Chapter 403: I Was Waiting For You

William recalls Stuart’s harsh words, and he becomes anxious and shaky. He took a few deep breaths and began to relax. "I won’t say another word about your wife. Come to the banquet and stand by her side." He lowered his voice and continued, "This was a misunderstanding. I don’t want to jeopardize our business relationship. Therefore, I won’t say a word to her."

Stuart doesn’t answer him right away. He seemed deep in thought, perhaps taking in William’s words into consideration. William waited briefly for a response, finally sighing unhappily. "You know I’ve never given in to anyone before. If you make me wait any longer..." He swallowed, took a deep breath, and continued, "I may think you don’t want to work with me. Do you not remember that I was the one you came to first and asked me to protect your wife?"

"Tell me the time and place," Stuart said calmly.

"Meet me tomorrow evening at Seth cruise at eight o’clock sharp." William no sooner got the words out of his mouth, and Stuart hit the end button. White rage ran through him as he looked down at the phone.

***

Edie walks into Cecil’s room, expecting him to be asleep, but instead, he’s sitting on the sofa watching cartoons and eating snacks after snack. "Cecil, why aren’t you in bed?" she asked.

"I was waiting for you," he replied with a huge smile on his face.

"It’s late! Put the snacks away and hop into bed," Edie requested. But every time she asked, Cecil would look at her with his pleading eyes, and she would give in and pass him over another snack.

Finally, after finishing all the snacks, Cecil rubs his belly and says, "Could you buy more next time?"

"Do you realize how much you’ve eaten?" Edie said in a bewildered tone. "Those were supposed to last me for the week. I’m surprised your stomach isn’t upset." She rubbed his head gently. "Go brush your teeth again."

After he was finished brushing his teeth, he hopped up on the bed and gave her a wan smile. He laid down and drew the blanket up to his chin. "Good, it’s late. It’s time for us to go to sleep," Edie said as she sat down beside Cecil.

"Edie, do you like Stuart?" he asked her out of the blue.

She almost jumped at the sound of his voice because she almost fell asleep. "Why do you ask?" she said with a curious tone.

"I don’t know what you see in him. He’s as cold as an iceberg, and I think he can actually freeze people with his eyes. Sometimes he’s so mean and spanks my butt." Cecil turns and looks Edie right in the eye and says, "You know you can wait for me until I grow up?"

Edie rubbed his head and laughed. "When you grow up, I’ll be too old for you. Stop talking such nonsense and go to sleep."

Cecil had a real serious look on his face and blurted out, "You know I have a lot of potential. I can make you feel safe."

Edie looks at him carefully and chuckles. "I told you to stop talking nonsense. Now go to sleep, or I’m going to my bedroom," she threatened.

The next morning, Edie woke up at five o’clock to the sound of Cecil’s voice. "I’m hungry," he said.

Edie rubbed her tired eyes. "I don’t know how to cook," she told him. "I don’t even know how to use a can opener. I can make sandwiches and a fruit salad and anything in the microwave, but using the stove, no."

"I’ll have both," he replied. When he was finished eating, he looked at Edie, raising his voice slightly and said, "I want to go to the store and see what we can buy for snacks."

"No, you will not. She can do it by herself," Stuart’s cold voice came from behind.

Edie nodded her head and gave Stuart and Cecil a kiss goodbye and left for the supermarket. As soon as the door closed, Cecil hugged Stuart’s leg. "I was wrong. Can you forgive me?"

"Are you really?" Stuart grunted. "I’ve heard this from you before." He made little effort to keep the annoyance out his voice.

Cecil trembled, and his lips quivered with fear. "No, I really mean it..." He spoke hesitantly, with long pauses between each little sentence. "I will go pack my things and go home." He covered his face and started crying and wondering what was going to happen next.

He thought for sure Stuart was going to spank him, but instead, he picked him and took him back to his room. "Would you like to stay here a little longer?" Stuart asked him.

Cecil opened his eyes wide and nodded his head quickly. "Yes! Yes!" he said as he jumped up and down on the bed. "My father is never home, and my Aunt is boring. There’s so much do here," he said, sounding excited.

"Then it’s settled. We’re going to a party tonight, and since Edie doesn’t know anyone there, you know what to do?" Stuart asked him a question knowing very well Cecil knew the answer. He was young, but he was very clever.

The expression on Cecil’s face immediately changed. He sighed and rested his chin in his palm. "So you want me to help you? I will be prince charming, and Edie will be the princess. You’re going to be so proud of me," said Cecil, his voice rising higher in his excitement. He jumped off the bed and started for the door, but to his surprise, Stuart grabbed him by the back of his shirt. "No," Cecil cried out. He turned to look at Stuart and started shaking when he saw the look in his eyes. "What are you going to do? You asked me for my help?"

"You let my wife feed you, sleep with you, make breakfast for you. Did you really think I would let you off so easily? She’s my wife, and she’s serving you?" Stuart’s voice had risen a pitch, and he all but shouted out the last sentence. He stopped and looked at Cecil. "You think you’re so brave, hiding behind Edie." Then Stuart put him over his lap and spanked his bottom.

"No, I pinky swear. I won’t do it again. I’ll bath, sleep, and make my own food." Cecil cried bitterly. "Please stop, it hurts," he begged.

Stuart showed no mercy. "The lesson has been taught. Don’t forget what happened in this room," he said, his voice was hard and stern. Then he turned and left the room.