The Traps of Black Swan

Nico placed a picture of twenty-year-old Ava Kelly standing between Shawn and Dax with her bright smile adorning her innocence. Nico noticed Aaron composing in a blink of an eye gazing at nothing but Ava Kelly in the picture.

Aaron who hadn't touched a single paper reached for the picture while Nico spoke with confusion in his eyes due to Aaron. Nico was expecting Aaron to be very angry so that he could deal with Aarvi before she touches Vance Hays but 'why is he serene?'

"Brother Aaron, I am unsure if you have noticed this girl before so let me introduce her to you, she is Ava Kelly who studied with Shawn and CEO Grant in the country S. She isn't Aarvi Evans but looks similar. She is the ex-fiance of Vance Hays from the Hays family but…"

Nico found himself hesitating to speak about Ava Kelly but he still continued, "She was found to be a promiscuous person even after the engagement. Hence…"

Aaron failed to notice Nico's quandary eyes, clenched fist and slight trembling brows while speaking about Ava Kelly. Aaron balled up his fist feeling his blood bubble in his veins, urging to cut the tongue which spoke ill of his woman right before him.

A deep fiercely cold tone cut in. "Proof." Nico who felt a cold run down his spine saw Aaron extending his hand for proof of what he stated.

Nico: "..."

Nico was word struck. He couldn't understand the protectiveness of Aaron for Ava Kelly. If he likes Aarvi Evans, then why is he protective of another woman? It can't be because of Shawn Rivas. Is he with Aarvi Evans because she looks like Ava Kelly? How could that be? If he had loved her, he wouldn't have let her engage with somebody else, would he? 

Nico had numerous questions without a proper response and he knew he can't ask Aaron. Looking at Aaron's hand asking for proof, he realized he always heard the words and had no proof.

Aaron continued with his tone turning freezing colder by each second, "You heard them spout and titled her with them."

Nico's team had collected information about Ava Kelly, they got a lot of information but nothing was wrong until she had returned back from studies. 

When it comes to calling her promiscuous woman for involving with many sexual partners, those were only talks without any proof. How much ever his team worked hard for a week, it was clean to the extent his team was calling her dumb for silently suffering her mean-spirited parents.

He stuttered for failing in it, "I- I…" He wanted to say her own parents believed it too but he was aware that her parents were more brutal than anybody.

Milo Wen who had stood at the entrance of the door was gritting his teeth, completely swapping the intelligence of Nico as a man who is dead from the neck up. 

Nico was trying to manage the situation for not foreseeing Aaron could also be interested in another woman.

Before Nico's voice, "Nico Bruton." Aaron thundered again causing Nico to stun and furrow his brows without understanding how it turned out this way and he was missing something important proof which he worded.

The secretaries were shocked by hearing Aaron's voice. They knew their president pretty well, he wouldn't bat an eyelid if they lost millions of money so they understood it might be because Aarvi Evans or his family. However, they strongly sided with Aarvi Evans.

They started peeking in the office to see Aaron and made sure to hide well just keeping their heads out. Milo Wen was confused thinking if he should enter and submit the file or leave them for privacy.

Nico who had no comeback heard Aaron continue but his voice toned down but held a deadly dark air opposite to how he looked in compose, "You have a sister too. Will you call her the same if your dear friend Vance Hays calls her promiscuous? Or do you want me to count the number of boyfriends she had?"

Aaron knew he shouldn't bring another female name who isn't concerned about the matter but Nico won't understand until the nail hits where it would hurt him.

Nico instantly incensed for bringing up his sister and said through his teeth, "Brother Aaron, you are crossing your line." Even though what Aaron said was the truth.

Aaron smirked, gazing back at Nico's burning eyes. Aaron wasn't allowed to talk about his sister who finds every man a thrash after dating a month or two and there he was letting his tongue loose about the woman who was never in a relationship and untouched.

The mocking smile of Aaron was enough to put Nico in his place. He clenched his fist, his brows were tense while apologizing, "I am sorry for believing the words that are passing on the lips of people without having any proof."

