The Traps of Black Swan

Leon couldn't bring himself to sign. He knew the troubles of what would happen if he didn't sign. But he didn't know what Aarvi had in the store if he signed. He was thinking if he should take the risk of the unknown or known. Hidden attacks could never be safe and easy.

President Cornbell heard the press and others murmuring as the acquisition might fail. Yet he stayed calm because he wouldn't lose anything and he would just find another buyer.

He chose to ask politely as there were many eyes on them, "President Harmon, are you alright? Is there an issue? Shall we take a break?"

Dylan didn't probe between, as he was aware of what Leon was going through. The management and the shareholders were giving him signals to check on Leon. 

Suddenly his mobile vibrated. Since he was handling the whole program and everyone was reporting him, he checked in case it was an emergency..

[Convince Leon Harmon to sign.]

There was no sender, it was looking like a pop-up message. After he read the five words, it stayed on screen for a few seconds and disappeared without a trace. 

Only one was capable of making this happen. Dylan's eyes ran around the crowd. He wasn't sure if Aarvi or her people were in the venue. He thought about the risks. He was more drawn to the hidden risk so he chose to speak.

He bent his waist, placed his hand to cover his mouth, and whispered to Leon, "Brother Leon, if you don't sign without a reason, it would cause big trouble. If there is something hidden and risks you, we can sue President Cornbell and you will be safe."

Correct. Leon didn't think if the trouble was something through the other party, they could sue them. Even though it had a lot of work and some losses, his position won't be at risk. So he believed Aarvi planned to destroy the project.

Dylan straightened his back. Leon flashed an apologetic smile at the man next to him and roughly went through the papers. Leon found no changes in the agreements. It was the final copy he had approved. He just gave a formal smile and signed the agreement. 

President Cornbell found Leon weird. It wasn't the first time they met but he was behaving weirdly. Anyway, he didn't care. They exchanged booklets and signed.

President Cornbell had a bright smile but Leon didn't. He was forcing a smile when there was loud applause in the hall. Both stood up and shook their hands at the completion of the signing ceremony. 

The cameras were flashing continuously when Dylan cued the finance department to complete the final payment. Then he collected the tab from the team and showed the transfer proof to both the presidents.

"I am so happy to do business with you, President Harmon." President Cornbell flattered Leon in front of everyone. 

Leon barely smiled in response. He couldn't speak or think about anything. He was waiting for bad news and the call came. He held his mobile while he was the focus of all the people. 

It was a call from Aarvi. 'Why is she calling me?' Leon was reluctant to answer the call. Anyway, he answered it, turning away from the media attention.

[Congratulations President Harmon.] Her voice was clear with a hint of happiness.

Leon clenched his teeth and asked, "What are you up to?"

He heard her hum before she asked, [If you do me a tiny favor, I will tell you something.]

"What?" He spat instantly.

Aarvi took her own time watching the live video, [Turn to your right at 50 degrees. Come on.]

Leon turned thinking Aarvi was in there but he saw nothing but cameras. 

Shawn low fived Aarvi looking at Leon who was staring straight into the camera. Dax was waiting for her words, not those silly actions. 

[Leon Harmon, you thought about signing or canceling. Did you think of postponing the signing ceremony?]

The first trap - Checked.

Aarvi ended the call watching Leon's eyes widen and gritting his teeth. He stormed out of the hall ignoring the press conference. Dylan was stuck between running behind him and handling the press conference.

In Skylar,

Dax and Shawn: "..."

They hadn't thought of it. "Dum Dum, what would have happened if he had postponed this signing ceremony?"

Aarvi crossed her legs and turned to the desk away from the television screen. She left the mobile on the desk looking at Shawn next to her and Dax in front of them. "Then I would have failed to pull him off the throne at a critical time. Don't forget, Leon has huge resources because of Harmon Industries. If he loses it, none would come forward to give their hand to him."

Shawn and Dax nodded in understanding. Leon had friends who were with him for their advantage. They will leave as soon as he falls.

Aarvi's red polished nails drummed the glass desk as she responded to Dax's question, "My other plans wouldn't be so effective if Leon had postponed the signing. Or else I will have to postpone my plans with his signing ceremony. My patience has ruled out the day he aimed at you guys. I can't wait."

Seeing her get so serious thinking of the previous days, Shawn pulled her cheek making her cry, "Hey Little Heart, we are fine. Don't worry about us."

Don't worry!? She still trembles by imagining Dax in the car which crashed. How could she not be concerned? She slapped Shawn's hand and snorted at him.

Dax scribbled his signature on a file and kept it aside. He asked what he had noticed, "What did Dylan Harmon say to Leon? I thought Leon was going to leave the hall."

Aarvi and Shawn paused at his words. They thought the same too. Till the neck of the bottle, they were expecting Leon to leave the hall, Aarvi was ready to withdraw all her investment in Harmon Industries quickly so that she didn't incur more losses.

Shawn played a video on his mobile, "Look, he checked his mobile and said something to Leon." He looked at Aarvi, "Did you send him something?" Two friends looked at her for an answer. They knew the process is more important than the result.

Aarvi denied their suspicion. She wouldn't take credit for other people's work, "Nope, I have no hand in it. I am more suspicious of Dylan being criminal-minded than Leon. I don't understand what he has in mind. Is he aiming to be President of Harmon Industries?" Aarvi shrugged her shoulders in perplexity.

The two friends nodded. They were concerned about an unknown powerful person controlling the situation. It might cause unexpected difficulties for Aarvi.

-----

At Rivas Industries,

Milo Wen reported to Aaron, who was busy working in his office, "President Rivas, it's done. President Harmon completed the signing." 

Aaron had asked Milo Wen to instruct their hacker to send a message to Dylan if Leon ponders about signing. Milo Wen had no idea about the reason behind Aaron's actions. He just followed the orders to relay the information to their team.

Aaron nodded in response without lifting his head from the file, "Alright, keep me updated."

Milo Wen responded and went to his adjacent office.

Aaron's left-hand finger swiped on the Ipad screen. His eyes briefly checked the Harmon Industries price depth in the stock market. The price was rising, meaning his wife would have a longer time to sell all her shares in profit. He simply didn't want his wife to face the losses or be tenses even for a minute.

Earning more money without losses - Checked.