Never Judge

Knowing that it was his friend that had been trying to take down the so-called video evidence from the internet made Cedric feel a whole lot better.

Guan Ming was someone Cedric had met when he was an assistant at Mor Co. in one of the numerous international conventions he had to attend.

The Guan Ming back then was quite different from the person he had become. Like Cedric his life had improved drastically, building his own company from the ground up and driving it to the top.

"It seems your friend realized that we wanted the video to stay online." Ian said with a chuckle as he closed his laptop and put it away.

"He probably figured that  out when you guys were trying to find him." Cedric said with a grin.

"Ming, it's a common Chinese name. I met someone named Ming before." Ian told Cedric.

"They probably aren't the same person. This one is quite odd." Cedric said with a laugh as he recalled how people didn't exactly get along with Guan Ming.

"Yeah, probably." Ian said, shaking his head. 

"We should watch the video Evan Baron uploaded, I'm quite interested in seeing how he and his people edited it to make me look like the guilty party." Cedric said as he moved back behind his laptop and maximized the video screen.

As Cedric was about to press play, a knock came from the door.

"Enter." Cedric called out as he leaned back and drummed his fingers on the table. 

"Sir." Dave said as he walked into the office. "Ray, Miguel, Ram, and Alexi have arrived." The assistant informed Cedric.

"They really have horrible timing." Cedric groaned as he stood up from his seat. "I'm assuming they all came in my brother-in-law's chopper?" Cedric asked.

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

"Have they been shown their rooms?" Ian asked Dave.

"All done, they are waiting for you in the living room." Dave told Cedric as he pointed through the door behind him.

"Let them in, I want to watch this video with them around, it will be quite entertaining." Cedric said with a grin as he walked over to the mini bar in the office.

He took out some whisky he knew the other men liked as well and motioned Ian to get some glasses.

Unlike most CEOs Cedric didn't mind doing things on his own, he felt like they were all just too lazy to get glasses and drinks.

"So this is the town Fernando lived in." Miguel said as they entered the room. 

"Hello to you too." Cedric said with a smile as Ian walked over and placed a glass in front of each of the men as they took their seats.

Dave walked over to Cedric and took the whisky bottle and proceeded to pour a glass for each.

"You arrived and you didn't tell me!" Katerina shouted as she entered the room, followed by an amused Mae as she watched some of the most powerful men being lectured by a woman.

"Good morning to you too, Katerina." Alexi said with a smile as he lifted his glass towards his sister.

"Isn't it too early for you guys to be drinking?" Katerina asked as she proceeded to get a glass for herself and wave Dave over to pour some for her.

The boys laughed as they watched her consume the alcoholic beverage faster than they did. It seemed that she had been under a lot of stress that morning.

Cedric and his friends couldn't help but wonder what had happened. It took a lot to shake Katerina Sebastian, and for something to cause her stress, it had to be big.

"Stressed?" Ram asked as he grinned at the female lawyer.

"Yesterday was quite hectic, today is worse." Katerina grumbled. "Have you seen the video?" She asked as she looked at Cedric.

"No, I was about to watch it when Dave announced that these guys had arrived." Cedric told Katerina as he shook his head.

Katerina suddenly laughed.

"You'll find it incredibly amusing." Katerina said as she walked over to Cedric's laptop. "Dave, another glass please." Katerina told the assistant as she began to type away on the laptop.

Dave looked at Cedric, unsure on what to do. 

Cedric nodded telling Dave and the assistant did as she asked, filling her glass once more.

"What are you doing?" Alexi asked as he gave his sister a confused look.

"Making sure you guys are entertained." She said as she turned the laptop around and made sure that it was on full volume. "Are you ready?" 

"Yeah." Cedric said with a nod as he held his breath and waited for the video to play.

He didn't understand why he was nervous, he knew that he did nothing wrong, he didn't break any laws, nor did he offer the bribe. He even had proof that he reported the request for a bribe as soon as he had left the Baron mansion.

"Watch." Katerina said as she pointed at the screen.

The scene played out just as Cedric expected, he saw himself, Dave, and the mayor, Evan Baron, enter the office.

He watched as they were offered seats which they gladly took.

The conversation went on as expected, it began with the discussion over how Cedric had seen the property from above and with the mayor asking if he was interested in it. Then mayor Evan Baron went as far as accusing the Sebastians of taking bribes.

"That fucking asshole." Alexi cussed as soon as he heard the mayor assuming that both he and his father could be bought. "He has two people waiting to file cases against him now." 

Katerina was forced to pause the video because of her brother's complaint.

Cedric laughed at his friend's anger, it was amusing to see Alexi complain and Katerina roll her eyes at her brother. Of course she was already prepared to file a case against the Baron family under the Sebastian name.

"Alexi, watch and listen!" Katerina scolded. "Don't you think I've already prepared for that? This isn't my first time watching the video." She told her brother as she rolled her eyes at him.

"Alright." Alexi said, raising his hands as if to show he was surrendering to his sister.

"Keep watching Ced, I think this part will entertain you." Katerina said with a grin as she hit play once more.