The Traps of Black Swan

The happiness Zain expected to see in Aaron's eyes didn't appear. Instead, he saw a glint of bleakness flashing in them before Aaron looked unemotional.

Aaron's gaze rested on Aarvi who was sitting between her friends arguing on something.

He was fine if she doesn't recover their past and only he has to keep it safe in his memories. He didn't want to risk Aarvi's whole memory so he shook his head in denial, sighing silently.

Zain had thought Aaron might take a risk with Aarvi's memories. If they force her to remember, her memory cells which were forced to bury might be recovered back but the possibility of losing other memory was high. Hence he was glad Aaron respected her life and her responsibilities over their memories.

However, he still asked, "Are you afraid she might forget you again and fall for somebody else?"

Aaron merely glanced at him before it laid back on the girl who was tying her hair into a high ponytail bickering with the two. "I don't want her dreams and plans to be undone or forgotten."

'Falling for somebody else?' Aaron didn't know what he would do in that case. 'Was he going to watch her from afar seeing her happy with somebody else?' Or 'Will he keep her captive and force her beside him bearing her anger and disgust towards him?'

Aaron gazed back at Zain's scrutinizing eyes, "That somebody will be me." For him, they were meant to be together, if not, wouldn't she have a boyfriend or married to Vance Hays before he returned. Yet, he would have tried his all to make her back his. Only his.

Zain smirked hearing him. He wasn't sure if Aaron knows but he knew his Pumpkin liked the stubbornness towards her. Little Ava was always reserved with Zain until she saw him stubbornly force his parents to take him to play with her. 

Aaron had finished breakfast when the two men pushed Aarvi towards the kitchen while she cried as she wanted to sit with them. One pulled an apron from the drawer, put it around her neck before turning her to tie a knot behind, another one searched for a chef cap, and proudly crowned her before three posed for a happy crazy selfie.

Then Aarvi stomped her feet on the floor seeing them run, "You guys are heartless."

However, two men turned around and put on a show of bowing the noblewoman in the royal court, "Thank you, My lady."

Zain was smiling while Aaron waited for her counter. Aarvi flipped her invisible free hair on the shoulder and corrected them, "Her Majesty… I am the Empress."

'Pfft' Nevertheless, two men laughed at her to piss her off. They went to the dining table after confirming she got into work.

Shawn cheerful reported, "Bro, saw? My Little Heart is still cute."

Dax stood behind Zain and hurried him, "Brother Zain, come on, come on. Let's not waste time."

Zain queued Aaron to join as he stood up and turned to Dax, "CEO Grant, you still dare to play here after provoking Leon Harmon."

Dax rolled his eyes remembering Leon Harmon. "What will he do? Break his office another time?"

He had just finished, Zain smacked his head, "His control freakiness and his anger is his weakness but it could end anybody's life."

The three went towards the living hall but Aaron went to the kitchen to see her washing apples. Before he could speak, he got her attention, "Aaron…" Aarvi called him near spreading her arms up.

Aaron's face immediately softened and lowered his height to let her wrap the arms around his neck to avoid her dripping forearms wet his pullover. Straightening his back, he carried her off ground wrapping his arms around.

His little woman is becoming more and more open with him so who was he to disobey her request. He gladly did as she would like.

Aarvi's tone was low and soft, filled with contentment as she spoke next to his ear, "Thank you for not holding a grudge and making Apple Pie comfortable. And I am sorry too if he knew I was with you, he definitely wouldn't have hurt you." After saying it, she unwrapped her arms to look at his face.

Aaron faintly smiled accepting her both apology and gratification even though those weren't necessary, "I am happy to know you have a loving and caring brother." He kind of guessed Zain treasures this little sister but he hadn't expected it to be this extent that he was ready to face the whole Rivas Industries, its connection, and resources.

They didn't have a good start, truthfully, it couldn't be worse than that but Aaron just saw the positive light of it on his progress only for the woman in his arms.

He was fine to forget each of his day and night struggle behind the company taking up his time before he had to reach the hospital to stay beside comatose Aarvi.

Apparently, she doesn't know, she was the reason, his strength, his will power to work harder and solve each thing.

Aarvi hummed and cued him to let her down from his arms but the man placed her on the kitchen countertop looking at the prepping status, "I didn't even know you can cook. Need my help? What are you cooking?" He asked, looking at the kitchen table and counter filled with different ingredients.

Aarvi pointed to apples, "That's for apple pie, the main dessert for lunch." Then she faced him and spoke, "I was thinking of making seafood but Dax and Shawn want chicken too. So the main course has a combination of dishes."

"And those are?" He asked noticing various ingredients.

Again she turned and pointed at items to tell which one she was going to cook, "Roasted lamb with crispy prawns for Apple Pie, Grilled citrus fish with chicken salad for Shawn. Batter fish with honey-roasted chicken for Dax. It is a menu but of course, we can eat anything we like. I will add a vegetable salad to balance the meat ratio."

Aaron waited but his name didn't come up at all, "For me?" He wanted to know what she might have chosen keeping him in her mind.

Aarvi who dried her hands on her apron pulled him closer and saw his hint of surprise flashing on his striking face.

Moving her head aside, she pressed her lips on his smooth skin planting a sweet and lingering kiss on his cheek. "So... How is my choice?" She asked, referring to her kiss as his lunch.

Choice? How could there be a better choice than her? He saw her mischief curl of lips and demanded, "How can I be full with one? My appetite is too big for your exclusive dish."

Aarvi giggled hearing him sound like she wronged him, "Why do I feel like your appetite is too large for me to fill?"

Leaning on the counter between her legs, he wrapped his arms a little tighter, "An important point to be noted down. So when are you going to start feeding my appetite?"

Before she knew it, she was blushing by seeing the enticing curve of his lips and playfulness in his eyes.

It wasn't the blush to shy her away but smile in amusement. She had a different kind of happiness, probably she liked him a little more after the night or content to know he and Zain are getting along or maybe to see those little expressions of his at her.

She wanted to hug him again, probably stay in his warm embrace to feel his heartbeats, see his gorgeous face full of tenderness for her, or just get lost in his amber eyes that never failed to catch her gaze.

Is she in love? She didn't know, probably feels him closer than before.

Nonetheless, her cold fingers pinched his cheeks, "Don't you want Lobster with wine sauce?" She pointed to the farthest corner of the countertop where a red lobster was majestically lying on an oven tray.

"I will not make the wine sauce strong so it won't be a problem even if you get a call for any emergency." Aarvi hardly saw him touching wine and understood long back that he doesn't drink so that he can be prepared to attend emergency cases anytime.

Aaron didn't let his lips curl up and hummed boringly. "Alright, you can eat it too." Since her health is stabilizing, she could take wine at a monitored rate, "I will peel it for you."

Aarvi didn't look pleased seeing him put on a lazy stance. Making some space, she jumped off the counter, then she stomped his foot and heard him hiss while she put on a pout of annoyance. The first time she was going to cook for him, and here he goes, showing disinterest right in front of her.

Before he could get another stomp or elbowed aside, "Ah ah, you are the best." He planted a kiss on her forehead, calming his Cupcake back to the sweet little lady.

Then she shoved him away from the kitchen asking him to have fun with others as she became extremely busy with all the dishes having no time to care about what they would be talking about. 

...

Aaron reached the living hall to hear Shawn asking Zain with all his seriousness, "If Leon Harmon isn't the key person of the whole situation, who is he? Or she?"

Aaron's ear sharped instantly, this was the question that didn't stop bugging them. It's really commendable how Leon Harmon carried out his work and wipes out all the evidence that they failed to get proof to point anybody.