chapter 3

Martin was nervous about starting his new job. Though he had requested the transfer, he didn't know anyone in the new branch.

His fears were soon assuaged, however, when he arrived (almost half-an-hour early, as he was so anxious) to find that his collegues were mostly kindly, dumpy middle-aged ladies. There was also a slim young Japanese woman, Naomi, who showed him to his teller's window beside her own, and helped to familiarize him with the programming.

The older ladies tittered that it would be lovely to have some more young people around, and within minutes were offering Martin slices and biscuits that one of them, Fran, regularly baked to share at work.

Martin politely refused the caramel slice, but took one fudge biscuit, not wanting to seem impolite on his first day.
He took a bite and thick, rich fudge exploded in his mouth; he tilted his head back and sighed with pleasure. "These are amazing, Fran," he moaned; "you'll have to keep them away from me!"

Fran beamed. "Oh thank you, dear. I'll make a batch just for you! So lovely to have some young people here again! You'll have to let me know what you think of all my cooking, now won't you?"

"Um..." Martin said awkwardly, but Fran already seemed to feel the matter was decided. She bustled away looking very happy.

As soon as Fran was out of earshot, Naomi giggled: "She's going to try to feed you all the time now! I'm glad it's not me anymore! I don't want to be rude, but seriously everything she cooks is so rich! It's ridiculous."

"Oh dear," Martin muttered, finishing the last of the delicious biscuit.

Already, without Chad to encourage him to keep fit and with so many treats at hand, he felt his willpower slipping.

He didn't eat anything again until lunch time, and only had a salad wrap during his lunch hour. He was feeling nettled and hungry by the early afternoon.
The job was easy, but monotonous, and he found himself day-dreaming about food. He rubbed his stomach, which was growling audibaly, angry at having been fed nothing but salad after sampling Fran's delicious cooking. Fran did not return to offer him more treats (no doubt they were all gone), or he would surely be unable to resist. By the time the workday ended, he was thoroughly looking forward to the delicious food that he knew Mort would serve at his party.