The Traps of Black Swan

Instead of letting his Cupcake follow him around, Aaron was teasing, disturbing, talking, and playing with her in the flower shop.

Aarvi was tired of shooing away Aaron's admirers. To avoid the ogling eyes, she removed his blazer and then his vest, but it seemed like she was giving a better chance for women to gawk at his physique. She had to repeat questions to the customers when they would be savoring Aaron, who would be gracefully helping her out.

She had sold the whole day's turnover of the flowers in just two hours as the women were entering the shop looking at him. And she noticed the male customers were even afraid to lift their gaze at her due to Aaron.

She was cupping her face sitting at the counter with a big pout of her lips. Now she understood why people say having a good-looking man could bring both happiness and trouble.

She was confident Aaron can't be stolen away from her. The trouble was bearing those ogling eyes on your boyfriend. Not to mention, her boyfriend was too attractive and flawless in whatever he did.

Aaron stood in front of her at the other side of the counter.  He knew what was going on in her mind when she removed his blazer and vest, followed by his tie. With his elbow on the counter, he pecked on her forehead and hid his smile, seeing her eyes brighten up and lips curling up.

"Did you forget I wanted to tell you something about Leon Harmon?" He asked, pulling another bar stool to sit in front of her.

The pout of her lips returned. "I do remember." She hadn't forgotten his words or how concerned he was about the topic. "But his topic is such a mood off when we are together."

"Mood!?" Aaron mused when his dirty mind shamelessly recalled their intimate night.

Aarvi innocently hummed, having no idea about his thoughts. Supporting her elbows on the counter, she pushed herself front to reach his face. Her lips grazed his nose tip and pouted again for Leon's topic.

There was nothing good to talk about Leon. Despite that, Leon's name was enough to ruin their good mood.

Aaron flicked on her forehead while looking at her, leaving her weight on her elbows as her legs were in the air, "Sit back..." He suddenly paused. He never calls her Cupcake, yet that nickname always stays on his lips.

Aarvi noticed his pause. It wasn't the first time she was taking note of it. In the past, she used to think he wanted to be careful while speaking with her or avoid picking any unnecessary conversation.

Later, Aarvi got to know that Aaron is the teenager of her dreams. She deduced he avoids calling her 'Cupcake' because he feared it might forcefully remind her of the past. She probed, "Cupcake?"

His pupils slightly widened before it registered to his mind that she is slowly remembering their past, excluding his face. His gaze softened before he nodded, "You like it?"

Aarvi nodded vigorously, "I like cupcakes you bake, and you love your Cupcake." She beamed, thinking of the cupcakes.

Aaron: "...."

He wasn't talking about the cupcakes. He twisted Aarvi's ear as he descended his stool to make her sit instead of hurting her arms. He scolded her, "I am talking about the nickname." He snorted grumpily, "No more cupcakes for you."

Aarvi sulked for a second before her eyes shone slyly and threw his line back, "No more Cupcake for you."

Aaron's brow slowly raised at her words. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. Extending his hand to reach her little face, he lifted her chin with his forefinger, and his deep voice was enticing, "I will have my Cupcake, anyway."

His words instantly reminded her of innocently gobbling one after the other cupcake and him having his Cupcake. Her face turned hot red at her thoughts.

Aaron meant what she thought, but he appended more words sounding confused, "Why are you so red? Don't you want to get married to me?" He sat back, looking at her trying to conceal her baffle without discerning he was flustering her purposefully. He couldn't believe she thinks of him as such a gentleman.

It was fun to tease her and to know she doesn't keep her guard up to think deep into his words and actions.

Aarvi quickly asked to push her thoughts back, "What is it about Leon?" She sounded nonchalant, causing Aaron to bite his lip before he explained.

"Leon Harmon probably has a history of psychosis; it may not be treated at all." He revealed it to her.

When he had heard from Aarvi that Leon becomes a whole new person when he feels his life threatened, Aaron had doubted it.

Aaron chose to meet Leon because he wanted to provoke Leon and confirm his mental state. So that he could double-check on Aarvi's safety and she could be well-prepared for the consequences.

Aaron continued with the analysis and circumstance they might have to face, "Even though it would hurt his pride to reveal his mental disorder to the world, he can use it to keep himself safe from the law. It might be military or local cops."

Aarvi fell silent hearing Aaron. Before she had tortured Leon in the mirror hall, she thought her pre-plans didn't need to be improved a lot. Now she felt the need to alter some of them.

Aaron continued to remind her, "Even if Leon Harmon gets caught killing someone publically, he can easily escape it." Mental disorder patients won't be imprisoned. "Basically, Leon Harmon is untouchable..." Money, power, and people, Leon had them. Destroying Harmon industries wouldn't weaken Leon as he had illegal means.

Aarvi lifted her brows, hearing him say Leon Harmon as forbidden. Aaron quickly added, "Of course, you can deal with him. Just make sure you are safe."

Aarvi jutted her lips then settled back. Her eyes went from right to the left, softly blinking her long lashes. Aaron stayed silent and let her think. He could guess she was making some changes in her plans or thinking of the required measures to be on alert. He watched her beautiful eyes shrink, brighten up with various emotions flashing in them. All the while, her lips in a soft curve as though she was admiring him and smiling.

While waiting for her, he grabbed the small mineral water bottle. He unscrewed the lid and took a sip. Aarvi blurted out in excitement, "Let's get married."

'Pfft,' Aaron choked on the water and coughed hard.

Instead of helping him, speechless Aarvi: "..."

She realized she shouldn't just say out unexpectedly. She should propose a marriage instead of blurting it out in blue. She scratched her back head, looking at word-struck Aaron.

"Forget it." She murmured before he could scold or laugh at her.

Aaron stretched his hand and smacked her hard, assuming she again took the marriage topic as a solution to something. "Aarvi Evans..."

Rubbing her head, Aarvi cut in, "I know, I know." In contrast, she hadn't taken the marriage decision as a solution to anything.

She genuinely thought of getting married. She wanted a reason to celebrate with all. Even though Jordan's birthday party was near, it was a formal one, unlike how she could enjoy it with all.

She was disappointed with how Aaron reacts every time she brings up the marriage topic.

'Am I being too clingy? Doesn't he want to get married to me?' Aarvi got mind-eating questions.