A MAZE OF GREED

After an announcement, the orchestra started playing slow and romantic tunes. The mood of the celebration that was only meeting and greeting changed suddenly into a beautiful and tender one. Slowly, the couples gathered in the middle of the large hall, where the design of a flower was made with colourful tiles.

Men and women started moving along the melody in the arms of their loved ones. Men cast an admiring gaze at their women, who blushed with a smile in return.

Ruth watched as Augustus led his wife on the dance floor. Theodora had a smile plastered on her face while her husband had a straight face. But his eyes held the love he had for his wife. The couple started swaying along with the music.

A minute into the dance and Theodora's eyes became restless. She maintained a smiling face for her husband and accepted his offer of dance as she didn't want to hurt him. But her hazel eyes were searching desperately for someone else. She then found the person that she was looking for since the celebration began.

That person stood in a corner with a drink in hand. When Theodora looked at that person, her heart felt relieved. A bright smile made its way on her pink lips as she met that person's eyes. That person nodded at her in acknowledgement and held her gaze while she danced with her husband.

Until now, Theodora pretended to be happy, but now she was truly happy inside out.

Lester's face brightened as the dance started. He wanted to ask Elsie for a dance, but Edwin was also there. Lester didn't know how he would react if he asked his younger sister for a dance.

"Lester, you are not going to ask me for a dance tonight?" Eloise's voice made him turn.

"Hi, Eloise!" Lester caught off guard as he didn't expect Eloise to come and ask for a dance directly.

He looked at Elsie's saddened face as she avoided looking at anyone. Edwin watched their exchange in amusement, but his sharp eyes didn't miss the sudden change in the air.

"I am waiting, Lester. Hurry up!" Eloise said impatiently. If only her father had not called her, she would not have left Lester alone with her sister even for a minute.

Lester felt a dilemma as his heart wanted to dance with Elsie, but his mind was not permitting him to decline Eloise, as it would be not a gentlemanly move. His eyes looked at Edwin for help, who found the situation amusing.

"Lester, you-"

"Sister Eloise! I am afraid that Lester will have to break your heart." Edwin came to save Lester from this awkward situation.

Eloise scrunched her brows as she glared at her cousin. "What do you mean, brother Edwin?"

Edwin grinned. "Lester has already asked Elsie for a dance. You missed the chance by just a minute. Right Lester?" He cocked his straight brow at his friend.

Lester looked dumbfoundedly at Edwin, then nodded his head when he comprehended Edwin's trick. "Y-Yes. Elsie, you are coming with me for a dance, right?" He looked expectantly at Elsie, who was surprised to hear her brother's words.

She looked at Edwin, and he winked at her with a smile. Elsie's cheeks turned pink as she knew that her brother knew her very well and was considerate enough to respect her feelings regarding Lester.

She avoided looking at Eloise, who was ready to fight at any moment. She placed her hand in Lester's extended one and said. "Yes. Let's dance."

With that, the couple excused themselves from the group. Eloise was about to explode in anger as her face's colour matched with her dress's colour. She couldn't believe that Lester chose Elsie over her. This daunted her ego, she gritted her teeth in anger.

Edwin noticed his cousin's state and sneaked from there before he became the target of her wrath. After all, he just helped his one sister against another. But Edwin was not the kind of person who considered others' feelings. He always did what he pleased. Besides he was biased towards Elsie from the beginning.

Eloise felt humiliated as everyone present was having a good time and the couples were dancing happily. She narrowed her eyes as Elsie giggled at something Lester said to her. She always knew that Elsie had feelings for Lester. But as Lester used to spend more time with Eloise than Elsie, Eloise was sure that the gone years had changed nothing. But she was proven wrong tonight.

"It's a surprise to see a beautiful woman stand alone in the celebration." Eloise snapped her eyes to the man, who came to stood beside her.

If her mood was sour then it was worsened even more now that she had to deal with Harold Davies. The tall and bulky man with a horseshoe moustache smiled down at Eloise.

"You look exceptionally wonderful tonight, Lady Eloise!" He bowed his head.

This was the only reason that Eloise tolerated the man. He always showered compliments upon her and noticed every little thing about her.

"Thank you, Mr Davies!" She said out of courtesy.

"Lady Eloise, how many times I have told you to refer me with my first name only?"

"Yes. But my father wouldn't like it. And you are much older than me. It is only appropriate if I call you Mr Davies instead of Harold." She said.

Harold took a step towards her. "But your father is not here to hear you right now. And my name sounds good coming from your red lips." He grinned.

Eloise felt goosebumps forming on her skin at the tone Harold used. She never liked the man as he intimidated her.

Harold Davies was a big name as he earned a large fortune by working hard all his life. It took him more than forty years of his life to reach the position that he held now. He had everything- name, money, power, admiration. But there was only one thing he couldn't achieve yet- Acceptance.

He was born into a poor family with a lower social status. He grew up watching his parents getting humiliated for their societal status by the people belonging to higher classes. He lost his parents at a young age. He was aware of how his parents spent their lives in poverty. He was a cunning man from the beginning. He decided to write his own destiny and get what his parents couldn't.

He worked hard, took risks and gained money from the business. As he became older, he used his cunning ways to snatch people's fortunes. One way or another and mostly by using wrong ways, he became one of the richest traders in the region. Nobility allowed him to interact with them because of his power.

But Harold knew that even he was able to turn the pages in a snap of fingers, the nobles had not yet accepted him as amongst them, equal of them. He spent years to gain the trust of the family of lords, O'Dells. He had helped Augustus in many things and hence he was allowed to interact with the O'Dell family without restraints.

"I-I should get going." Eloise said while glaring at the dancing Elsie and Lester.

Harold smiled as he found a good opportunity. He had witnessed the incidence that happened and hence took a chance when he found Eloise alone.

"If you don't mind, may I have this dance with you, Lady Eloise?" He stretched his hand with an open palm facing upwards.

Eloise looked at his hand hesitantly as she didn't want to entertain Harold more than she had already done.

Harold picked up her hesitation and said to encourage her. "I know I am not worthy of dancing with a strong and beautiful woman like you. But I am sure that you don't want to stand alone in your celebration as everyone is busy dancing with their partners. Look at Lady Elsie. Doesn't she look happy?"

He knew that he hit the right nerve when Eloise inhaled deeply. With a thought in mind, she faced Harold with a fake smile. "Let's have a dance, Harold." She said his name sensually while placing her hand in his.

"Who is that couple?" Ruth asked Thea from where they were secretly looking insides of the hall.

"She is the elder daughter of Augustus O'Dell. Eloise O'Dell. An arrogant, spoiled, rude rich brat. And the man she is with is Harold Davies. Just remember one thing about him. STAY. AWAY. FROM.. HIM!" Thea warned her innocent friend.