Chapter 32

That night at Adrianna's home, she was still busy working on documents needed for the Elisia Mall project. In the past few days she would often go to work early and go home late, it was actually quite convenient since Cedric also had a heavy workload and more or less maintained the same schedule.

"Honey, aren't you going to eat yet?" Cedric said as he peaked into their room. As soon as they had arrived Adrianna said she still had work to do and told him to just call her when it was time to eat. Cedric and his in-laws had finished a silent dinner over an hour ago.

"I just need to finish this. We're so close to completing the project Ced." Adrianna continued to type while answering her husband's question.

Cedric went up behind her and gave her a hug.

"You work too hard Adri." He said, placing a kiss on her cheek. Adrianna blushed at his actions.

While he had her distracted, Cedric saved the file she was working on and closed her laptop. Adrianna was about to fly into a rage when Cedric picked her up and kissed her on the lips.

His actions shocked her. Cedric had never been a physically demanding person when it came to showing his affections. He had always been the timid and relaxed one in their relationship. His actions made Adrianna forget that she was mad and she kissed him back.

"Alright. Stop working. You need to eat." Cedric had already taken her out of their room and as already at the top of the flight of stairs going to the dining room.

"Fine! Put me down. I can walk." Adrianna complained.

"You're cute when you're like that. Reminds me of our beach date." Cedric winked.

When Adrianna saw the food on the table she was surprised. It was everything she liked. It seems Cedric had prepared dinner tonight with her in mind.

"Adri, there is something I forgot to tell you." Cedric said as he massaged her shoulders.

"I knew it! You're being extra sweet because you did something. Come on, spill!" Adrianna turned to face him.

"Well, tomorrow is our highschool reunion. I plan on going with you." Cedric confessed.

"Oh, it's just that?" She felt that she had over reacted. Adrianna quickly turned back around and continued eating.

"So can you go?" Cedric asked.

"I've got work." Came Adrianna's answer.

"You need to stop working for a bit Adri. I'm sure the project will not fall apart just because you took some time off. Plus you've already got the deal signed, all these should be done by someone else." Cedric tried to reason with his wife.

"Uncle Fredrik cut my team into half, on top of that they decided to move the start date of the partnership sooner. I haven't even informed the management of Elisia Malls, I'm sure you know how much of a stickler for time the VP of Elisia Malls is. Not only will it be difficult to get the change of dates approved, my team and I will need to get moving on our end as well." Adrianna told her husband.

"I'll talk to them for you. Don't worry." Cedric said in an attempt to comfort her.

"You're only an assistant, honey. I don't want you to put your job at risk just for something like this. But I can only agree to go with you if all my work gets pushed back or unloaded by tomorrow." Arianna told Cedric.

"Just eat your food. I'll handle it, ok?" Cedric said while giving her a spoonful of rice.

The next day at Mor Co., Cedric had asked the VP of Elisia Malls to meet him at his office. It was going to be the first time a member of one of the bigger companies was coming over to Mor Co., a subsidiary.

When the VP arrived at Mor Co. the employees were a buzz with rumors. Although it had already been confirmed that their president was the heir to the Reyes group from what everyone knew, he wasn't involved in any other businesses.

Later on when Ian recounted this to Cedric, Cedric simply said, "Anything involving my wife is my business."

Ian knew that if any of their female, and some male, employees had heard what his boss had said they would be green with envy.

At his office Cedric arranged with the VP for Elisia Malls to give Adrianna's team a hand. Usually Elisia Malls would not have any hand in arranging for the partnership or executing it. They would just provide the companies with the stage to set it in. But since the partner this time was his boss' wife, the VP of course offered everything Elisia Malls could give in order to make things easier on Adrianna.

As soon as they had settled the matter Ian called Adrianna to tell her about the new arrangements. Adrianna was shocked that her husband was able to help her out. All throughout their married lives they had worked separately, rarely interfering in each other's businesses. Her worries from last night that this favor would put Cedric's job at risk was put to ease when she asked Ian about how the president treated Cedric. Of course Ian said Cedric like Cedric, it was a logical answer that they would laugh about after.

Cedric was really happy to receive a call from his wife right after lunch telling him that she could go with him to his highschool reunion. Although Cedric went to a school under the public school system he had a classmate by the name of Gabriel Fortun who had eventually become the driver of a high ranking government official. Gabriel had offered to pay for tonight's dinner at Constellations Resort.

Due to his highschool reunion Cedric left the office earlier than usual and picked up Adrianna before going to Constellations Resort. Although the hotel's largest location was in the capital where most of Cedric's classmates, including himself, now lived and worked, the reunion was going to be held in the province of Quirino.

Quirino was just an hour's drive away from the capital, without traffic. It was also the province where Cedric had been sent to for his poverty training. Initially when he had arrived in Quirino it was a sleepy suburb town, later on when Constellations Resort opened it evolved into a favorite tourist destination by people in the capital. Many of the residents had either built businesses or sold their properties making many people much richer.

The lobby of Constellations had a bamboo and natural material theme to it with locally crafted woodwork everywhere. The whole place was designed to give off a pre-spanish colonial feel giving rise to the cultural heritage of the area.

Gabriel had booked a function room that could fit his whole batch. When Cedric and Adrianna arrived most of Cedric's batchmates were already there. Peoples' attention was immediately drawn to Adrianna. She was beautiful and sophisticated, she was someone that clearly did not belong with them, she was above them.

Cedric quickly spotted the table where his friends Thomas Velardino or Tom and Joseph Merenes or Jo were seated. He waved at them and brought Adrianna over. Tom and Jo knew that Cedric was married, they had however not had the chance to meet her yet.

"Cedric, is this your wife?" Tom was shocked by the sight of Adrianna.

"Yes, Adrianna, these are my friends from highschool. Tom and Jo. Tom works here in Constellations as part of their security team, while Jo has been working in the middle east as a nurse." Cedric said, introducing Adrianna to his friends.

"Cedric, your wife clearly does not belong among us commoners." Jo teased. Despite there being no kind of nobility or caste in their country, people from wealthier backgrounds did not mingle with those often perceived as beneath them.

"How about our old friend, Gabriel Fortun, do you think he will still mingle with us?" Tom asked. Back in high school the 4 of them had been inseparable. All were initially from very poor families and understood each other's struggles. Sadly as time went by and Gabriel did better for himself he began to speak to his high school friends less, eventually reaching the point where he completely stopped talking to them.