Chapter 2: Theme Stated
Jessica stepped into the elevator, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. The doors slid shut, enclosing her in the sterile, mirrored box. She watched her reflection as the elevator began its slow descent, her dark hair tied back in a neat bun, her eyes scanning the lines of a report she'd been reading all morning.
The elevator dinged open, revealing the bustling, open-plan office of Greenleaf Advertising. Jessica stepped out, her nose twitching at the familiar scent of fresh coffee and over-perfumed air fresheners.
The office was a beehive of activity, with employees scurrying about, phones ringing, and the hum of keyboards punctuating the air.
At the reception desk, Linda, the office manager, looked up from her computer and smiled. "Morning, Jessica. How's the world's most organized intern today?"
Jessica grinned back, handing Linda her bag. "Morning, Linda. Just another day of keeping the machine running smoothly."
Linda chuckled, taking the bag. "You're a gem, Jessica. Here's your daily schedule and a list of urgent tasks.
Mr. Greenleaf wants to see you in his office at 10," Linda said, handing Jessica a neatly printed sheet of paper.
Jessica took it, her eyebrows raising slightly. "At 10? That's unusual. Is everything okay?"
Linda gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. You know how Mr. Greenleaf likes to keep things running like a well-oiled machine. Just another one of his regular check-ins, I'm sure."
Jessica nodded, though her stomach fluttered with a mix of nerves and curiosity. "Right, of course.
Thanks, Linda." Jessica walked away, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She headed towards her desk, the familiar hum of the office surrounding her.
As she approached her workspace, she noticed something out of place—a box of donuts sat on her desk, along with a cup of coffee. She glanced around, but no one was paying her any attention. She turned back to the donuts, her eyes widening in surprise. There was a note tucked under the cup, written in neat, block letters: "For the hardest worker in the office. You deserve a treat!"
Jessica chuckled, picking up the note and reading it again.
She couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her at the sentiment. She was always trying to go above and beyond, so it was nice to be recognized, even if it was just with a box of donuts.
She sat down at her desk, placing the note aside and taking a sip of the hot coffee. It was perfect—just the way she liked it, with a touch of cream and two sugars. She looked around the office, but no one was paying her any attention. The mystery donut benefactor remained anonymous.
"Mystery donut benefactor," Jessica mused, taking a bite of a glazed donut.
It was delicious, the sweet glaze melting in her mouth, and the soft dough practically dissolving on her tongue.
"You're up early, Jessica," her desk neighbor, Tom, commented, looking over his partition. He was a tall, lanky man with a perpetual smile and a habit of cracking jokes that only he found funny.
Jessica swallowed her bite of donut and laughed. "Early? It's almost 9. I'm always here by 8:30."
Tom scoffed, "8:30 is early.
I roll in at 8:55 on the dot every day. Besides, it's not fair that you're already on your second donut while I'm still struggling with my coffee." He leaned over to look at the box, his eyes widening at the selection. "Did you bring these in?"
Jessica shook her head, "Nope. They were here when I got to my desk. There was even a note." She showed him the block-lettered message.
Tom raised an eyebrow, "A secret admirer, huh? Better watch out, Jessica.
You never know who's got a sweet tooth and a crush on you." Tom winked, and Jessica rolled her eyes with a laugh.
"Very funny, Tom. I'm sure it's just someone being nice. Besides, I'm not the only one who gets treats around here. Remember the time Linda brought in those homemade cookies?"
Tom's face lit up. "Oh, those were heavenly! I think I ate half the batch in one sitting."
"Jessica come on in. I'm ready for you." Saarah's boss called. When she walked into the room, he had a whole spread of food on the table. He said you're not in trouble. This is a reward. Come eat with me.
Let's celebrate your hard work," Mr. Greenleaf said, gesturing to the feast laid out on the table. Jessica stepped into her boss's office, her eyes widening at the sight of the food. There were sandwiches piled high with various fillings, bowls of colorful salads, and even a plate of cookies that looked fresh out of the oven.
"Wow, Mr. Greenleaf, this is... a lot," Jessica said, her stomach rumbling in spite of the donuts she'd already eaten. She'd never seen her boss so appreciative before.
Mr. Greenleaf chuckled, his large belly shaking slightly.
"Yes, well, I believe in rewarding hard work, Jessica. And you've been doing an exceptional job lately. So, dig in!"
Jessica smiled, her eyes scanning the table. "Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it." She hesitated, remembering the donuts she'd already eaten. "I should probably wait until after my lunch break, though. I don't want to spoil my appetite."
Mr. Greenleaf waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense! Today's a special day. We're celebrating your dedication.
Today is about treating yourself," Mr. Greenleaf insisted, pointing to the chair across from him. "Please, sit down and enjoy."
Jessica hesitated for a moment, then acquiesced, taking the seat. She picked up a sandwich and took a bite, trying to hide her surprise at how delicious it was. She'd never tasted anything quite like it before—the bread was soft, the ingredients fresh, and the taste was rich and savory.
"This is... really good, Mr. Greenleaf. Thank you," she said, her mouth still half-full.
Her boss beamed at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"I'm glad you like it. I had it specially made just for you. You've been working so hard, and I wanted to show my appreciation."
Jessica took another bite, savoring the taste. She had to admit, it was one of the best sandwiches she'd ever had. "Well, thank you, Mr. Greenleaf. I really do appreciate it."
