The Traps of Black Swan

"Apologize to my employee." It wasn't a request but a demand.

Employees gasped, taken aback by Aarvi's actions. They looked at Aarvi, understanding she was standing for them. It warmed them to see she gave them more importance than the foreign old man who was their client.

Dax was a little surprised too. He thought she might try to tolerate the man more as she understood the old man's behavior. Anyway, he was proud of his friend, the President.

Palmer's assistant froze but he didn't find Aarvi's behavior odd. Because that was her, bold and straightforward. Whereas Palmer glared at her.

"Aarvi Evans, you are crossing your lines." He glowered at her.

The lady employee flinched, fear ceased her body and she stuttered lowering her body, turning to Aarvi, "Pr-president Evans, i-it's alright."

Aarvi didn't show her emotions and didn't react to Palmer either. She glanced at her employee and looked back at Palmer, "I never gave you the authority to bully my employees. I thought to let go if you apologize to the lady. Now, apologize to each one you were rude with."

Palmer's assistant was fine with the lady, he interjected before she could continue, "President Evans, you are disrespecting your client." He warned.

Aarvi ignored him completely, "If not, I will give you ten minutes to vacate the hotel. The driver will send you to the airport."

Dax smirked. He had a reason to hold back yesterday - Aarvi and Skylar. Aarvi is Skylar and Skylar is Aarvi. If she stood against them, he was proud she didn't bow down just for a project.

Palmer's assistant didn't know if he should blame Palmer or praise the audacity of the woman. Audacity? He looked at Palmer. The latter was testing her. He had called her audacious and she proved it. Well, she had a reason to be rude.

Palmer didn't leave his ground, yet. He glared at her for a few seconds and she didn't flinch. He questioned with a scoff, "What made you think these unqualified people deserve my apology?"

"Because you are unfit to be our client." Dax spat instantly.

Palmer wanted a response from her. He wanted her to deduce the reason behind his behavior. If she could guess why he had different unreasonable sets of ideas to filter the companies, she would definitely analyze this situation too. So he ignored Dax and watched her serene face. 

Aarvi recalled Aaron's words when she was leaving the penthouse. 'Be You. You will get what you deserve.' She didn't know what exactly that meant for this meeting. Doesn't she deserve to be the owner of the Palm resort? She kept that question in the back of her mind. She focused on being who she is.

"Apology doesn't need a qualification of the person. They are human, they serve you doesn't mean you have the right to treat them awful. If you think you can do as you please because you are an elder and owner of a resort, then you are unworthy to be called a human. We don't deal with uncivilized people."

Unworthy, inhuman, uncivilized. Palmer's assistant sighed internally, preparing mentally to see Palmer throwing fit for three days.

Palmer looked at her for a few seconds, "I am sorry for my behavior last night." He looked at all and gave a modest nod.

Everyone, excluding Aarvi: "..."

Then he made way to the head of the seat and sat down.

Dax looked at Aarvi who was pressing her finger between her eyebrows. "I was expecting to go on a triple date today." If they start the meeting, it will continue for half a day, destroying their Sunday.

Palmer's assistant: "..."

He couldn't believe they had planned to kick them out and Palmer was continuing his unruly behavior.

Aarvi looked at her friend, who calmed down hearing the apology. She hooked her hand to his arm and guided him to the other end of the table signaling the rest to take a seat. 

After Palmer's apology, she understood the reason behind his behavior, "I had told you, he had mindless games to test us." She said loud enough to reach the old man's ears. "He wanted to see if I would disregard you and my employees because of the project. For example, The resort attracts richer people than common people. If they behave rudely if I cater to their needs or stand with my employees."

Palmer smirked. He knew she was smart. Last week, he didn't see anybody who was shortlisted. None stood up to his expectation so he was thinking about what to do. That's when Shawn's email gave him a brief of the situation Aarvi was in. So after giving it a thought, he invited himself to Skylar's hospitality. 

He chose to drop the email personally as Aarvi had her set of plans in motion and was ready to ignore the resort.

"That's sick," Dax commented loudly as her voice was audible to everyone. He pulled the chair for her before realizing what he said.

"Oh, sorry for saying my heart out," He wasn't sorry anyway. 

Palmer, who had calmed down, hissed, "Women are smarter and men are brainless."

"Includes you," Dax mumbled aloud, leaving Palmer speechless.

Aarvi hid her smile, "Thank you… Let's start the meeting." For the next seventy minutes, Aarvi and Palmer were ears while both of their sides put forward the requirements, argued, and made changes. The duo pointed only if something needed their words.

It went more smoothly than what Aarvi expected it to be, so she was silent when the manager left to get the papers ready for signing.

"President Evans doesn't seem to be happy." Palmer's assistant mentioned it.

Aarvi responded looking at Palmer, "I am sure your boss has something to make it hard for me before signing."

Palmer: "..."

She is too smart for her own good.

Palmer nodded promptly, "I want you to personally manage the resort."

Everyone fell silent. Aarvi had a huge business to look after and plan for the future. She couldn't sit and spend her time managing the resort.

Dax clenched his teeth hearing an unreasonable request. 'This man couldn't live without causing a ruckus.'

Aarvi declined calmly, "Then I will have to disappoint you, Mr. Palmer. I am a businesswoman, my attention will be on every project I have under Skylar. The resort will be one under it, not only one."

Palmer shrugged his shoulder, "You anyway don't go to the office. Work from the island." He already has basic information about President Evans.

Aarvi watched the old man. She couldn't tell if he was playing again or if he was serious. "If I don't go to the office daily, that means I have my own set of arrangements which you don't have to know."

Palmer understood but he didn't give up. Leaving it under some manager wouldn't be the same as Aarvi taking care of it, "You could always change your arrangements."

Dax knew Aarvi was going to Country S with Aaron, gritted his teeth. "Mr. Palmer, Palm resort is your dream, not other's. Everyone has their own life and their dream to follow. If you need a proxy to your place, then you are at the wrong place, wasting everyone's time." If he wanted somebody to look after the resort so closely, he shouldn't have looked for a company. Instead of a person who wanted to settle on an island.

That hit hard. Palmer knew Dax was right. It was just, he wanted Aarvi at his place. What could be her dream? 

"Take your husband to the island and open a hospital. Big deal." he carelessly mentioned it, deciding on somebody's life as if he had the right to do so.

He didn't care that Aaron was a President of Rivas Industries, which hadn't changed the world yet.

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