Never Judge

Ayanna sat behind her laptop as she read through the reports of what had happened leading up to the attack.

She knew she was supposed to be focusing on the Reyes Group and how it was handling the situation, but she couldn't help but look into what had happened to them.

It wasn't just her and her people looking into the attack either. Emilio Reyes had contacted Jose Sebastian and Benedicto Laurence to help. So reports were coming in from every corner of the country.

"Have you heard anything from your husband or brother?" Emilio Reyes asked his daughter as he looked up from the laptop in front of him.

He had just gotten off a call with Benedicto, who told him that Ray had some information but he was utilizing some of his old contacts as well.

"No, but they told me earlier they would call when they knew more." Ayanna said with a shrug as she scrolled through the reports.

"It's good that they know that you want to be kept in the loop." Emilio said as he smiled at his daughter.

"You didn't raise me to be some socialite or trophy wife, dad." Ayanna said with a sweet smile. "I like being a part of these things, and I hate not being able to do anything."

"You are a Reyes through and through." Emilio said with a laugh as he shook his head. "I remember when your auntie Aurora was younger she had to be part of every investigation and every business deal. She saved my ass more than once."

"Dad! Language. There is a child in the room." Ayanna teased as she placed her hand on her flat belly.

"I'm so happy for you and Ray." Emilio told her with a smile. "When do you plan on finally telling him that you are both expecting?"

"Well, maybe when I start to show." Ayanna said with a laugh. "I really don't want to stay at home the whole time, and know both him and Cedric, the moment they find out, I'll be forced to take a break from work."

"Your brother is more sensible than that, Ayanna." Emilio Reyes said, shaking his head.

"Don't defend him dad, we both know he can be quite extreme when it comes to protecting his family, and Ray isn't any better." Ayanna complained.

"Yes, but you forget, they both can't say no to you." Emilio advised his daughter with a grin.

Ayanna nodded, she knew exactly what her father meant. All her life her father, brother, and her brother's friends rarely denied her anything.

Even when they knew it was dangerous for her, if Ayanna insisted they all gave in. But of course they would then proceed to increase the security detail around her, making sure she didn't get hurt.

She loved having five older brothers. She knew Cedric felt guilty that  he couldn't be the big brother to protect her when he was in poverty training, so his friends filled that void.

And now that he was back, Cedric had spoiled her beyond belief, trying his best to make up for the lost year.

"Miss Ayanna?" A maid called out as she knocked on the door.

"Come in." Ayanna said as the maid pushed the door open, bringing with her a cart of food as well as some drinks.

"Dad, I had your favorite snacks brought over, and of course, some tea." Ayanna said with a smile as she took the cart from the maid.

"You can go, I'll handle this." Ayanna told the maid with a sweet smile.

The maid hesitated for a bit, not wanting to let her boss' sister do manual labor, but she also wouldn't dare say no to Ayanna Reyes.

"Don't worry you won't get into trouble with my brother, just come back for the cart in an hour." Ayanna said with a kind smile, to which the maid nodded and left.

Ayanna then pushed the cart towards her father and placed some snacks next to him, together with his tea.

"Just like when I was a child." Ayanna said with a smile as she finished placing the food and drinks by his side.

"You remember." Emilio said as his face beamed with pride as he looked at his now grown up daughter.

"I was so sad about Cedric leaving that you let me come with you to the office everyday, yes I remember, dad." Ayanna said with a laugh. "Poverty training brings a lot of good things to the family, but it also affects us in ways we would rather not."

"It's an old practice that I am glad your brother is changing." Emilio said with a nod.

"If my child is a boy, he will have to go through something the same." Ayanna said with a frown as she placed her hand on her belly.

"Laurence boys are tough, probably tougher than us too." Emilio told his daughter as he tried to send her worries away.

"I know, and I know he will always have a choice, Ray would never force his son to work in the underworld if the boy didn't want to." Ayanna said with a frown as she tried to convince herself that everything was going to be alright.

"It's normal for a mother to worry about her child, your mother was always worried about Cedric when he was doing his poverty training. What you are feeling is completely normal, Ayanna. I know your child will be amazing, he is a Laurence, a Reyes, and a Sebastian." Emilio said as he smiled.

"I just want my child to be happy, dad." Ayanna said as she made her way back to her spot to work.

As she busied herself with work another knock came from door, she was slightly annoyed since she had just managed to focus on her tasks for the Reyes Group.

"Come in." Emilio Reyes said calling out as he noticed his daughter's annoyance.

To their surprise Yoyo comes running into the office dragging a poor little Tristan Lim who could barely walk.