Never Judge

Cedric leaned casually on the backrest of his chair as a maid informed him that Ray and Katerina had both arrived.

He asked the maid to fetch them and serve them some refreshments. 

"What mess are you in this time?" Ray said with a laugh as he held the door for Katerina, who smiled wearily as she walked into the room.

"It's not entirely my fault." Cedric said with a shrug as his guests found their own seats.

"Lucius Ting drama?" Ray asked as the maid returned with coffee for each of them.

"Yes." Cedric said with a frown as he quickly pulled up a file on his laptop.

"I'm sorry to bother you Katerina." Cedric said with a frown as he noticed how sleepy she looked. "I know we just got back and you were hoping to have a relaxing evening at home."

"It's fine." Katerina said, shaking her head. "If it wasn't you calling, someone else would have an equally urgent matter and I would still have to work. At least this way I can leech off your kitchen." Katerina teased.

"You are free to leech off my kitchen anytime, Katerina." Cedric said with a grin. "Although I don't see the need for you to do this. It's not like you lack money."

"I don't but Eric is trying to lessen my junk food intake when I'm stressed." Kateina said with a frown.

"But you're always stressed." Ray pointed out, to which Katerina laughed.

"And thus the need for me to watch my health." She said as she flashed them a smile. "Don't tell me you thought Eric wanted me to watch my weight."

"That man would love you no matter what Katerina, we all know that." Cedric pointed out.

"Yeah, he spent most of his adult life trying to figure out a way for the both of you to be together." Ram said. "He won't give up that easily."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys." Katerina said with a smile. 

"You don't even need it, you're the most confident woman I know." Ram pointed out, and it was true, everyone knew how well Katerina appreciated her own self worth, and that helped her become better. 

"It's not always like that, Ray." Katerina said as she shook her head. "I really did need that."

"Love problems?" Cedric asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Eric just opened up a topic that I preferred to keep buried, but nevermind that, let's focus on your issue at hand." Katerina said as she diverted the conversation back on topic and pointed at Cedric's laptop.

"Ah, yes, well. . ." Cedric said as he turned the laptop around and pointed at the screen.

"As you both know, tonight we were supposed to hold this huge welcome dinner for all the new companies that we have recently acquired across different industries." Cedric said as he searched Katerina's and Ray's faces for a reaction. 

"Ideally, tonight would have been a very big night." Cedric said with a sigh as he thought of the predicament they were in.

"So who or what got messed up?" Katerina asked quite bluntly.

"And why do you need us in particular?" Ram asked as he pointed at himself and Katerina.

"No one messed up." Cedric said in a firm tone. "This was something planned by Lucius Ting in order to embarrass the Reyes Group."

"To embarrass you in particular." Ray pointed out.

"Yes." Cedric said with a frown. "He is thinking as if the market price of Reyes Group shares matters, they don't."

"Because the Reyes Group is mostly owned by you and your family, we know." Ray said, rolling his eyes at his brother-in-law.

"Exactly, and no one in the Reyes Family would dare sell their stocks because they have no need." Cedric explained further. "On top of that, most of those that do hold shares are employees of the company all over the world."

"So what's the issue?" Katerina asked, thinking of how pointless her visit was becoming.

"Well, I don't like to lose." Cedric said with a shrug. "And the company's image still matters to an extent."

"Don't forget you don't want those little businessmen thinking that they can control the Reyes Group." Ray said as he reminded Cedric.

"Well, yeah, that too, but let's be honest Ray, that's more of your thinking than mine." Cedric said, making Katerina laugh.

"Yes, the king of the underworld is always looking to strike fear in the hearts of his enemies and allies." She said in a dramatic tone, making everyone laugh.

There was suddenly a knock on the door, making them straighten themselves as Cedric called out for whomever was outside to come in.

To Cedric's surprise it was his wife, Adrianna, and his sister, Ayanna both carrying a tray of drinks with them.

"We have maids to do that, remember?" Cedric asked his wife as she gently placed the tray down on the coffee table.

"I don't see why I can't bring refreshments to our friends." Adrianna said as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her husband. "What are you hiding?" She asked in a very serious tone. 

"Nothing." Cedric said, raising his hands in surrender.

Adrianna glared at Cedric as she walked over to sit next to Katerina. 

"He called Katerina and Ray over." Ayanna pointed out. "It's something serious, something with legal implications, but he is also interested in the underground means that he can use."

"What?" Cedric said in surprise as his sister guessed his plan by simply looking at the people in the room. 

"He asked us to come in a hurry, so that means it's urgent." Ayanna said as she looked at her brother, daring him to contradict her.

"Yes." Cedric said with a nod as his expression changed from one of annoyance to an amused look. "What else?" Cedric asked, testing his sister.

"There is nothing urgent except matters that involve Lucius Ting and your investments." Ayanna pointed out.

"Warm." Cedric said as he acknowledged how close she was getting to what his problem was.

"I think it has something to do with the dinner tonight. Lucius Ting can wait, but the dinner, well it cannot." Adrianna surmised.

"Close enough." Cedric said with a smile as he pointed at his laptop screen. "On this are the list of the top companies we chose to invest in, do you know what they all have in common?" Cedric asked.

"Stop with the guessing game and just tell us." Ray groaned. 

"They all chose to attend a party thrown by Lucius Ting rather than to go to the welcome diner." Cedric said with a mischievous smile.