Never Judge

-At Mountain View Mansion, before Cedric confronted the Baron Family-

Ayanna was sad to see Ray leave earlier that morning, but she knew there was a high possibility of her brother needing her husband more than she needed him at home.

She was needed in the capital, and more specifically she was needed in Cedric's Mountain View Mansion. 

Ray and Cedric needed to be assured that both she and Ayanna would be safe while they went against the Baron family and their backers.

When Ayanna arrived earlier that morning and saw Adrianna arguing with her bodyguards, she shook her head and walked over to calm her sister in law down. 

"Ayanna, they won't let me go to the office!" Adrianna complained. "Yoyo already left for school but they won't let me off of the mansion grounds."

"Come on guys, she can at least take a walk in the backyard." Ayanna said as she rolled her eyes.

The bodyguards did not say a word, they just looked at Ayanna unsure of what to do next.

"My brother's orders?" Ayanna asked as she pulled Adrianna towards the backdoor of the mansion and towards it's well manicured gardens.

"Ayanna, I need to go to the office." Adrianna complained as they continued to walk.

"Adri, even I'm not going to the office." Ayanna said as she rolled her eyes at her sister-in-law. "We need to be here, it's too dangerous to leave. Even dad and the other girls are on their way." Ayanna explained to her sister-in-law as they took a seat.

"But Yoyo." Adrianna said with a frown as she thought of her son who had just left for school.

"Yoyo is safe, no one knows who he is." Ayanna said as she tried to ease her sister-in-law's worries. "Plus Cedric has increased the number of undercover bodyguards in and around his school, Yoyo is safe."

Adrianna frowned at Ayanna's words but she nodded.

"What's important is that you and the twins are safe, things will be easier for my brother if he doesn't have to worry about us." Ayanna explained. 

She understood that Adrianna did not want to sit down idly at home while her husband was in danger and in the middle of a scandal, but she didn't have a choice. 

"Adrianna, do you understand?" Ayanna asked her sister-in-law who slowly nodded.

"Good, let's walk around the garden then I have a meeting." Ayanna said as they stood up and walked a small distance around the property.

"I really don't like not being able to do anything." Adrianna said with a frown. "I feel like Cedric always has to put bodyguards around me because I'm such an easy target. I have even more bodyguards than you or Yoyo." 

"Well, for starters, you are his wife, more people would try to get to you." Ayanna pointed out. "As for me, well Ray has a lot of hidden people protecting me, you just don't see them but they are there. I've learned to spot them."

"Doesn't it bother you that we are here, at home, while the men are confronting someone that threatened your business and your family?" Adrianna asked Ayanna.

"I would love to be by my husband's and brother's side, but I know I am needed here, in the capital." Ayanna explained. "Whenever my brother is not in the city or has other plans I usually take over. I keep the Reyes Group running. It's an important job that I need to do for us."

"I feel so immature next to you Ayanna." Adrianna said with a sigh as she shook her head.

"I have just lived this life longer, Adri." Ayanna said, shaking her head as they returned to the mansion. "You'll understand that the wealth and power and prestige that comes with the Reyes name has a lot of drawbacks." 

"Ayanna! Adrianna!" Emilio Reyes greeted before Adrianna could respond.

"Dad." Ayanna said as she ran over to her father like a little girl and hugged him tightly. She was more than happy to see her father, he was the only one that knew of her condition and she was glad that she had someone to share it with now.

Ayanna was planning on telling Adrianna as well, but her father arrived, so her news had to wait.

"I have some meetings dad, but let me join you as soon as I can." Ayanna said as her father released her from his arms. 

"Don't overwork yourself Ayanna." Emilio Reyes warned as his daughter winked at him and vanished into her brother's office.

She only had one meeting that morning, an urgent one concerning some labor issues that Elisia Malls were being accused of. She had asked someone to investigate them and she would be hearing back from them today.

Ayanna knew that her older brother was planning something so she didn't want to be too busy that day since Cedric's revenge would surely be something exciting. 

The investigator informed Ayanna that a manger was indeed going against policy and breaking multiple labor laws, which in the process made it look like Elisia Malls were the ones violating the laws.

Ayanna made quick work of the matter and had the manager fired and the employee reinstated and if possible promoted. She also made sure that proper compensation was given for the damage caused.

As soon as she ended her meeting her phone began to ring. It was Ray telling her to go on social media and watch as Cedric broadcasted the Baron Family's death from politics.

Ayanna excitedly ran to the living room where her father and sister-in-law were waiting together with the other girls and Tristan.

"We need to watch this." Ayanna said with a smile as she connected the laptop to the TV.

"Ayanna. Have a maid do that for you!" Emilio Reyes scolded as he watched his daughter crouch down looking for the cables to connect the laptop to the TV.

A maid quickly noticed the old CEOs concern and helped Ayanna.

When the live feed of Cedric's meeting flashed on the TV everyone in the room was surprised. They didn't expect Cedric to be this bold.

Just as they watched Evan Baron hit his son, a bodyguard came running into the living room.

"We need to move all of you." He said.

"What's going on?" Ayanna asked as she stood up and pulled the bodyguard to the side.

"Miss Ayanna, people are trying to enter the mansion gates, we need to get all of you to safety. They are outside the Mountain View community." The bodyguard said in a serious tone as Ayanna turned pale.

This was exactly what she had feared.