Do you really want it? Part 3
The following weeks were a blur for Peter and Damian. They ate, worked, made love, and ate some more. They were two true lovebirds until the inevitable day came for Peter to board his plane to Dubai. His shirts had grown snug, but he wore them proudly, a silent testament to Ahmed and the journey he was on for him.
When he arrived at the compound, he was greeted by an imposing figure: Vladimir, a towering man in a polo that stretched tightly over his frame, hinting at a similar weight gain regimen. His heavy Eastern European accent broke the silence. âWelcome. Your bags will be taken to your room. Letâs get to work.â Without further ado, they climbed into a golf cart and began weaving through the estate. Peter was struck by the sheer scale of it. It felt vast, opulentâalmost overwhelming.
They arrived at a building that was clearly a medical facility, its sleek design at odds with the warmth of the estate. It was beautiful in its aesthetics but unmistakably clinical, leaving Peter slightly uneasy. Vladimir ushered him into an officeâa stunningly designed doctorâs room that still managed to give off an air of intimidation. âUndress to your underwear. The doctor will be here shortly,â Vladimir said before stepping out.
Peter complied, sitting awkwardly on the examination bed until the doctor entered. The man almost took Peterâs breath awayâit was the same doctor, still strikingly handsome, with an aura of authority bit this time he also sported a belly.
The doctor wasted no time. âGood morning, Peter. I hope your flight was pleasant.â Before Peter could answer, the doctor had moved on. âLetâs check your blood pressure.â
"Normal," the doctor muttered to himself. âGreat. Now step on the scale.â
Peter complied, curious yet apprehensive. âGood work, Peter. Youâve reached your goal.â
âCan I know how much?â Peter asked, anticipatory excitement in his voice.
âNo,â the doctor replied curtly. âThatâs for Ahmed to reveal. Iâm just here to inform you of your new goal. Youâll be here for the next four weeks, during which youâll gain the same amount of weight youâve just gained in the past month.â
Peterâs eyes widened in disbelief. âThen I must know how much Iâve gained!â
The doctor, unfazed, simply said, âNo.â With a quick press of a button, Vladimir reappeared. âEscort Peter to his room,â the doctor instructed.
Peter, frustrated and confused, tried with Vladimir. âWhy wonât he let me know my weight?â
Vladimir, ever stoic, replied, âThatâs Mr. Ahmedâs decision.â
âWhere is Ahmed?â Peter asked, his voice tinged with irritation.
âYouâll see him at dinner,â Vladimir said simply.
Back in the main building, Peter was shown to his roomâan opulent space that felt both familiar and extravagant. It was the same room he had stayed in during his first visit. âLunch is served in the dining hall, and Mr. Richie will join you,â Vladimir announced. âYouâve got two hours to yourself. Would you like me to show you the pool?â
"Yes, please," Peter replied.
"Please use the provided robes when traveling to and from the pool," Vladimir advised. "It prevents slipping on the marble floors and avoids catching a cold from the air conditioning while wet. The dining dress code is smart casual. Beyond that, feel free to wear swimwear at your leisure."
Peter noticed his luggage had already been unpacked and expertly arranged in the walk-in closet. Among his clothing hung a stunning Arabian robe, tailored to perfection. Intrigued, he tried it on, marveling at how luxurious it felt. Vladimir then led him through the estate, pointing out significant areas: the open gym in the first courtyard, a formal middle courtyard, and finally, the third courtyardâa paradise of lush greenery, serene pools, and exquisite lounging spaces.
âEnjoy. What can I bring you?â Vladimir asked.
âA tea, please,â Peter said, still absorbing the beauty around him.
Minutes later, Vladimir returned with a trolley bearing a gleaming silver teapot and an elaborate tower of macarons and pastries. Peter curiously bit into one of the macarons, savoring the flavor. Before he realized it, he was devouring the entire tray, stuffing his mouth greedily. The pastries disappeared within minutes, leaving Peter so full and content that he dozed off on the lounger.
About an hour later, he was awakened by voices. Across the pool stood a striking man with an open robe, his tanned frame muscular but softened by a noticeable belly. The man waved and approached him.
âHey there, mister,â he greeted warmly. âYouâve been out for at least an hour. Iâm Jack, a friend of Ahmedâs. Youâre Peter, right?â
Peter nodded, taken aback, and instinctively flexed his belly. Jack chuckled. âRelax, man. We donât judge here.â
Peter exhaled, feeling more at ease. He noticed his tray had been refilledâan unspoken cue. Jack smiled. âEat up, big boy. They donât waste food around here.â With that, he stepped away, heading to the other side of the courtyard.
