Never Judge

When Mor Co. and the Reyes Group announced that they would be holding a press conference at the Mor Co. building many members of the press were surprised. They had expected the Reyes Group to keep the investigation a secret for a little while longer since it would definitely hit their stock prices as well as their sales.

When the members of the media approached the building they were surprised to find many of the employees standing outside, they were holding a vigil. The reporters were puzzled, it was normal to light candles for the deceased but to have the employees still standing outside with candles in hand.

A reporter approached one employee and asked why they were still there.

"Oh, well, we all just decided to pray for the man that died and for the Reyes family. It wasn't their fault but people all over the internet have been blaming them." The employee said.

"Yeah. The president treats us really well and you can ask any Reyes Group employee, it's great to work for them." Another employee who had been listening in said.

"So this is for them and the employee that died." The reporter said slowly.

"Yup. We even asked different spiritual leaders so that no matter what your faith was you could join the prayer." The employee said with a nod.

"You must really trust the Reyes Family." The reporter said.

"Yes, we do." The employees all said together.

Inside the Mor Co. building Cedric and Ayanna had no idea that the employees had held a gathering outside, Cedric was currently sitting with the head of PR and the chief legal counsel of the Reyes Group as they reviewed the statement he was about to read.

"I don't agree with saying that part." Came Katerina's voice over the phone. It was only logical that Cedric would tap the best legal mind in the world.

"Miss Sebastian, with all due respect if you let Mr. Reyes say that it will sound better to the public." The PR head explained.

Katerina sighed. "Look, you might be after what will look good, but I'm after making someone who is like an older brother to me doesn't end up in jail. Doesn't that look better?" Katerina said sarcastically.

The PR head was stunned she had worked with Katerina Sebastian in the past but never received this attitude.

"Do as Katerina says." Cedric said in a stern voice. "If that's it you can leave."

The PR head and chief legal counsel bowed and left.

"Cedric." Katerina said over the phone.

"Out with it Katerina." Cedric said, he could sense the hesitation in her tone.

"Nicole doesn't know what happened yet." Katerina explained. "She's been in her room crying all day. Miguel and Eric are doing their best to prepare things but the work Eric can do is limited to things behind the scenes and Miguel still on a plane back."

"What do you want me to do?" Cedric asked.

"Represent Saints for a while, at least till Miguel lands and get caught up with everything, and please send Ian over. I think he's the only one that can get to Nicole." Katerina pleaded.

"Why didn't Eric ask me this himself?" Cedric asked with a sigh. "But of course I'll do it. And on Ian, you girls were the ones that sent him out, now you want me to send him back?"

"We were wrong." Katerina admitted.

"I'll talk to Ian." Cedric promised as he dropped the call.

Soon after he ended the call with Katerina his phone rang again, this time it was Ram.

"I already asked Ian to send you the details haven't you gotten it yet?" Cedric asked as he picked up the call.

"I'm not calling about that. Please tell me this was staged? Because if not it's too beautiful!" Ram asked his friend.

"What are you talking about? A sucicide and a bombing is never beautiful." Cedric complined.

"Not that. I guess you didn't stage this. Turn on your TV." Ram said, rushing his friend.

Cedric was greeted by an image of the employees holding vigil outside of the Mor Co. building, according to the reporter they were there for two things, to pray for the employee that died and to pray for the well being of the Reyes family.

Ayanna gasped as she saw the report, never in her years at the Reyes Group had she seen employees react this way.

"Brother, this isn't planned?" Ayanna asked.

"No." Cedric said.

"I've never seen people react to a scandal quite like this. Whatever you're doing, keep at it." Ram complemented as he dropped the call.

When 7pm finally rolled by Cedric was accompanied by Ayanna to face the press. The first thing he did was to thank his employees who were standing outside. He then calmly and efficiently recounted to them everything as planned. He kept information he thought crucial to the investigation a secret. When he was done he opened the floor to questions, he knew this would be the more difficult part.

"Sir." A reporter said as she stood by the microphone. "People are saying that the scene outside was staged by you and by your company. What do you have to say about this?"

"The public can say what it wants and assume what it wants, in this matter I have only one thing to say, thank you." Cedric's answer shocked everyone, they expected a defence or a denial, instead Cedric chose to thank his employees.

"Sir, are the rumors true that the bombing and the suicide are related?" Another reporter asked.

"As of now we do not have proof that points to a concrete answer. The police are currently investigating this and we will give you an answer when we have one." Cedric confidently promised.

"Mr. Reyes, aside from the Reyes Group, Saints Hospital was also involved in this issue, why are there no representatives from their end?" A male reporter asked.

"I'm sure you all understand that saving lives is more important than attending a press conference, I am sure I can answer for both my company and the Saints Group." Cedric answered, he was purposely insinuating that both Miguel and Nicole were in the middle of a life saving operation.

"Is it true that the true target of the bombing and the suicide were Ayanna Reyes and Nicole Chan, and that you were only collateral damage?" A reporter asked.

This time it wasn't Cedric that answered, it was Ayanna that took the platform. "As my brother mentioned we do not have conclusive evidence to say who the target was or why, please do not jump into conclusions."

"Miss Ayanna, according to internet rumors this was done by a woman out of spite, do you have a comment on that?" The reporter further asked.

"Yes, yes I do have a comment." Ayanna said. Cedric looked intently at his sister, he knew she would never say anything improper in front of the press, but that didn't stop him from worrying. "I suggest that people focus more on what is in the facts rather than their guesses. I would rather, that people talk about the cause of suicide and it's alarming rates rather than which woman is jealous of my new shoes."

Cedric breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn't a scripted reply nor was it an emotional one, it was the perfect response to him. Anything else and people would have continued to speculate that jealousy was the reason behind the events.

"That's all the time we have for questions. Thank you for attending." The PR head finally said as Cedric and Ayanna went back up to Cedric's office.