One More Bite Buffet (WIP Preview)

WARNING THE FULL STORY WILL CONTAIN: Female Slobification (Weight Gain, Burping, and Farting)

   Shannon had made it part of her routine to leave the office once she was the only worker still at their desk. Having to be let out of the building by one of the janitors, she wished him a good night before making her way to her car. The smile she received in return was the usual response she got during the work day, a side effect of trying to keep her appearances up. Despite leaving the office at such a late hour, a quick glance at the rear view mirror in her car ensured that her bob cut, black hair was still styled from that morning and her makeup as impeccable as always. Looking over the black blazer and pants adorning her thin body should have filled her with pride for her work ethic. Instead, they just made her linger on the thought of what she was going to wear the next day.

   Beginning the long drive home, Shannon kept looking over at the dashboard to check on the time. In a matter of hours she would be returning to her office to make a presentation to the higher ups of the company. This impeding meeting elevated her already high stress levels to staggering heights. She tried her usual relaxation techniques of counting in her head and going over the notes for the meeting, but she could still feel the pressure on her shoulders pushing down on her like a ton of bricks.

   The solitary noise of the car’s engine and Shannon’s heart beating rapidly in her chest became overshadowed by a growling noise. Recognizing that the sound was coming from her stomach, she recalled that the only thing she had eaten all day was a few protein bars to go along with an unhealthy amount of caffeine. Though she wanted to grab something on the road to avoid cook for herself when she got home, she wasn’t sure there was any place open this time of night. That was until she turned a corner and saw something seemingly appear out of thin air to answer her belly’s call.

   The LED sign acted like a beacon to draw the tired office worker in. Slowly driving into the establishment’s parking lot, she kept her eyes focused on the sign. Exiting her car and walking up to the entrance, she was left slightly dumbfounded by the name “One More Bite Buffet.” Pushed forth by curiosity and hunger, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

   The reception area was a small room with cushiony benches lit by small lights in the ceiling. As comforting as the scene was, it didn’t stop a momentary feeling of unease from affecting Shannon as she met eyes with the hostess. The woman dressed in a black vest, white dress shirt, and slacks tried to ease the business woman’s fears with a warm smile and a flip of her ponytail of black hair.

   “Hello there,” the woman said, bowing towards Shannon. “My name is Glyta. Dining for one?”

   “Erm, still unsure,” Shannon replied. “What kind of place is this? I’ve never seen it before.”

   “Ah, we’re a new business that just opened up recently. As for what kind of establishment this is, the name should have said it all. We’re a buffet that offers a wide range of culinary treats to satisfy any palette.”

   “May I see the menu?”

   “Oh, there is no menu,” Glyta cheerfully replied. “We just ask that you sit back, relax, and allow our servers to provide you with the perfect meal.”

   “Sounds like a pretty luxurious dining experience,” Shannon commented. “I’m afraid I don’t really have the expenses to afford something like that.”

   “There’s no need to worry about that. Your meal is going to be absolutely free.”

   Shannon let out a huff as she gave a wary eye to the hostess. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. What’s the catch?”

   “No catch,” Glyta said, stepping aside and gesturing towards the eating area. “Just sit back and enjoy yourself without any need to worry about your bill. We’ll handle the actual payment method after you’ve finished eating.”

   What complaints popped up in Shannon’s mind were downplayed by her variety of needs. The hunger pangs that had been afflicting her ever since she left the office had become more frequent. Her appetite worsened as the aroma of something absolutely heavenly drifted in from the next room. Though her better judgement told her to leave, she was quite aware that it would be near impossible to find somewhere else to eat. Rather than waste the night searching for sustenance and risk being late for her morning meeting, Shannon cast aside her worries and allowed Glyta to escort her inside.

   Shannon’s earlier concerns only grew as she saw the small group of waiters milling about the room. Each of them kept their attention focused on her as she walked, each of them matching Glyta’s uniform and upbeat expression. Unsure if having so many eyes on her during her meal would be the best way to unwind after work, she nonetheless allowed the hostess to place her at a wide table in the dead center of the dining area.

   “Is this table really necessary?” Glyta asked, noticing that the table was wide enough to seat a party of twelve.

   “Since you’re the only guest here, it makes sense to give you one of the best seats in the house,” Glyta replied as she poured a glass of water. “Please wait for just a moment. The waiter will come by with your serving of soup to start off your meal.”

   Watching as Glyta and the other servers took their leave, Glyta pulled out her phone and did her research. Typing in the name of the restaurant didn’t yield any results. Though that was to be expected considering how new it was, it was still astounding to not even have an announcement of the opening online to promote the business. Things that would have raised multiple red flags for anyone else instead got her to consider making the restaurant a client of her company to advertise.

   “Pardon me,” Glyta spoke up, breaking Shannon out of her concentration. “Please sit back. The soup is very warm. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

   Doing as Glyta asked, Shannon leaned back in her seat and had just a moment to look at her soup before it was placed on the table. It wasn’t in a cup or even a bowl, but an entire pot that looked to be carried straight from the kitchen stove. As the server lifted up the top, a cloud of steam rose up to drift into Shannon’s face. Clearing away the fog with a wave of her hand, Shannon looked inside the pot to see a stew packed to burst with enormous chunks of meat and vegetables.