Never Judge

"What?" Came the answer from the other end of the line.

"I helped you out earlier, can't you be kinder?" Eric said in a flirtatious tone that shocked his manager and assistant that were in the same room as him.

"How may I be of service Mr. Famous Actor sir?" Katerina said in a sarcastic tone.

"So much sarcasm. You should lighten up a bit." Eric teased.

"You should be more serious. The fan comments are very much against you as much as they are against me." Katerina scolded Eric as he continued to make jokes.

"Well I am calling for a serious matter. I need to find out who is behind the rumors and why." Eric said in a much more serious tone. He wasn't sure who the person who spread the rumors were after, their motivation was key to getting them to back down.

"You should have called Alexi or Ray. I'm not the one that's got the connections." Katerina was already quite angry at him for wasting her time.

"But I want you." Eric whined. Again his companions were at a shock, was Eric Chan seriously chasing after a woman. All the women he had dated in the past chased him, not the other way around. Had the world flipped right after the rumors had spread? Who was so great that the famous Eric Chan would chase them.

"Stop it Eric. You already know the answer to that." Katerina flatly told him.

"Help me?" Eric asked in a sweet tone again.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do. I'll also be releasing a statement later. The presidential staff has already approved it." Katerina said, finally giving into his request.

"Have I ever told you you're the most amazing woman in the world?" Eric flirted again.

"Almost everyday." Katerina said, Eric could practically see her rolling her eyes as she spoke to him. "Do you want me to gut you?" Katerina threatened.

"So brutal. I like." Eric teased, shocking everyone once more.

"Shut up." Katerina said as she finally dropped the call.

Eric laughed as he looked at his phone, he never saved Katerina's number, but if you checked his phone it had a string of sweet messages he sent to her daily for years. Katerina may not have wanted to speak to him, but he wasn't going to give up. He knew that in the past few years she had even gone as far as blocking his number, but he was a client so that didn't last long.

He looked at his manager and assistant whose jaws seem to have dropped to the floor. They had never seen Eric like this.

"Let's just say she's someone I've been pursuing for years. You know what to do right?" Eric asked them.

They nodded vigorously, no one was to find out about this until Eric or the woman at the other end of the line was prepared to let people find out. Eric continued to scan through social media while they waited for his next shoot. They were filming a new movie where Eric played the role of the male lead, he found the movie quite interesting as it was about a dashing young miracle doctor and his unrequited long time love. He thought it mirrored his younger brother very well so he took the job. The director and all the investors were rather shocked to hear that Eric was very much familiar with the medical terms as well as small details in the medical field. 

"Ah, before I forget. My source tells me that Katerina Sebastian will be releasing a statement today on the rumors. We might want to ride on that." Eric said looking up from his phone.

His manager and assistant nodded before making some calls to Lights Entertainment's PR department in order for them to prepare. 

When Eric was finally called out for his turn to film, he did really well earning praise from the director and all the crew members. Most of his scenes were done in just one take and they really felt that he had embodied the sweet lovesick doctor.

"Wow, Mr. Eric is truly a professional. Despite all the rumors around him he comes to work and acts so well, as if none of the rumors affect him." A crew member praised.

"It's too bad that an actor's opportunity is very much tied to the public's opinion." Another member said with a sigh.

When his scenes were done, an assistant stumbled into the studio.

"Director, Katerina Sebastian is releasing a statement now." The assistant said as he tried to catch his breath.

"Bring out a TV, let's all watch together." The director ordered.

Eric took a seat next to the director in front of the large TV that the crew had brought out. After a few minutes, the words Flash Report appeared on the screen and Eric could see the front of the presidential palace where the Sebastians would hold most of their press conferences and release official statements.

"We are here in front of the presidential palace waiting for Miss Katerina Sebastian to issue an official statement on two new rumors that have circulated about her. One involving the famous actor Eric Chan and another regarding her personal life." A reporter said as Katerina came up behind the podium to a series of camera flashes from the audience. Unlike when Eric released his statement, the guests who were there to witness it were specifically curated by the president's team, no matter what Katerina was still the first daughter.

"Good afternoon." Katerina greeted with a gentle smile. Eric almost spat out his drink because Katerina suddenly looked like a gentle young woman, almost angelic in nature. The Sebastians were truly amazing when they faced the public.

"I understand that there have been many rumors going around on the internet about me. I defer to Mr. Eric Chan's statement regarding his involvement with Miss Calathea Carpio, they aren't in a relationship and never have been. Neither have I ever attempted to come between Mr. Chan and another woman." Katerina paused for dramatic effect as the reporters and everyone watching listened intently to what she would say next.

"On the rumors about my multiple relationships in the past, it is not realistic to expect people to get it right on the first try. This is why people break up and fall in love again, I have not committed a crime, and my personal life is honestly not your business." Katerina said in a colder tone as if threatening the person who had released the rumors. Eric grinned, now that is the real Katerina, tough.

"I know all of you have come here waiting for a statement on Mr. Eric Chan." Katerina took a deep breath, as all the viewers held theirs. "Eric Chan is an outstanding man and a client of mine. I can guarantee to his fans that he has never played with any woman's heart, he is a genuine person and who loves genuinely. If he has a crime, it is loving too much."

Eric wanted to speed off to Katerina and hold her in his arms, hearing her defend him on national television made his heart beat faster. He has been chasing her for years. They were once close to being together, but circumstance ruined it. 

"Eric, Miss Katerina just made a statement defending you." The director said in shock. No one expected Katerina Sebastian to say something like that about him.

"Miss Katerina, is there a romantic relationship between you and Mr. Eric Chan?" When Eric heard the question he turned his attention to the TV again.

"That's all for today. No further questions." Katerina said with a smile as she turned around.

Eric felt his heart doing backflips in his chest. She didn't say no, what did that mean? Why were women so hard to read? Why couldn't she just say yes or no to him and to everyone else, Why did she have to dodge questions like that?

"Mr. Eric?" His puzzled manager asked as Eric wore a confusing look on his face. 

"I'm leaving." Eric said as he went off to the parking lot to go to Katerina.