Never Judge

Over the next few days Miguel continued to ignore Cedric. He still wasn't happy about his friend's opposition to his plans against Jason. He was still itching to go after the man but Cedric continued to say no.

Cedric on the other hand treated Miguel like a child throwing a tantrum. It wasn't like Cedric had stopped Miguel from acting out his plan, he just delayed it, it wasn't like Jason would be able to escape, even Cedric was itching to get revenge for someone he considered to be his sister. 

Jason had proved quite important to the syndicate. He managed to stop several projects in Elisia Malls for them since many employees actually looked up to Jason as a designer, he was quite famous and well noted after all. 

It was almost time to go home when Martin called for an emergency meeting of the syndicate's core group. Cedric sighed and packed his things to join them. He honestly wanted to just go home, have dinner, and spend time with his extremely pregnant wife. 

As always Cedric rode with Martin to the headquarters of the syndicate. Cedric found it odd that it was only a core members meeting, he expected it to be a celebration with all of the syndicate members since they were doing so well.

At the headquarters, Cedric noticed that there were only five of them. Some core members were not even invited, it seemed that they had come to trust Cedric more than he had initially thought.

"Is this all of us?" Carissa didn't seem too surprised that not everyone in the core group was invited.

Martin nodded as they took their seats.

"We only invited a select few of the core group. We only need people we can trust." Carissa explained to the group.

"What's with the secrecy?" Cedric asked in a cocky tone.

"We have an opportunity that can set us up for the rest of our lives." Martin said with a grin.

"Someone has offered big money for us to sabotage a major project in the Reyes Group." Carissa said with a grin.

"Won't it be dangerous? I noticed that Miss Katerina Sebastian has been visiting Miss Ayanna more often. Something is up." The man that worked at the lobby reception said.

"It could just be romantic woes, don't you pay any attention to the news? Katerina Sebastian has been having it rough with the press recently. See even the powerful daughter of the president isn't immune to these things." Carissa said brushing off the man's warning.

"I'm with Carissa on this. It's an opportunity of a lifetime." Martin said in an attempt to convince his companions. "You trust us, and we can all retire early and live like kings and queens."

"We can't risk our identities." Cedric suddenly said. Martin was surprised by Cedric's concern, but it made sense for him to be worried about something like that. "If things don't go as planned we should still be able to operate as normal and we should still be able to work normally." 

"Don't worry, the things we will need to do are small but the impact will be great." Carissa said with a grin. 

"How will it affect the Reyes Group?" One of the core members asked.

"If I understand our partner it should set them back a while but not so much for people to lose their jobs." Martin explained in order to calm the other's doubts.

"Will you give us the details?" Cedric asked.

"Of course. We are trusting you to make your own groups within the company to move. We have to do this in a secretive way so that it cannot be traced back and so that there is no evidence against us." Carissa explained.

"We understand." The male receptionist nodded in agreement.

The group soon dispersed but Martin and Carissa held Cedric back. They said there was something they needed to explain to Cedric. 

"Cedric, there is something we want to explain to you." Martin said as he offered Cedric a drink.

"What's up?" Cedric asked.

"This plan goes beyond just crippling a part of the Reyes Group." Martin explained to Cedric. "This plan will cut them off from their closest relations and allies and make them an island."

"Why are you telling me this?" Cedric was confused as to why Martin and Carissa would tell him something so important. He was new to the group and was not yet as proven as the other members.

"Cedric, unlike everyone else you have a deeper hatred of the Reyes Group." Carissa said as she leaned back. 

"The people we are working for have an even deeper hatred of the Reyes Clan, and this project should alienate them and cause their fall." Martin explained to Cedric. Cedric knew that their family did not lack enemies and many people have been after them over the years.

"Why do you two hate them so much?" Cedric asked Martin and Carissa. He never noticed a hatred in them, as a matter of fact they seem quite satisfied with their jobs at the Reyes Group. 

"Carissa and I are cousins, my dad is the mom's older brother." Martin explained. Cedric took a good look at them but failed to see the resemblance. "I know we look nothing alike." Martin said with a laugh.

"That still doesn't explain anything." Cedric said with a puzzled look.

"We have a relative that disappeared and eventually died after working at the Reyes Group." Carissa explained. "Our parents and grandparents begged the company for a proper explanation, all they said was that it was a heart attack. Our relative was quite young and in good health so it was impossible. They just sent us a body one day with hush money."

"Isn't that still possible?" Cedric asked, he didn't believe that his father would be able to do something like that.

"Not with the injuries on the body." Martin said, shaking his head. "We think our parents' sister might have gotten on the wrong side of the CEO's wife and she had her killed."

"Do you really think the Reyes family is capable of that?" Cedric asked the cousins.

"You tell us. Don't pretend that they haven't done anything to you. It's quite obvious that your wife is being backed by the Reyes Heir and has become his mistress." Carissa said to Cedric with a thoughtful look. Cedric wanted to laugh at their face, so that was what they thought was going on.

"We are nothing compared to them." Cedric decided to show hesitation in order for them to trust him further. Being too eager would make him suspicious.

"No, but our backer can guarantee both revenge and support for us." Martin told Cedric.

"Don't be so afraid of the Reyes Clan, Cedric. They bleed just like us." Carissa said in an attempt to convince him.

Cedric paused, he wanted them to think he was truly weighing the risks of joining their plan. Of course he would agree to do so, but he needed to pace things properly. He was already where he wanted them to trust him. 

"I'm in." Cedric finally said quite definitively.