The Traps of Black Swan

Alex and others noticed Aaron signaling them to leave. They quickly acted, Max focused on dragging the man away, to send him to his new home.

Aaron stood in front of Aarvi, blocking her view to Robert Dawson. From closer, he could see faint trails of her tears, her jaws shaking recalling the pain and the dark past. The sight of him visibly calmed her, she even tried to smile but the tears rolled out. She couldn't fake it in front of him.

His fingers brushed her hair away from the face and tenderly moved his thumbs on her cheek wiping her tears. His soothing deep voice was gentle on her ears, "It's all over, Cupcake."

Seeing her stare at him without reacting, he embraced her. He let her cry so that she could feel lighter. He knew she was slowly recovering, letting go of the past, yet, he still felt his heart heavy seeing her suffer.

She had faked tears in the Harmon mansion and now she ended up in tears in the Dawson mansion. He didn't know what to do with her. Taking her away to country S felt better. Perhaps he should have gone to country S before she woke up from a vegetative state.

Although she didn't cry for a long time, Aarvi felt her head was too heavy and physically exhausted. Probably feeling the pain all over again, her body reacted to the same.

She was leaning in his embrace, with her eyes closed when she heard him while his hand caressed her head like coaxing a child to sleep, "Cupcake, you need rest."

However, Aarvi shook her head, wrapping her arms tighter around his waist. She was looking forward to their date evening. She didn't want her past to ruin her present. 

Aaron could guess her reason so he coaxed her, "There is still time for dinner. Rest for some time, we will go home first and freshen up. Then I will take you out… Or do you want to sit with swollen eyes?"

Aarvi pushed her head back,  and opened her red, slightly swollen eyes, "Are you saying I am ugly?"

Aaron fished his handkerchief and cleaned her nose, "No, my Cupcake is most beautiful when her nose is running." He teased her.

Aarvi blew her nose hard, and cried, "You are making fun of me."

Aaron smiled seeing her making a face. It felt good to see her recover quickly, "I dare not make fun of my gorgeous wife."

"Oh…" She nodded, "Then I am going on a date, just like this." She could imagine how bad she might be looking.

"No." Aaron denied immediately and made her laugh.

He took her to the back seat of the Rolls Royce and coaxed her to sleep. She was asleep when Aaron got out of the car before reaching Skyarc.

Alex followed Aaron as he reported what happened at the Dawson mansion. Everything was cool until Robert Dawson was begging her to forgive him. 

A sorry. It has no value when the damage is beyond repairable. It would never take away the pain one had been through.

After work, Aaron returned to the car and took her home.

-------

Meantime, 

Dylan woke up after four hours of deep slumber. When he opened his eyes, he sat up in a jerk. There was no grogginess left in his eyes when he looked outside. He could clearly remember the blazing sun, shining high in the sky when he fell asleep. Now the dusky sky greeted him.

"Holy f**k" He quickly adjusted the backrest of his seat and ignited the engine. Driving to the highway, he grabbed his mobile to see thirty missed calls. Five were from Leon and the rest from the office. There were six messages all the secretaries asking him to call as soon as he checks mobile.

Dylan knew it couldn't just be because of his disappearance. He guessed Aarvi must have struck at Leon or the company. He could imagine Leon's irritated face, without having anybody swiftly carrying out his orders.

He straight dialed Leon as he will have to face him sooner or later. Putting the call on speaker, he stepped on the accelerator and went back to the city faster.

"Brother Leon!!" Dylan greeted as soon as the call was answered.

[Dylan!?] There was uncertainty in Leon's voice. [You are alive? I thought she did something to you.]

Dylan rolled his eyes hearing it. He accurately knew Leon would feel nothing if he died. [I am perfectly alright. I dozed off in the car.] He told the truth as he could blame Leon as he ordered him to check on the factory history.

Leon's voice turned cold which was considered normal. [So she put you to sleep as soon as she started the trouble.]

Dylan: "..."

He couldn't believe Leon was blaming Aarvi for what she probably didn't care to know. Leon would probably blame Aarvi if he trips and falls on his face.

Dylan neither denied, nor accepted Leon's words. He focused on the latter part, "Trouble? Brother Leon, what happened? I am on the way."

Leon had no time to explain it so, [Who did you send with Shareholders? I can't reach them. Check if they have reached the island.] He instructed him and hung up the call.

Dylan pulled the car aside and opened the top trending search on his mobile.

#1. Gamble of Harmon Industries.

#2. Will the Cornbell Plant close down?

#3. History of the Cornbell Plant.

#4. Celebrities standing with the villagers to save the environment.

#5. Is the ministry of Industry involved?

The top seven trending topics seemed to be about Harmon industries. Dylan briefly went through to know the situation. He had double-checked everything and never found the notice of the factory closing down in the past. Instead, everything was fabricated with President Cornbell having no time to manage the factory.

President Cornbell, alone, couldn't keep this information from leaking. Dylan was sure Aarvi had her hand in this. Now thinking back, the news about the Cornbell plant was always kept low profile other than top companies being aware of it. Now he realized the reason.

'Well played, Aarvi Evans.' But Dylan didn't look happy. Her attack was solid. He could foresee Leon's struggles in the coming days but this would very badly affect Harmon Industries. Her attack would attract the much stronger companies trying to acquire Harmon Industries by buying the shares from the shareholders. 

But the shareholders?

Dylan quickly dialed the man who was responsible for taking the shareholders away. His call was soon connected and heard the unknown voice, [Assistant Harmon!?]

"Who are you?" He questioned whereas he could already guess he must be appointed by Aarvi.

[I guess you are smart to guess it.] He left Dylan to assume whatever he wanted.

'So Aarvi is controlling those old men too. She is ahead of us.' Dylan thought. If those men weren't in reach of anybody, others couldn't reach them to buy the shares either. The small shareholders don't hold much value so Dylan gave a nod in satisfaction.

"Where have you taken those men?" Dylan questioned in a neutral tone, hoping for some clue to spill out.

The man kept everything a mystery, [Where do you think?]

Dylan looked at his mobile. Even though the man pretended to be making it a mystery, he was giving out that those old men weren't on an island. They were somewhere near. He found himself in a tricky situation.

Dylan strongly felt Aarvi was testing him.. 'She doesn't trust me yet.'