David stepped off the private elevator at exactly 9:58 a.m. and walked the short hallway to Trevor’s corner office. The city skyline glittered behind the floor-to-ceiling windows; the room smelled faintly of cedar and coffee. Trevor was already waiting, jacket off, tie loosened, leaning against the front of his massive desk with a thin folder in one hand and a crystal tumbler of water in the other.

He didn’t speak until the door clicked shut.

“Come here, David.”

David crossed the room and stopped a foot in front of him. Trevor set the glass down and opened the folder.

“Dr. Johnson sent over the preliminary report an hour ago,” he said, voice calm but carrying that familiar note of authority. “Resting heart rate 52. Body-fat percentage down another 1.2 % from last year. Blood pressure 112 over 68. VO₂ max in the 98th percentile. Prostate, heart, lungs, everything perfect.” He looked up, eyes locking on David’s. “He wrote, and I quote, ‘Executive specimen in peak condition. No restrictions.’”

Trevor let the page fall closed. “Lab panels and the full detailed report will be ready tomorrow afternoon. I’ll have them couriered to your desk the moment they land.”

David felt a quiet warmth spread through his chest (part pride, part relief, part something deeper).

Trevor stepped closer, close enough that David could see the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes. “That’s the medical side. Now the part that actually matters to me.”

He set the folder aside.

“In the twelve months you’ve been CEO, revenue is up twenty-nine percent. We closed the Meridian acquisition six weeks early. Employee satisfaction scores are the highest they’ve ever been. The board is ecstatic, the investors are throwing money at us, and every single division head says the same thing: they’ve never had a leader they respect more.”

Trevor’s voice dropped, softer now but no less intense. “I’ve never been prouder of a decision I made than the day I hired you, David. You’ve exceeded every expectation I had (and I had very high ones).”

David felt the praise settle over him like warm sunlight. His throat tightened. “Thank you, Trevor. That… means a lot coming from you.”

Trevor smiled (small, genuine, almost boyish for a second) then reached into the inner pocket of his jacket hanging on the chair. He produced a slim, embossed envelope and held it out.

“Which is why I’m giving you this today.”

David took the envelope, opened it, and pulled out a single check.

Payable to: David R. Ellison

Amount: $10,000.00

Memo: Exceptional Performance Bonus – Year One

He looked up, startled. “Trevor—”

“It’s already approved by the comp committee,” Trevor cut in, firm but warm. “You earned it. Ten times over.”

David exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything.” Trevor stepped in, cupped the back of David’s neck with one hand, and pulled him into a brief, solid hug (executive, affectionate, and just possessive enough to make David’s pulse race again).

When Trevor released him, his hand lingered at David’s nape for an extra second.

“Keep taking care of yourself,” he said quietly. “Because I plan on keeping you around for a very long time.”

David smiled, the check still in his hand, warmth flooding every part of him.

“Understood, sir. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”