Never Judge

Inside Cedric sat on his table as Camilla, Dave, and Mae stood across him.

"Things are about to change." Cedric said as he leaned back on his seat. "Later today, the Reyes Group will be announcing me as the new President and CEO. This means that we will need to move out of Mor Co. and start working here."

His three companions were surprised, especially Camilla, who knew that Cedric wasn't expecting this for at least five more years.

"Even us, sir?" Mae asked.

"Of course, why not?" Cedric asked back.

"Sir, what about Mor Co. management?" Camilla knew that Cedric was planning something for a handover but none of them knew who he would be installing as his VP in Mor Co.

"I'll announce that for when Ian arrives." Cedric told them. "For now, I need to make a different announcement." Cedric said as he watched their expressions.

Camilla was obviously puzzled, there was very little that she and Ian didn't know, Cedric trusted them in almost all matters. 

"Dave and Mae will be playing a more important role now." Cedric began. "So I think it's important that I can move around freely."

"They've signed the proper documents." Camilla said as she caught on to what Cedric was trying to say.

"Good." Cedric said with a nod. "You see, Dave, Mae. I like my freedom, and my wife likes shining on her own." Cedric suddenly changed his tone to a kinder one, similar to how he would talk to Mae and Dave when he was just hanging around with them as Cedric Reyes and not the Reyes Heir. 

"No." Mae said with a gasp.

Cedric smiled from behind his disguise and took it off. 

Mae and Dave were stunned. He could see that Mae was already blushing and Dave couldn't even look him in the eyes.

"How could we not tell? Oh my gosh, what did I say?" Mae said as she covered her mouth trying to recall all her conversations with Cedric.

"So, you weren't sick or absent all those times, you were just hanging out around us." Dave said much more calmly.

"Oh my gosh I complained about you bumming around when it was your cousin-in-law that died!" Mae said as she continued to panic. 

Cedric laughed. "Calm down, both of you." Cedric said with a smile.

"I took it better than these two." Camilla boasted. 

"Have a seat." Cedric said as he got up and moved to the couch. 

Dave had to pull Mae towards the couch as she was too much in shock to register what was going on.

"You can ask, whatever you want." Cedric told the two junior assistants. 

"Why did you hide who you were?" Dave said, asking the obvious question.

"I told you, I enjoy my freedom and I respect my wife's dreams. She wants to reach a point where she can stand next to me, without people saying I helped her out." Cedric said with a shrug.

"Your wife, is your rumored mistress?" Mae said as she slowly recovered.

Cedric laughed. "Yes. She isn't my mistress, she's my wife, and the mother to my son." Cedric said proudly.

"Ha! All those stupid people online! They'll be so embarrassed when the truth comes out." Dave laughed. "But I don't understand, you've been in plain sight this whole time. How, why?" 

"The Reyes Family calls it Poverty training. Only the Reyes Heir of each generation has to go through it. For thirteen years we live as ordinarily as we can, in the past the Reyes Heir would live as the poorest of the poor, sent out with nothing so that he could hone his skills. My grandfather thought that that was too much, so they simply sent me out to finish high school at a public school with just the basic necessities, as for university I had to find my own way to get in and to pay for it, the same with finding a job." Cedric said with a shrug.

"So you'll be revealing your identity to the world later?" Mae asked.

"No, not yet. I made a promise to my wife." Cedric said simply.

"How did we not realize?" Dave asked himself.

At the same time someone knocked on the door.

"She's with me." Ian called out from the otherside.

"Come in." Cedric said as he stood up.

Ian came in with Adrianna behind him. 

Cedric quickly pulled his wife into his arms and hugged her tightly placing a gentle kiss on her lips. 

"I'm so happy you're here." Cedric said as Adrianna leaned on him. 

"They know?" Ian asked as he had visibly relaxed. Cedric knew Ian was always on guard not to let things slip.

Camilla simply nodded and Ian grinned, he knew how stupid they were feeling right now. He felt the same, who knew his work best friend would turn out to be his boss.

"I have something to tell you." Cedric told Adrianna as he gently stroked her head. "Let's sit."

Cedric led Adrianna to the couch and sat next to her.

"The four of you should listen in as well." Cedric instructed his assistants as he signaled for them to sit.

"All of you are affected by what I'm going to say." Cedric said as he took a deep breath. "As you all know my father caused quite a commotion making us rush here, an announcement was made earlier." Cedric said with a sigh.

He looked at each of them, the lives of his four assistants would be forever changed after today. 

"In a few hours, the Reyes Group of companies will be announcing a changing of the guard. My father will step down as President and CEO, while I will take his place." Cedric said to everyone's surprise.

"Does this mean…" Adrianna said as her voice trailed away.

"No, no. I won't go back on my promise. I won't reveal myself until you're ready." Cedric said as he kissed her on the forehead.

"So we'll be moving?" Mae asked.

"Yes. Your task tomorrow is to move everything over." Cedric told Mae and Dave.

"Who will you be installing in Mor Co.?" Ian asked Cedric. 

Cedric was very much aware that Ian did not want the position, even if Cedric believed he was the best fit. So Cedric turned elsewhere to find his successor for Mor Co.

"Mor Co. is tricky business. I had hoped to have more time to build the company, but with the latest development, I guess I need to hand it over." Cedric told them. "Don't worry Ian, as promised, it's not you." Cedric said with a grin.

"Good, between my plans and standing in for my wife, I won't be able to do the role justice." Ian said with a laugh.

"You're married?" Dave asked Ian.

"He isn't, he just likes to claim that his girlfriend is his wife." Camilla teased.

"You never told us who it is." Mae complained. 

"You'll meet her. Knowing uncle Emilio there will be a little celebration soon." Ian grinned. 

"You call the CEO uncle?" Dave said with a gasp.

"Camilla could to if she wanted, but my dad and Cedric's dad go way back." Ian said with a shrug.

"He's what you would call, a fallen prince." Cedric explained. "He has his own mission he wants to fulfill, that's why it can't be him."

"The who?" Ian asked. 

"I've decided to treat Mor Co. the same way my father has arranged for M Bank and Krisanta Land, I will install a VP to manage everything but I will remain it's president." Cedric said as Ian and the others nodded. "Camilla, I want you to be that VP."

Camilla was shocked, she stared at Cedric and blinked.