Never Judge

Ram and Cedric were relaxing peacefully at Nationalia when a beautiful woman marched up to them, she wore a long skirt with a slit that went up until her waist. She stood almost as tall as Ram who was the shortest among the boys, she had a true model's body, one that could make almost any man drool at the sight of her.

"Mr. Abad, Mr. Reyes. You asked to speak to me?" Francesca Rocci asked, as she sat down without even waiting for an invitation.

"What will it take for you to forgive the daughter of the Ong family?" Cedric asked her.

Francesca Rocci was stunned. Cedric knew that very few people would speak so plainly to her, people would often flatter her first before asking for something, such was the life of a socialite from the top families. His sister Ayanna hated that part the most.

"Such a straightforward man. Very attractive." Francesca said as she looked Cedric in the eye.

"Married." Cedric simply said as he raised his ring finger to show the wedding band on it. "For my wife and my wife alone."

Francesca Rocci nodded knowingly, she had been brought up to be proper and poised, she was proud of the fact that despite being in the entertainment industry she continued to carry that old rich charm.

"Miss Rocci, what can we do to convince you?" Ram asked Francesca Rocci again.

"Do you know why I'm so mad?" Francesca asked, she observed their clearly blank looks and saw that they had no idea. "You clearly don't keep tabs on gossip, why would you? If it doesn't involve you it shouldn't bother you." Francesca said with a sigh.

"Enlighten us." Cedric said with a nod. He did have a vague idea of what happened, but that was just everything on paper, if he knew what was motivating the woman then he would probably know what to do to convince her.

"Well Mr. Reyes, I was with Miss Ong's new husband for five years. He was my boyfriend and I was a gullible young lady. He said he loved me and I gave him everything, and I really do mean everything. I almost gave up my career for him as well." Francesca Rocci vaguely explained. "I was lucky that he managed to get the Ong girl pregnant, or else I wouldn't have known he was cheating, you see his business depends very much on the Ong Family. So when they found out she was pregnant they forced them to get married, he agreed and broke up with me. She lost the child two months after their wedding, that's when I made my move." Francesca Rocci said with a shrug.

"You loved him, and he betrayed you." Ram said slowly. "Surely he knew who he was up against?" Ram asked Francesca.

"He wasn't smart, he thought I was just some actress who happened to share the same last name as the powerful clan. I'm sure Mr. Reyes gets that often, my surname isn't even that common in our country." Francesca explained.

Cedric simply nodded to acknowledge that she wasn't alone, it was due to his common surname that he was able to hide in plain sight.

"He's tried to divorce the woman, but the Ongs refuse to let him go." Francesca said.

"So you want him back?" Ram asked with a puzzled look on his face, who would want a cheater?

"Of course not! I am happy that he is rotting in hell with his mistress. I enjoy seeing him in pain." Francesca said with a laugh.

"You have what you want then?" Cedric asked.

"No. I want more." Francesca said with a grin. "I want him to never leave that family, and I want him to see me not only succeed but to see me happier without him."

"Miss Rocci, you're already very successful. Very few artists could hold a candle to you. Isn't that success enough?" Ram asked.

"To be honest I already knew what you wanted when you called me over." Fancesca said with a smile. "I'm not blind to what's happening at Saints, add to that the fact that Katerina and I were classmates long ago. I know you want the Ong shares and I know you are wise enough to realize they won't sell for money, but they might just sell to save their daughter and their company."

"Miss Rocci, who knew you had such a good head on your shoulders." Cedric said as he keenly observed the woman. He was quite surprised that she had come to this conclusion.

"My parents and brother talk about business at the dinner table, so you get to pick up a thing or two." Francesca said with a shrug. "I want to shine as bright as Eric Chan, and I want to be with someone that will make that man regret leaving me. I want to show him I got someone better."

"For the first one, we can give you the resources, but you would need to work hard for the resources to do their job. I cannot hide bad talent." Ram explained.

"That's not a problem." Francesca said with a nod.

"As for the second, I'm sure you would not have trouble finding a capable man on your own. You could have asked your father or brother to set you up with some powerful heir, or used your own connections to find a man." Ram told Francesca Rocci.

"You aren't wrong there Mr. Abad, but the kind of man I want should be at the top. Someone whom even my father or brother cannot speak to so easily." Francesca explained.

"Miss Rocci, my friend just told you he is married." Ram warned Francesca, he did not like women who went after married men.

"Mr. Abad, I am not talking about Mr. Reyes. I'm talking about you." Francesca Rocci said, as she looked him in the eyes.

Cedric suddenly burst out laughing. "What made you come to the conclusion that it's Ramon Abad that you want?" He asked the woman.

"The best option would have been you, but you're married and being a mistress would not help my goal. I was going to approach Raymund Laurance, but he married your sister. The only one left single in your group is Ram, and Mr. Abad, you are not an easy man to approach." Francesca Rocci explained.

"Alexi, you're forgetting Alexander Sebastian." Ram told her.

"The playboy? I don't want to be some man's one night stand. I'm supposed to be doing better, not worse." Ram laughed at Francesca Rocci's comment, at least in some category he was better than Alexi.

"A moment please." Ram said as he dragged Cedric to the side.

"This could help with my family dilemma. Francesca Rocci is beautiful and I get along with her. If I enter into a fake relationship with her I wouldn't have to suffer with my family nagging me." Ram told Cedric.

"I was going to say go for it. Why did you have to drag me aside?" Cedric asked with a laugh.

"Well I don't want to seem too eager." Ram said slowly.

"Do you actually like her?" Cedric asked with a sneaky look on his face.

"No, I like someone else. Well she isn't that bad so I don't know. I thought she would be more like Calathea, she's quite different." Ram said absentmindedly.

The two men walked over to Francesca.

"I agree.�� Ram said with a straight face.

"Perfect. When will our first date be?" Francesca Rocci said with a wink.