Chapter 12: the Lab

“So, when do you want to get married?”

Holly thought. “It’s April now. Probably June. Do you think we could put this together in a couple of months?”

“If we keep it small,” Peter answered.

“Family and friends, I was thinking. Maybe a hundred people.”

“That should be about right. Have you thought about the wedding party?”

‘I was thinking my sister as maid of honor. My dad will give me away, of course. Who are you thinking for best man?”

“Probably Brian.”

“Your college roommate?”

“Yeah. He had to put up with us quite a lot, back in the day.”

“He sure did. The first time we had sex, he was in the next room. I never asked him how he felt about that.”

“Jealous.”

“He was always nice to me, though.”

“He liked you. If we had broken up, he would have been first in line to ask you out.”

“I never knew he thought of me that way.”

“You have trouble with the concept that even when your weight was up, you were still beautiful.”

“When you found me, I was loved. That was enough.”

There was a knock at the door. They looked at each other quizzically, and Holly rose to answer it.

“Why, Mr. Ralston! What brings you to our door on a Saturday morning?”

“I visit my best employees today in an official capacity, but I believe you will find my news interesting. You know we are in the process of taking Mannitol international.”

“Yes, of course. We’re in several countries already.”

“Canada and Mexico, and a few other small countries. We are looking to go worldwide. Much of the European Union acts together in pharmaceutical matters, and several other countries in Africa and Asia are processing our applications as well. Naturally, this is a medication that many men will want, and pay to get.”

“I hear that Internet sales are booming, and fraud is rampant.”

“Indeed. We hope to head some of that off with the move to international. In fact, we would like you, both of you, to go to the meeting we have set up with several officials from different nations, as company representatives to answer technical questions. Who better than the drug’s main developer, and its head product tester?”

“So, where is the meeting?” asked Peter.

“Paris.”

“Paris, as in France?”

“Yes, that Paris.”

“I should warn you that neither of us speaks French.”

“I am aware of that. The meeting will be led by our corporate head in Europe, Pierre duCard, and will be conducted in English. Those there who do not speak English will have translators.”

“OK, I’m sold,” said Peter. “When do we leave?”

“The plane departs tomorrow morning at ten. The meeting is scheduled for three days, but the company has booked you a week’s lodging at a fine hotel. I have stayed there myself, and can recommend it.”

“That’s very generous, sir.”

“Miss Watson, I can do nothing less for my most valuable employees.”

“I’ve never travelled overseas. Do you have any advice?”

“Pack carefully, and take both business and casual clothes. Any questions can go through the office upstairs. Here are your tickets and lots of information for the trip.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“We want the decision makers to see we are serious, so we are sending you for star power. Monsieur duCard should be able to handle most of the actual negotiating, but there may be some technical questions, and no one knows Mannitol better than you two.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I will leave you to get ready. Best of luck.”

“’No one knows Mannitol better than you two.’ Yeah, you can tell that by looking at us.”

“Oh, stop. We’ve got to pack, and we’ve got a bunch of phone calls to make.”

“All right, all right.”

Phone calls, packing, a very short night of sleep, and 24 hours later they were on a plane flying across the Atlantic. Holly couldn’t believe that a small-town girl was going to the big time, the City of Lights. This was more than she had ever dreamed. She grasped Peter’s hand. “Isn’t this great!”

“Wow, look at the clouds below us. I wonder how high we’re flying?”

She sighed. Peter’s love of the technical was what made him a good chemist, but it didn’t always make for interesting conversation.

A driver met them at the airport and drove them to the hotel. Holly couldn’t get enough of looking at the city through the car’s windows; everything looked so beautiful. She was even more excited about the hotel, which was fabulous. At the hotel, Pierre duCard met them, and rode the elevator with them to their room.

“Mademoiselle, you are stunning. What an exceptional physique you have!”

“Thank you, Monsieur. You are very kind.”

“Not at all. Monsieur Woodruff, it is good to meet you. How do you like Paris?”

“It’s a fascinating city. I hope we get a chance to see more of it.”

“I can set you up with a tour, a good one, not just the tourist traps. We should have such time in your schedule.”

“We are here for a week. I believe the meetings are for three days?”

“They might go longer, but it is not likely.”

“Good. What should we know about the meetings?”

“Representatives from the European Union will be there, and some of those countries will also send their own representatives. These we do not need to worry about, this is merely formalities being observed. They may ask a few technical questions, but mostly they will just be curious. The decision is 95% made.”

“We just have to not blow it.”

