Never Judge

Before heading to bed, Cedric needed to make sure that everything with regards to Julia was planned and set.

He didn't want this investigation affecting the one with Lucius Ting and Wu Jun. He decided that for Julia's matter he wouldn't need his assistants' help.

It was a much smaller matter with less consequences.

As soon as his call with Ray ended he gave his cousin Ace a call.

"Cedric, what's up?" Ace asked in a very cheery tone. 

Cedric skipped all the pleasantries and jumped straight to the point of his call.

"Have we worked with a company called Destilería de la Casa?" Cedric asked his cousin.

"We have." Ace said. "They are a very old and very well established company here in Spain, it would be a waste if we didn't collaborate with them."

Cedric sighed and shook his head.

"Are we still working with them?" Cedric asked.

"No, we've completed all the collaborations and are set to discuss new ones for next year. I think they were quite satisfied with working with us." Ace said in a proud tone.

"Ace, did you know about their ties to the local mafia?" Cedric asked his cousin.

There was a long pause as Ace hesitated.

"Ace, don't lie to me." Cedric challenged.

"I'm not, I won't, I would never." Ace quickly replied over the phone. "I was aware of rumors but I didn't look into it. You know how dangerous it would be for someone like us to look into their personal affairs."

"Yes." Cedric said as he admitted that Ace was right. The more practical move for them would have just been to act professional and ignore the illegal ties that these companies had.

Investigating it any further just for the sake of a business deal would usually bring them to a much more difficult situation. 

"Do you know which mafia they run?" Cedric asked Ace.

"No." Ace replied.

"According to Ray they run the Esteves Group." Cedric informed Ace. It seemed that Ace was very much aware of the Esteves Group as he gasped when he heard the name.

"They are very powerful and very dangerous, did we do anything to cross them?" Ace asked in a nervous tone.

"No, but they have someone that my wife knows." Cedric said with a sigh. "I want you to observe them until I can give you instructions on how to engage." 

"Whoever they have must be important to Adrianna. Who is it?" Ace asked.

"Such a curious boy." Cedric said with a chuckle.

"You know I am." Ace bragged.

"Do you remember Adrianna's friend, Julia?" Cedric asked his cousin.

"Yeah, the one that was madly in love with Ram. They have her? Why? What did she do?" Ace was shocked by this new piece of information.

"She and Adrianna actually had a fight before she left, and if it were up to me, I'd leave her to rot in Spain. But my wife is much kinder than me, so she wants to help Julia out of the situation she is in." Cedric told Ace.

"What do the Esteveses want with Julia?" Ace asked. "She must either know something really valuable or have something very valuable on her."

"Julia went to Europe in search of a long lost love of hers, it seems that man is the reason the Esteves Group is interested in her. The man seems to owe them something." Cedric explained.

"Why would they take a clearly psycho ex-girlfriend?" Ace asked.

"That's exactly what we were wondering." Cedric said as he nodded in agreement. "For the meantime, Adrianna will try to talk Julia into telling her the truth. Right now, all we can do is do enough research into the Esteves Group and their associated companies."

"What if I looked into Julia's ex?" Ace asked.

"It will be too dangerous." Cedric said as he disapproved of Ace's plan. "I don't want to put you in any danger."

"I'm always in danger Cedric, I'm a Reyes, even here we have enemies." Ace argued. "But I understand where you are coming from."

"Thank you." Cedric said as he sighed in relief.

"Can I at least look into Julia and all her trips here? I think we might find something relevant." Ace informed Cedric.

"Just be careful." Cedric reminded his cousin. "If it gets too close to Julia's ex or the Esteves Group I want you to run away, as far away as you possibly can from it."

"I will, I promise." Ace said in a sincere tone. 

"I don't want anyone from our side getting hurt for Julia, especially you." Cedric told his cousin.

"I'll be careful." Ace promised. "Will you tell Ram that you are helping Julia?" He couldn't help but ask.

"I thought I wouldn't have to, but maybe it would be for the best if he knew what was going on." Cedric told Ace. "Maybe Ram has some information we don't know as well, after all they were quite close for a time."

"Yeah, that's true." Ace said as he agreed with is cousin.

"Anyway, I won't take up anymore of your time. I know that you still have a lot of work to do." Cedric said.

"Yeah, work you sent. Why are you expanding so aggressively, aren't you worried?" Ace asked his cousin.

"Don't worry. Everything will fall into place Ace, just trust me." Cedric said over the phone.

"When have I not trusted you, Cedric?" Ace said with a chuckle as he dropped the call. 

Cedric shook his head as he looked at his phone. His cousin couldn't resist having the last word. 

He was glad that Ace was working hard towards their company expansion. It was his number one priority at the moment for the business.

As Cedric returned to his room, he found Adrianna frowning as she looked at her phone.

"What is it honey?" Cedric asked as he climbed into bed with her.

"It's Julia, she keeps avoiding my questions." Adrianna said with a frown.

"Don't worry, I have people looking into what her connection to her ex could be.. Just keep trying to find things out from her, okay?" Cedric said as he kissed the top of her head, pulling her into his arms as they slowly drifted to sleep.