Shortly after, Vladimir emerged. âLunch is in thirty minutes,â he informed Peter.
Peter couldnât resist the temptation to dig into the refreshed tray, managing to indulge in a few more macarons before heading to his room to change. When he arrived at the dining hall, the table was set for two. Moments later, Richie entered, greeting Peter with a hug and a congratulatory pat on his belly.
âWell done!â Richie said, grinning.
âYou too, I guess,â Peter replied, noting Richieâs own expanded waistline.
âYeah, Iâm nearly at my goal,â Richie said proudly.
âLunch is served!â another assistant declared, presenting them with appetizers. They started slow, but each subsequent course pushed their limits. The main courseâa perfectly cooked ribeye paired with butter-laden mashed potatoesâdemanded persistence. By the time dessert arrivedâa massive Matilda chocolate cakeâPeter recognized it instantly. It was double the portion he had struggled through weeks ago on the boat.
âDo you thinkâŚ?â Richie began hesitantly.
Peter smirked. âYes.â
âOkay, letâs do it!â Richie exclaimed.
They tackled the dessert with determination. It was a challenge, but they finished. Exhausted, they retreated to the pool, where assistants served lemonade and snacks. Though full, they succumbed to the polite but insistent offers.
Dinner finished, and Ahmed finally addressed Peter formally. âCongratulations, Peter.â
Peter, emboldened, asked, âSo tell me, by how much?â
Ahmed smiled. âTwelve kilos, exactly.â
Peter smirked with satisfaction.
The blissful routine continued for two weeks, with Peter reveling in constant eating, light exercise in the gym with Richie, and luxurious relaxation by the pool. But one night, an intense bout of heartburn disrupted the paradise. It lingered into the day, worsening as diarrhea set in. Unable to hold anything down, Peter sought help from Vladimir, who brought him to the doctor.
The doctor examined him, noting a fever and elevated heart rate. âItâs likely a flu. Rest for a day or two,â he instructed, sending Peter back to bed with light soup for sustenance, though Peter couldnât keep even that down.
By nightfall, his fever spiked, and he began hallucinating. He awoke in a sterile hospital-like room, hooked up to monitors with a nasal tube in place. Vladimir entered, gently lifting Peterâs head to give him water. âYour body is exhausted. Rest is what you need,â he said with surprising tenderness.
The next morning, the doctor returned. âGood morning, Peter. Feeling better?â
âYes, much better,â Peter replied.
âGood. Weâll keep you under observation a little longer before restarting your program,â the doctor explained.
Peter recoiled. âRestart? But I canâtâI want to stop this immediately!â
The doctorâs expression remained neutral. âThatâs not up to you or me. Thatâs Ahmedâs call.â
âCan I see him?â Peter pressed.
âIâll inform him that youâve requested a meeting,â the doctor said before leaving. Peter lay back, unease bubbling under the surface.
Doc left, and another giant of a man entered, pushing a trolley. "Breakfast," he grunted, his heavy Eastern European accent unmistakable. The tray held a mass-gainer shake, a bowl of oatmeal with fruit, and a generous serving of scrambled eggs. "I will remove the tube. Hang in there. Take this pill," he instructed, holding a small tablet in front of Peterâs mouth.
Peter blinked at him, confused. "Who are you?"
"My name is Tarek. Now eat." He pressed the pill closer, his stern gaze unwavering. "Donât make me force it."
Reluctantly, Peter took the pill and washed it down with water. Frustration and anger seethed inside himâhe had no appetite. He poked at the scrambled eggs but felt nauseous after a single bite. The oatmeal was slightly better, but after a few spoonfuls, he felt uncomfortably full.
Half an hour later, everything changed. His stomach growled loudly, a visceral hunger taking over. Without thinking, he grabbed the bowl of eggs, devouring it in seconds, followed by the oatmeal. He downed the thick shake, gulp after gulp, until the tray was spotless. Bewildered, Peter realizedâthe pill must have been an appetite stimulant.
However, his newfound hunger made him restless. Desperate for answers, he got out of bed, dragging the monitorâstill attached to himâacross the room. Luckily, the monitor had wheels, allowing him to wander. He quickly discovered he was on the second floor, overlooking a sleek, modern courtyard.
In the corridor, he noticed a partially open door. Quietly, he pushed it further and stepped inside. His gaze instantly landed on two feet stretched out in a bed, followed by the unmistakable figure of Tarek standing nearby. Tarek noticed him, his expression darkening as he strode toward Peter.
