The Traps of Black Swan

The three friends hadn't expected the simple, lively, and happy girl to be so feisty after getting drunk.

Shawn patted Aarvi to stop her from taking Tia upstairs. He didn't want Tia to push Aarvi or hurt her in any way so he took steps ahead to take her upstairs.

Tia blurted in slur but it was still clearly readable, "Do you think if you scare everyone, they won't look down on you?"

Dax's face turned dark as coal while Aarvi and Shawn were alerted. The two friends knew it was Dax's way of dealing with his old scares but didn't expect Tia to clearly understand him despite hardly talking with each other.

Dax hates how people had looked down on him just because he didn't have a renowned family name hence he behaves tough and scares people away from him.

On closer look, one could easily understand Dax was open and casual with only his two friends but it was hard to discern he behaves coldly to others wasn't only because he should have a hold on the employees but also he hated hearing people judging him by his family name.

Now he didn't want to associate with anybody who goes to him because he is a CEO of Skylar Industries and the name he made by his own strength.

Aarvi and Shawn didn't like the way Tia put in words but it was important to pull them away.

Shawn grabbed Tia's arm and pushed her towards the stairs forcing her upstairs. Aarvi stood in front of Dax looking at him and his dull pain replacing with fury.

"She didn't mean it that way. You know it, right?" She asked in a gentle coaxing tone.

Even though Tia sounded more like she despised Dax, Tia was trying to say he shouldn't scare everyone to stay from them.

Dax didn't respond and looked away from her gaze. He wouldn't accept the drunk as an excuse.

Aarvi poked her face in the way of his gaze and said with his favorite cute innocent face, "I won't let the birthday boy be sad or angry."

Dax slightly calmed down looking at her little pout of displeasure. He rubbed her head as he said, "I am not sad. Go and rest."

He was obviously affected. If Tia wasn't there, they would never scratch the wounds of others when it's their day to enjoy. Aarvi decided never to bring another person when they decide to have fun.

The men are different from women. The women share their turmoil with one or the other if needed but most of the men endure it alone and never speak about it.

Dax avoids sharing pain and forcing him irritates him more so Aarvi smiled opening her arms, "I think the birthday boy needs a hug."

Dax finally chuckled hearing her say his dialogue. He loosely wrapped his hands around her and heard her, "Aaron isn't Vance Hays or like Hays family."

Dax smiled hearing her. His Dum Dum is too attentive to his changes. He didn't want any kind of misunderstandings and problems between her and Aaron so he had gradually avoided being close to his dumb friend.

Facing her, Dax said mischievously, "My Dum Dum is asking me to flirt with her."

Aarvi was happy seeing him light ignoring the previous downheartedness, "Why not? I like the naughty… boy." Her last word faded when Tia rushed down and again stood in front of Dax.

Aarvi: "..."

Now she wanted to smack Shawn for bringing Tia to the villa.

Shawn descended stairs rubbing his forehead, he was tired of coaxing Tia while she yammered she needs to talk to the angry man.

Dax nonchalantly looked at Tia while Shawn stood behind Aarvi and smacked his head on her shoulder saying, "I made a mistake by bringing her here. My little sister is very impolite, she is no more my sister, hmph."

Aarvi patted his head for repenting his actions of bringing Tia without asking them once.

Tia ordered Dax pointing her forefinger at him, "Listen to me now."

Shawn's brows twitched uncontrollably while Dax merely raised his brow and Aarvi waited for Tia to clarify her wrong use of words.

"Why do you care what others think?" Tia asked, still being grumpy.

Dax was confused, he didn't care about what others thought of him but applauded her in mind for being bold at least in drunken taste, "Excuse me?"

"No, you are not excused." Tia grunted.

Dax: "..."

Aarvi and Shawn pursed their lips to stop laughing out. They felt like Dax got a roguish little child to coax and handle.

Tia continued by pointing her hand at Shawn who was baffled for a few seconds, "Hmmm… the Rivas family, they were also a simple family before they grew renowned around… Seventy years back."

