Never Judge

Two days had passed since the incident and Cedric was finally returning to work. It would be the first time he would be stepping out in public without having to disguise himself.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Adrianna asked him as she adjusted his tie. 

Cedric still had limited use of his right arm due to the gunshot injury, but his leg had healed and he could now walk without the aid of a wheelchair.

"It's not a big thing." Cedric said with a smile. "I will just walk into the office, like I have for over a year now."

"Cedric, don't act like this is nothing." Adrianna scolded him. "This is the first time you are going back without the whole cloak and dagger. You'll just be you."

"And I'll be better protected Adrianna." Cedric knew his wife was worried, about what, that's what he still needed to figure out. "Before I had to come in through the basement in secret. Or I walked in through the front doors under a disguise. I couldn't have as many guards around me back then either."

"Leon won't be with you." Adrianna finally said. 

"Ah." Cedric said upon realizing his wife's concern. 

Leon's injuries were quite severe and it would take him much longer to recover, based on Miguel's estimates at least three months. In the meantime, Leon had insisted on planning Cedric's new security detail while he was away.

At first Cedric had suggested that Leon should retire, he had been so shaken by the death of Mia and their other guards that he didn't want the same fate to fall upon Leon.

'Sir, if I stop I will have nothing' Cedric recalled what Leon had said when he offered to give Leon a retirement package. 'If you take me off your team sir, I will just look for work elsewhere. And to be honest Mr. Reyes, you are the kindest and most considerate employer I have ever had. So I would rather stay and work for you.'

Cedric frowned at the memory, he really did want Leon to get some rest and enjoy the money he had made over the years, but his bodyguard was just too stubborn. 

"Cedric?" Adrianna asked as he noticed he had spaced out.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about Leon and Mia." Cedric said with a sigh.

"What about them?" Adrianna asked. "About the fact that they were dating?"

"What?" Cedric asked in shock. This was the first time he had heard anything about this.

"You mean you didn't know?" Adrianna asked Cedric with a laugh. "Wasn't it at all suspicious that they had the same day off? Or that whenever one would enter the room the other's eyes would just light up?"

"No, I never thought -" Cedric said as he tried to recall all the interaction he had seen between the pair.

"Leon was so torn when Mia died, didn't you see it?" Adrianna asked.

"I thought he was mourning a friend, not a lover." Cedric muttered as he tried to process this new piece of information.

"Cedric, they loved each other, it was obvious." Adrianna told her husband. "Sometimes you are so oblivious."

"Are you sure they were a couple?" Cedric asked, returning to the topic.

"Yes, Mia told me." Adrianna said with a smile. "Don't you talk to Leon at all?" Adrianna asked as she gave him a criticizing look.

"Guys don't talk about these things." Cedric grumbled. "I should have known. It was insensitive of me to assume that she had no one."

"They didn't want anyone to find out." Adrianna told him. "I don't think Leon blames you."

"I should have asked him what he wanted to do for her when she died." Cedric said with a frown as he walked over to the large mirror in their room. 

"I think he was happy with your decision." Adrianna walked over and wrapped her arms around her husband. "You did what was best."

"I'll talk to him about it when he gets better." Cedric said with a nod as he fixed his hair. "How did you handle this?" Cedric asked as he turned to face his wife.

"I won't lie." Adrianna sighed. "There were so many members of the press and paparazzi, and even just curious people waiting outside of Island's Inc. I almost decided not to go to work that day."

"Did they harass you? You never told me if they did." Cedric pinched her chin and lifted it so that they were looking each other in the eyes. 

"They didn't." Adrianna said with a gentle smile. "I think they respected that we were grieving, that we were going through so much. Although I'm not sure if they will give you the same space, you are a guy after all."

"That doesn't mean I'm not mourning." Cedric said with a frown. 

"Are you sure about going back today?" Adrianna asked. "You are still injured."

"I'm sure." Cedric said as he held her hand and they walked out of the room together.

As much as Cedric didn't want to admit it, he was nervous, a part of him was afraid of how people would receive his identity. 

Many employees had once looked down at the poor assistant, Cedric Reyes. Many had made fun of him and even engaged in gossip. 

As his driver opened the door to his car for him, Cedric looked back at his wife and son. He smiled at the sight of his wife telling little Emilio to behave for his nannies and to wait for his grandparents to arrive to pick him up. 

"Sir?" The driver asked as he waited for Cedric to get in. "Mr. Ian said that we need to leave soon, you have a busy first day back."

"A moment." Cedric said as he continued to watch the interaction between his son and wife. 

Cedric walked back to them and picked Emilio up with his uninjured arm. As much as he wanted to bring his son along with him to work he couldn't, the thought of the media flocking at the sight of the little boy.

But Cedric couldn't help but think back about his son's trauma. Emilio had repeatedly asked not to be left alone, before the incident he would sleep on his own in his room, but since the shooting he would always refuse to be alone.

"Daddy, have fun at work." Little Emilio said as he gave his father a smile.

"I'll miss you." Cedric said as he planted a kiss on his son's head. 

"Maybe when things calm down you can bring him to the office again." Adrianna suggested. Cedric wanted to laugh, it was as if his wife had read his mind.

"Adri, I'm worried about Emilio's trauma." Cedric admitted.

"What are you thinking?" Adrianna asked.

"Can you please take Emilio up to his room and dress him?" Cedric asked a maid. "He'll be coming with me to the office."