Chapter 13

Adrianna waited for Cedric to come home, but she was too tired and fell asleep.

The next day when she woke up Cedric was already done preparing breakfast for the family and was waiting for her downstairs.

Before Adrianna could say anything Cedric suddenly spoke.

"Honey, I hope you don't mind but on my birthday let's celebrate at lunch. My friends decided to go out that night." Cedric said hoping Adrianna would be fine with it.

"Do you even have money to spend on your birthday?" Gracia ridiculed.

"Mom! Cedric has a job. Stop thinking he is some bum that just lives off us. You don't even have a job mom!" Adrianna was furious. She had woken up to her mom criticizing her husband.

"Adrianna, it's alright." Cedric said, trying to calm his wife down. "Why don't you sit while I get dressed then let's head to the office together."

"Alright. I'm not too hungry." Adrianna said, taking her seat. She placed a little food on her plate and began to eat.

On their way to work Adrianna suddenly remembered that she wanted to ask Cedric about the money.

"Cedric?" Adrianna asked.

"Yes Adri?" Cedric replied.

"Where did your family get the 500 million in the bank card?" Adrianna finally asked.

"I think before my parents sold off some property in the past and invested it in a company. What you got are the proceeds." It was technically true.

"So does that mean you are rich now?" Adrianna asked.

"I'm still the same as before Adrianna. My parents left that money for you." The 500 million was nothing compared to the other cards Cedric's father had sent over.

"Did you get anything from them?" Adrianna asked.

"I did, but I invested it." Cedric didn't want to explain any further.

The rest of the week went by as it did normally in the past. The only new part was that instead of working as an assistant Cedric was now sitting in Mor Co.'s presidential office. Finally Cedric's 28th birthday arrived.

Cedric had asked Ian to book him a table for 4 at the Bamboo Room for lunch. He had invited his wife and his in-law out to lunch. Ian had also arranged for a company driver to pick up Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez. Charles Hernandez, Adrianna's father, would be fetched at the university while Gracia Hernandez would be picked up at home. Cedric would be driven by his driver in his personal car, he would later fetch Adrianna for lunch at Island's Inc.

Cedric chose to walk to Island's Inc and have his driver pick him and Adrianna up at the front of the building. Adrianna had requested an additional hour off for lunch as it was her husband's birthday.

As Cedric waited outside for Adrianna, he once again encountered the same group of employees from Island's Inc. that had ridiculed him in the past.

When they saw Cedric one of them called out. "Hey, aren't you Miss Adrianna's husband?"

Cedric was perplexed by their actions and simply nodded.

"Look man, you are good looking and all and I think you love Miss Adrianna, but don't get offended when we say she could do better." An employee said. Others also joined him to ridicule Cedric.

"Yeah! One of the Directors actually likes Miss Adrianna. He might be a little bit older but he has the means to support a beauty like her."

"You know you should just separate from her, or annul. I'm sure the Hernanez family will compensate you for letting Miss Adrianna go."

"Miss Adrianna is so pretty I think she could even snag one of the 5 princes!" At that Cedric couldn't help but grin. Adrianna had, in reality, snagged one of the 5 princes.

"Guys let's go. I think Miss Adrianna is approaching."

True enough Adrianna arrived.

She gave Cedric a hug and greeted him a happy birthday.

Cedric then approached a nearby BMW 6 series and opened the door. Adrianna and the employees that were mocking him gasped.

"Cedric! That's someone else's car, what are you doing?" Adrianna scolded. Behind her the employees were already laughing at the embarrassing position Cedric had managed to get himself into.

"Adri, this is our ride. Come on." Cedric said, calling her over.

"Cedric this is not a nice joke. When the owner comes back he will scold you." Adrianna still refused to get in the car.

Cedric bent in and asked his driver to be the one to call Adrianna over, instructing him to say that it was part of their lunch reservation. The driver followed his boss' orders and told Adrianna. Adrianna found that this made more sense and got into the car, leaving the employees that were mocking Cedric a moment ago, stunned.

