Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Jackie's Duty Part 18: Leads

Jackie pulled at her blouse, displeased with how her new shallow tummy made it ride up. Her stomach wasn't even close to benign exposed, but feeling the fabric pressed against it, even a little, made her aware of its presence. What annoyed her most was that her new tummy didn't get her the answers she wanted. She unrealistically thought that her question would crack the case, but all it did was give simple answers and a couple tenuous leads.

She learned that some fat woman going by LucidityBBW recruited both Kelri and Valerie to Cozca. But that meant shit all when she had no idea who she was. Just another internet persona like the Secret Advisor himself. She got the impression that they'd met, but to actually find her and get her to talk would be a ton of work. First, she'd look into her other minor lead. Maia. The involved fetishist, who isn't affiliated with the fat cult somehow.

Like she had in the past to talk to Valerie, Jackie watched the work orders closely, waiting for an opening. Hours passed before finally one of the employees on her team reported a broken mouse. She broke protocol, and claimed the work order for herself before finishing her current task of wiping a set of old harddrives.

***

The mouse replacement was trivial, but she used the opportunity to 'report' to their boss, to let them know they could get back to work.

Cubical 781 - Maia Thorne - Department Neuro-Technical Development. Jackie wasn't sure why they needed such specific departments for the job, but it didn't matter. Maia had a cork board collage of family pictures, and various alcohol related nicknacks decorating her desk. There was a woman and wine themed calendar, beer related motivational posters, and even an empty bottle of some kind of expensive champagne nestled into a dusty corner.

Jackie had seen her around before, but never up close. She had a slender waist and hefty, shapely hips and thighs contained by a form fitting flared skirt. Her dyed green hair swooshed as she turned to Jackie with a look that could melt stone into a flirty puddle.

"Tom's mouse is replaced. He's good to get back to work," She reported.

"Oh! Thanks! That was quick."

"Yeeeah it was a simple task," Jackie said, "but hey, you're friends with Valerie, right?" She asked in an awkward topic shift.

"Yeah..." Maia replied with a curious squint. "Why?"

"Oh. It's nothing. I just heard you were both involved in planning the ice cream social a while back. I keep hearing about how awesome it was."

"Who told you I was involved?"

Jackie blushed. "Uhhh, I don't know. I just heard it somewhere."

Maia smirked. Then laughed. "You're dating Valerie, aren't you."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, you asked about the ice cream thing, and you've got a little bit of a starter belly. I had a brief fling with her."

"That's all it took for you to guess that?" Jackie shook her head then blushed further, she couldn't help but smile a little. "But yeah. You're right. We're dating. But it didn't work out between you? What happened."

Maia leaned back and laughed. "I bet you already know part of the reason. Let's say we had some sexual differences. Long term ones."

Jackie unconsciously touched her stomach.

Maia pointed. "See! That's what I mean. Seems she's already gotten her hands on you."

Jackie laughed awkwardly. She completely lost control of the conversation.

Maia leaned forward and lowered her voice. "I wouldn't normally be this open, but I figure you already know what is going on. At least partly. The woman is really into making people gain weight. And from the lack of surprise on your face, you already know that."

"I did notice that, yeah."

"I may already be thick," Maia slapped the top of her thighs, "But I don't want any more. I'm good with where I am. So it didn't work out."

"Soo, how did you learn you were both sort of interested in the same things?"

"Who said we were?" Maia smirked.

"I just figured, she must have been chubby still when you dated."

"Dating is a strong word. But yeah. And we 'met' and learned about it while planning for the ice cream thing."

"So you were involved!"

"Yes. But no one really knows that for sure."

Jackie shook her head. "That's what I'm curious about. Why is a workplace ice cream party so significant? I know someone got fired at the same time. But people don't talk about it much. How does some get fired over ice cream?"

"Hah. Well that's a story. That was actually Kelri's plan from the start."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Listen, you've never met Hugo I expect. He was an outwardly nice guy. But definitely a creep. There are a lot of women working here - but they didn't get hired out of some kind of benevolent policy. Hugo liked to hire women he was attracted to. Kelri got fat - he got pissed - tried to get rid of her. Long story. Didn't work. She got Valerie and I to help get back at him."

"With... Ice cream..." Jackie asked with heavy sarcasm.

"What got him fired was him ranting and raving about fat people during a department head meeting. I guess most people see the yelling and kinda of remember that ice cream maybe helped set him off, but in reality the ice cream social was designed to provoke him. He didn't like Kelri flaunting her - uh - size. And her organizing an ice cream party was - in his mind - an attempt to make everyone else like her. To the higher ups yelling at your employees for their appearance wasn't a good look."

"And this was all Kelri's idea?"

"I guess. Yeah. It was. I wasn't really involved much in the planning - just acted as a plant in the crowd, making it look okay to pig out and have a good time, hah."

"That all sounds made up. It's a crazy story for sure."

Maia shrugged. "I probably got some details wrong. But that's the gist of it."

"Have any other plans to fire people with ice cream?" Jackie laughed.

"Nooo. Not that I've heard. Things have settled down since that asshole got let go. It's still work, but now there's less drama."

"Well if you hear anything, let me know?"

"Valerie has you trained really well, doesn't she?"

"Well," Jackie shrugged, "If she's going to keep making me eat so much, then it makes sense for me to know what's happening in this fatty clique, doesn't it."

"Makes sense to me."

***

When she got a free moment, she called Marvin to explain the few details she learned. He didn't sound impressed.