Never Judge

That night's fashion show featured the latest and most popular ready to wear designs and companies locally and abroad. Cedric watched as the different brands paraded their designs on stage. Many of the models paused as they passed by Ayanna who was sitting in front of Cedric next to Nicole. 

Cedric knew that aside from enjoying the show his sister was actually observing which brands and designs she could bring over to Elisia Malls. She was very hands on with her management style and often picked out the flagship stores in each.

As the show dragged on it was eventually Island's Inc.'s turn. Cedric watched as the models began walking out on the stage, he had heard that Adrianna had chosen a more elegant and sophisticated theme, rather than the usual streetwear that everyone else had favored for this show.

The models walked out in semi-formal and formal clothes that almost anyone could afford. The audience was surprised by this twist, they had expected more everyday clothes, not something that could be worn to an event or to a party.

After all the models had walked out Cedric grinned as Henry, Veronica, and Adrianna walked out at the end of the show. Cedric was beaming with pride at his wife.

"The madam is quite amazing." Mae said as she looked in awe at Adrianna who was walking the runway in one of the designs. She carried it even better than the model that had just walked the runway a few moments ago.

"My sister is awesome too." Ram boasted when he heard Mae's comment. 

"Of course Veronica is awesome." Nicole said with a laugh. "She's my sister-in-law after all."

Before the show ended, Cedric and his group left. He thought it would be best if he surprised his wife by going to Island's Inc.'s dressing room before the crowd left the hall.

The dressing room for the owners and designers of the different brands were separate from the models and it was much more spacious.

When Cedric and the assistants arrived he was surprised to see that it was only Miguel inside.

"Is the show over?" Miguel asked Cedric as he looked up from the documents he was studying.

"Oh wow, the miracle doctor." Mae said as she blushed at the sight of Miguel with his sleeves rolled up.

"Who are you?" A cold voice asked from behind them.

"You're so hot when you're jealous." Miguel said with a wink as he walked up to Veronica who had just entered the dressing room. He hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

Cedric noticed Veronica blush, he simply laughed at the couple as he walked over to a vacant seat and sat.

"Where's my wife?" Cedric asked.

"She's just checking some of the designs out with Henry." Veronica said as she leaned into her husband's chest.

"I see things are much better between the two of you now." Cedric said as he looked at their intimate actions. "Will little Emilio have a playmate soon?" He teased.

"Hey, my daughter is coming soon, she'll be his playmate first." Ian teased.

"You don't even know if your kid is a girl. You keep assuming." Miguel said in a frustrated tone. He had tried time and again to get Ian and Nicole to have the gender checked but the couple kept refusing. They said they wanted it to be a surprise, and it was not secret that Ian was hoping for a daughter.

"Cedric, you're here." Adrianna said as she entered the dressing room and ran over to her husband. Cedric had not told Adrianna that he would be coming to the show so she had simply assumed that he was too busy to attend. 

When she had walked out on stage earlier she almost tripped at the sight of him sitting behind their friends. She had initially wanted to go straight to him after walking on the runway, but she had to attend to some things backstage.

She was about to go to him when she was pleasantly surprised by Cedric in the dressing room.

"Let's go home." Cedric told her as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Adrianna blushed and nodded.

Cedric picked up her bags with one hand and held her in the other. They walked out followed by Cedric's assistants.

It seemed that Cedric wasn't having the best luck that day. When they finally made it to the parking lot, Cedric once again bumped into Carlo Juan and his young mistress.

Carlo grinned at the sight of Cedric and Adrianna. He had wanted to vent out his embarrassment on Cedric the whole time.

"Adrianna Hernandez." Carlo greeted with a menacing grin as they approached.

"Do I know you?" Adrianna said, pretending not to recall her husband's bully and her former suitor.

"Now, now, don't be like that Adrianna. We did go to university together." Carlos said. "I used to think you were such a pure and beautiful woman. It seems that money can make you reveal your true colors." Carlo taunted as he blocked their way.

"Get out of our way." Cedric said in a cold tone. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the likes of Carlos twice in one day.

"I'm not talking to you pest." Carlo said as he spat at Cedric's shoe. "Now Adrianna, if you were so desperate for money, you should have just come to me. Isn't it so shameful that your husband peddled you to his boss." Carlo said with a laugh. He genuinely believed that Adrianna was sleeping with the newly minted CEO of the Reyes Group. In his head, Adrianna couldn't have taken control of Island's Inc. if she didn't have a backer like him.

"Go away." Adrianna told him coldly.

"Ashamed of the truth Adrianna?" Carlo said, looking at her.

"Don't you dare insult my wife." Cedric threatened.

Carlo simply laughed at Cedric's threat. "This is getting boring. You don't even have the means to be an obstacle to me." Carlo scoffed. "Let's go to our love den." He told his female companion as they turned to leave.

Cedric was pissed off at Carlo, initially he was willing to hold off his revenge, but that was twice today that Carlo offended him. And twice that Carlo had accused Adrianna of being a loose woman. 

Cedric motioned for Ian to come closer.

"Sir?" Ian asked in a more formal tone. He knew when his friend was mad, and this was one of those moments. Ian made sure to exercise the proper respect.

"Dig up every dirty detail you can get about Carlo Juan. I want the worst ones all over the news and social media by dinner time." Cedric ordered.

Ian simply nodded and pulled the other assistants away with him. Camilla joined them and left as well. The task Cedric had given wasn't that difficult, but the deadline he had set required an additional set of hands to help Ian.