chapter 5

Tim did not know what exactly was happening. As far as he was concerned, marriage was not going to get in the way of him enjoying life. He was still going to have affairs. He was still going to go out clubbing.
However, he did not get as many invites as he used to.
Not to worry, his new wife would enjoy having him at home more.
He still looked amazing, even if he did say it himself. He was still trim. His clothes still fit. He didn't skimp on grooming products.
He could not help blowing himself a kiss in the mirror as he turned away and picked up a can of Coke. The drank the whole lot down in one go, left the can on the dresser and gave a big burp as he headed out to work. It was already his second can of the day.

Madeleine was engineering everything about his life with fine precision. She was turning down invites, encouraging him to eat at home instead of eating out. When he did stay at home, she rewarded him, not just with fantastic sex, but she introduced him to desserts. His newly acquired sweet tooth made him look forward to the little delicacies. But, at present that was all they were. A few mouthfuls of sweetened pleasure.
At weekends, she stopped him attending sporting events in favour of having some time alone with his wife.
Instead, she allowed him to watch on TV and made sure he had plenty crisps to snack on while he watched.
She made him big, filling dinners at the weekends. He complained that he felt too full afterwards, but she did not listen. Next time she made sure he received an even bigger portion.
She made more tweaks with his everyday meals. She'd been placing his low fat yoghurts in a plastic bowl for work so that he did not have to eat out of the carton, which was 'uncouth'. Now she replaced the low fat or no fat yoghurt for 'extra creamy' ones. When he got used to that, she added more cream.
These changes were definitely starting to have a cumulative effect. The buttonholes on his standard fit shirts were starting to gape. His trousers were tighter. He was wearing his belt on a bigger hole. His muscles were less defined, hidden by a thin layer of fat.
She bought him new clothes in a larger size before he started to complain.
She encouraged him to go to the gym less often. He didn't need to be super fit any more.
He complied with everything she 'suggested' he did.
She turned up the pressure, persuaded him never to leave any food on his plate and to ask for more, if he was still hungry.
Later, she substituted the words 'not full' for 'hungry'.
She watched him grow a tiny paunch after every big meal. She loved to see how tight it made his shirt look and how he squirmed trying to find more room for another can of Coke.
Every day she was loving him more.