Never Judge

When Cedric arrived at R Tower, Dave and Mae met with him in the lobby, Dave was carrying a tablet that had on it several documents that needed Cedric's immediate attention.

Cedric was puzzled with this since they would just give him the things that needed his attention when he got to the office.

"What's with the elevator pitch?" Cedric asked his assistants as Dave handed him the tablet.

"The Chans are already waiting upstairs." Mae grumbled, making Dave laugh.

"Did they ask her too many questions?" Cedric asked as he looked through the documents on the tablet.

"Too many inappropriate questions, like, if I'm your mistress or Ian's mistress, I swear, what is wrong with those people?" Mae asked in a frustrated tone as they got on the elevator.

"They are very traditional." Cedric explained as the doors closed. "They hold very traditional views, they arrange marriages and know that loveless marriages are normal so many of them have mistresses." Cedric said with a shrug.

"That's just wrong." Mae said with a frown. 

"To you it's wrong, to them it's normal." Dave explained.

"Don't worry, I'll try to get this meeting with them over as soon as possible." Cedric promised his assistants. "Were you able to move my schedule around?" Cedric asked.

"Yes." Mae said with a nod. "Camilla and Benedict will be ready any time you are free."

"Is the PR department working on a statement for last night?" Cedric asked.

"Yes." Dave said, nodding at his boss. "They just need your approval." Dave said as he opened a file in the tablet Cedric was holding.

Cedric read through it quickly, making the areas he wanted them to improve. 

"Tell them to send it back to me as soon as possible. It doesn't matter if I'm still speaking with the Chans I just want to get this one over with." Cedric said, to which Dave simply nodded.

The elevator ride was quite quick and the doors opened to the CEOs floor, it was quiet, too quiet for a busy morning.

"Where is my sister?" Cedric asked Mae and Dave as he walked to his office.

"Not yet in." Mae informed Cedric.

"Nicole or Adrianna must have told her." Cedric said with a sigh. "I wish I didn't have to deal with the Chans." 

"Hey Ced." Ian waved at him as he exited Cedric's office.

"Have you calmed your in laws?" Cedric teased Ian.

"I'm not yet married." Ian grumbled. 

"I know, but we both know where you and Nicole are headed anyway." Cedric teased. "Do you mind getting me a cup of coffee?" 

Dave nodded and left for the pantry.

"I wanted to do that." Ian complained.

"Come on, I need you in there when I meet with them." Cedric said with a laugh as he placed an arm around Ian's shoulder. "Camilla, tell Dave to get a coffee for Ian as well, he looks like he needs something to drink."

Ian shook his head as they entered Cedric's office.

"Uncles, Aunties, to what do I owe this pleasure." Cedric said quickly, changing his expression to a colder, more stern one. 

"I've known you since you were a child Cedric, drop the cold CEO act. I've seen your grandfather do it, I've seen your father do it, and you being all cold and intimidating just makes me want to laugh." The Chan siblings' father, Raphael Chan said with a laugh.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes, uncle." Cedric said without changing his expression. "If you haven't seen it yet, I'm being attacked from all sides at the moment."

"And it's the person attacking you that we want to talk about." An older man, whom Cedric recognized as Grandpa Chan said.

"Dad." Raphael Chan said as he scolded his own father.

"Don't you dare use that tone on me!" The old man told Raphael Chan in an equally intimidating manner. This man had worked to build Saints Hospital into the success it was today, he still carried himself with some semblance of the powerful man he once was.

"I don't think rushing Cedric and arguing amongst ourselves will solve anything." The Chan siblings' mother, Lucy Ang - Chan said as she shook her head in disappointment. 

"Please just calm down and tell me why you are all here." Cedric told the elders, changing his tone to one that was more respectful.

As everyone settled down, Dave came in a gave Ian and Cedric a cup of coffee each.

"I know you." Grandpa Chan said, pointing at Dave. "You're the Lazaro kid! What are you doing here working as Cedric's assistant. A man like you shouldn't be working such a lowly job!" The old man said as he pointed at Dave.

Cedric snuck a glance at Ian, he could see his friend frowning at the comment. Cedric was sure that the topic had come up more than once between Ian and Nicole's grandparents. 

"Dad, it's not a lowly job." Raphael Chan said, quickly scolding his father.

"Sir, my father was the one that wanted me to do this." Dave said with a charming smile. "He was quite impressed with how well the Reyeses have trained their heirs over the years and sought out Cedric's help."

"The Reyeses are crazy." The old man commented.

"Father, have you forgotten where we are and why we are here?" Raphael Chan asked his father in a raised tone.

"Of course not, little Cedric is the boss here now." The old man said, pointing at Cedric.

"I am grandpa, and I do believe that my poverty training has helped prepare me for my job. So should we move on and discuss what you need?" Cedric asked as he tried to change the topic.

The old man calmed down and looked at Cedric. Raphael Chan nodded his thanks to Cedric as he watched the old man relax.

"You're investigating my nephew?" Raphael Chan asked, choosing not to let the moment pass.

"Yes." Cedric admitted. "I've been looking for him for over two years. A message was left at my office in Spain for Miguel."

"So is this Lucius guy really my grandson?" Grandma Chan asked Cedric with pleading eyes. 

Cedric didn't want to give the Chan family false hope, nor did he want to lie to them, so he was quite conflicted on what to say.

"He might be." Cedric told the old woman. "Everything lines up, and everything points to him being uncle Miguel's missing son."

"But?" Lucy Chan asked, catching on Cedric's hesitation.

"I can't be 100% sure unless we do a DNA test." Cedric said with a shrug.

"I don't think we need a DNA test. If Cedric says that everything lines up then we should be welcoming him home, not doubting him." Grandpa Chan announced. 

"He reached out to you?" Cedric asked, pretending not to know that Lucius Ting already tied to communicate with the Chan family.

"Yes." Raphael Chan said with a nod.

"Yes and he is my grandson, I want a welcoming party." Grandpa Chan insisted. "Now Cedric, tell me who he is."

Cedric looked at Ian who simply nodded. Even if Lucius Ting was welcomed into the Chan family it wouldn't affect their plans by much, Lucius would never trust the Chans, the only ones he trusted were Benedict and Camilla.

"His name is Lucius Ting, the man that I had an argument with last night." Cedric revealed, shocking the Chan family.