Never Judge

Cedric noticed Ian leaving the press conference area to take a call, it seemed that something was now happening.

"Be on your toes." Cedric told his friends as he waited for either Guan Ming or Ian to explain what happened.

"What?" Ray asked as he gave Cedric a confused look.

"Ian stepped out of the press conference to take a call." Cedric pointed at the spot on the screen where Ian had been sitting. In his place now stood a bodyguard, Cedric recognized the man as one of Ian's personal guards that the Reyes Group had provided.

"He would never leave Nicole alone unless it was very important." Ayanna pointed out as she gave her brother a worried look.

"I hope it's good news." Cedric said with a nod as he drummed his fingers on the table, waiting for an update.

While they were anxiously waiting, the Chan family congratulated Eric and Katerina on their engagement and the press quickly asked a lot of very personal questions.

The couple professionally answered each and every one of the questions.

Eric and Katerina had a long time to prepare for this moment and they had already expected what kind of questions would be thrown their way.

"We met when we were children." Eric said as he was asked how he and Katerina had met.

The question made Cedric laugh, everyone knew that the Chans and the Sebastians were friends, so naturally the couple had practically grown up together.

"How long have you been dating?" Another reporter asked, eager to get something juicy for the news.

"For a few years, but I have loved Katerina from the moment I first laid my eyes on her. I was just too young to realize what love was." Eric admitted, making Katerina blush. This was clearly not in the script they had rehearsed.

Natalia burst out laughing as the normally strong willed Katerina was reduced to a blushing woman.

While Natalia laughed at her sister's reaction, Cedric's phone began to ring. It was Ian.

Cedric quickly picked up the phone, knowing that Ian would definitely have important news.

"Ian, we saw you leave, is something wrong?" Cedric was worried that it was more bad news than good.

"No, no, just an update from Seth's men." Ian informed Cedric over the phone.

"They are still around Lucius Ting?" Cedric was surprised that the men Seth had planted were still there. He was expecting them to leave as soon as shit hit the fan for their own safety.

"Yeah." Ian told Cedric in a somber tone. "It seems that the people my friend sent over all have vendettas against Lucius Ting."

"I don't know if that is something to be happy about or worried about." Cedric was right to be concerned about it.

On one hand these people would not betray them since the vengeance that Cedric was about to serve Lucius Ting would be to their benefit. On the other, they could easily go rogue, taking justice into their own hands and potentially ruining all of the plans.

"Don't worry, I know Seth's men." Ian assured Cedric. He already knew this would be the other man's concern. "Seth would never send people that could stray from the task or be so short sighted as to act on their own."

"That's good to hear." Cedric nodded as every one in the room tried to listen in on his conversation with Ian. "So what was the news that you wanted to tell me?"

"Right, right. Seth's men just told us that Lucius Ting is furious." Ian said as he got the conversation back to its original topic.

"Because of the Chans?" Cedric asked, wanting to make sure if there could be other factors affecting their plan.

"Not just the Chans. It seems that Guan Ming has made a move and in a surprising turn of events, Wu Jun also did something. I have no idea what, but he did something that made Lucius Ting furious." Ian quickly reported.

"Wu Jun? I never agreed to the things he wanted." Cedric told Ian as he recounted his visit days ago.

"I think he figured out that you wouldn't come to him and that he needed to show you that he is on the same side." Ian assumed since there was no sure way for them to find out about Wu Jun's true intentions.

"I don't trust him." Cedric hissed.

"I know, I don't either and I want to carefully watch what he is doing." Ian said as he agreed with his friend.

Cedric was silent for a moment as he carefully thought of what to do next.

"Wu Jun is a tricky matter. We might not like him, but he is still rich and powerful, but he is Guan Ming's business." Cedric said as he expressed his concern and opinion on the other Chinese businessman.

"You promised Guan Ming that he could have both Lucius Ting and Wu Jun, right?" Ian asked as he wanted to confirm whatever deal Cedric had stuck with his friend.

"Yeah, but he isn't allowed to kill Lucius Ting or damage him too much mentally, that's for the Esteves Family to deal with." Cedric confirmed. "Let's take what Wu Jun has to give, but promise him nothing."

"Sounds like a plan." Ian said in agreement. "Do you have any idea what Guan Ming is doing to get this reaction from Lucius Ting?"

Ian was curious, according to Seth's men Lucius Ting was practically crazed as the walls closed in on him from all fronts. It was like his was not trapped in the hardest situation he could possibly imagine.

"I don't, but knowing Guan Ming, he'll call to boast soon." Cedric said with a laugh as he shook his head. "Keep me posted, go keep your wife company." He teased.

"I would do so happily. See you soon." Ian said as he dropped the call.

"Nicole will kill you if she heard you call her Ian's wife." Natalia pointed out.

"The only thing they lack at this point is a marriage certificate, and I have a feeling Ian might have already dealt with that.." Cedric said with a chuckle knowing full well how much Ian loved Nicole.