It had been three months of increased interaction like this one that you sitting in her office her clothes still fitting she hadn't bought any clothes, but she looked down. She noticed how round her belly looked. She grabbed. It was soft and hard. Am I getting fat?
The thought sent a shiver down Jessica's spine as she looked down at her once-flat stomach. She pinched the soft flesh, her eyes widening in disbelief. How did this happen? She hadn't bought any new clothes, but her old ones were starting to feel tight. She'd just put it down to them being washed too many times, the fabric shrinking over time. But now, staring at the reflection of her protruding belly, she couldn't deny the obvious.
"Jessica, are you alright?" Mr. Greenleaf's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She looked up, startled, and saw him watching her with concern.
"Jessica, is everything okay? You looked like you've seen a ghost," he said, his brow furrowed.
Jessica quickly composure, smoothing her hands over her stomach. "Oh, yes, I'm fine, Mr. Greenleaf. Just... thought I might've had a bit too much to eat earlier," she said with a forced laugh.
Mr. Greenleaf's expression softened, and he gave her a reassuring smile. "Well, it's a special occasion, and you deserve to indulge a little.
Just be sure to leave room for the cookies. The baker swore they're the best in town," Mr. Greenleaf said, pushing the plate of cookies closer to Jessica.
Jessica forced a smile, her eyes still fixed on her reflection in the window. She could see the faint outline of her belly button, hidden beneath a layer of soft flesh. She quickly looked away, her mind racing.
"Thank you, Mr. Greenleaf. I'll definitely save some room for those," she said, taking another bite of her sandwich to avoid talking about it further.
The rest of the meeting passed in a blur.
Jessica managed to keep up her end of the conversation, but her mind was elsewhere—or rather, it was focused on the unfamiliar landscape of her own body. She'd always been slim, and while she wasn't obsessed with her weight, she'd always been comfortable with her shape. But now, staring at her reflection, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
"...and that's why I think we should go with the 'GreenLeaf Cares' campaign," Mr. Greenleaf was saying, his voice bringing Jessica back to the present. She realized she had no idea what he'd just said.
The writers quickly try to make it less noticeable for her by changing clothes and things like that making the food more caloric stimulants for appetite, making the other actors bigger. And it worked for about another three months, but after six months, she gained almost 80 pounds.
Jessica sat at her desk, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she plowed through her afternoon tasks. Her eyes darted between her computer screen and the note on her desk, the words blurring together as she tried to focus on both.
The note read: "Dinner with the team tonight. 7 PM. Don't be late!"
Jessica's stomach rumbled, and she glanced at the clock on her screen. It was almost lunchtime, but she'd been so busy that she'd forgotten to eat breakfast.
She'd snacked on a few donuts earlier, but her stomach was growling again. She looked over at Tom, who was munching on an apple, his desk littered with empty wrappers from his usual mid-morning snack of granola bars.
"Hey, Tom," she said, leaning over the partition. "What's for lunch today?"
Tom looked up from his apple, a bite already in his mouth. He swallowed before answering, "Same old, same old. I've got some leftovers from last night's dinner."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Leftovers, huh?
What'd you have?" Jessica asked, standing up and stretching her arms above her head. Her back popped softly, and she sighed in relief.
Tom shrugged, "Spaghetti. My mom made too much, as usual. I've got plenty to share if you're interested."
Jessica's stomach grumbled loudly at the mention of food. She chuckled, "Thanks, Tom. I might take you up on that. I skipped breakfast, and I'm starving."
Tom stood up and grabbed a Tupperware container from his desk drawer. "Here you go.
Jessica didn't know they had absolutely been increasing portions to where this was supposed to be a serving of 12. But they presented this as a snack for Tom so she would think she's a light eater when she would be stuffed from just one little Tupperware of spaghetti even though it probably 7000 cal in reality.
\ The spaghetti was delicious, and even though Jessica's stomach was already full from the donuts and the sandwich at Mr. Greenleaf's office, she found herself shoveling forkfuls into her mouth. The rich, tomato-infused sauce coated the pasta perfectly, and the generous helping of cheese added a creamy, salty kick.
Tom watched her with amusement as she cleaned out the Tupperware. "You know, Jessica, I've never seen anyone eat like that. It's almost like you're trying to win a contest or something."
Jessica swallowed her last mouthful and laughed.
"Well, I guess I was hungrier than I thought. Thanks for the leftovers, Tom. They were amazing."
Tom shook his head, chuckling. "Anytime, Jessica. I'm just glad someone can appreciate my mom's cooking. Most people around here are too scared to try anything that's not from a fancy restaurant."
Jessica smiled, but her mind was elsewhere. The spaghetti had tasted great, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of being uncomfortably full. She'd always had a healthy appetite, but this was different. She felt sluggish, her stomach heavy and bloated.
Did I always used to feel like this after I eat everybody looks the same and treat the same yet it's so much harder to move. I snore at night. My chair fits about the same. I feel like something weird is happening. I jiggle when I walk my belly hangs.
Jessica growing too suspicious so they decided to let her embrace the waking or at least let her know it was real. They stopped replacing her clothes and stop switching out the furniture in a real scale added to her house. The first month she didn't notice much because they had just given her new loose clothing by the end of the seventh month she had filled them out and the eighth month. Her button exploded on her at work. Her belly spelling out. This is when she found out she had actually gained 100 pounds.