Never Judge

"What the-" Ian said as he laughed. "Me and you? Really?" Ian asked Guan Ming who looked like he wanted to punch Ian.

"Why though?" Cedric asked.

"My family is very traditional." Guan Ming said with a sigh. "When I finally accepted the role of CEO and they allowed me to change the company name to Ming Enterprises I was tied to them."

"But you made your own money, you didn't owe them anything. You could easily have flown back for Camilla!" Ian said in an angry tone. 

Ian had watched Camilla suffer all those years. She didn't know if Guan Ming still loved her or even if he was still alive.

"Don't you think I tried? Don't you think I fucking tried to come back, to contact her in someway?" Guan Ming shouted back angrily.

"If you really wanted to see Camilla you would have found a way." Ian said as he crossed his arms on his chest.

"You don't understand what it's like back there." Guan Ming said as he shook his head. "Here you practically control everything, back in China my image mattered for the company. It will already look bad that the woman I love isn't Chinese."

"So what?" Ian asked. "Will they hold everything you own hostage just because Wu Jun spread a rumor?"

"Back then in Beijing he was more important than me." Guan Ming explained as he tried to remain calm. "Wu Jun was the son that never left. He was always by his father's side, learning, even if to his father he was a disappointment. Everyone wanted to be on his good side."

"I thought Wu Jun's father was your mentor?" Cedric asked as he recalled their earlier conversation.

"That is not public knowledge." Guan Ming said with a frown. "If people were to find out that he chose to teach me over his son it would be an embarrassment to his family. Wu Jun would be cast out, and as a father he didn't want that."

"So this isn't just a battle between Cedric and Lucius Ting? It's between you and Wu Jun as well?" Camilla asked.

"Yes." Guan Ming said with a nod.

"The thing is, you and Wu Jun are actually working for the same side." Adrianna pointed out. "It's not a battle between the two. It's you and Cedric using Wu Jun."

"We aren't sure that Wu Jun isn't using us." Cedric said. "He says that he and Lucius Ting hate each other, but Ian has sent Dave to check on his relationship with Lucius Ting. They might have been rivals at school, but at least they know each other from the past."

"Do you think they could be working together to go after you?" Camilla asked Cedric.

"I think there is a possibility that Wu Jun will turn on me and rush to Lucius Ting's side." Cedric said with a nod.

"Lucius Ting is too desperate to get Guan Ming's approval." Camilla said as she thought of how Lucius Ting would have knelt before Guan Ming if he had asked for it.

"Yeah, that fake boyfriend of yours would do anything I ask if it meant getting the deal." Guan Ming said with a laugh. "Maybe I should just ask for you?" Guan Ming asked Camilla as he lifted her chin to look him in the eyes.

The room was silent for a minute as it oozed sexual tension between Camilla and Guan Ming. 

Wanting to continue the conversation, Cedric coughed, bringing them back to the present.

"Sorry about that." Guan Ming said as he looked embarrassed about how he had acted. "I've wanted to be with her for years, I just don't want to wait anymore."

"Well, you will have to wait a little longer." Cedric said with a frown as he knew Guan Ming would not be happy with the news.

"WHAT!?" Guan Ming shouted. "Don't you dare tell me that I can't be with Camilla, you aren't her father or her brother. And even if you were, you have no right to say who she can and can't be with."

"Ming, relax." Camilla said as she placed a hand on his arm, stroking it gently. "Please, hear Cedric out first." Camilla asked. 

Camilla knew that Cedric always had his reasons, and usually his reasons benefited those around him more than himself.

She knew that Cedric would never let anything bad happen to her, and Guan Ming needed to understand that. He needed to understand the whole dynamic of her friendship with Cedric.

"You can't just pick up your relationship with her, Lucius Ting will have her killed." Cedric said in a morbid tone, making Guan Ming stop in his tracks. 

"He wouldn't." Guan Ming hissed.

"He probably has killed for less." Ian pointed out. 

"Then I will ask him for Camilla." Guan Ming hissed as he insisted on getting his way.

"And if Camilla agrees, she is still dead. He will see it as a betrayal. And don't forget, Guan Ming also knows about her brother." Cedric tells Guan Ming, who at this point was incredibly frustrated with the situation. 

"Fuck her brother, he can die for all I care!" Guan Ming shouts.

"You will not drag my brother into this." Camilla warned as she placed her foot down. "Cedric is right, we can be together after this. I will not love you any less, Ming." Camilla told him as she placed her hand on his cheek."

"Then all I need to do will be to convince my family to accept a non-chinese." Guan Ming said with a sigh.

"Not true." Ian said with a laugh.

"What do you mean?" Guan Ming asked as he gave Ian a confused look.

Ian grinned at how lost Guan Ming was.

"You seriously didn't know?" Ian asked. "I thought you looked her up. Didn't you find out about Benedict?" 

"I did, Aiden and Benedict Ortiz are her brothers." Guan Ming said. "That doesn't sound Chinese to me." 

"Ortiz isn't their last name." Ian said with a grin. "It's Lim, Camilla is my distant cousin.. So technically,  you'll need my permission, I am the head of the Lim family now."