Never Judge

Ian led Cedric and his group through a hallway, it resembled one of a hospital. It had white walls and white floors and was very clean.

"Not what you would expect of a Mafia family's hideout?" Ian chuckled as they continued to make their way through the hall.

They would occasionally meet a casually dressed man who would bow at Ian before going his way.

The people they met seemed like they didn't belong in this place, they were either well dressed or too casually dressed.

"This place used to be the headquarters of the head's son back when Seth held that position." Ian explained. "The headquarters of the Dean Family used to be at their home. Seth still has important meetings there, but those are more legitimate."

Cedric simply nodded as they reached the end of the hall and were greeted by two large oak doors.

There were several men standing guard as a look of recognition flashed in their eyes.

They clearly knew who Ian was and they respected him.

"Mr. Dean is expecting you." A young man behind them suddenly said. "It's been a while, Mr. Lim."

"Just because I don't visit Seth here doesn't mean we don't hang out anymore." Ian said with a shrug as Cedric could feel the tension building up between the two men.

"Yeah, cause you went legit." The young man scoffed as he went ahead and opened the doors.

"A friend?" Cedric asked.

"Someone I used to work with. I'll tell you more later." Ian had a sad look on his face as he walked ahead of Cedric and into the office.

"You're lucky you have information we need, Seth." Ian called out as he made himself comfortable on the couch in the room.

Seth's office looked nothing like the outside.

It had a modern design and looked more comfortable rather than the sanitary hospital look outside.

"This place used to be much worse, Mr. Reyes." Seth said with a chuckle as she walked up to Cedric and shook his hand.

"Yeah, the first time I walked in here, it looked like it was the library from Beauty and the Beast." Ian laughed as Seth rolled his eyes at his friend.

"It's a unique place." Cedric said with a smile.

"If anyone had told me that the CEO of the Reyes Group was this nice, I wouldn't have believed them." Seth shook his head and grinned. "With the company you keep, I mean."

Cedric simply nodded, knowing that as the head of the Dean family, Seth knew who Ray was.

"Please, sit. What I have to tell you is quite important and I couldn't guarantee the security if I told Ian over the phone." Seth gestured for Cedric and the others to sit on the couch as he made his way behind his desk.

Cedric found it odd that the young man from earlier stayed as he stood behind Seth. He seemed to be someone important in Seth's group.

He made a mental note about it as he kept his attention on Seth.

"Don't drag it out, just tell us." Ian seemed quite impatient. It was clear that he didn't want to be in this place for too long.

"Alright, alright, relax Mr. I'm a CEO now too." Seth laughed as he continued to push Ian's buttons.

Cedric knew that the pair had known each other longer, but had drifted apart a little when Ian learned of Cedric's identity.

It wasn't on purpose, Ian simply had more work when Cedric slowly took the reins of Mor Co.

"It seemed that my men's stubbornness to remain by Lucius Ting's side paid off this time." Seth started. "Based on what  they could gather, Lucius Ting should have fallen a long time ago, but there is someone or some people backing him."

Cedric was surprised by this new piece of information. There were very few people that would dare oppose him in his own country.

Even the Esteves Family was careful, they knew how powerful Cedric was on his own turf. They went in knowing that Cedric wouldn't exactly harm their people.

"Do we know who they are?" Cedric asked Seth.

"No." Seth said as he shook his head. "Our men are still there, if they leave not it will be suspicious. But they said that the owner of the building where Lucius Ting is staying is part of that group, or at least he is the messenger."

"I'll get the information we need on the man." Ian nodded as he took out his phone and began typing, tapping his contacts to see if they knew more.

"There are only a select number of people that would knowingly go up against me on the matter of Lucius Ting." Cedric told the people in the room as he said his thoughts out loud. "They range from my closest friends, to people that should be long dead."

"So we're up against ghosts?" The young man asked as he rolled his eyes.

"Rollo!" Seth scolded the young man as Cedric observed their interaction.

"Sorry, Mr. Reyes. I just find it impossible that we are against ghosts." Rollo told Cedric as he kept his head down.

Cedric laughed and shook his head.

"It's not entirely impossible for the ghosts of the past to haunt us." Ian told Rollo. "They attacked Cedric's home recently."

"And they are the only people I can think of who would dare come after me by backing Lucius Ting. The man is a lost cause." Cedric pointed out.

"Maybe the intention is not to attack you with Lucius Ting?" John said as he spoke up. He was rarely included in Cedric's meetings, but Cedric approved of his inputs, most of which he would give on the drive home to Mountain View.

"A distraction?" Leon asked as Cedric could see the cogs turning in his head of security's mind. "If that's the case-"

"This isn't a security issue." Ian suddenly joined in on the conversation. "But, there is a chance that they will try to jump Cedric while we are thinking of a way to figure this out."

"Seth, we might need to use your people again." Ian said as he looked at his friend.

"I'm more than happy to help." Seth nodded as he glanced at Rollo. "Can you call them over?"

Rollo nodded and left the room.

"Call who over?" Cedric asked.

"The people spying for us." Seth said with a grin as he opened a document on his desk. "If we can come up with a plan to lure out whoever is after you, then we will know what we are up against."

"I thought you hadn't called them back?" Cedric asked.

"I didn't, but they are allowed to go home and they come here secretly. We make sure they aren't followed." Seth explained as he glanced at Ian.

Ian looked like he wanted to ask a question, but was holding back.

"Out with it. I know you it'll it you up if you don't ask." Seth seemed to already know the question Ian had in mind.

"Rollo still hates me, huh?" Ian asked as he changed the topic.

"Yeah, he felt like his uncle Ian abandoned him and his dad. He'll get over it." Seth said nonchalantly.

"Oh right, Rollo is Seth's son." Ian laughed as he saw Cedric's jaw drop.

Clearly that was not the explanation Cedric was expecting to hear.