Chapter 1 - Molly's first day

Standing for hours on end in a small and sweaty kitchen is not how Molly saw herself permanently making a living. She had wanted to be a chef for as long as she remembered but after working in a few different kitchens over the last six years, she realised that this may not be the career for her. A fortnight ago, she had interviewed for a job which seemed too good to be true – recipe tester for a chocolate factory. After two weeks she’d all but given up hope, expecting the “Better luck next time!” email to come through at any point, but then she got the call. “Can you start next Monday?” Molly couldn’t believe it, the job of her dreams and they wanted her to start in four days! Molly quit with a huge smile on her face, she couldn’t wait to tell John the good news.


After her last shift that night, Molly was riding a high and drove to the home she shared with her boyfriend John. He was loving, kind and supportive and she loved him with all her heart. They’d been in a relationship for almost a year and had moved in together a few months ago. He was a 24-hour emergency electrician, meaning he worked unusual hours. There was one aspect of their lives that Molly was slightly critical of, their sex life. For Molly, pleasing her partner was enough to bring her pleasure, but it felt as if John was holding back. If Molly brought it up, even trying to tease it out of him, it would make him uncomfortable. Mostly he would avoid the subject, so she thought best to leave it and he would talk about it in his own time.


Pulling up outside their shared home, Molly collects her things and heads in. “John? I’m home!” making her way to the kitchen, she puts her bag down on the kitchen surface “Hey Molls, how was work?” John turns from the kettle where he’s making himself a cup of tea and see’s that Molly has a smile on her face “I got the job at the chocolate factory!” she exclaims as she jumps up and down. “Oh wow, that’s fantastic, well-done Molls!” John crosses the kitchen to wrap his arms around her, picking her up. “We should celebrate!” John says, placing her back down on the floor, “Let’s go out for dinner this weekend” “Sounds good, but tonight I’m exhausted”, she glances at the clock, 11:15pm “I’m going to bed!” with that she gives John a kiss on the cheek and makes her way up to the bedroom. Taking off her chef jacket and trousers she pulls on her pyjama shorts and vest top and slides herself into bed. Nodding off quickly, she dreams of a chocolate factory where everything is edible, thrusting her hands into a chocolate river, she smiles in her sleep.


Monday morning rolls around and Molly is getting ready for her first day on the job. Pulling on black trousers and a shirt, she packs the new chef trousers and smock she treated herself to as a new job present into her backpack. “I’m leaving in ten minutes, I should be home by 5pm, how’s your day looking?” she glanced over to John to see him pulling on a polo shirt. John’s schedule varied wildly “I’ve got an all-day job today, but I should be home around the same time, I’ll cook tonight. How do you feel about ‘fat busters’ sweet potato and coconut curry?” he patted his tummy in mock appreciation. “I know you’re not the biggest fan of them”, Molly rolls her eyes, turning to John “but I’ve got to watch my weight - especially working as a recipe tester at a chocolate factory! I tried on my black jeans the other day and I had to jump around just to get the button done up!” John smiled and crossed the room to give Molly a kiss on the cheek, “I’ll see you later babe, have a good first day”.


Molly stopped in front of the mirror to gave herself one last look before setting off. Her long brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her face was made up with her signature winged eyeliner which framing her hazel eyes. Smoothing her hands down her body, picking at cat hair as she went, her hands reached the tops of her legs. At a UK size sixteen, her generous hips and bum filled out her trousers nicely. Her fitted shirt was pulled tightly across her generous chest making the gaps between buttons gape slightly. Molly clicks her tongue.


I didn’t realise that this shirt was quite so… revealing. Oh well, I’ll be putting my chef whites when I get to work.


Pulling at the shirt slightly to try to make it a little less revealing, she feels that it’s also quite tight around her wide hips. Checking herself out one last time she heads downstairs pondering her figure.


Hopefully the fat busters rabbit food would help her drop a few pounds before our holiday soon.


Putting the cat’s food down, she gave him a quick pet on the head “Wish me luck, Ginger!” she called as she turned to leave.


The first day went by with a blur, Molly learned that she would be developing and perfecting chocolate based recipes. Surely this was a dream! She was being paid to eat chocolate recipes? Not to mention the best part. Throughout the month, the chefs would create and test recipes but there’s no way that everyone would be able to eat all that was made, so a reject box was created. All excess treats that were created would go to the reject box for any employee to take home with them. Her new manager, Henry, was a friendly, older, rosy faced gentleman who was delighted to have Molly as part of his team. “I can tell you’re going to come up with some fabulous recipes for us Molly. if you have any questions or need anything at all, please feel free to come to me!” patting her on the back, he chuckles while striding back to his office and closing the door behind him. She had a feeling that he was more of a ‘hands-off’ manager, this suited her just fine. Molly spent the afternoon researching for her first creation. She finally settled on a chocolate salted caramel pie. Once 4:30pm had rolled around, Molly couldn’t fight her curiosity any longer and strolls over to the reject box where she can’t believe her eyes.


Firstly, the term ‘reject box’ is wildly misleading, it’s more like a ‘reject cabinet’ where 8 shelves were stacked with box after box of sweet deserts. I guess the novelty of chocolate cakes everyday wears off after a while… Molly couldn’t imagine that ever happening to her. Then she notices a sign “At precisely 6pm every day, the reject box is emptied and donated to St. Leonards food bank. Please help yourself to anything you desire.”


Wow… this can’t be real! Well… what to have.


Upon the shelf before her was every chocolate desert you can imagine, chocolate covered doughnuts, brownies, eclairs, cakes, gateaux, birthday cakes. Finally, she came across the most decadent looking, five-layer, thickly iced chocolate cake. It looked big enough to serve 10 and Molly grabbed it off the shelf.


I can’t believe I get to take this home with me… for free!