Never Judge

Cedric's side were the ones that set the time, date, and place of the meet up.

It seemed that the Rajas were so confident that their captives would return to them and do as they asked so they let Cedric have free reign on the meeting.

"Could it be a trap?" Cedric asked Ian as they drove to the Bamboo Room, one of Ray's restaurants.

He had the place closed so that the discussion could be done in private.

"There is a chance, but why?" Ian asked. "Why make the effort of setting up a trap such as this if they could potentially take you down with the cases the employees are filing against you?"

"It might not be enough." Cedric said as his car approached the driveway of the Bamboo Room.

"Is it wise to arrive before them?" Ian asked. Normally in a meeting Cedric was the last to arrive, so he found it odd that Cedric had insisted on arriving before everyone else.

Cedric simply nodded as the car came to a stop and he got out.

Ian quickly followed suit and opened his door, stepping out of the car. Behind them, Katerina stepped out of the driver's seat of her sports car while Mien got out of the passenger's seat.

"I'm surprised Eric and Alexi still let you drive that thing." Cedric looked at the sports car knowing how fast Katerina drove.

"Do you really think they can stop me?" Katerina raised an eyebrow at Cedric as she handed her keys to a valet.

"She's crazy." Mien said with a shaky voice as soon as he got the chance to speak. "She drives like a mad woman!"

"Oh calm down Mien." Katerina rolled her eyes as she walked into the restaurant ahead of everyone else.

Behind her, Ian and Cedric couldn't help but laugh at poor Mien who had become a victim of Katerina's driving.

Ian placed an arm over the younger man's shoulder as he directed Mien to join them inside the restaurant.

"She's always been like that." Cedric explained to Mien. "In all honesty I think she has slowed down due to the pregnancy. But don't worry, her driving won't kill you, she's actually a very good driver, she used to race under a male identity when she was younger."

Stunned by the revelation, Mien was left speechless.

"What's taking you guys so long?" Katerina impatiently grumbled from the entrance of the restaurant. "I still have things to discuss with Cedric."

"Coming!" Cedric laughed as he nodded to Ian and Mien to hurry up.

Inside the restaurant, they were led by the manager to the only table that had been prepared for guests.

Cedric sat down not at the head of the table, but rather mid way.

Ian couldn't help but eye him suspiciously. He knew that every action of Cedric's was calculated, he never did things just because he felt like it especially in situations such as these.

"Should I place the order?" Ian asked Cedric, playing the role of his assistant.

"No need, have the waiters bring the menu over. Let our guests place their own orders." Cedric said as he gestured for Katerina to sit next to him.

His answer once more left Ian stunned. Cedric was a man that liked control, he liked to be in control with as little variable in the day as possible.

Ignoring his own confusion, Ian told the waiters to do as Cedric asked as he sat down by Cedric's side.

"You know they won't accept any offer you give them." Katerina pointed out as she handed Cedric some documents to look over.

"I know, but this meeting is about much more than that." Cedric nodded at John who had just entered the restaurant.

"Sir, they are here." John announced as he kept the door open for three individuals that were dressed casually.

To everyone's surprise they were not followed by any bodyguards or lawyers. It was simply the three employees and no one else.

"Good morning." Cedric greeted them with a smile as he stood up.

The men were stunned that the CEO of the Reyes Group was offering them as much respect. It was clear that they had met men at the same level as Cedric in the past.

"Good morning, Sir." The men awkwardly greeted Cedric back.

"Please, sit." Cedric gestured to the empty seats before him. "I thought you might have been accompanied by lawyers and bodyguards. I'm surprised that you came alone."

"Mr. Reyes, please don't waste your time and effort on us." One man said as he kept his head hung low and a frown on his face. "I will be honest, they have too much on us. We have no choice but to do as they ask."

"Please, sit. Let's eat first then we can discuss things." Cedric urged once more.

The men looked at each other before reluctantly taking a seat across Cedric, Ian, and Katerina.

"John, Mien, please join us." Cedric waved the two men over who were both equally shocked.

Without saying a word the two men found themselves seated on the table one beside the employees and another beside Katerina.

"Now, for lunch, please, it's my treat. Order whatever you want from the menu, the choice is yours." Cedric said with a smile.

The men ordered what they wanted as they slowly relaxed in Cedric's presence.

As they waited for their food, Cedric began to ask them questions.

"I hope you don't mind, but how is your family?" Cedric watched as the men suddenly sat stiffly.

"Are you worried that someone is listening in on our conversation?" Cedric asked the men.

"No, sir. They didn't bug us. They are that confident that we wouldn't tell you anything that could put us in an even worse situation." One of the men responded with a frown.

"So, will you give me an answer?" Cedric asked. "Or is it too close for comfort?"

Ian wasn't surprised to see a genuine look of concern on Cedric's face. Despite his cold public demeanor, Ian knew the truth. Cedric cared about his people, as a matter of fact sometimes he cared too much.

"Sir, we haven't seen them since the incident." One of the men bravely responded. "One moment we were in the hospital and the next we were waking up in a whole different location."

"They took you?" Cedric asked, all this time he was under the assumption that the men had walked away of their own free will.

The men nodded as they slowly explained to Cedric and his group what had happened.

"All we have seen are videos of our family. They are prisoners but they aren't being beaten or starved. They all live in a room that has all the amenities they need, but they are prisoners nonetheless." One of them recounted.

"What if I can promise you their safe return?" Cedric asked, shocking everyone around him including his people.

"Can you really do that, sir?" One of the men asked as he eyed Cedric suspiciously. "We will not accept false promises."

"I know that your family is your priority, that's the very reason why you were allowed in here with no lawyer and no guards. The Rajas know that you will do anything and everything to protect those closest to you. So what if I could promise you that we will get them out and they will be safe?" Cedric asked the men.

"What's the catch?" There was always a catch, and they knew they were right when Cedric frowned.

"I cannot promise your safety." Cedric said reluctantly.