The Traps of Black Swan

"Dylan, demand my position if I have to step down. You have more experience. You are more well-deserved than Aeon." His compliment was just to lure the man.

Nevertheless, Leon had no idea what Dylan was planning behind his back.

Dylan was momentarily surprised but he controlled his expression and hid the sly smirk while he was appearing to be shocked and flustered, "No, no, no, brother Leon, what are you speaking? How could I? I am good as your assistant."

Leon truly didn't want the worst case to arise. If Dylan takes the seat, he could use the resources of Harmon Industries and take back the power whenever the time is right. Dylan was his partner in crime so if Dylan dares to disobey him, Leon could just threaten him to get everything back. That was his plan. He didn't trust Dylan but at the current moment, Dylan was more suitable and controllable.

Upon that, he had also sowed the seed to Aaron's head. If Dylan dared to cross him, Leon knew Aarvi would put an end to Dylan. If he suffers, he won't let Dylan have a better life.

Looking at Dylan panicking, a small part of Leon knew he was acting. According to him, everyone likes power including the clueless Sean. So he just sneered in his mind.

"It would be temporary, Dylan," Leon smirked wickedly. It was like a warning for Dylan to behave, "I will be back soon." His oppressing voice silenced Dylan.

Dylan could only accept as, "I will try my best." But he had a different plan for the same situation.

Lack of sleep could affect the effectiveness and Dylan has to be on alert the whole day. So Leon thought of asking Dylan to rest till the press conference but he recalled Aarvi again. 

Recall? She wasn't leaving his head.

He was pretty sure Aarvi would do something and her words, 'I will see you on Saturday.' repeated in his mind. He was sure she had her plans deployed. If it's his downfall, it has to start from his company. So he gave some instruction to Dylan, 

"After the signing ceremony, instead of a party for those old dogs, arrange a luxurious bus from the venue and send them to some island immediately. They should be out of network."

The old dogs were shareholders of the Harmon Industries. Most of them listen to Elder Harmon. If they don't get to know what trouble Harmon Industries was in, they won't reach the office demanding a response for the trouble Aarvi might cause. Elder Harmon, the chairman, couldn't pass the order to change the President without majority consent. And Leon will have the chance, a lot of time to clean up quickly.

Dylan accepted the orders and quickly went out to arrange for them. Leon had his coffee, slowly got ready thinking how to avoid those reporters from questioning about his personal life in the press conference. His personal life which Aarvi smeared with dirt, the dirt that is called the truth of his life.

Looking at the situation and the thoughts he was having, Leon felt it like a real battle with no blood but brain.

-------

Meanwhile at Skyarc,

Everyone was curious about the plans of Aarvi. To know why she was holding herself back when Dax was hurt when Shawn feared for relapse, the Rivas brothers were kidnapped and Leon repeatedly attacked them. The only thing that was holding them back was Aarvi had her plans and they believed in her. 

Trust, patience, support, they had those for Aarvi.

This curiosity didn't leave Shea either. She had gone to the hospital and ran to Skyarc with permission.

Aaron sipped his post-workout protein shake sitting on the couch. He didn't like the guests at his home, so he had kicked his younger brother to make their breakfast without troubling his wife. Hence everything was prepared by Dax, Tia, and Shawn. 

Shea asked Aaron in confusion, "Brother Aaron, where is brother Nikun? I heard he is in the city but he isn't coming in contact."

Shawn looked at his brother's uninterested expression for taking away his time with his wife. He responded to Shea, "Brother Nikun will stay low and isolated until it's safe for him. Leon could do anything anytime."

Shea trailed her hum as she followed Dax's line of sight when he waved his fingers upstairs. Aarvi was out of the gym. A thin layer of sweat was coated on her skin. The baby hair at the hairline was sticking to her face. She was wearing a crop top on the sports innerwear and low waist, sweatpants. Her slinky curvy small waist was in full glory for the eyes to admire. 

