Never Judge

The main hall of Kashmere was extravagantly decorated when Cedric arrived with Ian, Mae, Dave, and Camilla in tow. They had gone back to his villa and changed for the event later that night. Cedric decided to arrive early to watch as Ram and his guest stars rehearsed prior to the show.

The person on the stage currently was Eric Chan. Eric had an amazing singing voice that could easily rival his acting skills, Cedric remembered all the voice lessons that their mothers had made them endure growing up. Eric and Nicole had enjoyed them the most while Cedric and Alexi hated them. 

Those lessons would eventually prove useful to Eric when he entered the entertainment industry later on.

"Ram." Cedric called out as he walked the length of the hall.

Ram turned and smiled to greet his friend. He was standing at the center with Francesca next to him as he observed the rehearsals.

"I hope your employees don't make him dance." Ram teased. "Thanks for inviting us. My artists needed a more relaxed event."

"Mr. Reyes." Francesca Rocci greeted as she saw Cedric approach.

"Miss Rocci. How is your father?" Cedric asked, completely ignoring Ram.

"You just ignored my boyfriend." Francesca said with a laugh. "I've never seen anyone ignore Ram like that." 

"He's been doing that to me since we were kids. I'm used to it." Ram said as he pulled Francesca close to him. 

Cedric eyed Ram suspiciously, his relationship with Francesca Rocci was supposed to be a front till he could convince the girl he actually liked to be with him.

"Ram!" Francesca scolded. "There are too many people around."

"Mmmm. Okay." Ram said as he released Francesca from his arms.

"It's my turn. I'm going to dance. I need to prep backstage." Francesca said as she bid the two men goodbye.

"Are you falling for her?" Cedric asked when Francesca was finally out of earshot.

"No." Ram said coldly. "But, I pity her. She's been through so much. I didn't know that the Rocci's didn't want her entering the entertainment industry in the first place." Ram said with a sigh.

"With the way you were treating her earlier, it seemed like the two of you were a real couple." Cedric told Ram.

"They've been like that for weeks." Eric complained as he approached.

"We're just lucky you can't parade your relationship in public. You would be a thousand times worse." Ram said, rolling his eyes at Eric.

"You still owe me for that hug." Eric glared at Ram.

"You punched me!" Ram complained. "Ummm… Cedric I think your assistants are broken." Ram suddenly said as he pointed at Mae and Dave who were in shock at the exchange they had just heard.

"Are you his fan?" Cedric asked Mae.

Mae slowly nodded.

"You?" Cedric asked Dave.

"A little, he's a great actor." Dave confessed.

"Eric Chan and Ram Abad, these are my two junior assistants, Mae and Dave. Mae and Dave, my friends." Cedric said as he tried to suppress his laughter.

"Nice to meet you." Eric said as he shook their hands and winked at Mae.

"Do you really want her to come here and drag you home?" Ian teased.

"There is someone I can call to drag you home." Eric threatened back.

"Ian is threatening Eric with his girlfriend, while Eric is threatening Ian with his girlfriend. They're both being children right now." Ram casually explained.

 "Let's stay backstage. The employees should be arriving soon." Cedric said as he led the group. 

As they walked by several famous artists from Ram's company, several of them couldn't help but run up and ask for a photo with the new CEO of the Reyes Group. Cedric was in a good mood and allowed for the opportunity, he didn't smile, but rather kept a straight face in all of the photos.

Ram and Eric joined them in order to prove that it was really the new CEO and not some random guy in a mask.

After a few minutes Francesca joined them and sat next to Ram. There was a clear tension between them that Cedric could sense but decided to ignore.

"I didn't know that the Rocci family was against you entering the entertainment industry." Cedric told Francesca as he recalled his conversation with Ram.

"At the beginning, no. My father and brothers were heavily against it. They believed that it wasn't a place for a daughter of the Rocci family. They were worried that no proper man would want me if I came from the entertainment industry." Francesca explained with a smile.

"Interesting." Cedric said with a grin. "And they know that you're now with the man that basically rules the entertainment industry?" Cedric asked.

"Yes, dad's quite proud of it." Francesca said with a smile.

Eric's phone began to ring and he turned pale at the sight of who was calling.

"Yes darling?" Eric asked as he picked up the call.

"Well, it's for work and I thought Ayanna or Adrianna would have told you." Eric tried to explain.

"What? No way!" Eric said in a surprised tone.

"Okay, okay. I'll see you in a while." Eric said in surrender as he dropped the call.

"Kat?" Francesca asked.

"Yes, your friend Kat." Eric sighed. "I didn't know she had a client on the island. She said she told me, but I guess I was focused on other stuff to understand what she was saying."

"What would you be focused on that could make you not listen to… Oh." Ian wanted to laugh as he realized what Eric meant. "The two of you are nasty!" Ian complained.

"Says the man who got my sister pregnant." Eric teased as he rolled his eyes.

"ERIC!" Ian shouted. Mae and Dave had been oblivious as to who Ian's girlfriend was, all they knew was that she was pregnant.

"Your girlfriend is Mr. Eric's sister?" Mae managed to say.

"Ha, just Eric's sister, young lady, haven't you realized who Eric Chan's sister actually is?" Ram asked.

Mae shook her head as she tried to figure out what Ram was saying.

"Nicole Chan." Cedric said as he couldn't keep his laughter in any longer.

"Then, then, the miracle doctor, Miguel Chan is his brother?" Dave asked.

"He is my younger brother. And hey! I'm a doctor too." Eric proudly said.

"You're a doctor?" Dave asked.

"He is. Don't ask for details." Cedric said rolling his eyes at Eric.

"So his girlfriend…." Mae said as she began to think of who could have possibly stolen her idol's heart.