"You are not allowed here," Tarek growled, firmly gripping Peterâs shoulders and steering him back to his room. There was no room for argument; Tarekâs strength was overwhelming. Once back in the confines of his room, Peter slumped with frustration, his mind racing. He wanted answers, but his phone was nowhere to be found.
Stepping into the hall, Peter shouted for Tarek, who soon appeared, visibly irritated. "No phones here," Tarek barked.
"But Iâm bored!" Peter protested.
"Watch TV," Tarek replied. "Iâll bring snacks."
Minutes later, Tarek returned, pushing a massive trolley piled high with treatsâchips, candy, macarons, and more. Peter eyed the array suspiciously, deciding to skip the suspiciously appetizing macarons. Instead, he reached for a few Reeseâs and started Netflix. Despite the distraction, unease bubbled in his chestâWho was the man in the other room? Why wasnât he allowed a phone? And why were they so intent on making him eat?
Hours passed. Tarek returned, this time with a burger, fries, and an enormous milkshake. "The perfect Netflix lunch," he declared with a smile. "Oh, you barely touched the snacks!"
"My bodyâs rejecting it," Peter muttered.
"No worries." For a moment, Peter felt relievedâuntil Tarek produced another pill.
"Eat this," Tarek demanded.
Peter refused, shaking his head warily. Tarekâs expression turned stony. With shocking force, he shoved Peter back onto the bed, trying to force the pill into his mouth. Peter struggled, but it was like fighting a brick wall. "I want to see Ahmed!" Peter shouted, his desperation echoing in the room.
Tarek paused. "First, lunch," he said coldly.
Realizing he had no choice, Peter promised to eat. He took a few reluctant bites of the burger, nausea threatening to overwhelm him, and stopped. When Tarek returned and saw the half-eaten meal, he didnât argue. Instead, he silently grabbed a syringe, injecting something into Peter's shoulder. Peter could only gasp before slipping into unconsciousness.
When he awoke, it was dark. A feeding tube had been reinserted into his nose. He groaned, falling back into a fitful sleep.
By morning, he found himself strapped to the bed, leather restraints biting into his wrists. Panicking, he screamed for help. Tarek entered, calm and implacable as ever. "No one is here. Just me." He leaned in closer, his voice a low rumble. "Are you ready to eat?"
"Call Ahmed!" Peter shouted, voice cracking with fear.
Tarek ignored him. "Are you ready?" he repeated. When Peter refused, Tarek connected a glass bottle filled with liquid nutrition to the feeding tube. Once again, Peterâs world faded into black.
When he woke, he was free of restraints. Knowing better than to stay put, he ventured into the hallway once more. Returning to the room he had explored earlier, he peeked inside and froze. Jack, Ahmedâs friend, was bound to the bed, a feeding tube pumping food into him. His stomach was grotesquely bloated, like a balloon about to burst. Horrified, Peter slipped away as voices approached, hurrying back to his own room.
Moments later, Tarek appeared. "Follow me," he said.
Peter was ushered into a sleek office where Doc and Vladimir awaited him. "Step on the scale," Doc instructed. Reluctantly, Peter obeyed.
"Very good," Doc murmured, satisfaction in his tone. "Vladimir, take him to Ahmed, he has reached his goal.â
Reached his goal? Peter got confused, looked at his belly and saw that it grew increasingly.
Led into a wing Peter hadnât seen before, he felt a strange tension in the air. When he entered Ahmedâs office, the man greeted him warmly. "Peter!" he exclaimed. "Iâm so happy to see you. I was worried!"
Peter frowned. "Worried?" He gestured at his now-bulging stomach. "What the hell is this? I didnât agree to this!" I was sick!
Ahmedâs expression turned serious. "You made a commitment, and we made sure you reached your goal. Truthfully, I wanted to give you time to rest and restartâbut the decision wasnât mine to make."
Ahmed hesitated. "Michaelâs."
Peterâs stomach dropped. "Michael?" He whispered the name like it burned his tongue.
Ahmed nodded. "Your car will arrive in a few hours. You deserved your rest now.
Rest? How could he rest? His mind spun with rage and disbeliefâand an idea began to form. If Michael had orchestrated this, Peter would need a plan of his own.
Back in NYC, Peter was at the gym with Richie, both focused on reaching their personal goals. Peterâs strength was fully back, but he still had some lingering belly fat to lose. Richieâs belly was like a balloon now.
