"Come Emilio." Miguel Chan said as he pulled Cedric's son towards the private room. He knew all too well how incidents like these turned out.

Cedric gave him a thankful nod as Miguel and Emilio walked away from them.

​​

"How can a lowly employee such as yourself assume you can afford to eat here? Are you selling company secrets?" The voice asked in a condescending tone.

Cedric was about to answer back when he realized that the person wasn't speaking to him. He was surprised to see a man towering over Adolfo with a disgusted look on his face.

"My lunch is none of your business." Adolfo suddenly answered back.

Cedric was surprised to hear Adolfo challenge the man.

"It is if you are spending beyond how much you earn." The man said. "As an employee of the Reyes Group it's my obligation to report any suspected traitors and thieves."

"I am neither. I'm here to have lunch with a friend." Adolfo told the man.

"You don't have any friends Adolfo." The man's female companion said. "You are such a loner that no one wants to speak to you." She said.

"You shouldn't speak to your co-workers that way." Dave suddenly said as he approached Adolfo and his bullies.

"Mr. Dave, it's not what you think. Adolfo is our friend, we were only teasing him." The man said as he tried to salvage the situation. "Right Adolfo?" The man was now quite worried, Dave was the personal assistant to the CEO, they had seen how the assistants were actually capable people being groomed for higher positions in the company and outside.

"This isn't highschool. I know it's your lunch break but bullying is never right." Dave added before Adolfo could speak.

"Sorry sir." The man said as he lowered his head. He didn't want to offend Dave, his whole career could come crashing down for offending the wrong man.

"Adolfo, why are you still standing there?" Cedric asked as he joined in the fray, making the bully employees even more nervous. Everyone knew about Cedric Reyes, they didn't know exactly what Cedric did at the Reyes Group, but they were aware that he was a crucial person in the CEO's team.

"You know them?" The woman with the bully asked, her eyes suddenly lit up with a new interest in Adolfo.

"Yeah, they're the friends I was telling you about." Adolfo said with a shrug as he walked towards Cedric, Mae, and Ian who were behind Dave.

"I should probably inform the CEO that all employees need to be lectured on human decency." Dave said in a loud voice.

"Sir, I'm sure our internal issues can be settled privately. There are people from outside the company here." The man said in an attempt to salvage his dignity.

"I think the CEO would appreciate it if we publicly corrected misdemeanour." Mae suddenly said, speaking up from behind Dave.

"The boss values every single employee quite highly. If he heard about someone mistreating them, there will surely be consequences." Dave said as he glared at the man. Cedric wanted to laugh, he had never seen his two young assistants with such a serious expression.

"On top of that, Adolfo is our friend." Mae said in a cold tone, something she actually learned from observing Cedric. "Saying he has no friends makes us no one. Do you think the CEO will appreciate you calling us nobodies?"

Cedric and Ian couldn't resist and burst out laughing as Mae threatened the man.

"Mae, Dave. Enough. The man has already wet his pants in fear of you." Cedric said with a grin, the man was even more scared now that Cedric had spoken. "Don't waste our time on him. The CEO still has meetings."

Cedric then turned to walk to the private room.

"Let's go Adolfo." Ian said with a smile and a nod as they followed Cedric into the private room assigned to the Reyes Family.

Behind them Mae and Dave gave one final glare at the man and his female companion before tuning their backs on them as well and following into the room.

"Wow this place is amazing!" Adolfo exclaimed as he saw the view from the private room. It was a perfect panoramic image of the city, one way better than if you were seated outside.

"Emilio, come here." Cedric said as he called his son over. Emilio ran up to his father and held his hand tightly. As much as he loved his uncle Miguel, it was his father's company that he enjoyed the most.

"Who is this Cedric?" Adolfo said as he knelt and looked at Emilio.

"Emilio, say hi to your uncle Adolfo." Cedric said as he nudged his son to walk up to the stranger.

"This is your son?" Adolfo asked as Emilio walked up quite slowly towards him.

"Yes." Cedric said with a nod.

"Nice to meet you uncle." Emilio said with a shy smile.

"Wow, you look so much like your dad!" Adolfo said as he smiled at the young boy. Emilio smiled back at him, the kid liked it when people said he looked like his dad. "Can I give you a hug?" Adolfo asked.

Emilio nodded slowly, with his permission Adolfo hugged him and picked him up.

"I didn't think the child of a general could be such a softie." Miguel said as he smiled at Adolfo.

"I know you." Adolfo said as he placed Emilio down on the ground.

"You know uncle Miguel?" Emilio asked his new uncle.

"Miguel?" Adolfo asked as he tried to piece together the name and the face. "The miracle doctor Miguel Chan?!" Adolfo asked in shock.

"The one and only, kid." Miguel said with a wink. "I bought your tech last year, and I must say it is amazing. Right brother-in-law?" Miguel asked.

Adolfo's eyes widened as he looked at Cedric.

"It is quite amazing." Ian said with a laugh as he caught Adolfo's reaction. "If you're reacting this way to Miguel and his words, I can't wait for what comes next." Ian teased as he walked over to the dining table.

"Take as seat Adolfo." Cedric said as he gestured for the young man to sit down.

"I'm sorry, but I'm very confused." Adolfo said as he slowly lowered himself on to the seat