Never Judge

At La Independencia, Cedric grilled Ray.

"So what's the real score between you and Ayanna?" Ray almost spit out his food at Cedric's question. ​​

"Her older brother shouldn't be asking me this." Ray said in an attempt to brush off his question.

"She doesn't know, does she?" Cedric said with a grin.

"Can we please talk about something else?" Ray complained.

"Fine." Cedric laughed. He got the answer he was looking for.

Cedric and Ray had a peaceful lunch. Ray attempted to give Cedric a ride going back to Mor Co. but with the number of paparazzi loitering around the building agreed with Cedric that it was best for him to just get a cab.

The paparazzi from earlier spotted Cedric and approached him again.

"Do you have time now?" he asked Cedric.

"I've got work." Cedric replied.

"Just a few questions, your officemates answered earlier." The paparazzi continued to chase him.

"Fine, I'm Cedric. I'm an Assistant at Mor Co., now will you let me continue my work." Cedric said, answering the paparazzi's question.

"Which department do you work in?" The paparazzi continued to pester.

It just so happened that Chris Garin and the other employees from the logistics department were returning from lunch.

"Hey reporter guy!" Chris called the paparazzi talking to Cedric.

"Hey Mr. Logistics Manager!" the reporter called back.

"Don't you know who that guy is? He's the husband of the woman the Reyes Heir likes!" Chris said with a grin.

His voice was loud enough for other paparazzi to hear, suddenly they all ran over to Cedric shouting questions.

"Sir, sir, what do you think about the Reyes Heir having a crush on your wife?"

"Are the rumors true that you will be separating from your wife?"

"Miss Adrianna has been seen with Miss Ayanna in the past, is Miss Ayanna arranging for your wife to marry her brother?"

"Is it true that you are the Reyes Heir's personal assistant?"

The paparazzi began snapping photos of Cedric and pulling him for a comment.

"Cedric, did you use your wife to get your role?" When Cedric heard the paparazzi ask this question his face suddenly darkened. He grabbed the reporter by the collar.

"You can say anything about me, but never smear my wife!" Cedric said as he threw the paparazzi to the floor.

As soon as this happened the security of Mor Co. came out to calm the crowd. Along with them was Ian and Camilla. The guards escorted Cedric into the building and Camilla and Ian attempted to calm the audience.

When Cedric got to his office he called the director for PR and for Security up. Camilla went up to help Cedric and Ian stayed downstairs to help both the security team and the PR team handle the paparazzi.

"What is the situation downstairs?" Cedric asked looking out the window.

"Sir, we tried to defuse them but they refused to leave. They are waiting for a comment from you." Ian reported.

"They can sling dirt at me but never at my wife!" Cedric was angry. He never wanted Adrianna to get dragged into all of this.

In front of the PR and Security director Cedric called Ram Abad and placed the call on speaker mode.

"Yeah Ced?" Ram asked from the other line.

"Who sent the paparazzi and reporters to my building?" Cedric asked, furious.

"Good afternoon to you too. Well it's not me, let me ask around. Give me a sec I'll add Ray to this call." Ram said, mocking Cedric's angry tone.

"Hey Ced, I just told Ram that when I got there a lot of paparazzi were waiting outside your building. I'll look into it as well though my channels." Ray said in a much calmer tone.

"Can your people get a list of the reporters and paparazzi that are there?" Ram asked.

Cedric looked at the Security director who nodded and proceeded to send a message to the guards to do just that.

"They're on it." Cedric replied. "Ram ban all of them! No one talks about my wife that way and gets away with it!"

"Don't worry I got it." Ram said dropping the call.

"Ian, send the list to Ram. No one smears Adrianna's name and gets away with it!" Cedric ordered.

Later that day the news spread that many of the paparazzi and reporters that had camped outside of Mor Co. were banned. Many people online were talking about how the Reyes Heir was beginning to flex his muscles and that this moment was quite unique since he did it to protect an employee.

The rumors about the Reyes Heir liking Adrianna did not die out however. If anything, many people thought that the Reyes Heir must be defending Adrianna's husband as an attempt to get on her good side.

At Mor Co. life quickly returned to normal, with expansion plans underway Cedric was buried under paperwork and presentations from his subordinates. There was so much to do that Cedric didn't notice the missed calls from Adrianna.

By the time he had noticed his phone it was already 5pm. He quickly called her back.

Adrianna had been watching her phone the whole day, worried about Cedric. When he finally rang her back she picked up instantly.

"Hey, it's been really busy here, I'm sorry I missed your calls." Cedric said.

"Are you alright? I saw they harassed you at the entrance of Mor Co." Adrianna was very worried about her husband.

"Don't worry. The president of Mor Co. took care of it already." Cedric said giving himself a pat on the back.

"Honey, I'm so sorry. You're getting dragged into all these rumors because of me." Adrianna began to tear up.

"Adri, it's not your fault." Cedric tried to comfort his wife from the otherside of the call.

"Cedric, those rumors about the Reyes Heir, even if he likes me. Even if he does the greatest gesture I will never like him back. I love only you." Adrianna knew what kind of rumors were going around about her and that her husband was one of the greatest victims of those rumors.

Cedric smiled on the other side of the line, she already chose the Reyes Heir, she chose him eight years ago. She chose to go on a date with a poor university student over a rich heir.

"Adri, I trust you. You're my wife. Don't worry. I'll pick you up later alright? I know we have to go back to the Hernandez home again tonight." Cedric told Adrianna.

"Are you sure you want to go with me? I'm sure they will just talk about trying to use me to get to the Reyes Heir." Adrianna was worried that because of her family Cedric might actually leave her.

"I will always be there for you. I'll come and get you now. Bye." Cedric dropped the call and walked out of his office.

On the way out Cedric received a message from Ray.

Ray Laurence: It was John and Fredrik Hernandez, they are behind the rumors. I'll call you when I have more details.

Cedric grinned, it was probably time he made a few moves against Fredrik and his son.