Never Judge

Cedric was at R Tower when Katerina made her statement. He grinned at her choice not to deny any involvement with Eric, this meant that Eric still had a chance with Katerina. He smiled as he placed his phone away, it seemed the Chans' romantic drama was fueling the news for the past few months.

Cedric was working when Martin suddenly gave him a call. He left his desk to take it.

"What's up Martin?" Cedric asked.

"Cedric, there is a very crucial project that's coming up to your department. We couldn't stop it but it could potentially earn millions and every company we sell to is hungry to get their hands on it. We need to find a way to reject it without raising any suspicions." Martin said in a shushed voice.

"Why is this project so important?" Cedric asked so that he could get a better understanding of what the syndicate and it's partner companies were after.

"It's a project for precious metals. It's meant to supply the expansion of Mor Co. Now that Mor Co. keeps on growing some of its project requirements are being handed to the main company. This project is really small to both the Reyes Group and to Mor Co., but to our partners this project will be enough to send them to new heights." Martin explained to Cedric. Of course Cedric knew about this project, it was an innovation requirement that he had asked Ian to explore. He intentionally asked Ian to keep the whole thing quiet while undergoing development so that their competitors wouldn't pick up on it. Fortunately, the members of the syndicate didn't know that the development of the technology with the supplier could only be achieved with the resources of Mor Co. as well as with metals that only one supplier in the country could provide, Tony Tamano.

"I'll see what I can do. I don't handle the Mor Co. projects." Cedric explained as he tried to recall who would be handed the project for assessment. 

"Do what you can Cedric. They really want this. From what I��ve heard the Reyes Heir isn't too eager about the project so if we get our hands on it no one would really care." Martin told Cedric.

"I'll update you when it's done." Cedric said.

After dropping the call with Martin he called Ian. At the moment, Ian was standing in for Cedric at a meeting with all the directors of Mor Co. They were updating him on all the progress they were making. Camilla on the other hand was out meeting with clients on behalf of Cedric. The past few months have been really hectic for the duo and they began to question how their boss had handled all of it. 

Ian immediately paused the meeting when he saw his boss calling.

"Sir?" Ian asked.

"You're being formal. In a meeting?" Cedric teased. He had a more relaxed relationship with his two assistants now. They were more than just subordinates to Cedric, they were his friends.

"Yes sir." Ian said, giving his short reply.

"I'll be quick then. Remember the project between Tony Tamano and Mor Co.?" Cedric asked but continued not waiting for Ian's reply. "Have it retracted today and thrown out. Draft a new one in two weeks with a higher investment and a faster timeline. Report back to me when the retraction is done. Also send me a copy with some minor changes that will make the project fail no matter what is done to fix it."

"Yes sir." Came Ian's quick reply. The current proposal was drafted in such a way that Tony and Mor Co. could finish at least a month earlier than the proposed project completion. 

After giving instructions, Cedric returned to his desk and waited for Ian to update him that the retraction of the project had been completed. Once done Ian called Cedric and sent him a copy of the project plans. Cedric then printed everything out and prepared to bargain with the rest of the syndicate.

After work, Cedric met with Martin at the fast food joint across R Tower.

"Were you able to reject the project?" Martin asked as he took a sip from his drink. Martin was nervous, one of their partner companies had given them an additional incentive to get the project proposal and to stop Mor Co. from pushing through with it. They had promised an additional thirty million in exchange for the project. It was a number that could make every member of the syndicate comfortable for the rest of their lives. 

"I did." Cedric said with a grin. He knew that by the time the client company would have figured out the flaws in the document, Mor Co. would have by then managed to launch the new product they were planning on building with the metal infused tech.

"I could hug you right now Cedric! Quick, let's go!" Martin said as he stood up.

"To the client?" Cedric asked.

"No. We will meet with the leaders among us then give the project to the tech team to place it up for bidding. I'm pretty sure you'll be raised among our ranks today." Martin said proudly. How could he not be proud, he was the one that brought Cedric into the syndicate. He had just provided them with their largest project sale to date. People didn't approve of his decision at first, it was too much of a risk to bring in the Reyes Heir's former assistant. 

Cedric followed Martin to his car as they drove to an upscale part of town. They parked in one of the few buildings not developed by the Reyes Group.

"This building is owned by the De Dios family. They've been one of our clients from the very start so we made a deal for a secure unit here in exchange for a project. It was easy enough to get them to agree." Martin said as they rode the elevator to the fifteenth floor. 

Each floor only had five units, the syndicate's unit was at the end of the hall. When Martin and Cedric entered there were only five other people inside the unit.

"Ah! Martin! Do you have good news? Why did you bring the new kid over?" A man whom Cedric recognized as one of the receptionists at the lobby asked Martin.

���Relax, he's the reason we got the project." Martin said as he waved the envelope containing the documents.

"Awesome! Welcome to the high rollers club Cedric. I think you deserve to be one us now." Another man who Cedric recognized to be part of the Reyes Group's IT department said with a grin as he invited Cedric to sit next to him.

"Now all we need is someone in the design department of Elisia Malls." A woman joked. Cedric did not recognize her. She was probably from one of the departments Cedric didn't work with. "We've never met. Name's Carissa, I'm an assistant to the assistant of Emilio Reyes III." Carissa said with a wink. 

Cedric knew that even his father's assistants had assistants of their own in order to help with the workload, he was just surprised to meet one of them there. He expected them to understand how important each project was to all the employees of the Reyes Group. It seemed that this assistant was just plain greedy.

"Marco So is your boss?" Cedric asked as he nodded at Carissa.

"Nah. Those nerds are way too loyal. I work for the assistant in charge of his schedules. So I know when there is a big deal coming up." Carissa explained to Cedric.

"We have a winning bid!" the guy from the IT department proudly announced.