Bamboo Room was a very exclusive restaurant located right outside the city. It was at the top of a hill. It's walls were made of durable glass giving diners a view of the whole city from their tables.It was difficult to get a reservation in Bamboo Room, luckily Raymund owned Bamboo Room. It was one of Raymund's businesses outside of the Laurence family.

When Adrianna stepped out of the car she was surprised to see where Cedric had brought them, first Nouveau and now this, she was worried Cedric was trying too hard to impress her parents for her. However when she voiced her concerns to Cedric, he simply told her not to worry.

Inside the restaurant there were no other customers, Cedric suddenly realized that Ian had booked the whole restaurant rather than just one table.

"Adrianna! What is this? Why are you spending so much just for this man's birthday!" Adrianna's mother complained.

"Mom, I didn't spend a cent." Adrianna said with a smile. She was still proud that Cedric had managed to arrange such an expensive treat for his own birthday.

"Gracia, get off the boy's case. Weren't you just fawning over the BMW that picked us up." Adriana's father reprimanded his wife.

Gracia had no choice but to simply take her seat and keep quiet.

"Happy Birthday Cedric." Charles Hernandez greeted with a genuine smile.

"Thank you sir." Cedric and Charles got along decently. Charles never said anything against Cedric, but he never defended him either.

Lunch went on peacefully, something that Cedric had never experienced since marrying Adrianna and moving into her parent's home. Gracia had always had something to complain about or some flaw she chose to point out, but today at Bamboo Room, she remained silent and simply enjoyed her food.

"Do you think Cedric is hiding something from us?" Gracia asked when Cedric excused himself to go to the washroom.

"He recently got a promotion." Adrianna said proudly.

"But Adri, that isn't enough to book the whole Bamboo Room." Gracia said, still doubting her son-in-law. "I hope he didn't borrow money from any loan sharks? If he fails to pay they will come after us! And for what? A meal at Bamboo Room?"

"Mom, I'm sure Cedric has his ways of paying for our lunch." Adrianna said, defending her husband.

While Cedric went to the washroom he settled the bill, the manager however told him that their boss had given instructions not to let him pay.

Cedric quickly called Ray.

"Happy Birthday Ced!" Ray greeted as he answered the call.

"This is too much Ray. You know I can afford to pay." Cedric said, reprimanding his friend.

"Hey this is something I'm giving you out of my own pocket without any influence from my family what-so-ever. Take it. It's part one of my two part gift!" Ray said proudly.

"Two part gift?" Cedric was curious by what Ray meant.

"Yes, this is a personal one. The one tonight is a more formal one from the Laurence family. Welcome back Cedric."

"Thanks Ray. I'll see you tonight then. Bye" Cedric dropped the call and returned to his wife and in-laws.

When they finished eating they simply got up and left.

"Mr. Cedric, our boss says he hopes you enjoyed your meal at Bamboo Room. He will see you tonight." The manager said as he escorted them out.

"Cedric, how did you manage to close out Bamboo Room? Not only is it ultra exclusive, but it also has an extremely long waiting list?" Gracia asked.

"My friend owns it. He gave me a free meal as a gift. I didn't think he would close out the place." Cedric replied.

"Which friend?" Adrianna asked.

"Ray! You met him during Asia's engagement!" Cedric was proud that Ray had started his own business outside of his family's.

"Please don't tell me you exchanged saving his life for a free lunch?" Gracia was furious at the thought that her stupid son-in-law could have asked for more and only got a free lunch.

"Mom, weren't you just admiring the place and taking selfies and photos to show all of your friends?" Adrianna rolled her eyes at her mother's comment.

Gracia immediately kept quiet after her daughter spoke up.

While Adrianna, Cedric, and Charles were dropped off at the exact same locations where they were fetched, Gracia had the driver drop her off at the salon she frequented. She planned to show off to her friends.

Not thinking her plan through, Gracia's friends simply assumed that she was bragging and that she booked the BMW for the trip to the salon just to show off.