Never Judge

Nicole had actually arrived earlier than Cedric. She knew he was a busy person, but she needed an investor in her project so she was determined to ambush him into investing.

When she got to Cedric's office she was surprised to see that only Ian and Camilla were there. The two assistants offered her coffee and snacks while she waited. ​​

At first Nicole was inside Cedric's office. She had finished her snacks and was bored. She went around and explored all of Cedric's things.

"No wonder he wants this whole building renovated. This carpet looks like it's from the 80s!" Nicole commented to herself while looking at the floor.

Nicole eventually became bored and stepped back outside.

"Hey Camilla, what time does your boss usually arrive?" Nicole asked in a loud voice.

"Camilla left to deal with something downstairs Miss Nicole. The president is on his way to the office as well. Is there anything I can do for you?" Ian asked.

"Do you really have to call me miss Nicole? Just Nicole will do. And I find it hard to believe that you call Cedric "The President". Uncle Emilio is "The President" of Reyes Group, and uncle Jose is "The President" of the country. From what I've heard you're Cedric's non-prince friend. Well, fine I'm wrong, you're the fallen prince!" Nicole asked without even giving Ian a chance to reply to any of her questions.

"I have to call you Miss Nicole, because we are in the office, and you haven't given me permission to just call you Nicole. Now I can call you Just Nicole." Ian said with a grin.

"I see you're trying to be funny. Hahaha. I'm the funny one around here!" Nicole said proudly.

Ian simply smiled at what she said and turned his attention back to his work.

"You didn't answer my other question, or make a comment on your new nickname." Nicole demanded.

Ian let out a sigh.

"I don't call Cedric "The President" only in front of people I'm not familiar with. Within the bounds of my work I call him sir or Mr. Reyes. In private I call him Cedric. And yes, I guess you can call me a fallen prince." Ian continued to work as he answered Nicole.

"You know it's rude not to look at people when you're talking to them." Nicole teased.

Ian turned, smiled at Nicole, and turned back to his work.

"Not funny." Nicole said in a serious tone.

"Can I get you anything Nicole?" Ian turned to face her as he asked.

"Nope, I'm fine." Nicole said, crossing her arms.

Ian turned back to work.

"Hey! You look familiar!" Nicole pulled a chair and sat closer to Ian.

"I have that kind of face." Ian said without looking at her.

"Hey!" Ian shouted as Nicole forced him to face her and took a closer look at him.

"No, I've met you before. I just can't figure out where." Nicole said with a puzzled look on her face.

Nicole continued to stare at Ian until Ian got annoyed and turned back to his work.

"I know how I know you!" Nicole suddenly shouted at her eureka moment.

"Back when I was in university I got so drunk over a guy rejecting me! I went to a place where no one would know me and where my family couldn't find me. I was so drunk that I couldn't walk on my own. A group of boys wanted to take advantage of me. I tried to fight them but I was too drunk." Nicole stopped to catch Ian's reaction, his face remained unchanged and he was still focused on his work.

"It seems my knight in shining armor is actually a fallen prince." Nicole said with a grin.

"I've helped a lot of drunk girls." Ian said, still focused on his work.

"Slept at your place, and nothing happened. Do you do that for all girls?" Nicole asked.

Ian said nothing and just continued to work.

"You know, I'll take your refusal to answer as a support to my theory." Nicole said spinning in the chair.

"That's not what I meant." Ian said, stopping her from spinning in her chair. "You'll get into an accident doing that. The chair is sometimes broken."

"Really? A week after that I went to the same bar and got drunk all over again and you saved me again! Deny that." Nicole told Ian quite loudly.

"Fine, I helped you. But isn't that what any ordinary human being should do? Help others?" Ian said rubbing his temples. This girl was giving him a headache.

"I knew it!" Nicole said.

Ian ignored her again as she spun around in the chair.

"Haha! The white knight is actually a fallen prince, what a nice story that would make!"

Nicole was busy talking to Ian that she didn't hear the elevator arrive.

"Ian, why did I not know that the Sebastians and Nicole Chan were going to visit me today?" When Nicole heard Cedric's voice she suddenly fell off the chair but was flimsily caught by Ian.

"Sir, none of them were on your schedule for today." Ian struggled to help Nicole back up.

Cedric simply sighed and went into his office followed by his friends.

As he helped Nicole up he whispered, "I told you that chair is sometimes broken."

Nicole shrugged him off and fixed herself before chasing after Cedric and the Sebastians.