Never Judge

"We did say he has family here." Mae said with a laugh, teasing their boss.

"You guys really don't respect me anymore." Cedric said with a frown. 

"We respect you, Ced." Ian said, laughing at Cedric's pitiful reaction, if anyone had seen how he was reacting at the moment, they wouldn't think that he was the CEO of the largest conglomerate in the country. "We just know that you have your moments."

"My moments?" Cedric asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, moments when the genius in your head leaves and you turn stupid for a while." Ian teased as he ducked. Cedric had thrown one of the cushions on his seats at Ian. 

"I swear, you act like a child sometimes." Ayanna said as she stood by the door to Cedric's office.

"What are you doing here?" Cedric complained. He didn't even notice the door opening, when his sister entered, he was far too distracted by his assistants.

"Well, I was coming over to see if you and Adrianna and Yoyo would want to have dinner with me and Ray." Ayanna said as she walked over and closed the door behind her. "I was quite surprised to see that all your assistants were not out there, that means one thing, you found something."

"The Chans were here this morning." Cedric said with a shrug. 

"I am well aware. Nicole called." Ayanna said, crossing her arms in front of her. "That isn't the only reason for this meeting. You and the boys keep hiding things from us, we deserve to know."

"Fine. Sit." Cedric told his sister. He knew that no matter how hard tried to get her to leave she wouldn't, she would simply insist on staying, and he would never win against Ayanna. The women in his life were his weaknesses.

"So?" Ayanna asked Cedric and his assistants. 

Cedric's assistants all turned to look at him, unsure about what they should do next. When it came to Ayanna all of them were scared of her, especially Ian.

"They found the nurse." Cedric said with a sigh.

"They found him and you are all just sitting here?" Ayanna asked as she shook her head. "We need to get to him, we need to find out if Lucius is Uncle Miguel's son."

"Ayanna calm down, listen." Cedric said in a stern tone.

His sister simply looked at him and stopped talking.

"He has a backer, and by the looks of it, someone rich and powerful." Cedric explained with a serious look on his face. "We need to go about this in a smart way, we can't act based on our emotions or rush things."

"You know full well how this is affecting other people, but fine." Ayanna said with a nod as she glanced at Ian. "I'm sorry I rushed, but where is this nurse?" 

"Singapore." Cedric announced.

"That's like less than three hours by plane!" Ayanna said in surprise. "Uncle Jose has a good relationship with their government, we can get him deported here."

"Again, someone is backing him, Ayanna. It's not that easy." Cedric told his sister.

"Okay, then, what's the plan?" Ayanna asked her brother, clearly eager to help.

"I'm thinking of sending Dave or Mae to take a look, see if he is actually there, maybe make contact." Cedric said as he explained his plan to the group. "If he is not hostile then I can fly down there with maybe Miguel, Eric, and Alexi." Cedric said with a shrug.

"Or Nicole." Ayanna suggested.

"No, she can't." Ian suddenly said.

"What do you mean she can't?" Ayanna asked. "She isn't your property to control. She deserves to be there as much as Eric and Miguel."

"It's not safe." Ian told Ayanna.

"I'm sure Lucius won't grab power while she's there, he needs to suck up to those Chan elders and that will take a long time." Ayanna explained. 

"I mean, she can't because it's not safe for. . ." Ian mumbled the last part of his sentence, confusing everyone. 

"Because what Ian?" Cedric asked angrily. "Can you not mumble?"

"Because it's a sensitive time." Ian explained with a frown.

"A sensitive time for what?" Ayanna asked Ian. "I already told you that Saints Hospital is safe even if she left for a bit. And it's not like we will tell people why they are going to Singapore, so what is it?" 

Ayanna and Cedric were clearly getting frustrated with Ian, but the man continued to hesitate, as if he was keeping a secret from them.

"I'll tell you, but you can't tell her you know." Ian told everyone.

"Do we look like we can't keep a secret?" Camilla asked over the video call with a laugh.

"We won't Ian, so what is it?" Cedric asked, not liking how he had to repeat himself over and over.

"Nicole is pregnant." Ian suddenly revealed.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh." Ayanna said as she hugged Ian. "Another baby!" 

"When did you find out?" Cedric asked, clearly her brothers had not known yet, or else Miguel or Eric would have already said something.

"We found out last night." Ian said with a shrug. "That's why I don't like this whole Chan family drama stressing her out. Her last pregnancy was not easy and she's worried about this time."

"Then of course she doesn't have to go." Ayanna said, rolling her eyes at Ian. "I only said that because I thought you were being a controlling husband."

"You and Ray having issues?" Cedric asked Ayanna.

"He's just over protective, like you." Ayanna said with a smirk, making Cedric laugh.

"Alright then, Mae, Dave, talk about it amongst you which will be going to Singapore. We have an office there that can stand as your alibi." Cedric told the assistants.

"I'll go." Mae said, volunteering for the task. "He's less likely to suspect me since I'm a woman."

"Alright." Cedric said with a nod. "Keep in touch with Dave. You leave in a day, I want you to arrange everything first. We need to know if he is willing to talk in a week. Got it?"

"Yes, sir." Mae said with a nod.

"Now, you two." Cedric said as he turned his attention to Camilla and Benedict. "Anything interesting to report?"