Never Judge

Chapter 12 - 12

Adrianna looked at the card in her hand. She assumed that it only had a few thousand in it as Cedric's family was not well off. She smiled at the thought that her in-laws had thought about her before their passing. 

She had planned to check the amount inside the card while waiting for Cedric to pick her up, unfortunately she got busy with work and ended up doing overtime. 

She noticed a message from Cedric on her phone

Are you almost done? 

Not yet. Why don't you go home first? She replied.

Do you mind if I meet with some friends tonight? Cedric texted back.

Sure. I'll see you at home. Adrianna replied.

She made a mental note to pass by an ATM to check the card's balance after leaving work.

Cedric immediately sent a message to his friends to meet him at his father's country club. He then asked Ian to get a driver to pick him up with the car his father assigned to him. 

All 5 men were members of the country club as well since it catered to the crème de la crème of society. 

"Ah the prince has returned." Ray teased as he saw Cedric approaching.

"Welcome back, Cedric. I heard you had a run in with my sister today." Ram Abad said, chuckling as he knew his sister was quite a handful. 

Ram was somehow the opposite of his sister, he was tall and well built, but oftentimes he was quiet and shy. Most girls thought he was the serious and mysterious type, when in truth he was just shy and awkward around girls.

"I didn't know Anna had changed her name to Veronica." Cedric said as he took his seat.

"Amazing! Something even your spies and sources couldn't find out!" Ray mocked.

"Ray's just jealous that your parents aren't setting you up with anyone." Alexander Sebastian, or Alexi as his friends called him, said. Alexi was the most serious of the five. His family was a political powerhouse in the country and he wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty. At the age of 24, he was elected mayor and at 28 he already had a seat in congress. Aside from politics, his family also had some local businesses in various provinces.

"Our parents would be happiest if we married each other's siblings." Ray teased, although there was much truth in his jest. Their parents had initially hoped to bring together the 5 families but not all 5 agreed to arranging marriages. 

The Reyes' followed a strict training for their heirs and wanted their children to find love on their own. While Ray was too busy growing his family's empire to care about finding a wife.

"I would gladly give Miguel my sister!" Ram teased. Miguel Chan had the hardest time with Veronica. Miguel is a neurosurgeon who is highly in demand across the globe, he is undoubtedly the smartest in the group. 

However, growing up he had been quiet and preferred to study rather than play with the other kids. Veronica hated that, so she always dragged Miguel out to spend some time with kids his age. By the time Cedric took his poverty training, Miguel was already finishing up his university degree in America.

"I went to America to escape that she-devil! You wouldn't dare give my parents the idea!" Miguel said with a slight panic. 

"None of us will ever manage to melt the ice queen's heart." Alexi said while looking at Cedric.

"If my sister ever heard you call her the ice queen you'll lose all your chances Alexi." Cedric knew that Alexi had been in love with his sister Ayanna since they were twelve. He always gave her whatever she wanted, however Ayanna never reciprocated.

"You're lucky to have found love Cedric." Miguel sighed.

"I found love, but I've been lying to her since the day we met. I'm not even sure how she will take the news." Cedric looked down. He knew the moment Adrianna checked that bank card she would have a thousand and one questions. He had a lie ready, he hated that he had to lie to her, but he had to.

"I heard Reyes Group was developing a new high class neighborhood. Do we get first dibs?" Ray asked.

"I think our dads get first dibs." Ram replied. It was true that the family heads usually got the first chance to snatch the prime lots. However, this time they were hoping Cedric could help them get the best properties before their fathers.

"Don't you still need your dad's permission to use your money?" Alexi teased Ray. The Laurence family gave each member an allowance based on their contribution to the family businesses. Ray managed most of it at this point and was getting most of the shares, his father however always questioned Ray's purchases.

"Yeah. I'm still stuck using a Civic. My dad won't even let me buy a better car." Ray complained. Unlike other children of rich families the 5 princes never owned any flashy cars, mostly due to Ray's inability to get his father's approval for him to buy a more expensive one. 

Between Ray's car dilemma and Cedric's poverty training the need for an expensive imported car was lost among the 5 men.

"You can tell your dad that it's an investment. I think he'll let you purchase one then." Miguel said, as he once again took the jest too seriously.

"I'll handle the property issue." Cedric grinned. Among the 5 of them Cedric was their unofficial leader. He was the most practical and his family was also the most powerful. 

"Cheers to Cedric and his return." Alexi said, raising a glass of wine.

On the other hand, Adrianna had just finished work. She was about to head to her car when she remembered the bank card Cedric had given her. There was an ATM at the lobby of Island's Inc. she decided to check the balance. 

When the machine asked for a PIN she realized she didn't know it, so she texted Cedric.

It's our anniversary.

Came his reply.

Suddenly Adrianna was shocked awake at the balance of the card 500 million.