The Traps of Black Swan

On the terrace,

The sky was dark, the mansion stood majestic between the large estate. Shea stood next to Shawn with a wide grin watching Aarvi running in the fields being just like any other girl in love. Careless, free, happy, excited. 

Shawn didn't go upstairs to peep on the couple. He forgot to give the torch to Aarvi. She wasn't holding her mobile. He wanted to make sure she could pass the darkness on the way to the cabana. He smiled looking at Aarvi. She was unbothered to the darkness, guiding herself in the woods under the dim light of the mansion and the moonlight.

They could only see the white silhouette moving freely, more like a bird flying towards the nest. Shea and Shawn unawarely moved towards the end of the terrace as Aarvi moved further left of the mansion. 

Shea never had visited the terrace of the mansion. With her attention to distance, she tripped. "Ahh…" Her hand reached to hold something but got nothing. She was falling on her face when her eyes widened in terror when her eyes caught a Rose plant on the steps.

Even though the fall was nothing but three feet, the thorns of the plant-filled her heart with pure fear. Scars apart, she wanted to save her eyes. A prickle to her eyes was all needed to destroy her whole career, her life.

Shawn instinctively reacted when sensed oddness next to her. He wrapped his arm around her waist before she could fall off the steps. He pulled her away and turned her to face him.

Shea was shaking terribly. Shawn could see her green eyes wide without focusing anywhere or blinking. She was holding her breath, and her body was frozen, still bracing herself for the pain. "Shea… Shea… Look at me… Shea, you are safe…" 

Shawn pushed her hair away from her face, held her head, and made her look at him, "Breathe, Shea…" His deep voice was firm and low.

Shea had seen her whole life crumbling in front of her in those mere seconds. She blinked looking at Shawn as her shoulders slacked. She couldn't make out his expression due to the light behind him, yet she could feel his concern.

"Breathe…" He reminded her again.

Her heart was still shuddering. Recalling the thorns, Shea hugged him tight and breathed. She tried to calm herself, telling herself that everything was alright.

Shawn breathed in relief and glanced at the rose plant. The terrace was designed in three stages. They were on the upper level and there were two lower stages, giving a perfect area to host any party if needed. 

The corners of the stairs had plant pots to avoid making the terrace look lifeless. Shawn hadn't expected any accident and this made him realize, they have to make changes there.

His hands reached to hold her but realized he should behave. He dropped his hands and thought about what to tell. Should he distract her or calm her?

Thinking of distraction, his eyes fell on the white silhouette that had reached the destination. Same time, one woman reached the arms of her husband and another was hugging him. Although he was behaving like a friend, a gentleman, he knew his thoughts were betraying him by a craving to hold her.

Talking? He wanted to pull her away.

While he was having his battle, Shea was having hers. She had lived four years alone. She was never careless, not a clumsy girl. Whatever she did, it was always her choice. She always watched her steps in everything, stayed alert for her own safety. Being around Shawn, she felt weak and dependent. It wasn't the first time she noticed her behavior. Initially, it excited her even though she was reluctant, she enjoyed being protected by him. Now, she was scared. She didn't want to be around him and be careless. Her carelessness could cause everything she holds dear, her life, her career, her freedom from her family.

Before Shawn could pull her away, Shea went away from him and took three steps back so thought two would be less.

Shawn could see her half-face towards the light and the other half dark. He could still see fear in them. But this time, it felt different. It was like she was scared of him. And when she smiled, it looked forced, a fake one.

"Thank you, Shawn. And... I am sorry for troubling..." She didn't know if she meant them. All she could worry about was she had to be careful and protect herself.

Shawn didn't get to speak. He saw her taking steps away. Just like her smile, her words didn't do any justice to her expression. Her green eyes stared at him, differently, with a kind of fear he didn't like. However, he didn't know what to say.

Shea darted her eyes towards the cabana. Whenever she saw Aarvi and Aaron, even when Aarvi was running to Aaron, she wanted to get somebody in her life who she could cherish. Now, she feared for the price of getting that true love.

"Aarvi reached." She remarked and turned to Shawn who had his eyes on her, "I will go then." She turned away and quickly disappeared.

Shawn loudly breathed out. He didn't even know he was holding his breath but the breathing felt hard too. He saved her, he could understand her shock and fear but her post-reaction felt odd. 

Clueless about it, he started thinking if he did something wrong if he unawarely misbehaved. He was always careful around her, even while speaking. 

'What happened?' He pondered.

More than a minute passed but he couldn't guess it. Suddenly he furrowed. He had a lot of things to worry about. There was less than a month for him to completely take over Aaron's position. He will have to be responsible in the absence of Aarvi and Aaron. he couldn't afford to worry them.

"Focus Shawn, Focus…" He mumbled to himself and went downstairs.

….

At the dining table,

The elders were quick to notice, Shawn and Shea who always engaged in some fun topics and kept the dinner lively were dead serious than them.

Karsen wondered if Shawn was under pressure due to Aaron leaving. He knew the responsibilities and business could change a person. He felt down thinking Shawn would be losing himself due to it.

Megan glanced at Jordan who pretended to be unseen. She silently sighed and completed the dinner.

-------

At Harmon Industries,

Leon and his men failed to track the Cornbell's location. Yet they weren't ready to give up. For the time being, Leon tried to find a different and quick solution to the problem.

Meanwhile, Dylan became a diplomat of the company. He was speaking to other business partners and companies who work with Harmon Industries. 

He has to show confidence in reviving the Harmon Industries and strength of them to continue unwavering and quality work delivery in other projects.

With all these, they had to call for a meeting and speak to the management. It was a perfect time for the employees to change to stable companies so they need to handle the internal disturbance, without letting them flee from the company. 

While busy at work, Leon got a call from an unknown number. He answered without checking and heard a low-pitched, resonating strong voice of a male, "President Harmon, You need help to bring down Aarvi Evans, Don't you?"

Leon furrowed. Only Aarvi's team and his family knew about Aarvi was aiming at him. He became alert hearing the person. He looked at the screen and realized it wasn't a number he knew. So somebody was either keeping an eye on him or Aarvi.

"Who are you?" Leon questioned and heard the man scoff in response.