A MAZE OF GREED

Today, Thea had requested Elsie and Edwin to allow Rees and Ruth to take a half-day of leave from their duty. She had already taken care of elders' dresses, including Mrs Payne.

Now only the three of them were left of shopping. Ruth was very excited and was looking forward to this. She was almost done with Thea's wedding gown and could not wait for her friend to walk down the aisle wearing it.

Irrespective of Thea's constant pleading, Ruth had made sure to not reveal the gown to her. She wanted to surprise her on her special day.

In the afternoon, she found Rees waiting for her near the fountain.

"Were you waiting for long?" She asked as she neared him.

Rees smiled at her. "No. Only twenty minutes. We can not consider it late, now do we?"

Ruth rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. "I am sorry! I had to change my uniform."

She was wearing a nice yellow dress. The front half of her hair was tied with the pins at the back of her head, and the remaining lower half cascaded behind her back. Her blue-stoned necklace and its silver crescent moon sparkled in the natural sunlight.

"That is fine! Shall we go now?" He asked and offered his hand for her to take.

Ruth smiled and was about to give her hand in his, but her smile faltered as she recalled what Theodora said to her.

-"Playing a third wheel of the cart?"-

-"You know what they call such women. Homewreckers!"-

Rees furrowed his brows at her hesitance. He took her half stretched hand in his, and smiled.

"Rees-" Ruth started, but he squeezed her hand.

"I do not care what the world thinks about our friendship. But for me, you were are and always will be the most respected woman who is my best friend and someone I truely care for. Do not let them spoil what we share!"

She was suddenly released from the heavyweight on her chest. Ruth held his hand tightly and smiled brightly at him.

"Thank you!" She said.

"Anytime for you!" He replied.

Together they walked towards the front area of 'the great manor' where a carriage was waiting for them.

Ruth was telling Rees what kind of dress she wanted for her. The excitement on her face uplifted Rees's mood, as he was not much interested in looks and shopping. But it was his wedding, and if he did not wait for Thea at the end of the aisle while dressed up well, she might throw a fit then and there and keep the wedding on hold till she finds him wearing a dress to her liking.

Henry opened the door for them before smiling at Ruth then bowing at Rees. They both returned his acknowledgement. Rees helped Ruth climb the carriage then followed her inside.

Till they exited through the main gate of 'the great manor', Ruth was constantly speaking animatedly about her plans for their wedding. Rees was tired of listening to everyone's planning, especially Thea's.

She was more nervous about the unavoidable rituals as his mate than their wedding.

But Rees did not want to upset Ruth by interrupting her, so he carefully listened to everything she said. He even nodded and contributed to her plans.

The interruption to her blabbering came with the halting of the carriage. Confused, she looked at Rees as he had insisted on keeping the window closed.

"Are we there already?"

Rees chose, to not answer that. The door of the carriage was opened, and someone climbed inside. Henry closed the door behind the man who joined them.

He was wearing a long coat and a hat. His face was partially covered by the collar of his coat, and the shadow cast by his hat.

He sat across her. She was about to ask Rees about this man; when her knee was brushed against his, and the familiar tingles formed on her skin.

Her eyes shot up at him in surprise to see his cerulean blue eyes already watching her in amusement.

She gasped. "What the-"

"Shhh!" Rees shooshed her before she completed her sentence.

He then faced Edwin and said, "Thank you for coming Master. Mrs Green will be delighted to see you. She specially requested your presence."

'Oh, so it was Mrs Green!' Ruth groaned.

"That is alright!" Edwin replied.

Ruth pursed her lips, sensing it was futile to throw a tantrum and complain about Edwin's company. That was why Rees did not let her open the window.

She felt uneasy, and the small space suddenly felt smaller than before. The accidental bumping of their knees with each other, when the wheels run over a stone or through the pothole, made her heart jump inside her chest.

She avoided looking in his way, however she could feel his gaze on her that did not help her situation at all.

The silence became so overbearing that she felt a need to distract herself. Leaning in Rees, she raised her head to whisper in his ear.

"Why did not you tell me that he is coming with us?"

If Ruth thought that she was inaudible for Edwin, she was sadly mistaken. Edwin kept his straight face and pretended to be unattentive of their conversation.

Rees shifted uncomfortably in his seat but answered anyway. "If I had told you before, then would you have sit here in silence?"

Ruth pinched his arm that did not hurt him at all but satisfied her, that she could let out her anger at him.

"But you could at least warn me!"

"Well... surprise!" Rees shrugged innocently.

Another pinch on his arm, and yet he did not feel it.

"I am so not going to forgive you for this!" She promised.

"Ruth... you know that crossing paths with Master is now unavoidable for you. For how long you are planning to act this way? You practically work for him. Why do not you start afresh?"

Ruth scrunched up her nose as if the idea disgusted her. "Why would I? I am not planning on spending my life with him! And I do not want to keep crossing my paths with him." She said.

Rees gulped down nervously at the tick of Edwin's jaw. Maybe this was not the right time and situation to initiate that conversation. So he kept silent.

Soon the carriage stopped in front of a shop, that was quite famous in Vincardine for trending designs at affordable rates.

Upon entering the shop, they found the Green and Welby family already present there, along with Thea. Her face brightened seeing them, and she rushed towards Ruth.

After changing the pleasantries, they showed them the dresses they were looking at before their arrival.

"This is so confusing Thea. I do not know what to choose. Please save me!" Ruth asked for help after going through all the dresses thrice.

She had never shopped like this. All her life, she wore only those dresses which were either made by her mother or herself.

To say the truth, she was afraid of getting embarrassed by choosing the wrong dress. And she was not the one who was paying for it. What if she chose an expensive one?

"Ruth, dear. What are you going to do at your wedding if you can not choose one dress for yourself?" Mrs Green asked.

"Mother... why would she need to do that when I will be there for her?" Thea raised her brow and winked at Ruth, making her smile in return.

Mrs Green shook her head at the two of them.

"Or maybe Ruth's groom will help her!" Mrs Welby added while giggling.

"Forget them and let me see what will look good on you." Thea told.

The men were in the men's wear section that was on the other side of the shop.

Ten minutes later, Thea had five dresses ready on her hand for Ruth to try. Everyone sat in on the couches placed in an open area in front of the changing booths. A full-length mirror was also there to see how did they look.

The men were also done with choosing dresses for Rees and Edwin. First, Rees tried the dresses, and after what like an eternity, a consensus happened on a black tuxedo with a white shirt and black leather shoes.

Then it was Edwin's turn. Rees had requested the staff of the shop, to give them some privacy, and had told them he would call them if they needed any assistance. Of course, it was for keeping Edwin's identity hidden from them.

Unlike Rees, Edwin knew what he wanted to wear on the wedding day. As an elite, he was privileged with all the fortune to buy anything that he liked, and living like one had elevated his choice.

He pulled the curtain off the booth and stepped outside. The women gasped with wide eyes, and the men smiled in approval.

Ruth could not take her eyes off of him. His charcoal black dress fitted his enormous form very well. Untraditionally, he chose a black shirt to wear underneath the jacket with black shoes.

His tan complexion was accentuated by the all-black dressing. The colour of his cerulean blue eyes gave him a look of a god of lightning. His unruly coffee brown hair made him look younger than he was.

And what made Ruth's heart melt like butter was the dimple of his cheek as he smiled at everyone, as if he knew he was looking drop-dead handsome and there was nothing people could not like about his look.

That man was full of himself!

He looked so gorgeous that Ruth could not even blink. Her fast thumping heartbeats drew the man's attention towards her, and when their eyes met, he smirked, knowingly that making her heart miss a bit!