While spotting him on a bench press, Richie said, âHey man, I know about your plan with Michael, but what if we also work on getting your numbers up? Are they paying you again for this?â
Peter shrugged. âI donât know⌠probably. But iâm gonna lose the weight and Iâm not getting fat again. Thatâs non-negotiable.â
Richie chuckled. âDonât worry, man. Iâm not saying that. But I seriously think youâve got the potential to pack on some serious muscle. With the right supplements, you could grow into a beast. What do you think?â
Peter raised an eyebrow. âIf youâre suggesting steroids, Iâm not interested.â
âNo, no,â Richie said quickly. âIâm not talking about that. Iâve got access to some new peptides. They show amazing results. Iâm planning to use them myself, especially because this gut of mine is getting way out of hand. If I donât fix it now, Iâm afraid itâll never go away. Plus, I need to get my numbers up tooâor my investmentâs going nowhere. So, what do you think?â
Peter hesitated but finally said, âAlright⌠letâs give it a shot.â
The following morning, they both took their first injection. Workouts became instantly more intenseâthey felt stronger, more energetic, and better overall. Later that day, Peter stood in front of a mirror and, for the first time in months, noticed his shape returning. His shirt even buttoned up without straining. Progress, at last.
When Peter went to the weight room to record his numbers and send them to Ahmed, he unexpectedly ran into Michael. It was their first time crossing paths since the breakup. Michaelâs face betrayed a subtle blush as he offered an aloof, âHi.â
Peter locked eyes with him and coolly replied, âHi,â before stepping on the scale.
Later that morning, Peter received an email from Ahmed: *âAre you gaining weight again?â*
Peter replied, *âYes. Just temporarily.â*
Ahmed responded, *âGreat.â*
Not long after, Michael sent Peter a surprising text: *âYou look good, mister.â*
Peter read it but didnât reply.
With Damian overseas, Peter had settled back into his old routine. Two months in, and after one month of using peptides, his body had undergone a transformation. Pumped, ripped, and lean, his belly fat had nearly vanished. Richie, on the other hand, had bulked up significantly, but there was little evidence that his infamous gut had shrunk. On the contrary.
That day, as Peter weighed himself in the corner of the gym, Michael walked in again. Peter noticed the spark in Michaelâs eyes as he looked him overâup and down. Taking the opportunity, Peter casually asked, âHow are you?â
âIâm good,â Michael replied. âAnd you?â
âItâs nice to see you around more often,â Peter said, testing the waters.
âLikewise,â Michael stammered, cheeks slightly pink.
Just as Peter hoped, Michael later texted him: *âYouâve been looking really great lately. Howâs life?â*
Peter responded: *âGood! Iâve been focusing on other clients, giving me more time to focus on myself as well. And you?â*
*âGood too,â* Michael replied. *âI just got back from Europe, so now Iâm focused on establishing my life here again.â*
After that exchange, things went quietâfor days. Then, on weigh-in day, they crossed paths again. Peter was on the scale, his physique more impressive than ever, when Michael entered. Peter greeted him confidently, âHi, Michael. Nice to see you again.â
Right afterward, Michael texted: *âIâd like to see you againâoutside the office.â*
Peter hesitated but replied, *âI need to think about this.â*
The next day, flowers arrived at Peterâs place, along with a text: *âIâm sorry for how I ended things between us. Can I take you out to dinner?â*
Peter responded: *âTaking me out wonât undo the heartbreak, but⌠itâs a start.â*
Michael replied, *âYouâre right. Iâll do better. How about dinner at Emilioâs?â*
Peter agreed: *âSure.â*
As the evening approached, Peter pondered what to wearâhe wanted to make an impression, to drive Michael absolutely wild. He chose one of his sharpest tailored shirts, some well-fitted chinos, and the cologne Michael always loved. The peptides and workouts had paid offâhis shirt clung to his sculpted chest, and his pants perfectly framed his newly-defined physique. He left the top three buttons of his shirt undone and smirked at his reflection. He was ready.