Then her hand landed on Aarvi. She tried hard to remember something and blurted out, "The Kelly family, they were also a small family who slowly grew up from fifty-plus years...."

Aarvi clenched her fist seeing her point at her saying about the Kelly family. She didn't expect Tia to be aware of her birth identity, Tia only studied for one year in the same school as hers so she never found Tia as a threat or aware of her.

Shawn froze behind Aarvi. He regretted showing Aaron and Aarvi's teen picture to Tia. He didn't expect Tia to blurt out when she is drunk. Now Tia is actually a threat to Aarvi's safety.

Dax's fury returned hearing 'Kelly Family.' and continued to hear Tia, "There is always a starting point. They might have also endured the difficulties like you but they didn't back down."

She poked Dax's chest as she continued, "You took the first step to make your family esteemed, you should be proud that you endured instead of pushing people away. If you keep doing it, you won't have anybody to stand by you."

Aarvi and Shawn blinked their eyes repeatedly to confirm if Tia is really drunk. Shawn mumbled, "She is smart when she is drunk."

Aarvi wasn't sure why she felt pain in Tia's tone and words like Tia had been through similar pain. She hadn't dug deeper about Tia so she had an urge to know what happened in her life before she shrugged off her thoughts.

Aarvi wasn't in a position to worry about Tia's past when her life is in danger until Leon Harmon goes behind the bars.

Dax felt Tia was too naive. The world of business is too complicated and he wasn't going to tell her that. However, he understood what she was trying to say and also curious how she deduced about him so well.

Instead of shunning her, he patiently asked, "Alright, anything else?" He thought agreeing to her will make her calm and she will go to bed.

"Huh?" A disoriented tone sounded replacing her anger.

After seeing drunk Tia back on earth, the three glanced at each other as though communicating with their eyes, 'Angered Tia is smart, scary and crazy.'

Tia turned around cluelessly and she took steps towards the stairs. The three thought it was over but Tia rushed back again and announced, "And I am not afraid of you." and stomped her bare foot hard on the floor.

She held her leg and cried without looking at Aarvi, "Sister Aarvi, it hurts."

And the three burst into laughter, "She is really crazy." Dax remarked and earned a grumpy glare of Tia.

He was trying to escape but Tia held his shirt and issued an order, "I am really not scared of you." It went out of her mind that they might have laughed at other words.

Shawn chuckled while Aarvi cued Dax in a nod saying accept her words. Dax was about to acknowledge that Tia asked in dilemma, "You don't believe me?"

Dax quickly responded. "I do believe. You are very strong. Okay? Go to bed now."

Shawn continued to laugh and Tia felt like Dax was teasing her, "You don't believe me… Wait I will prove to you."

The three friends: "..."

They looked at each other thinking how could Tia prove she isn't afraid of Dax. Tia started to think about how to prove, ordered Dax to stand right there, and paced back and forth.

Aarvi and Shawn comfortably sat on the couch next to each other. The latter asked, "Little Heart if you were in her…"

"Shh… Let me think." Tia whispered and shut their mouths.

Dax: "..." He felt like he was being tested.

Dax turned to leave after a minute or two but Tia screamed, "Stop right there."

Aarvi and Shawn shut their ears, while Aarvi looked up upstairs hoping it didn't wake up Aaron.

Yawning repeatedly, the three waited for more than five minutes in complete silence.

Shawn requested in a low voice, "My lovely sister-in-law, lend me your shoulder." He held her arm and leaned on her shoulder.

Aarvi was patting his head when he jerked up to sit straight and tricked Tia saying in a firm tone, "Kiss."

Tia's eyes twinkled and determination flashed in her eyes.

Dax who felt lazy leaning on the wall widened his eyes. He turned to Tia who nodded obediently like a hand puppet of Shawn and pulled him down holding his collar.

Dax wanted to toss her away which was too easy for him but it will hurt Tia and Aarvi had already warned him indicating she is drunk. So he couldn't get rough with her.

Her jutted soft pink lips aimed at his lips without having any idea Dax hadn't lip-locked with any of his flings.