“I believe it is as you say. Now, of more interest is that there are also representatives coming from other countries. We already had scheduled people from South Africa, Egypt, and China. We don’t expect the Chinese to let us into their market, but the possibility is too enticing to pass up. Since it has been learned that you, Mademoiselle Watson, would be here, we have had more contacts. Now we have representatives from Russia, Vietnam, Zaire, Iran, and Saudi Arabia scheduled to attend.”

“They are coming because I am here?”

“We believe so. We are unsure if any of them are truly interested in letting Mannitol into their markets, if they just want to meet you and possibly woo you as a chemist, or if they wish to gaze upon your rumored beauty.”

“And check out my 30-inch biceps.”

“That possibility has also been considered.”

“A bunch of foreigners ogling my betrothed; I suppose I should be jealous,” said Peter.

“Did you say you are engaged?”

“Yes, just for a couple of days now. We are planning a June wedding.”

“How wonderful! Please accept my congratulations. Perhaps you will return to Paris for your honeymoon? It is known as the most romantic city in the world.”

“You know, I was thinking about that myself.”

“Really? A European honeymoon?”

“It’s a thought.”

“As you have no doubt noticed, with the time zone change it is now quite dark here. The hour is late, though you are probably not yet tired. To allow for jet lag, our meeting is at 1 PM local time.”

“Thank you, though I am tired. This has happened so fast, we didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Good. I will call for you at 10, take you for brunch, and then we shall go to the meeting.”

“Thank you, monsieur.”

“Good night.”

It was nearly midnight local time when they had unpacked. Peter asked, “Do you want to just go to sleep, or would you like a little ‘activity’ first?”

“Oh, we have to make love at least once on our first night in the most romantic city in the world.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Their lovemaking was gentle and relaxed rather than energetic, since both were tired from travelling. They soon settled down into a spooned position, and fell asleep.
The next day dawned bright and beautiful, a marvelous spring morning in Paris. They made themselves presentable, and went to the lobby. Soon duCard met them there.

“Do you want to have brunch here at the hotel?”

“Yes, we want to change before the meeting. We thought wearing our lab coats would appear more professional, more in keeping with our role.”

“An excellent choice. The café here at the hotel is quite excellent, as well.”

After a wonderful meal, where Peter ate too many croissants, they went up to the room to change and came back down looking as if they had come fresh from the lab. That, of course, was exactly the look they were going for.

The meetings themselves proceeded with few surprises. The first day entailed a lot of introductions, and a lot of talking between the political types. The second day included some technical questions for the resident experts, mostly about dosing requirements, long-term blood levels, toxicity, and other questions that feel squarely into Peter’s specialty. He fielded question after question with his usual efficiency and confidence, and even dialed back the humor to allow for the language barrier.

It was the third day where things turned interesting. For the first time, Holly was getting a large share of the questions, which dealt with how the drug was developed and the process used. She was answering with her usual blend of technical know-how and depth of knowledge, and Peter once again found himself impressed by her adept mind. He wondered if anyone else in the room appreciated this woman’s abilities. Everything was going well, until the Saudi representative started asking questions.

“Miss Watson, what are you really trying to accomplish with this Mannitol?” he asked. The Saudi was Prince Fayed, a member of the royal family, not that there was any shortage of those in the world.

“It has proven to be quite profitable,” Holly said. “My employers are very happy.”

“No doubt,” said the Prince. “But I think you had another motive, one that is as apparent as, perhaps, the nose on your face?”

“I doubt it is my nose you are referring to, your Highness,” Holly parried.

“Indeed. I think it is quite obvious that you seek to use this Mannitol to promote women to a new place in society, a place they have not earned and do not deserve.”

“As opposed to someone who comes to his office chiefly by heredity, I assume?”

“You presume much, woman. I charge that you are trying to upset the natural order of things, by purposely designing a drug that overwhelms men, rendering them helpless creatures of their own desires, while women inflate themselves to ridiculous proportions.”

Peter rose at the insult, and leaned over the table toward the prince in a threatening posture. Holly, beside him, put a hand on his shoulder and gently urged him back into his seat.

“The drug is what it is. It increases the size of a man’s penis, as it was designed. As a side effect, if the man then has sex with a woman, the drug is metabolized in such a way that it becomes possible or the woman to build muscle mass at an accelerated rate. During development, it was believed that this effect would be small. It has instead been more powerful than anyone on the team, or I, foresaw. However, to build the muscle mass, the woman must participate in strenuous exercise. If she does not, she should enjoy increased health benefits, but not large muscle growth. If the man and woman have regular sex, the effect also ‘washes’ back to the man, making it possible for him to add muscle mass as well. This seems only to work if the same partners participate, though research in this area is incomplete. There is and was no insidious purpose to this outcome.”