Aarvi burned a lot of calories due to the previous night's heavy junk food. Else her husband won't let her eat whatever she wants in the coming days. Dabbing the absorbing towel on her face, she smiled at the little group. But when her eyes landed on Aaron, he was narrowing his eyes at her.

'What did I do?' Aarvi didn't know what was her mistake to earn those eyes on her. Well, she was just too tempting for his eyes. He was fine with her outfit as there were no men who would stare at her.

Shea and Tia were in great shape. One was conscious about her body and another one had to be fit due to her job. But they still admired the woman alighting the stair.

"Brother Aaron, you turned out to be a sly little teenager back then. How did you pick beauty??" She teased Aaron.

Aaron: "..."

Tia was on a different topic, "If Sister Aarvi could learn self-defense, I would have taught her every day. She is so fit."

"..." Dax was the one who taught Aarvi kickboxing.

Shawn didn't notice them. He took the freshly made chicken sandwich he prepared for her, "Little Heart, your chicken sandwich." Aarvi ignored everyone and went to Shawn. 

After her breakfast, everyone looked at her. "What!?"

"What's the plan?" Shea asked.

"Nothing."

"Dum Dum!!"

Aarvi checked time. There was only half an hour left for nine. She turned to Aaron, "Ronron, you will be late to the office." Aaron didn't respond and left upstairs to get ready. He knew the plan anyway.

"Leon Harmon has two choices. One signing, two aborting." She explained the attacks for both choices.

"So you are taking away his resources first." Dax pointed it out. He pitied Leon for falling into a big pit, dug for him. 

"Exactly."

"And you are earning so much money." Dax didn't leave the critical point.

Aarvi pretended to be unheard. High returns were only at high risks. She took huge risks with high investment, she is a businesswoman, after all. 

The two girls were confused about how Aarvi could earn from this situation. Both looked at each other and half shrugged. To be precise they didn't understand how the first plan would affect Leon.

Shawn reported after a call, "The signing ceremony hasn't been canceled." That meant a higher probability of signing.

----

Tia left soon because of work. Aaron went to Rivas Industries. Aarvi coaxed Shea to get back to work. The latter doesn't have to know much about the cruel world. 

The three friends reached Skylar. The three worked and heard Aarvi passing orders with the developments. Shawn was present if she needed any kind of assistance.

----

Meanwhile, at a hotel,

The business media was inside the venue while the gossiping media was outside, taking pictures and interviewing. Since there were no celebrities, the crowd was less. The formal decor was grand and classy due to the large project. The whole country's businesspeople had their eyes there.

In Lexus S5, Dylan confirmed multiple times that the other party was in the hotel, safe and sound. They were eager and willing to sign. 

It confirmed to Leon that Aarvi wasn't controlling from the other side. Five minutes to ten, Leon and Dylan stepped out of the car. The questions about how Leon was feeling at the successful acquisition, his personal life, and his plans were numerous.  However, Leon answered none giving a reason as they will be late to the signing. The reporters knew Leon's good image had fallen, hence he was avoiding them.

They got inside the hotel. Leon didn't bother to check on arrangements. He entered the conference hall. One side had a table with two chairs and opposite to it was a section for spectators. He met the delegates while one of the secretaries had begun the program addressing the shareholders and media. 

Dylan stood behind Leon while his eyes scanned the people. His work was to spot if any of Aarvi's men were in the hall. Anybody who was suspicious but he saw none.

"... I request President Harmon and President Cornbell to sign the agreements," Emcee added at last after speaking about the project and cooperation between the companies. 

Leather booklets were in front of Leon and a man who was in his middle fifties. President Cornbell smiled at the cameras as he opened the file and signed the papers. However, something caught his attention at the end. Leon wasn't signing. The second hand in the clock ticked by but Leon sat like a lifeless statue staring at the papers. Everyone started looking at each other. The silence in the hall soon filled with murmurs, the camera carefully recorded each change on Leon's face.

The three friends were watching the event live. Shawn and Dax started to get anxious because Aarvi might have a backup plan in her game but she would lose money, a lot of it.