The Traps of Black Swan

Despite knowing Palmer might trouble Aarvi, Aaron pulled the chair for her with a sigh. Aarvi who was confused hearing his mutter, asked him, "What\'s wrong, Ronron? Is there a problem?"

Aaron held her shoulders and made her sit before he sat down. "I was thinking… My wife should have been dumb."

"Heh?" She had no plans to create havoc. There wasn\'t Shawn or Dax for her to plan anything mischief and have fun in silence. 

Aaron propped his head on his fist and looked at her, "I want to take you away from the coming problem, but that will make you appear as a dependent leader of a company." He would never let that happen when she was stronger than him in business. If she was dumb, he could have protected her like a pearl in the shell.

"Now I have to watch you being bullied." He shook his head in resignation and went closer to her ear, "And my Cupcake flirting with the old man."

Aarvi giggled hearing the last line. She never thought of flirting with Palmer. Hearing Aaron, she decided to consider it, "I will keep that in mind," And she loves how he doesn\'t try to take her away from her problems concerning her business. "Your Cupcake loves Ronron…" She saw him satisfied so she added, "and the cupcakes he bakes."

Aaron instantly showed his displeasure, "No cupcakes, only Ronron."

Aarvi\'s smile widened seeing him behave like a stubborn child. She was about to respond, both heard somebody clear their throat.

\'Ahem\' 

Aarvi and Aaron turned and saw Palmer squinting his eyes at them. Aarvi felt too many gazes on them. \'Oh damn.\' She thought realizing she and Aaron forgot to be attentive flirting with each other.

Unlike what others thought, Aarvi and Aaron were quick to compose. One turned emotionless while the other had her serene smile, hard to read. Both stood up and greeted, unintentionally in perfect sync, "Mr. Palmer." Aarvi and Aaron glanced at each other in surprise before looking back at Palmer.

"Did you forget this is a formal dinner?" Palmer\'s grim voice sounded. 

Aarvi hooked her hand with Aaron\'s leaving everyone wordless, "Mr. Palmer, we just got married. I am sure you have been through the same period in your early life."

Palmer stood wordless staring at Aarvi who flashed him a brilliant smile. He had expected her apology whereas she didn\'t consider their action improper at all. He bought her words thinking why she should be apologetic to flirt with her husband.

Aaron added looking at his wife, "Love is something hard to get in life." Then his gaze shifted to Palmer, "How could Mr. Palmer forget his dear wife!? I am sure we will recollect his sweet memories."

Palmer snorted. It wasn\'t because he disagreed with Aaron\'s opinion. He just gets annoyed recalling Aaron\'s lecture by hearing his voice.

Palmer\'s assistant had no words. He was truly wonderstruck hearing the shrewd couple change the whole scenario. The people who were thinking Skylar and Rivas were done for, started to worry Skylar and Rivas might get the resort with their amazing coordination.

Palmer sat down, then his assistant signaled everyone to take the seats. "Please take seats. Dinner will be served. We hope you enjoy the feast food arranged for you."

All took their seats, feeling glad there were no long speeches. But their eyes couldn\'t help moving to the table where Palmer was sitting.

Since Aaron chose to attend as Aarvi\'s husband, Palmer thought he could irritate the man to avenge him, "Did President Evans\'s husband chose to abandon his company?"

Palmer\'s assistant: "..." He didn\'t know his boss was so petty.

Well, it was true men like to have their identity, "It feels good to be identified by my wife\'s name." He annoyed the man back before responding, "Mr. Palmer, I haven\'t abandoned the company but reconsidering the project. As a President and CEO, I can\'t give excess attention to any project more than it\'s worth. I hope I didn\'t offend you as I recently got to know your thoughts and hypothesis doesn\'t match with ours."

Aarvi knew Aaron could have kept it in a better way. Hearing him being blunt and Palmer trying to provoke him, she felt like they must have met and are on the negatives.

Palmer knew each company had its views and ideology. But hearing it on his face, he asked through his teeth, "Are you saying my resort is worthless?"

Aarvi and Palmer\'s assistant involuntarily turned to Aaron, expecting the two men to have a word war. 

Aaron turned to Aarvi and his face softened looking at her curiosity for his response. "Absolutely not." He responded as he looked back at Palmer, "None of us would be here if the resort had no worth."

Satisfied, Palmer relaxed but didn\'t respond. The dinner was served in no time. Aaron wore the gloves and helped Aarvi to peel lobster.

Palmer finally spoke to Aarvi, seeing her flute empty. He lifted his hand with a wine flute, "President Evans, I saw how you helped a family to the hospital. This is for your bravery." He held his glass front to toast for her.

Aaron\'s hands paused. He didn\'t lift his head but clearly knew what Palmer was up to. He sensed Aarvi grab her lemonade highball and extend her hand in silence. He could feel her coldness, probably expecting the same as him.

Palmer took his hand back before Aarvi could touch his flute, "Hasn\'t anybody taught President Evans to toast?"

Aarvi left her glass down with a serene smile on her face. "Then please pardon me. I am under medication, hence no alcohol." 

Aaron removed his glove, grabbed his flute, and clinked Palmer\'s glass, "I will drink on my wife\'s behalf." He chugged the wine from his glass.

Aarvi and Aaron were expecting Palmer to get irritated but he sipped the wine understanding her situation and asked Aarvi, "I am sure your husband will lecture you every day for your health." It was more like a complaint.

Aarvi: "..."

Aaron wore the gloves as he responded, "My wife is aware, health is wealth."

Aarvi couldn\'t hold back anymore hearing Aaron speak for her but it sounded more like a provocation to Palmer, "Do you guys know each other? Why are you reaching for each other\'s throat?"

Palmer snorted, "I don\'t familiarize myself with annoying fellows."

"Some patients leave a memory with the doctors."

Aarvi: "..."

She was feeling like a mother of two disobedient boys for having the urge to say, \'Stop fighting.\'

She quickly diverted the topic, "Mr. Palmer, if you don\'t mind, would you like to share how you are considering choosing the company?"

Palmer\'s attention shifted to Aarvi leaving Aaron behind. "If I let you know, wouldn\'t you try to achieve it to get the resort?" He wasn\'t going to let them know at any cost.

Aarvi decided it was impossible to have a conversation. She gave up and let them fight.

Soon enough, Aarvi\'s mobile vibrated in her wallet. Aarvi knew Palmer doesn\'t like it but she still checked, \'Manager Lauren\' She was Highland club and restaurant manager. She doesn\'t call her unless it was very important and Shawn wasn\'t around. Her heartbeats started increasing, alarming her something was up.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call." She stood up saying it and went aside without waiting for a response.

Aarvi clicked on the response and placed the mobile at her ear. Lauren\'s panicking voice sounded, "President Evans, are you there? President Evans?"

The panicking voice tied a knot in her stomach. "Lauren?" Aarvi uttered quickly, telling Lauren it was her. 

"President Evans, you need to come. Sha- Shawn Sir…." Aarvi could hear there was a commotion and Lauren was running around, doing something.

Aarvi\'s patience lost hearing Shawn\'s name. Yet she uttered softly "Lauren," Lauren was a capable woman. Aarvi tried to calm her a bit, "Tell me what\'s going on." Only Aarvi knew how her fingers turned cold thinking of Shawn.