“I do not believe you.”

“That is your choice. It is the truth.”

“Do you deny the evidence we can all see?”

“I do not deny that I have built quite a bit of muscle mass. This was a personal decision. I have worked hard to do it, though I admit it would not have been possible without the effect of the Mannitol.”

“Perhaps this is acceptable in decadent America, but it will never be allowed in my country.”

“That is also your choice.”

The prince stormed out, leaving a quiet in the meeting. The silence seemed borne by embarrassment. Finally, duCard asked, “Are there any other questions?”

The representative from China spoke for the first time all week. “Miss Watson, I apologize for the inexcusable behavior of the Saudi representative. He does not speak for my country.”

“Thank you, sir; I believe he speaks for none but himself.”

“I wonder, though, if you would favor us with a better look at this subject of ‘muscle mass?’”

“Ah, you would like me to remove my jacket.”

“If you wouldn’t mind.”

Holly smiled, and peeled back her lab coat. She had expected this would come up at some point, and had been careful to leave the covering on to make the reveal more dramatic. It had the desired effect. There was much gawking and whispering around the room as Holly’s gigantically muscled arms were uncovered. She lightly flexed them from her seat to enhance the effect. The whispering increased.

“Young woman, will this happen to all the women in our country if we approve your drug?”

“Only if they all have a lot of sex, and lift lots of weights.”

“Lots of weights. Lots and lots of weights,” added Peter.

“This shows the results of 18 months of heavy lifting, and lots of cooperation from my colleague here.”

“He helps you with the weights?”

“No, the sex.”

“I see.”

“I believe you do.”

“Gentlemen, is there anything else?” asked duCard. But there wasn’t, because they had all now seen what they had come to see. Holly doubted if she had changed any minds. She waited while duCard worked the room as the people filed out the door.

“Well, how did it go?” Peter asked duCard when the room had cleared.

“About as expected. We will shortly be in the EU, South Africa, and Russia. Also China is considering, which is a surprise. I think you made an impression on the delegate. Everyone else, as expected, is reluctant. They are afraid of the effect on women, demonstrated by you. The black market will no doubt put Mannitol in those countries.”

“Perhaps I should not have come.”

“It would have been worse if you had not. The delegates would have thought we were hiding you, and more would have thought what Prince Fayed said. As it was, you met the accusations head-on. I was quite proud of how you handled yourself.”

“You knew he would attack me like that?”

“By no means. I thought he might try to cause a scene, but did not expect him to attack you so directly. I expected him to do something to get thrown out the first day. That he bided his time makes me suspicious. It is unlike him.”

“I plan on putting him out of my mind, and enjoying the rest of our week in Paris.”

“Once again you speak with wisdom that belies your youth. If you need anything, call me, and I will drop everything to put myself at your disposal.”

“You are too kind, monsieur.”

“One does what one must for a beautiful lady.”

“That’s my motto,” said Peter.

“All right, Romeo, let’s head back to the hotel and change.”

They did, but at the hotel Holly had a message from Prince Fayed, asking her to come to his room. Peter looked pensive.

“There’s something fishy here. What more could he say?”

“Maybe he wants to apologize.”

“Much as I hate to rain on Miss Mary Sunshine, I doubt it very much.”

“I’m curious. I’m going.”

“Then I’m coming with you. I don’t trust that guy, and I like him even less.”

“Suit yourself.”

They took the stairs (Holly always takes the stairs, Peter thought) to the penthouse, where the prince was staying. The door was locked, so they had to go back down one floor then up in the elevator.

The doors parted. “Ah, so you have come,” said the Prince. “And you have brought your pet.”

“My fiancée,” said Holly.

“You would marry this?” he sneered at Peter.

“In a minute.”

“You disgust me.”

“You don’t know what real sex is, or love, Fayed.”

“How dare you!”

“I’ll dare a lot more than that if you don’t keep a civil tongue.”

“Guards! Hold them!” Four burly men moved forward, two holding Peter’s arms, two grabbing Holly’s. They held the prisoner’s arms upright, bent in V-shapes, to prevent them from gaining leverage. “Now you will pay for your insult, infidel!” The prince slapped Peter across the face.

Anger flashed across Holly’s face. She twisted her wrists to grab some cloth in the shirts of the two men holding her, and with a sudden effort that flexed her biceps, free of the lab coat that was now on the floor, she swung the two men in front of her, sweeping them across the floor and banging their heads together with a heavy crack, which turned to a thud as they dropped to the floor, unconscious.