When Peter arrived at Emilioâs, Michaelâs eyes sparkled as they roamed over him. âYou look incredible,â Michael admitted. âIâm so happy to see you again. I hope we can start fresh.â
Peter raised a hand. âLetâs not rush into things,â he warned. âIâve built a life nowâa *good* life. Back then, you were controlling, and when you tossed me aside, it took a long time to recover. Iâm not sure how Iâll protect myself if that happens again.â
Michael looked genuinely remorseful. âYouâre right,â he said. âIâll prove that I can do better.â
Peter gave a small smile. âWell, Iâm here, arenât I? You wereâareâthe love of my life. But letâs take this slow.â
They ordered dinner, with Peter deliberately taking charge. âLetâs share the oysters and foie gras,â he suggested. âThen pasta and an entrecĂ´te to split.â He even managed to convince Michael to eat most of the meal, including dessert. By the end of the night, Michael was slightly tipsy, giving Peter the upper hand.
Peter called a ride and sent him home in an Uber, victorious.
The next morning, Peter followed his regular routine, feeling quite satisfied with how things were progressing. He shared a laugh about it with Richie. Michael was noticeably absent from the office that day, prompting Peter to text him:
**Michael:** *Haha, yes.*
**Michael:** *Very much so.*
**Peter:** *Say no more.*
**Michael:** *Damn, Peter! Thatâs a ridiculous amount of food.*
**Peter:** *Letâs get rid of that hangover. I need you fit for tonight.*
**Michael:** *Tonight? I canât, Iâve got a dinner.*
**Peter:** *I bet you can make it a quick aperitif meeting at 5 pmâthen Iâve got you for dinner.*
**Michael:** *Damn, okay⌠let me see.*
**Michael:** *Alright, 8:30 pm at my place.*
Peter went for a 15 km jog before taking a quick shower and grabbing Thai food on his way. To round out the meal, he purchased a bottle of Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, and two slices of peanut butter cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. Before heading into Michaelâs building, he swapped out the Coke Zero with regular Coca-Cola, then made his way inside.
When Michael opened the door, his eyes widened. "Wow, Peter! Thatâs way too much food!"
Peter chuckled. âNo worries. Any leftovers can be tomorrow's lunch.â
What Michael didn't know was that Peter had secretly crushed a quarter of an appetite enhancer and mixed it into the Coke. As they sat down, Peter poured himself and Michael a glassâbut refrained from drinking his.
It didnât take long for Michael to devour the food, finishing it within minutes. Peter wasted no time and leaned in, starting to pleasure him. Michael climaxed almost instantly.
Still catching his breath, Michael asked, "Is there dessert?"
Peter smirked, pulling out the cheesecake. âYour favorite.â
They shared the cheesecakeâor rather, Michael ate both pieces while Peter pretended to be too full after a bite. The evening ended in bed, where, between kisses, Michael admitted, âIâm so glad to have you back. And I love how incredible you look latelyâyour new physique is amazing.â
The next morning, Peter was up early and hit the office gym as usual, training alongside Richie. On his way back to the office, he bought a box of donuts and left them on Michaelâs desk with a handwritten card. When he swung by later, Michael was already two donuts deep.
âDo I see you tonight?â Peter asked casually.
âYeah!â Michael mumbled through a mouthful of donut.
From then on, Peter made it his goal to subtly add something unhealthy to Michaelâs diet each day. This wasnât easy, considering Michaelâs strict calorie counting for the past year.
By the third week, Peter noticed a shift. That morning, he timed his visit to the weighing room to coincide with Michaelâs routine. While pretending to organize some gym equipment, he overheard Michael grumbling to himself: âDamn it! These 2 kilos wonât budge anymore.â
When Michael emerged, Peter acted like nothing had happened. âSee you tonight?â he asked nonchalantly.
Michael sighed. âYeah, sure. But letâs just grab a salad, okay?â
Peter nodded. âOf course.â
Rather than risk suspicion, Peter brought salad as promisedâbut ensured the dressing contained a crushed appetite enhancer. As expected, Michael inhaled the meal, then grew restless, asking for dessert. Peter handed him a âprotein shake,â secretly enriched with cream.
Minutes later, the restlessness persisted. âI need something to eat. Is there anything in the house?â Michael asked.
Peter shrugged. âNot really. What do you want?â
âI donât know⌠Pretzels or M&Mâs, maybe.â Michael frowned.
âI can run to the deli if you want.â
âYeah, do that, please!â
Peter returned with family-size bags of chocolate-covered pretzels, M&Mâs, and a pint of Ben & Jerryâs. Michaelâs eyes lit up. He dove into the snacks like a man possessedâhalf the M&M's bag was gone before Peter even managed to scoop some ice cream into bowls.
It was a sight to behold. Michael was in a frenzy, alternating between ice cream, pretzels, and M&Mâs, consuming everything so fast it was almost surreal. When he finally slowed down, Peter leaned in to kiss him, and the two ended up in bed.
