Chapter 292: I Trust Your Judgement

Stuart quickly left the room with Ivan. "How long has Edie been here?" Stuart asked.

"About forty minutes," replied Ivan.

Stuarts’ eyes angrily flashed as he stepped forward. " Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

"Miss Edie told me not to disturb you," Ivan replied timidly. Ivan wanted to tell Stuart what he was thinking. ’Stuart has a different attitude when Miss Smith is around. Work mattered when Edie wasn’t around and when she was, it all came to a halt.’ The board meeting was crucial, but he didn’t dare say a word to Stuart. Ivan bent his head and remained silent.

Stuart glared at Ivan. His gray eyes are smoldering with unmasked anger. There was a dangerous glitter in them. "Don’t let this happen again. If it does, there will be consequences."

Stuart’s high-pitched voice struck Ivan unpleasantly, "Don’t worry, Mr. Yates. It won’t happen again!" Then he breathed a sigh of relief. They started to walk towards the lounge, and Stuart stopped abruptly. They’re sitting on the desk was a cake.

"Where did the cake come from? It’s not from a store around here?" Stuart asked in a cold and calm voice.

"CEO, please let me explain..." Ivan tried to get the words out but was cut off by Stuart.

"My wife brought you food?" Stuart tensed up and glared at Ivan.

"Edie only felt sorry for the rest of the staff and me. She knows we have been putting in a lot of hours." There was an uneasiness in his voice.

Stuart asked again, "I’m only going to ask you one more time. Did my wife bring you food?"

Ivan suddenly had an idea. "Mr. CEO! Mrs. Yates brought you some food too!"

The expression on Stuart’s face changed. ’Thank god! It worked,’ Ivan thought.

Stuart turned around and opened the door to the lounge. He took one step forward and saw Edie curled up into a ball on the sofa. The magazine she was reading was lying on the floor. Stuart glanced around the room and noticed the sushi from his favorite restaurant. He slowly walked over to her and gently rubbed her cheek.

Edie rubbed her eyes and yawned. She was still half-asleep when she saw Stuart sitting beside her. "Is the meeting over?" she asked.

Edie’s voice was soft and beautiful. Stuart touched her face and then her hair. Her cool power is soothing him. In a low voice, he said, "Yes, it’s all over. Let’s go home."

Suddenly Edie sat up. "I brought you some sushi. Eat first, and then we can go home."

Stuart nodded his head in agreement. "Okay, but only if you feed it to me."

Stuart’s words brought a faint blush to Edie’s cheeks. She took a quick glance around the room to see if there was anyone else in the room. "Alright, I will feed you."

She opened the box. She raised the chopsticks to his mouth. Stuart gazed deeply into Edie’s eyes. His intensity and nearness made her breathing irregular. "Stop looking at me like that!"

Stuart moved his lips slightly. He looked handsome and so irredeemably sexy. "What do you want me to do? Eat with my eyes closed?" he joked.

Edie imagined what Stuart would like eating with his eyes closed. She couldn’t help but laugh. He drew a sharp breath and moved his face close to hers. Stuart’s fine eyes lit up with a thoughtful and unaccustomed brightness. "You think that would be funny?"

As if Edie could read his mind and knew he was deliberately trying to get close to her. She shook her head and said, "No, no. It’s not funny."

Reluctantly she pulled away. Her pulse and respiration were in a race. Taking her in his arms, Stuart held her close for a moment. He kissed her gently, tasting her, savoring her. "You taste! I mean, the food tastes delicious!"

Feeling a little embarrassed, Edie turned her head to avoid Stuart’s eyes. She picked up a piece of sushi and put it in his mouth. Thinking of what happened with Donald earlier tonight, Edie knew she had to tell him. "Stuart, there’s something I need to tell you."

"You know you can tell me anything." There was an infinite tenderness in his face as he bent over her.

"I made amends with Donald and Joanna. I had dinner with Donald tonight." Edie’s voice sounded so serious. She went on in a trembling voice, "I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you sooner."

Stuart muttered under his breath, "Oh, I see."

Completely surprised by his reaction, Edie replies, "You mean you don’t mind? You’re not angry with me for not telling you?" Edie started to get upset. Stuart’s expression was unreadable, and she thought he didn’t care about her. "So, it’s okay for me to go out with Donald for dinner?"

Stuart studied Edie for a moment and said, "Do you think I should be angry with you? Do you want me to tell you not to have dinner with him again?"

Completely stunned, Edie didn’t know what to say. "I....do not." She raised her head and looked into Stuart’s eyes. She was searching for answers. His eyes were as radiant as the night stars. Every time he said her name, her heart missed a beat.

"I trust your judgment. I believe in you as much as I believe in myself," Stuart commented reassuringly. His voice was so calm and mellow. His speech had a soothing and comforting quality. Edie wasn’t sure if she had heard him right. She sat there, stunned and speechless, not knowing how to reply. Her mind was going round and round in circles. Stuart’s words touched Edie’s heart.

"Thank you for putting your trust in me. I know how hard it must be for you, but it means so much to me." Tears raced down her cheeks. They were tears of joy. Edie was crying with sheer happiness and relief.

Stuart stroked her hair and spoke to her softly, "Let’s go home."

"You haven’t finished the sushi..." Edie never had a chance to finish before Stuart swooped her in his arms and headed for the door.

"I am hungry, but I don’t want sushi. I want you!" Stuart whispered in her ear.

As they left the room, all eyes were focused on them. Edie buried her face into Stuart’s chest. "Stuart put me down. Everyone is looking at us," Edie said.

"Let them look!" he said as they left the building.