The Traps of Black Swan

'Innocence? Sweetness?' How could President Hays who had breathed a sigh of relief hearing Ava is no more expect gentleness from Ava Kelly?

Even though President Hays was careful about his success of fooling her again, it wasn't fated to stay long either.

Just as his hand reached the glass of water, Aarvi pulled her hand back and the innocence he had witnessed morphed to cold vileness raising the hair on his body, his eyes again turned wide.

Anyhow, the next second, he squeezed his eyes shut seeing her tilt the glass.

'Tlash~'

Aarvi poured the water on the floor for a second before dropping the glass next to his feet. She smirked seeing him tremble thinking she was going to throw the water on his face.

'Does it look like idol drama?' Aarvi rolled her eyes and sat opposite him on the single armchair. Her eyes caught Shawn who was sitting on the leather chair looking towards her in awe. 

She could only hope she will only make the old man out of sorts and Shawn doesn't go crazy thinking how she could flip between moods and roles. Anyway, it didn't look like he was affected by it but was watching her how she gives hope and snatches it away in a matter of seconds.

Aarvi looked back at the old man who breathed a sigh of relief looking at himself unhurt.

Relief? That's the least she will let him have.

"Did you think you can still fool me?" She asked in her ever so calm tone but it did sound too cold.

President Hays straightened his back unknowingly and tried to respond but words didn't come out of his lips. The one who was blending in the crowd had the suppressing presence, it's just unbelievable for him to accept she is Ava Kelly.

Aarvi wasn't waiting for the response either so asked her the next question without bother he was suffocating himself, "If I still can't learn your facades, what is the use of new life after knocking the door of death?"

President Hays stared at Aarvi's face trying his best to digest that Ava Kelly is alive and she returned stronger than he could think off. 

He had lived long enough to understand that the death experience won't make the person stronger but afraid, weak, and helpless.

Aarvi crossed her legs watching his every reaction, she could guess his experienced old brain was thinking of a way to escape. She would love it if he thinks to call the police.

"President Hays, do you remember you had told your grandson that 'A smart woman is a double-edged sword. She can manage family and improve the company.'?" 

He had told Vance when the latter objected to Ava Kelly working in their company. He saw her waiting for a response this time so he quickly nodded to her.

"You are wrong," Aarvi stated right after his nod, making him confused and bringing away his thoughts from the plan he was cooking earlier.

She knew according to him a woman belonged to the kitchen and to warm the bed of her husband. As much as he hated to accept Vance wasn't talented in business, he also hated to hand over the company to a woman but he had no choice due to the Hays family reputation.

That time, Ava had thought he was encouraging her but he was just using her with flowery words and she failed to discern his motive behind it. 

Aarvi continued after a pause, "A woman with smartness is a double-edged sword. If you dare to provoke her, her kindness, innocence, and beauty can morph into wickedness, malice, and a weapon."

That's what a woman called a double-edged sword, sharper than a knife and stronger than a diamond. Why do they have to live in the boundary set by the men?

President Hays's brows trembled by hearing her. He had used the phrase for the wrong situation and he also became one among many to turn her to an unbreakable sword and she is the living proof of it.

They had hurt her far too deep which will heal only when she calms down seeing them suffer. The burning fire they ignited in her will only cool after the destruction completes.

He took a deep breath thinking of a plan to stop her before she ends up destroying them, "Ava, you…"

Aarvi hissed as though it hurt her ears, "Ava? Who said I am Ava Kelly? I killed her."

While Shawn understood the meaning of it, President Hays was confused, 'She isn't Ava Kelly? She killed her?' 

He started to think she could be somebody who looked like Ava Kelly and… Shawn Rivas might be helping her take revenge for his friend.

He was about to shoot his mouth when he saw Shawn controlling his laughter looking at them and the lady in front of him sitting indifferently. 

He again tried to calm himself assuming she was fooling him. He didn't realize the lady was purposefully waiting for him to speak when he cleared his throat wiping his beads of precipitation.

