The Traps of Black Swan

However Nico tried to scare the lady in front of him, she didn't flinch a little. Her gaze was clear yet threatening him to stay away from her and mind his business.

-- Ten minutes earlier --

Nico had fetched the contact details of Aaron Rivas and dialed him to know if he really rejected a company named, Evans. "President Rivas!" He greeted the aloof man he had ever met in his life. Even after his greet, Another end was silent as a grave.

"Nico Burton here." That's when he heard a faint hum of acknowledgment and probe for him to continue talking.

The Aaron Rivas, extremely aloof, ruthless, cold-blooded man Nico Burton had ever seen. The latter had met him when they were kids but he had thought Aaron as a warm, friendly person. He still ponders whether that little Aaron and the current Aaron are the same people.

He still feels cold running down his spine remembering when he had met Aaron three years back. The destruction of Mocon was on the brink due to Aaron's full-fledged force which was saved mysteriously. Nobody knows what happened.

If generally, people think, Burton family holds the power due to high-rank military officials and the connections spread out hugely, the Burton family couldn't help but bow to the Rivas family, especially this President Rivas.

'Ahem,' Nico unknowingly coughed to clear his throat and his voice was far away from how he had ordered people just a few seconds back, "President Rivas, sorry to disturb you at working hours. I will come to the point, have you rejected a project from Evans Industries on the fashion brand?"

Nico's face turned ugly when the other side was silent and turned to the girl in black. 'How can I miss the one who plays tricks around me?' He smirked devising a plan to teach her lesson.

Aaron's voice was frosty asking, "Why are you asking about Evans?"

Nico furrowed his brows. He expected yes or no so he couldn't fathom why Aaron was interested to know the reason behind his question. He couldn't possibly lie to him so he answered promptly, "There is a girl who has the report rejected by Rivas Industries. She is a little too mysterious and her presence is uncanny at Mocon hilltop."

Nico realized the seriousness of Aaron just over the call. He was always resolute about the decision he takes and never gives second thoughts about what he does or say but Aaron's silence made him think if he said something wrong.

"Yes, I rejected the business proposal and she is searching for a capable one." There was a brief pause by Aaron and Nico didn't even know he was holding breath listening to his grave murderous tone that could freeze droplets in the air. "Captain Nick, it's your insufficiency if you can't fathom her."

Nico's face deadpanned. 'Nick' was the name used by his military team, nobody knew that, not even his parents and other senior higher-ups. Of course, Aaron always proved to him that he wasn't a man to be messed with, 'But why? Why is he threatening me because of this girl?'

Failing to discern what Aaron was trying to say, he asked like old brothers they used to be before he joined the military school, "Brother Aaron, why are you protective of her?"

The two words relieved all the possible questions, doubts of Nico, "My woman." Nico almost gasped thinking there is a woman who could riddle out Aaron but Nico was in composure, after all, he was trained to have a level headed during all the time.

Nico was blank. He didn't know what to tell. He was now very curious about what is unique about her that Aaron is treasuring to the extent he was ready to slaughter him just by the tone. Having no proper response, "I will make sure she is safe."

Nico heard Aaron snigger, "She is capable of protecting herself, mind your business." Then the call ended.

'What the f***!' He was sure Aaron understood why he worded 'I will make sure she is safe.' because he couldn't possibly say 'I will not trouble her.'

He noticed a text message but before he could read it, a call halted his actions. He answered it to hear, [Captain Nick, Evans empire exists. Chairman Evans has two children, the elder son is president and the daughter is a gadabout, she loves to travel to many different places for pleasure and decides where to open branches. Nobody can tell where she lands up and decides to grow the business before flying away to another country.]

Little did they know, that girl isn't Aarvi Evans.

Nico wanted to know more about her but he wasn't ready to provoke Aaron Rivas, "Suspend the investigation." He heard a response and hung up the call before opening the message he had received.

[They had sent the collaboration plan to fifteen companies twenty days back. Evans' company team turned down to work with Harmons a few minutes back.]

Nico grounded his teeth thinking whether she was a brainless woman to even think about collaborating with Harmon and stormed towards them as he heard her serious yet melodious voice, "Well, I gave my appointment to CEO Grant of Skylar and my team is meeting with Harmons today. Are you sure you could do better than them? It's business after all."

Vance blurted out, "Are you meeting Dax Grant?" 

Aarvi: "Excuse me!" 

Nico saw her showing a tinge of confusion. He wanted to know why Aaron was protective of her and mixed with Harmons his voice sounded grave, "Your retarded team rejected Harmons five minutes back. Check your mobile." It was more like a decree passed by him.

Normally he had seen men or women tremble by his gaze or stare but the woman in front of him didn't. She wasn't only eyeing him straight, she even warned him to tone down his attitude, "And you, mind your wild violent tone." 

He wanted to see her fluster, panic, tremble but got nothing other than her determined gaze on her serene face. 

He noticed the end of her lips which were slightly up giving off an illusion she was smiling but she wasn't. He had seen curled down lips or straight but not hers.

Gigglemug, habitual smiling face. That relaxed face had the tranquillity as though nobody could bother her. So composed that he doubted if he could achieve that state in his military missions. 

He got the strong urge to touch her face and check she wasn't forcing that expression on her face. Before it could take into action, he remembered, 'She is mine' and Aaron's voice ringing in his head.

'Damn,' He cursed himself for losing in his own game. He wanted to frighten her to know if she was acting but he was becoming guardless. This time he toned down his voice and accepted the fact nobody deserves Aaron better than her. He became the one to lose, "I didn't mean to."

Aarvi knew he lied. She didn't know who he called but she was sure that receiving her information so easily is impracticable. Crossing her Apple Pie and Aaron, yes! in their wonderland. Nico will need days to weeks to know where she lives.

Four men deeply sighed, catching their breath but didn't notice the shocked Vance. The latter was now sure that she wasn't Ava Kelly. 

Ava Kelly was like a little pure girl, she would immediately and innocently ask whether she did something if anybody stared at her with a fierceness not to mention Nico was a vicious feral who could shun anybody by his presence.

'Yes, she is not Ava kelly. She can't be my Ava.'