The Traps of Black Swan

Aarvi knows everyone from the Louis and Rivas family loved Aaron who was the eldest grandson of the family. Hence liking her so easily just by seeing her is indeed difficult. She didn't want to forcefully make space in their life.

Aarvi controlled chuckling when the old man quickly shoved the envelope back hearing her words. He grunted in acknowledgment before adding, "That's better." He sounded strict. It wasn't surprising from a retired military officer.

Aaron pulled his wife up to stand on her feet to stop hurting her knees as he spoke to them, "Grandpa, I will bring my wife soon once we handle some emergency work."

Before grandfather Louis could retort as they are first before work, grandmother interjected, "Huh? No, no… Aaron, you two just got married. You two should spend time with each other first. What's it called…" She started thinking and elbowed her husband to help her.

Then the old man completed her word knowing what his wife was thinking, "Honeymoon."

"Yeah, go on a honeymoon. We aren't running away anywhere." She flashed a sweet smile at them.

The couple looked at each other before awkwardly smiling at the old couple. After a few more words, Aaron took Aarvi aside asking, "So, how are you going to impress my grandfather?"

Aarvi went closer and whispered, "I have a secret weapon."

Aaron became more curious but his lips twitched, guessing what it could be, "Don't tell me, you will flirt with him."

Aarvi stuck her tongue out at him and giggled leaving him speechless. She liked the old couple, mainly because they loved each other in their hoary.

Aaron's fingers reached to pinch her nose but shrugged, cursing the makeup. They stood in front of another couple and their two children.

Aarvi pursed her lips looking at Major Louis. The latter brushed his eyes from Aaron to her before he lifted his eyebrow amused at how she looked at him.

"Brother Aaron…" A girl in her late teens hugged Aaron sideways and smiled looking at Aarvi awkwardly standing in front of her father. She cheerfully introduced herself, extending her hand, "Sister-in-law… I am Myra." There was a hint of hesitation in her.

Aarvi looked at the tall, slender girl. She had hazel brown eyes like Aaron. The golden sparkles in them twinkled like stars in the tinted sky. She understood Aaron got those eyes from his mother's side.

Aarvi's fingers clenched for a second, before she smiled, "Hello  Myra." She reached out and hugged the young girl, surprising Aaron. Aarvi could feel, Myra's smile widened before they looked at each other.

"You are so sweet…" Myra grinned. Myra had seen how Aarvi treated some people so she hadn't expected Aarvi to treat anybody closely. Whereas Aaron felt like, his sly wife knew to win the hearts.

Myra pointed at the young man who was about the same age as Aarvi, "He is my brother, Gavriel. I am studying at a Military school and he is a soldier. We took a holiday to see you, else we would have met you a long time ago when Brother Shawn shared your picture with us all..." Myra was a lively girl so she spoke most of the time. She also said what her father said after meeting her at the police station.

She was about to continue more, Gavriel quickly covered her lips, pulling her next to him, "Sister-in-law, don't mind. As soon as she gets out of school, she speaks nonstop." He knocked on Myra's head who struggled to get free but couldn't compete with her tall, sturdy brother.

Aarvi smiled, "No, no, I love to listen."

Gavriel and Aaron looked at each other and at Myra whose eyes sparkled brightly, "Stop spoiling her." Both men almost said in unison before chuckling.

Myra stomped her feet and stopped struggling. Gavriel continued as his chin pointed towards Zain, "I work in the same team as Colonel Webb."

When Aarvi glanced at Zain, the latter sensed their gazes and turned to them. He flashed a tiny smirk at her.

Aarvi had no plans to hide her real identity from them so she didn't mind even if they knew. "If I am not wrong, you should have been busy with missions."

Gavriel nodded without getting surprised by her words, "Even if there was no party, we would have met Grandfather Jordan on his birthday so I had asked off for a long time."

After exchanging a few more words, the patiently standing couple finally interjected, "Will you two let us talk too?"

Gavriel pointed Aarvi towards his parents. Madam Louis was a homemaker and master Louis was Major Louis. He commented after Aarvi greeted both when Aaron introduced formally. "I see, you are daring if the person is unknown."

Aaron already knew about their encounter so he looked at his wife who bit her tongue before shaking her head, "I had thought I irked you."

"Absolutely not. Dad likes…" Gavriel again closed her mouth and took her away to grab something to eat.

Madam Louis spoke as she chuckled, "Your Uncle was proud of you. When you weren't in the wrong, you don't have to surrender to anybody."

Just like that Aarvi slowly got to know about the Louis family. Aaron hardly spoke, unless it was required. He let her speak, giving her the chance to experience what she missed from her childhood. Family, relatives, well-wishers, acquaintances, she had none and slowly she was earning them.

He could feel, it wasn't easy for her to have physical contact and she was trying to get over it. So he stayed beside her, holding her hand, keeping her relaxed in his presence.

Around the same time, Aarvi heard an unknown voice behind her, "President Evans…"

Aarvi turned around with Aaron and saw the manager holding a two square feet sized gift box in his hands. He jerked when Aaron and Major Louis's stern gaze fell on him. He quickly nodded his head in apology for interrupting them and extended his hand towards her.

"President Evans, the gift is delivered in your name." His other hand pointed to the delivery note on the box, "The delivery man is outside, we had to stop him due to security reasons. If you could sign this, I will return the receipt to him." He was professional.

Since they didn't let the delivery man inside, he asked to get Aarvi Evans. The manager would never dare to do that so he asked the deliveryman to wait and came inside without understanding why he couldn't sign and take the parcel.

Aaron stopped Aarvi from reaching out to sign, "Did you scan the contents?"

The manager quickly responded, "Yes, President Rivas. There is no metal inside the box." So nothing dangerous.

Aarvi took the receipt and noticed the sender's name and address had the Kelly villa information. 

Aaron and Aarvi looked at each other. Both had no idea Shane and Maisie were locked in the room by Zain Kelly. Hence they started thinking about what they could send her. They couldn't possibly be asking her to return or wish her well. 

Aarvi knew Maisie was a type who would curse her even after knowing she was standing at the top of the food chain.

Aarvi untied the soft pink ribbon on the box to check what it could be. The manager helped her remove the wrapped ribbon around the box. Aaron wrapped his hand around her shoulder, pulling her a small step back. With another hand, he lifted the box lid so that if her parents were playing any sick joke, he could shield her.

But soon her nostrils instantly flooded with the stench of blood. Aarvi's eyes widened as the images of her lying in the pool of blood flashed in her mind like a reel of a movie.