

~"Sometimes I wonder if you are interested in Ruth or the Moon Goddess has blessed you with two mates by breaking the natural law."~

Rees's neck snapped in Edwin's direction, his eyes open wide. His actions startled not only Mr and Mrs Green but also Thea.

"Is there something wrong, Rees?" Mr Green asked to which Rees only shook his head then cleared his throat. Embarrassment was evident on his face that made Thea narrow her eyes at him.

'He is again acting wierd.' She scoffed unbelievably.

~"It is not what you think, Master. I care for her because she is my friend and I want to keep her safe."~

Edwin's hand that rested on the hand rest of the sitting clenched into a fist but his face didn't give away anything.

Before anyone said something more, Thea announced, "I and Ruth will set the plates and serve the food. Please go and wash your hands."

She stood up from her chair then turning to look at her father, she said "Father, why don't you go and grab that special wine that your friend gifted you a month ago? You said you will use it only on a special occassion."

Not waiting to hear his reply, Thea rushed to the kitchen and as soon as she made sure that she was out of the eyesight of the people in the living room, she exhaled a shaky breath and slumped down on the chair.

She placed her shaky hand on her heart to feel it thudding loudly against her ribcage. Ruth was instantly by her side and placed her hand on Thea's tensed shoulder to calm her down.

Thea looked up at her. "I am sorry, Ruth. But there is no escape. You can't avoid him. I have tried everything possible for me.

I wouldn't have invited you if I had slightest of the idea that Rees would bring Edwin O'Dell with him for the dinner." She gave an apologetic look.

Ruth sighed. "It's not your mistake, Thea. Don't feel sorry. You didn't know about what happened this morning until I told you.

I was supposed to help you with your and Rees's relationship but I messed it up by fighting with him. And now I am dragging you into another blunder that I created. But don't worry, I am ready to face him."

Thea knew that her friend was feigning confidence for her sake but from inside she was a nervous mess.

Thea touched her hand assuringly. "Hey, I will always be there with you! You didn't leave me alone that night of celebrations and now I will not leave you alone in any situation. We are together into this!"

Ruth felt a different sense of affection hearing those words coming out of Thea's mouth and she returned her wide smile with her bright one.

"Let's set up the table then."

The table was set up and the steaming food was served on the plates in the next five minutes. Mrs Green guided Rees and Edwin towards the dining table and Mr Green followed them with a glass bottle of honey-coloured liquid in his hand.

The desperate search of Edwin's eyes ceased when they found Ruth standing near the chair on the other side of the table. She looked beautiful in that blue dress with her toffee brown hair resting on her right shoulder in a simple braid.

She had no makeup on her face neither she had adorned herself with any piece of jewellery except her simple earrings that complemented her look well.

She was nothing like those women who reeked of money and arrogance. She looked way divine in her simple appearance that in Edwine's eyes, she was nothing less than a nymph from heaven.

Ruth had her eyes cast to the ground and her rapid heartbeat gave away her nervousness.

Edwin deliberately took a long way to sit on the chair beside her. Rees heard his master's heart racing against his chest as soon as he reached near Ruth.

Ruth was taken aback by Edwin's action but cursed her stars because she had not enough space to step away to avoid his nearness. She was caged between the wall behind and his giant body from the front.

Her mind rebelled against her heart to take a glance at his face to see if she could get anything from his expressions. But the very next moment her fear won over her mind and she didn't lift up her head to look at him.

Edwin lingered beside her momentarily with a space of only a few inches between their bodies. He couldn't stop himself from inhaling and indulging his senses in her intoxicating smell.

It was so pure and exhilarating that he wanted to take more and more of it. He reckoned his brain but couldn't come up with a single time when he had smelled anything like her fragrance before.

Ruth turned her face away from his, finding his actions offending. Her heart was beating faster than before and goosebumps formed on her skin. All she wanted to do was disappear in thin air away from this obnoxious man's eyes.

Edwin pulled out a chair and sat on it, his eyes still staring at her taking in every inch of her.

Rees watched the uncomfortable exchange between the two with clenched jaws but he restrained his mind from thinking anything, for the mind link was open all the time as per Edwin's orders.

He then sat on Edwin's right side and Mr Green sat on Edwin's left side.

"Come on, ladies. Join us." Mr Green patted the chair beside him while looking at his wife, who happily granted her husband's wish.

Hesitantly Thea sat beside Rees and that left only one position for Ruth to sit. And that was exactly opposite to Edwin.

"Sit down, Ruth." Mrs Green said with a smile and Ruth reluctantly followed, her fingers fidgeted with each other in nervousness.

"Would you mind, if I ask who this lovely lady is?" Edwin's eyes had not left Ruth's sight even for a second.

Ruth bit the insides of her cheek to control her bubbling anger. He very well knew who she was and yet was trying to get on her nerves. There was no way for him to forget probably the only woman who had put him into his place.

"Oh, this lovely lady here is Ruth Moore. She is Thea's best friend and co-worker and a part of the family. And now she is also Rees's good friend, isn't that right Rees?" Mrs Green said fondly.

Rees's brown eyes shifted to Ruth's face. They didn't waver neither he avoided looking at her hazel ones. "Yes, Mrs Green. She has indeed became my very good friend in a short time span."

Ruth couldn't help but search his brown eyes for a lie but all she got was pure sincerity. But then she recalled the incident that happened this morning.

But before her mind could run another mile, Mrs Green whispered into Ruth' ear. "Say hello to Mr Berrycloth, Ruth!"

Inhaling a deep breath to calm her down, Ruth opened her mouth. "Hello, Mr Berrycloth." The sarcasm in her voice didn't go unnoticed by Edwin but he smiled sweetly.

"It is nice to meet you. Ms Moore!"

Thea cleared her throat to stop the other two from engaging in another staring competition. "Let's start eating. The food will get cold."

After a prayer, they all began eating dinner. Mr Green poured his special wine for everyone.

"Erm... Mr Green, I don't drink. So, please don't pour it in my glass." Ruth told in a low voice.

"What? At least try once, Ruth. This one is specially made by-"

"Father, she doesn't like alcohol. Please don't force her." Thea requested.

Mr Green retreated his hand in understanding but teased Ruth. "You are missing on a gem, Ruth. Its test is exquisite. Don't ask me afterwards for it because it will be finished in no time." His laughter was joined by only his wife.

Ruth only smiled in response but unintentionally her eyes met a pair of cerulean blue ones, that were looking at her intensely. She hurriedly turned hers down to save her poor heart from their assault.