A question was at the tip of his tongue, 'Why are you so concerned about Ava Kelly?' But he didn't ask and he was sure he won't get an answer from Aaron but another ridicule.

Aaron noticed Nico clutching something over his T-shirt on his chest and believed he was controlling his anger and accepting his inefficiency. 

Aaron who noticed Milo Wen dwindle by the door saw him trying to escape before composing and walking inside. "President Rivas~" He passed the file to Aaron.

The bad luck of his secretaries was at the peak and Aaron again opened the mid-page ending him up at the repetition of a clause in two forms, one was clean and the second one was professional.

This time Aaron didn't scold them but shoved the file to Milo Wen who lips twitched as soon as he saw two secretaries blunder. Milo Wen met Aaron's eyes which were growling for making simple mistakes.

Milo Wen really wanted to plead to him, 'How can an hour of work be done in 5 minutes? President Rivas, will you please calm down first?' Nonetheless, he didn't dare to utter a word and scurried away giving a dirty glare at the awful guest of the day.

Nico decided not to talk about Ava Kelly when he himself was unsure about many things related to her. And chose to focus on the problem - Aarvi Evans.

He blankly said without addressing Aaron, "However, it's been more than two years since Ava Kelly passed away and Aarvi Evans is having the same face as hers who isn't a daughter of Evans family that she is implying to all."

Pindrop silence followed after Nico ended his words. Each second and minute is considered a treasure to Nico Burton due to his mission hence seeing Aaron becoming silent for each information was putting his emotions on a rollercoaster ride.

Just like how Nico was failing to read Aarvi Evans's expression, he couldn't understand anything from Aaron's face either. Even if he found a hint of anger, Nico didn't know if it was due to him for talking rudely about Ava Kelly or he was pissed off due to Aarvi Evans's game.

Time ticked by, Nico just stated the difference between Aarvi Evans and Ava Kelly stating Aarvi Evans can't be Ava Kelly and the latter is no more. Shawn and Dax might be using the doppelganger of Ava Kelly to avenge Vance Hays for no reason.

Aaron was amused why Nico didn't deduce he could be the one who gave her the new identity she wished for. Why would Shawn hide about Aarvi Evans from Aaron if Shawn really brought a doppelganger? Do they look like rivals? 

Anyway, it wasn't difficult to see the hatred of Shawn and Dax towards Vance Hays but it was next to impossible to see that in Aarvi Evans and Aaron Rivas. So it's easier to blame the two men.

"Have you ever thought Dax and Shawn might be true but not your friend?" Aaron asked leisurely, finally hearing everything Nico wanted to speak.

Nico was adamant that his friend Vance Hays is pure soul, "When it's about a friend, truth or falsity doesn't matter but stand for them."

Aaron really wanted to tell the same line back to Nico and specify there is no truth behind him but an amazing facade that was spread out by his dear friend Vance Hays.

Matter of fact, Vance Hays was actually what Nico knows. But Vance's inferiority complex seeing Ava Kelly doing everything better than him probed him to control her which took an ugly turn destroying his clean hands and mind before he could even realize he is no more the same.

Probably it could have been controlled if his parents hadn't encouraged him to have another woman with Ava Kelly but the latter didn't get to his clutch.

"So?" Aaron asked before he could show the real pawn of his that could destroy every possible speculation and proof that Nico brought.

"Stop that woman and your brother." Nico was blunt else he might take a harder way to stop them.

On one end, Aaron wanted to provoke Nico to know his limits for daring to point to two important persons in his life but on the other hand, he wanted to control Nico to avoid problems for Aarvi.

Milo Wen who again entered saw the two men staring at each other with such an intensity that he started imagining sparkles before the explosion. He saw Aaron's hand extend for the file so he gave it but to see him placing it on the coffee table and wave of his hand to send him.

Aaron got up to reach his desk  but his eyes caught the black silhouette walking towards his office. The world ceased and he involuntarily smiled looking at her head tilt slightly with the tender smile when their eyes met and she sprinted to his arms.

Nico Burton: "..."