Never Judge

He had thirty minutes to the press conference so he decided to talk to Nicole. He eventually found her speaking to the nurses, giving instructions.

"Nicole, a word." Cedric said as he signaled to her that he wanted to speak privately.

Nicole nodded and followed him to the side.

"Nicole, we need your help in interrogating Jen." Cedric informed her.

"Natalia's serums?" Nicole asked.

"Yes." Cedric said with a nod. "I know this could be hard on you since Jen worked for you in the past and I know you even liked her as an employee -"

"I'm in." Nicole said with a mischievous grin. "That damned bitch drugged me."

Cedric couldn't help but laugh at her expression. 

"We leave after the press conference." Cedric said with a nod.

"I'll get my things. I'll have the machines sent over to the Reyes Mansion before we leave." Nicole said with a nod as she happily left and headed to give instructions.

Cedric was relieved that Nicole was more than willing to help out, he was initially worried that Nicole still felt friendly towards Jen. She did after all work with them for many years and had become quite close to Nicole.

As Cedric walked back to the room he noticed that he had a few minutes left to the press conference.

He decided to drop by his mother's room then head over to the stage prepared at the front of Saints Hospital. 

Cedric had made it a point to have the press con organized in such a way that it wouldn't hinder the flow of patients and doctors to the hospital, this was still a hospital after all, and he had no intention of affecting the daily operations of the hospital.

"Hey." Adrianna greeted him as he entered the room.

He hugged his wife and kissed her. 

"I have to get ready." He told her. "I'll meet you at the entrance once it's over. Dave has secured the lounge, you and Emilio can wait for me there. I've had them heighten the security in the area as well."

"We will be fine Cedric." Adrianna told her husband.

"That's what you said after leaving this morning to Adri." Cedric said with a weak smile. "Accept the added security. After this press con, people will know who we really are."

Adrianna simply nodded and did not argue with her husband. Cedric was glad that she understood that he was only looking out for her and their son. 

Cedric went over to the sleeping figure of his mother and his father who was holding her hand.

"Dad, it's time." Cedric told Emilio Reyes III. "I'll be heading down now. I don't think I can make it back till late tonight." 

"I understand. I'm sure your mom understands as well." Emilio said as he smiled at his son.

Cedric nodded in response and leaned down to kiss his mom on the forehead. 

"I'll be back mom." Cedric told her. "I promise I will find the people behind this attack and make them pay." Cedric swore.

"Are we going?" Ayanna asked her brother as she approached.

Cedric nodded as he walked over and took Adrianna's hand and led her out of the room, Ayanna and Ray followed close behind them.

"How are you holding up?" Adrianna asked Cedric as they walked through the eerily silent hallway.

"I'm trying to keep myself together." Cedric confessed to his wife.

"I'll be here for you no matter what." Adrianna told him as they entered the elevator.

The elevator ride was silent, no one said a word, the silence was broken when the familiar ding of the elevator doors were heard and it opened to the lobby.

Mae and Dave were already there waiting for Cedric and the others.

"Mae, accompany my wife and my son in the lounge." Cedric instructed.

Mae simply nodded.

Adrianna went on her tip toes and planted a chaste kiss on Cedric's lips. "For good luck." She told him as she left following Mae, with their still sleeping son in her arms.

"Will you be joining us?" Cedric asked Ray.

"I have nothing else to do." Ray said with a shrug and a smile.

Cedric took a deep breath as he followed Dave out towards the direction of where they would be holding the press conference. 

It was an open area outside of Saints Hospital that once served as a parking lot. A stage had been set up and seats were placed for the media.

The whole area was already a buzz with voices as Cedric as his group approached. It was clear that the identity of the CEO of the Reyes Group had attracted everyone's attention.

"It's not like it's the first time they are seeing you as the CEO of the Reyes Group." Ayanna told her brother as she walked next to him. Ayanna knew that Cedric was nervous, Cedric Reyes was a nobody, people might not be able to believe that he was also the CEO of the Reyes Group, someone who was possibly the most powerful man in the country.

"It will be a bitter pill for them to swallow." Ray said with a laugh. "How many times have people looked down at you Cedric?"

"Too many times." Cedric said, shaking his head. He had been through a lot over the years and most of them had not been pleasant experiences. 

Even when he was the assistant to the Reyes Heir people never failed to look down at him. To them he was no one special, a person of poor origins that simply got lucky.

"This will be very entertaining." Ray said with a laugh as they approached the stage.

They were currently obscured from the reporters since a makeshift backstage was prepared and they were obscured by a divider.

"Are you ready?" Ayanna asked Cedric as she gave him a worried look.

"If not now Ayanna, then never." Cedric said with a smile as he nodded at her.

Ayanna smiled and walked to the front of the stage to make the announcement.

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