The Traps of Black Swan

For the sightseeing, Aarvi suggested to Milo Wen to bring Esme who would be bored alone. So the Rivas and Skylar Industries were being fed with the double dog food as their teams were together the whole afternoon.

They had just got used to the cold President indulging the serene beautiful President. They were speechless watching the ruthless Secretary, Milo Wen, who doted on his wife, smiling and sweet-talking.

The singles cried with other singles while the others thought it good to be on the top chain which would make it easy to bring their companions.

It was half-past three when they reached the beachside cafe for some rest and snacks. Aarvi's schedule was clear as Dax had filtered out her work so that she could focus on Palm resort. Hence she hadn't brought her laptop. 

Esme and Aarvi looked at each other after watching their husbands drown in the work without touching the refreshments. Esme extended her hand at Aarvi, "Let's enjoy ourselves." She didn't want to disturb her husband as he had spent a lot of time while going around.

Since sightseeing was also business over there, Aarvi felt bad for the men who were in formals, sitting under the shade while the scorching sun shone brightly. She whispered to Aaron holding Esme's hand, "Get rid of your tie, Ronron."

Aaron hummed while checking an important mail. His hand freed his tie without seeing the two ladies leave the cafe.

After fifteen minutes, Aaron and Milo Wen looked up from the laptop hearing the commotion. There were many companies other than just them. So first their eyes swept over Rivas employees and the other side Skylar employees who had their eyes peeled at the beach.

Both followed everyone's line of sight and froze. Both of their wives laughed high-fiving each other without caring about the eyes they were grabbing. They were wearing a high-waisted two-piece women's swimsuit. Aaron and Milo Wen weren't sure if they should be happy as they weren't wearing bikinis. The women were wearing tankini with boy shorts to play volleyball. They had seen them carrying a pretty big handbag, now they understood what was in there.

Aarvi had learned to play volleyball with Shawn and Dax. Esme had learned it for her movies. They were planning to sunbathe when they saw different companies' representatives preparing to play. So they asked and joined without thinking too much.

Esme being a celebrity didn't want to wear revealing clothes as it might go viral and it wasn't a private trip. Aarvi, aware of her image as President, didn't choose a bikini either. However, their tankini was short, showing off their slinky waists and shorts hugging their curves, one could easily gauge their sexy curves.

While Rivas and Skylar industries men lowered their heads, other company employees awkwardly laughed catching the sight of dark-faced men. When they were thinking Aarvi and Esme would cower looking at their husbands, the two ladies waved their hands at them.

To everyone's shock, in no time, two men stood by their wives in beach shorts, Aaron had a thin white shirt barely buttoned, loosely hanging on his shoulder. while Milo Wen had tossed his reading glasses, messed his always sleek hair, and stood shirtless.

Aarvi watched Milo Wen before remarking to Aaron, "Woah! Who knew Secretary Wen was hiding in the suit?" She could say Milo Wen's hard work for his wife to admire by looking at Esme who was excited for finally showing off her husband to teach the haters.

Aarvi continued, "If you two weren't married and stood like this, people would have assumed you guys were a couple." She giggled imagining Aaron and Milo Wen together, without noticing Aaron's gaze.

"Are you asking me to get rid of my shirt?" It sounded more like, 'Who are you staring at?'

Aarvi: "..."

She quickly got into coaxing her husband. Later she learned showing off at once will diminish the interest soon while ogling eyes were hitched to her husband whenever he jumped, stretched, dived causing the shirt to give a sneak peek of his sculpted muscles.

Dylan watched the ladies who taught the rules and game to their husbands. Then he chuckled a few times whenever he saw Aarvi tugging Aaron's shirt. From far the flimsy thin shirt did nothing to hide her husband. Nevertheless, he soon understood she wasn't making it to hide Aaron, The latter was getting happy with her little possessive acts.

Just then he heard somebody scoff at the nearest table, "Didn't President Evans tell, Mr. Palmer sees the sincerity? Won't she get eliminated seeing her focus on the game?"

Dylan looked behind and saw the man in his early thirties, "Pardon me for poking in, why do you think we are sitting here and relaxing?"

The man stiffened seeing it was Harmon. He laughed awkwardly, "Assistant Harmon, it's break time."

Dylan smirked, "Exactly, it's a break time." He knew Aarvi wouldn't be a fool when she exactly knows what was Mr. Palmer's expectation.

The man: "..." 

Dylan ignored the man and looked at the ongoing match of four on four. He could guess Leon was up to something in Mocon, he doubted if Aarvi and Aaron could stick up with this prolonged business conference. If he knew Leon's plan, he would have somehow warned her of the situation.

It didn't take long for his expectation to come true.

-----

Aarvi and Aaron had read the invitation for formal dinner so they had to dress accordingly. The dinner was divided into two sections. One section had only higher-ups and others had their teams. In the first section, a president or CEO, or managing director could attend with their secretary or a partner.

Aaron sat on the armchair flicking the invitation card. If Aaron attends as President of Rivas Industries, he will get a different table. If he attends as her husband, then Rivas Industries was more likely eliminated from the next step. He strongly doubted it was the arrangement done by Palmer to get rid of him.

Aarvi put on her heels and went to him. With little more patience, Palm resort could belong to Skylar and serve as a stepping stone for her international market. So she was going to stay. For Aaron, this project meant nothing other than a new revenue source. Upon all that, his absence from Mocon headquarters couldn't be held long as many works would be delayed. If Aarvi was in Aaron's position, Palm resort wasn't worth her so much time. However, she kept her opinion to herself.

Sitting on his lap, Aarvi rested her hands on his shoulder, "What's wrong, Ronron?"

Aaron wrapped his hand around her waist as he shook his head, "I don't want to leave you alone." It wasn't for dinner, he needs to get back to Mocon to avoid more delay on other work.

Aarvi pouted, realizing Aaron decided as she thought. If he leaves, Milo Wen and Esme would also leave. She will be bored to death. "Tonight or in the morning?"

If Aarvi was in the Mocon, he would have left a long time back. Since she was here, "Morning…" 

Wrapping her hands, Aarvi didn't alter his work, "I will be back soon."

Aaron put up his demand immediately, "Then I am attending dinner with you."

Aarvi: "..."

-----

Secretary Wen, who had to accompany Aaron, went to dinner with Esme. The manager who had to attend the dinner with Aarvi had dinner with other team members.

In the banquet hall, the gossip had started when Aaron and Aarvi entered together, "Did President Rivas give up the project for his wife?"

"Looking at how much he dotes on President Evans, it's likely possible."

"But it isn't confirmed anyway. Skylar might lose and Rivas will miss."

"I heard his private jet landed an hour before. He is leaving in the morning but his team will be here."

"Oh, then will they leave after the official mail from the resort team?"

Aaron and Aarvi ignored the words that fell on their ears. When they reached the table assigned for them, Aarvi looked at Aaron and whispered, "Did Mr. Palmer arranged the table in alphabetical order or something? Why is he having dinner with us?"

"Start of a disaster." Aaron knew Palmer was up to no good. He didn't like each old generation trying to test his Cupcake. 

Aarvi: "..."