Never Judge

"It's such an honor to be invited madam." The woman dripping in jewelry and branded apparel said as she bowed at Adrianna.

"Please, no need to bow, don't be too formal." Adrianna said with a laugh as she extended her hand.

The woman's eyes grew wide in wonder and quickly shook Adrianna's extended hand.

"May I call you Adrianna now as well?" The woman asked excitedly.

Before Adrianna could say anything, her sister in law, Ayanna quickly cut in. 

"I think it would be quite rude to simply call her by her first name?" Ayanna asked in a cold tone.

"I'm sorry miss Ayanna, Madam Reyes. My apologies." The woman said as she scurried along. 

"Ayanna, wasn't that too harsh?" Adrianna asked her sister-in-law. She never thought that Ayanna would be the type to uphold traditions such as these.

"That woman is a social climbing bitch, much like the other women here." Ayanna said with a frown. "If you had allowed her to do that she would be dropping your name everywhere and creating fake scandals for you. Don't repeat my mistakes."

"Your mistakes?" Adrianna asked as she spotted a new guest approaching.

"Madam Reyes, Miss Adrianna." The woman greeted with a warm smile. 

"You know I will not accept formalities from you Francesca." Ayanna said with a grin as she pulled the model turned actress into a hug.

"I thought you said not to let people address me informally." Adrianna teased as she too hugged Francesca.

"You know how these strict practices go." Francesca teased. "It gets worse if you are involved with the mafia."

"The mafia?" Adrianna asked in shock.

"I keep forgetting that not everyone knows about the Roccis." Cedric said as he wrapped his arm around his wife.

"Okay you two, get a room." Ayanna teased.

"Cedric, what does Francesca mean?" Adrianna asked her husband. 

"Do you mind, Francesca?" Cedric asked, seeking permission from the actress. 

"It's alright. She should know since my brother, Andres, will be here as well." Francesca said with a sweet and innocent smile.

"Adri, did you know that Francesca does all her action scenes? She's never used a stunt double." Cedric told his wife. 

"No, that's amazing. But what does that have to do with the mafia?" Adrianna asked, a bit too loudly.

"Shhhh, not so loud Adri." Ayanna said with a laugh.

"Oh." Adrianna said, covering her mouth.

"Francesca's family is the second strongest family in the underworld. They control one of the largest factions in the mafia." Cedric said with a grin as he looked at his wife's shocked expression.

"I thought your family is in the metal business?" Adrianna asked the woman in front of her.

"Madam Reyes, Mr. Reyes, Miss Ayanna." A newcomer respectfully greeted.

"Thank you for coming." Adrianna said with a smile. "I hope you and your children enjoy."

"The madam looks like she had never bore a child, you are just stunning Madam Reyes." The man praised.

"Thank you." Adrianna said with a smile.

"You may go." Cedric said coldly.

The man simply nodded and left.

"You Reyeses are really cold." Francesca said with a laugh.

"Right back at the Roccis. Remember the first time we met you? You were all stiff and domineering. Who knew you would fall for the marshmallow of the group?" Cedric said with a laugh.

"Who are you calling a marshmallow?" Ram said as he arrived.

He quickly wrapped an arm around Francesca's waist and kissed her. "I hope you didn't wait long." Ram said as he brushed a stray hair from Francesca's face.

"No, I just arrived." Francesca said, returning Ram's smile. "Adrianna is just learning the truth about my family." Francesca giggled.

"She didn't know?" Ram said, asking Cedric.

"There was no need to tell her." Cedric said with a shrug.

"She is right here." Adrianna said, pointing at herself.

"Sorry Adri." Ram said with an apologetic look.

"So if the Roccis are the second most powerful family, Who is the most powerful?" Adrianna asked.

"The Laurences." Cedric said with a shrug.

"Are you serious?" Adrianna asked as she gave Cedric a playful shove.

"Yes." Ayanna said, bursting out in laughter. "Are you serious, you really didn't know?"

"No, I just assumed he had connections." Adrianna said, clearly embarrassed.

"Ray is called the king of the underworld for a reason." Cedric said as he laughed at his wife.

"Shouldn't you be comforting me? Fawning over me?" Adrianna teased Cedric.

"Since when have I been like that?" Cedric asked.

"Since you saw her." Ram teased.

"Wait, so Francesca's brother leads her family's part of the mafia?" Adrianna asked, bringing the conversation back to its original topic.

"Well, not exactly." Fancesca said shyly.

"You have another sibling?" Adrianna asked.

"I did, but he died." Francesca said with a frown, the memory was clearly quite painful.

"I'm sorry." Adrianna said, apologetically.

"No, it's fine. My brother died a while back. It was because of his death that I had to return to the family, my brother Andres couldn't manage it all." Francesca confessed. 

"Hey, I do most of the dirty work." A tall handsome man who looked like a model suddenly said as he approached. "Hands of my sister, Abad." The man said.

He was clearly a few years older than Cedric and the others, and he carried a dark aura around him.

"I'm glad you could make it Andres." Cedric greeted the man.

"Thank you for inviting me, Cedric." Andres said as he gave Cedric a respectful nod. "You must be Mrs. Reyes. It is an honor, no wonder Cedric is so smitten with you, you are gorgeous."

"You are quite good at sweet talking." Adrianna said with a laugh.

"No lies. Unlike my sister." Andres said as he looked at Francesca.

"Oh come on Andres, we both know the family would not have survived without me." Francesca said, rolling her eyes.

"Adrianna!" A shrill voice suddenly said, annoying Cedric and their company.

"Lorisa, so glad you could make it." Adrianna said in a clam and gracious tone.

"Of course, of course. How could I miss your son's birthday, we were friends in Uni." Lorisa said. Her voice was so loud that Cedric was sure that all of their guests could hear her.

"Yes." Adrianna said with a nod.

"I'm assuming you have both forgiven me for my behavior before?" Lorisa asked with a cunning smile. "As they say in Milan, water under the bridge." She said with an obnoxious laugh.

"Ah yeah, yeah." Cedric said, answering for his wife. "Why don't you take a seat with your son for a moment Lorisa. We have other guests to welcome." 

"Yes, yes, let's chat later." Lorisa said as she left, waving at the couple.

"Her voice gives me a headache." Ayanna hissed as soon as Lorisa was out of earshot.

"Let's get this over with, we need her for now." Cedric said in an attempt to comfort his sister.

"I hate how we need her." Ayanna said, shaking her head. "She has a rotten attitude, don't you remember how she treated my sister-in-law? Or how she looked down at you at the restaurant?"

"How did you know about the incident at the restaurant?" Cedric asked Ayanna.

"Selina told me." Ayanna said with a laugh.

Cedric sighed and shook his head. Why were these women so gossipy?

"It will be over soon. I promise." He said as he led them to the stage to welcome their guests. It was definitely going to be a long day.