Next, she grabbed one of the men holding Peter, the one closest to her, and lifted him into the air as if he weighed nothing. She threw him across the room and he slammed into the wall. He slid down the wall and dropped to the floor, motionless.

The second man dropped Peter’s arm and went for a gun. Peter grabbed his arm and pinned it to the table next to them, and Holly pulled the gun from his grip. She took the gun in her two hands and pushed until she heard a snap. She dropped the weapon, now bent at an odd angle and useless.

Peter released the hapless gunman, who skittered from the room. Peter grabbed the Prince by the shirt. “Now that your playmates are out of the way, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“You let a woman fight your battles for you?”

“She does it so well.”

Fayed spit in Peter’s face. Peter drew back his fist and slammed it into Fayed’s nose. Fayed dropped to the floor, unconscious.

“Good punch,” said Holly.

“Thanks. It didn’t hurt as much as I thought.”

“Probably the adrenaline.”

“Maybe. I should have let you hit him; it would have been more humiliating for him.”

“You did fine. I like you defending my honor.”

“Just playing Robin to your Batman.”

“I thought I was Wonder Woman?”

“More like She-Hulk, but not green.”

“I’d rather be Wonder Woman.”

“As far as I’m concerned, you can be whomever you want.”

They heard a voice, a female voice, across the room. “Are you Miss Holly Watson?”

“Yes, and who are you?”

“I am Shohreh, the Prince’s wife. Well, one of the Prince’s wives.”

“Do you want to register a complaint? That department is closed,” said Peter.

“Actually, I wished to thank you. The Prince has earned many such insults. It is time someone delivered one to him.”

“Believe me, the pleasure was ours. Is there something I can do for you? Well, something else?”

“You are the woman who has invented the drug Mannitol?”

“Yes.”

“And it has had the effect on you I see before me?”

“It has no effect if taken by a woman. It must be taken by a man, and if he has sex with a woman, then it can help her build muscle. To build the muscle, though, you must exercise.”

“I understand. The Prince’s harem has ten wives, and twenty concubines. Would it be effective on all of us?”

“It depends on how often he had intercourse with each of you, and how much you exercised, but there is no theoretical limit to how many women could be affected.”

“Could we all become as strong as you?”

“Doubtful, but not impossible. People seem to forget that I have worked very hard to get this way. Lots of women have had sex with men taking Mannitol, and it has had minimal effect on them. There are a number of factors.”

“You have no idea what effect this could have on Saudi society, a male-dominated enclave.”

“I sensed this was what the Prince was really worried about. He felt threatened.”

“That is putting it mildly. He fears you more than any other on Earth. He has said as much, though it is clothed in racism.”

“So I heard.”

“How can I get this drug?”

Holly reached into the pocket of her lab coat and brought out a pill bottle. “This has 100 pills in it. The dosage is two pills per day for a week, then one a day for another week, then two a week for maintenance. The male penis will grow, and in about two weeks the muscle-building effect for his female sex partners will be active.”

“Not male sex partners?”

“The drug does not work that way.”

“I understand, and I will remember. Can I get more?”

“Here is my business card. On the back I am writing my personal cell phone number. If you need more, contact me with directions on where to send it. I will get it to you.”

“You have my deepest thanks.”

“You are taking a big chance, Shohreh. Be careful.”

“I will be very careful, Miss Holly. This is a dangerous business. However, I have come to believe it is the only chance I have to effect change in my country.”

“Good luck.”

“I will need it.”

Holly and Peter exited. When they were back on the elevator, Peter said, “That’s one brave woman.”

“Much braver than I. She’s trying the change a whole culture, and taking her life in her hands to do it.”

“And you’re breaking at least a dozen laws to help her.”

“Laws of man, yes. Laws of morality, I don’t think so.”

“I might argue the point.”

“And I might agree, but not right now. Right now, I am content with my actions.”

“What do we do about the Prince?”

“We go to the American consulate and lodge a complaint. The wheels of justice grind slowly, but hopefully he will be thrown out of the country forthwith. The French government won’t take kindly to a foreign national brandishing a firearm in one of their hotels, at another visitor to their country. I’ll call duCard and tell him what’s up, so he can help us out.”

“He certainly has no love lost for the Prince.”

“I suspect that’s common. The French will probably jump at any excuse to send him out of the country.”

“Then perhaps we can enjoy a few days in Paris.”

“I hope so. You know, I really would like to come back in June.”

“A European honeymoon is growing on me.”

“Later, I plan on something else growing,” Holly said, touching his crotch.

“Oh, baby. Let’s change and take care of more mundane business first.”

“Spoilsport.”

“Not for long.”

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