Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Cozca's Devil's part 4: Recruiting Camilla

Kelri finalized an email and sent it. It was a reply to a coworker's receipt submission for the new grocery reimbursement program. She added a friendly response talking about how nice a local bakery is after seeing that the employee in question purchased doughnuts in the last week.

In a few weeks, plenty of people were taking part in the new program, and some were even receptive to Kelri's prodding towards more fattening foods. She didn't for a second think that she was going to convince anyone to share her fetish, but it was just helping push waistline and maybe Cozca's goals a little bit.

Kelri shifted in her chair, lifted her belly and pressed her thighs against one another. Her belly wobbled as she sat it back down on her lap. The sides of her belly hung over the sides of her lap and the front of it pressed against her glass desk, creasing slightly. With a satisfied huff, she checked the next email while patting the top of her gut pridefully.

Someone knocked on the door. Valerie stepped in dressed in her usual plain office attire. Unlike usually, her demeanor was less calm and demure, and more meek.

Given Valerie's recruitment task, her disposition didn't look promising.

"Come in. Close the door," Kelri said.

Valerie did, and sat opposite Kelri. "It didn't go well with Jackie."

"I could tell. How bad?" Kelri asked. With each moment a dull chill extended down her back.

"She stormed out. She dismissed the idea out of hand. I think she was upset that I told her that I knew she just wanted info from me from the beginning."

Kelri sighed and thought. "Well she would have figured it out eventually. Frankly I'm surprised she didn't already. Is she going to be a problem? I mean this is a problem either way, but I mean is she going to be a problem?" Kelri asked.

Valerie looked down into her lap. "No. I don't think so. I don't know. It would probably be safer to call it all off."

"You really liked her didn't you? You actually liked her."

"Yes."

Kelri grunted. "And you're sure it's over?"

"I don't know... She was - it's obvious her goal is to get information. And I didn't give anything specific away. I was careful because I knew there was a chance things could go bad. So she knows something is happening, but doesn't know what or where or when. Or how either."

"So what you're saying is that she still doesn't have what she wants."

"I suppose."

Kelri grinned. "Actually, I think this is good. Really that whole thing was a landmine. It's triggered now and she'll have time to cool down if she hasn't done anything drastic yet."

"What do you suggest?" Valerie asked, looking up.

"You didn't tell her anything, but that's partly because you don't know as much as I do. Or rather, maybe I can say something. She wants information on the Secret Advisor? I'm working for him, but from what you've told me about her curiosities, we may have some common ground."

Valerie groaned and twisted her lips. "You're going to risk the rest of the mission? Maybe it would be easier and safer to just ask the Secret Advisor for a safe cyber security expert."

"Maybe. But I think this is a test. The other things I've done for him have been in part exactly that. Tests. I think that he gave me this job because he knows who I have contacts with, and wants me to figure it out. He wants to know if I'm useful or a detriment. If this all falls down because he didn't warn us not to talk to Jackie, then that's a bit his fault, true? You told me he's given you relationship advice too, is that right?"