"I know we hurt you, will you turn bad due to the bad people? You were such a good child, you cared about everyone's problems, you were making everyone happy. Won't you feel bad for hurting others? It's not too late to step back and live a happy life."

'Cunning old man.' Shawn thought of hearing an old man trying to make her feel guilty and bring up the goodness in her.

Aarvi uncrossed her legs and sat straight. Her face morphed into worrisome while a wicked grin appeared on Shawn's face. "Grandfather Hays, you are absolutely right. Why should I change myself for evil people? I shouldn't implicate my life due to dishonorable people like… YOU."

Shawn craved to applaud her for catching the smallest words of the old man and taunting him back with an innocence like tone and emotions.

'I know we hurt you' President Hays regretted saying it and she entitled him without an ounce of hesitation. After hearing YOU, he understood she tricked him again to believe and was playing with his emotions repeatedly.

Aarvi didn't stop there, she again crossed her legs satisfied with giving him a hint of fulfillment before pushing him back to despair. "If you don't want me to change, why don't you send your grandson to prison and make him accept his every unlawful act?" 

She clearly spoke each word and saw him widen his eyes big as saucers. Is she expecting him to send his grandson to prison? Absolutely not. 

Vance Hays is the sole successor of the Hays family, he might give his life instead of putting Vance Hays life in danger. 

Aarvi won't be surprised if he pulls a handgun from any corner and fires at her head. But he didn't have any handgun and her team had already searched the office. And his handbag? It was lying on the floor.

Utmostly, he might try to throw a vase on her but her eyes didn't leave him for a second so she could easily dodge it. Come on, she can be faster than the old man in his late seventies.

President Hays took time to respond and thought of numerous ways to persuade her. He thought he could tell she was nothing without the Rivas family but it sounded more like a provocation. His try to remind her previous self failed so he thought of her family.

"Do you think your family will like your behavior? Why do you want to taint them?" He was proud of picking it. He had seen her dutifully follow her parents' order so he was cent percent sure that she will reflex on it.

Aarvi found it laughable but didn't get the chance to ridicule and heard Shawn was offended, he slammed his hands on the desk and roared, "Our family won't like it? We love her. We are proud of her. I am waiting for her to slaughter your grandson and order to dump him in the bin."

President Hays: "..."

He was totally bewildered hearing Shawn and thought what he asked. He was talking about the Kelly family but 'why is Shawn Rivas saying 'Our family'?'

Aarvi's face softened hearing Shawn. Aarvi Evans isn't a daughter of the Kelly family. She is just like an orphan who got the Rivas family and their love.

Shawn slowly sat down actioning like zipping his lips looking at Aarvi who smiled in return to relax him. He didn't do something he shouldn't and it was not harmful in any way.

The real threat is after stepping out or Leon Harmon planning to ambush them or his men becoming over smart after seeing hell frightened secretary Harper.

She didn't care when the secretary ran out of the office because the Shadow team definitely made him unconscious before he plans to stammer anything out to anybody.

Befuddled President Hays couldn't help himself from asking, "Aren't you Ava Kelly?"

Aarvi indifferently responded while reading a message on her smartwatch, [Family of three will reach in ten minutes.]

"I was born as Ava Kelly." Then she raised her head to see President Hays speechless without understanding her talk in riddles.

'She was born as Ava Kelly. Doesn't that mean she is Ava Kelly? Then why the hell did she say she isn't Ava Kelly?' He couldn't understand if he was listening right or misunderstanding things or she was tricking him.

He clenched his fist looking determined to convince her from destroying the Hays international. He had spent his whole life building the company, how could he allow her to tear down right in front of his eyes.

What was their mistake? Vance Hays ditching the wedding as Vance wasn't the one who tried to kill her. 

He sounded uptight, "Alright, you can marry Vance, I promise to make you the president of Hays International. I won't let Vance act on impulse."