Never Judge

"We'll discuss this later." Cedric told Ian as he marched back into the office.

"Wu Jun is on his way here." Emilio Reyes told his son as he spotted the young CEO walking back to his seat.

"He has left the airport?" Cedric asked.

"Yes." Emilio Reyes told Cedric with a nod.

"Have him go to the Reyes Mansion, dad." Cedric told his father. "If he goes to R Tower, I'm afraid he will cause a frenzy."

"Okay, I'll go home now and have the maids prepare everything." Emilio Reyes told his son as he got up. "I'll also tell him that he should go to his hotel first while we get things in order."

"Thanks dad." Cedric told Emilio Reyes with a smile.

"I'll go help dad too." Ayanna told Cedric as she got up. "I know the Wus are very traditional in their image of how a woman should be. I shall play gracious host since I'm the woman of the family. And because Adri is pregnant." 

"Thank you." Cedric said with a relieved smile as he watched his father and sister leave the room.

"Get me all the quantities that we lost because our suppliers moved to Lucius Ting's camp. I want Wu Jun to be aware of the amount we need." Cedric instructed Dave who quickly did as Cedric asked.

"Cedric. . ." Ian said as he pointed at the TV.

Cedric watched as his friend stood tall on the stage. He couldn't help but grin, it was time to get the ball rolling.

Guan Ming stood proudly as he looked at the cameras directly, he was sending a message to everyone.

"We are here to begin our partnership with Arch Group under Mr. Lucius Ting, that is all." At that Guan Ming handed the microphone back to his Vice President as he and his team quickly made their way out of the tarmac.

"Sir. . ." Mae said as she looked at Cedric.

The young CEO kept a blank expression, gone was his smile earlier, now he simply looked serious. It was an expression that even Ian, who had been with him for years, couldn't read.

"We need to focus on what is happening now." Cedric told them as he grabbed the remote and switched off the TV. 

"Cedric. . ." Ian said as he tried to form words of comfort. 

They were all aware that Cedric was no idiot, he fully understood the implications of Guan Ming collaborating with Lucius Ting and Arch Group.

It was like a death sentence to all of their competition.

"What use is your muttering my name?" Cedric asked with a sigh as he pulled some documents to him. "We have an issue with Mor Co., correct?" He asked his assistants.

"But Cedric, Guan Ming. . ." Ian started to say, but he was cut off as Cedric raised his hand, telling his friend to stop.

"Guan Ming is Guan Ming, he isn't our problem right now." Cedric told Ian and Mae. "Right now our focus should be Mor Co. and how to get enough supplies to keep up with demand."

"Yes, sir." Mae said with a nod as she glanced at Ian.

Ian still stood, unmoving and unable to respond. He couldn't believe that Cedric would simply ignore a threat like Guan Ming. Cedric was smarter than this.

"We both know that this matter cannot be ignored." Ian told Cedric. "The longer you keep things on the sidelines, the worse they will get."

"I'm not ignoring it Ian." Cedric said in a stern tone as he looked Ian in the eyes, waiting for his friend to give in. "Do you really think I would ignore someone like Guan Ming? I am simply getting our priorities straight. One battle at a time." 

"The issue with Guan Ming is too closely tied to our problem now, you can't just put it to the side!" Ian argued.

"Guan Ming has done nothing yet, he simply announced that he will be working with Arch Group." Cedric told Ian. "What use is it to worry about something we know nothing about? We will act when we know more."

"And how long will we have to wait? Till it's too late?!" Ian asked angrily. He was possibly one of the only people in the Reyes Group that could speak with the CEO in such a manner. 

"Do you propose that we attack without knowing anything from the otherside?" Cedric asked. "Ian, use your brain, you are much smarter than others think. What if Guan Ming isn't here to compete with us? What if he is targeting a new industry?"

Ian stayed silent as Cedric reprimanded him.

"Yes, his arrival and announcement has an impact on us, but that's it. We don't even know what kind of business implications this will have." Cedric told Ian. "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill!"

"Sorry." Ian said with a frown as he realized that he had over reacted. His temper had gotten the best of him once more.

"If their announcement is what worries you, then we should have a statement ready." Cedric said as he brought the documents on his desk back to eyelevel. 

"I'll do it." Ian volunteered.

"No." Cedric said as he shook his head.

"Mae, talk to the PR department of both the Reyes Group and Mor Co." Cedric instructed to Mae. "Tell them that until we know more we cannot act. We will simply say that we are happy that our nation is welcoming Guan Ming and his business, it is all in the interest of nation building after all."

"Yes sir." Mae said with a nod as she left.

"I shouldn't be here." Ian said as he made a move to leave.

"You're my most trusted assistant, you're my best friend." Cedric said as he placed down the documents in his hand. "I need your opinion on all of this, even when your temper gets the best of you."

"Sorry about that." Ian said with a frown. 

"It's fine. Now help me find a way so that we won't be too dependent on Wu Jun for our raw materials." Cedric said as he pushed the documents on his desk towards Ian.