Never Judge

Katerina was in her office when Ayanna called, she had just finished a difficult case and didn't want to deal with an issue like Calathea Carpio. Katerina had thought that their issue had long been buried in the past since Calathea had moved to Spain years ago.

"Ayanna it's been years since I thought I liked Eric, remember. He's an older brother, I'm just too ashamed for liking my friend's older brother." Katerina told Ayanna over the phone.

"Wow Kateriana, are you calling me and Veronica shameful? She's married to our friend's older brother and I'm engaged to my older brother's best friend." Ayanna pretended to be mad at her friend over the phone, she knew that although Katerina never showed it she was incredibly conscious about how her friends felt and how they perceived things she said to them or about them.

Katerina sighed and shook her head, it was very much like Ayanna to turn her statements against her. This like these were the reason that she was such an amazing lawyer, her friends and family were never easy to deal with.

"Ayanna, I know what you're trying to do, and no, I don't think of you guys that way. My case was different. Fine I admit, I genuinely liked Eric and I'm not sure if I still do." Katerina told her friend over the phone.

"I can't believe you finally admitted it! It took five boyfriends and many other flings but you have finally admitted that you aren't over your first!" Ayanna exclaimed.

"Don't rub it in Ayanna, plus there was never anything between us." Katerina said with a sigh. She was eighteen when they almost got together, but Calathea Carpio almost got engaged to Eric. After that Katerina began dating non-stop. She always knew that at the beginning to was a way for her to cover up the heart ache she felt for not getting the chance to be with Eric. 

"But you still won't do anything?" Ayanna asked.

"I won't but I know someone else who won't stand for this." Katerina said with a grin as she said goodbye to Ayanna over the phone.

Katerina dialed another number and waited for the person she was calling to pick up.

"Katerina?" Cedric answered over the phone.

"I'm guessing Ray told you what Calathea did?" Katerina asked Cedric. Katerina knew that she might have had no right to feel jealous about Eric and Calathea, but Cedric definitely had every right to be mad at Calathea for threatening his wife.

"I do. What about it?" Cedric asked as if what Calathea did was nothing.

"Are you really treating this as just a bothersome topic?" Katerina was surprised at the normally overprotective Cedric Reyese being relaxed about what Calathea did. 

"Katerina, I've done what I need to do to make sure Calathea stays away from my wife. But I'm sure that's not the reason why you called." Cedric told Katerina.

Katerina paused for a while and pondered if what Cedric had done was enough for her. She quickly came to the conclusion that she wanted to drag Calathea away from all of them.

"Can you grab a beer with me?" Katerina asked.

"Katerina." Cedric sighed. "I'm not like the rest of you who can just leave work at any time. I'm a normal employee with regular work hours. I get out of the office at 6pm. I can meet you at 7pm, I can't take a car to wherever we plan to meet." Cedirc explained.

"Sorry Ced, I forgot. How about the bar at Maharlika Hotel at 7pm then?" Katerina asked.

Cedric agreed and dropped the call.

Katerina arrived at the bar at Maharlika Hotel before Cedric, she was having a tough day so she ordered herself a glass of wine while waiting.

A few minutes later she was Cedric approaching, he was wearing normal work clothes that made him look like he didn't belong in a high class establishment. Katerina was surprised when she realized that he wasn't alone. Not far behind him was a heavily disguised man whose built, features, and posture Katerina would know anywhere.

Before Cedric could even greet her Katerina stood up from her seat and spoke.

"Let's go to the rooftop, too many people here." Katerina said as she waved at the server to prepare the private rooftop bar.

Maharlika Hotel had a rooftop bar for private events which had a marvelous view of the capital.On one side you could see the buildings of the business district with R Tower shining brightly at the center, taller than any structure in the area. On the other side was the historic part of the city, where the buildings did not exceed eight stories and there were vast parks and spaces, you could see the four story presidential palace surrounded by lush greens and a gated wall quite far from it's entrance.

Normally the rooftop would host parties of up to 200 filled with the who's who of society blaring out loud party music or the soft sophisticated classical music that the elders would much prefer. Today it was eerily quiet as Maharlika hosted a party of three that sat on one of the couches that had a 180 degree view of the capital. 

"Why did you bring him along?" Katerina asked as she drank a beer. 

Cedric smiled at Katerina, most people would be judged for drinking a local beer in one of the most luxurious places in the city, but Katerina would never care, she was Katerina Sebastian, the first daughter, the best lawyer in the country, plus probably one of the richest women at the moment. 

"Because it's an issue between the two of you. Plus Eric was looking for you the whole day." Cedric said.

"Katerina, I heard what Calathea did." Eric said as he sat next to Katerina.

"Eric, it just bothered me alright. You're like family. I don't like people like her hurting my family." Katerina said quickly, raising her defenses against Eric.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but what happened between you and Calathea, Katerina?" Cedric said as he drank a glass of alcohol, unlike Katerina he never liked beer.

"Do I have to tell you in front of him?" Katerina asked, pointing at Eric.

"Katerina, I want, no, I need to know your side too. You've been so hostile since then." Eric told her.

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