Over time, Peter's plan began showing results. Michael was gaining weight. First, his tailored shirts became snug, followed by buttons struggling under pressure when he sat down. Eventually, he abandoned some of his pants altogether, unable to button them. Yet, Michael remained blissfully unaware of Peterâs schemes.
Peter, meanwhile, was transforming into a muscle-bound powerhouse. Michael adored it, showering Peter with compliments and expensive gifts.
Richie was spending less time at the office gym, preoccupied with the nearing completion of his own gym construction. By then, Peter had developed enough expertise to train on his own.
One day, after an intense workout, Peter and Richie headed to the showers. When Richie stepped out, Peter froze in surprise.
âDamn, broâyouâre huge,â Peter murmured, staring at Richieâs bloated belly and massively pumped physique. Richie looked like a blown-up bodybuilder.
Richie gave a knowing smile. âYeah, itâs wild. I wonât lieâbeing this big has its challenges. I need an oxygen machine at night, and I havenât seen my dick in ages. But hey, it pays off big.â
Peter smirked, flexing in the mirror. The sight aroused him.
âMan, youâre making excellent progress too,â Richie said, nodding approvingly.
Peter grinned. âMichael loves it. No way Iâm stopping nowâletâs see how far we can take this.â
Richie chuckled. âIâm with you, man.â
As Peter's deadline approached, he received an email from Ahmed:
**Subject:** Incredible Work
*Youâve been doing an amazing job and have exceeded all our expectations. The progress youâve made with Michael is something we havenât been able to achieve in years. We want to reward your hard work with a larger bonus than what was initially agreed upon. On top of that, weâll be recommending you for a promotion to the board. In our eyes, youâre ready to take the next step.*
*Also, Iâd like to invite you to spend the summer at my my Saint Tropez houseâno strings attached.*
Peter responded promptly:
*Thank you so much for your generous offers. Iâm thrilled by the news of the bonus and the potential promotion. I also gladly accept your kind invitation and would love to visit the house sometime soon. Youâll hear back from me shortly to coordinate.*
Not long after, Peter received another email, this time from Patrick Preston:
**Subject:** Follow-Up Discussion
*Weâve received an email from our UAE client regarding your work. Iâd like to invite you for a lunch meeting as soon as possible to further discuss their request. Please let me know your availability.*
**Subject:** Meeting Availability
*Thank you for your email. I kindly propose tomorrow for the meeting.*
Ten minutes later, Peter received a response from Patrickâs secretary.
*Subject: Lunch Meeting Confirmation*
*Mr. Preston expects you tomorrow at The Bistro for your lunch meeting.*
Just as Peter finished reading the confirmation, Michael burst into his office with a curious expression.
"Peter, what did you *do* to get such a glowing endorsement from Ahmed?"
Peter leaned back in his chair with a slight grin. "Iâve just been hitting my targets," he replied matter-of-factly.
Michael raised an eyebrow. "Well, clearly youâve done much more than that. Theyâre demanding a promotion for you, Peter. Weâve *never* had a request like this before. Patrick will fill you in tomorrow, but trust meâitâs huge."
With that, Michael added with a smirk, "Oh, by the way, I just got back from the tailor. Iâve gone up three sizes! Dating you is officially fattening!"
Peter stood up from his desk, walked over to Michael, and gently wrapped his arms around him, resting his hands on Michaelâs growing belly. He kissed him softly and said, "Youâve never looked better."
The next day, Peter felt a mix of excitement and nerves as he arrived at The Bistro for his lunch with Patrick. When he entered, Patrick was already seated and greeted him warmly.
"Peter," Patrick began, "the company is absolutely amazed by what youâve accomplished."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Ahmed has granted us an extraordinary investment, but thereâs one condition: *you* must lead his medical investment branch in the UAE. Itâs a huge promotion, Peter. Youâll be managing a team, overseeing multiple Designated Individual Projects (DIPs), and working at a completely different level."
Patrick leaned back in his seat, watching Peter's reaction. "This opportunity involves relocation, but weâre fully supportive of the move. Plus, if for any reason you want to return within two years, weâll rehire you with the same benefits and seniority."
Over the next hour, they discussed the details of the opportunity over a hearty meal. By the end of it, Patrick, who had indulged perhaps a bit too much, reclined slightly in his chair and patted his now full stomach.
"So, Peter," he asked, grinning, "What do you think?"
Peter didnât hesitate. He smiled confidently and replied, "Whenâs my flight?"