I have to admit, I’ve always been a girl with a big appetite—and not just for food. Last night, I finally got a taste of the good stuff. When I opened my eyes this morning, there was a man in my bed. A soft, chubby one. Other girls have alcohol-induced one-night stands with chiseled, dark-and-handsome CEOs. I woke up next to a guy who looked like a teddy bear version of a corporate manager. If I looked at him from a certain angle, he was practically the archetype of a sketchy middle manager. Except he actually had very nice features under all that extra weight, and he was easily six-foot-one. My brain slowly pieced together the chaotic events of last night. To my absolute horror, I realized I was the one who made the first move. Just as I was spiraling, trying to figure out how to escape without waking him, a translucent, glowing text box drifted across my field of vision. It looked exactly like a live chat feed from a streaming app, hovering right in the air. “Oh no, the Male Lead is no longer pure! He’s so insecure about his weight, and the Heroine was supposed to save him with her unconditional love. How did this random side character steal him away?” “Wait, what? Did this home-wrecking side character seriously take advantage of his drunk state and…?” “Don’t underestimate him just because he’s chubby. He has incredible stamina.” “Totally. He only gained weight because of the medication he had to take after that accident. He used to be a gorgeous, wealthy heir.” “Actually, he went looking for the Heroine yesterday and overheard her complaining about how fat he is. He went to the club to drown his sorrows and ran into the side character instead.” “But who could resist her? She has a killer body and looks just as gorgeous as the Heroine.” “If I had her face and figure, I’d use him to climb my way to the top.” I was flattered by the compliments about my looks, but as someone struggling at the very bottom of the social ladder, beauty had always felt more like a curse than a blessing. I tried to slide out of bed silently, but my muscles screamed in protest. My foot caught in the heavy duvet, and I tumbled back onto the mattress. Before I could hit the floor, a pair of large, warm hands caught my waist, pulling me securely against a broad chest. I felt him stir, his body reacting with a sudden, unmistakable rush of morning energy. 1 A shiver ran down my spine. The chat feed flared up with renewed excitement. “This is definitely R-rated territory! Her body is insane.” “Wait, why did my screen go black? Let me watch!” The sheer embarrassment made my face burn a furious red. According to the chat, he was the “male lead” and I was just the “disposable side character.” Was I actually trapped inside some twisted romance novel? “Who sent you?” his voice cut through the silence, cold and sharp. “I’m this fat, and you still laid a hand on me?” I pulled the blanket tight around my chest, scurrying to the far edge of the bed. Looking into his icy, defensive eyes, a wave of sheer vulnerability washed over me, and my eyes welled with tears. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I offended a major client at work. My boss brought me to the club last night to apologize. They tried to force me to drink, to get me wasted. I only remember escaping the VIP room. After that, everything is a blur.” My boss had wanted that contract at any cost. He promised me a twenty percent raise if I just complied and kept the client happy. I desperately needed the job, so I thought I could just out-drink the man. I didn’t realize they had slipped something into my glass. Determined not to let them have their way, I had fought through the haze in my veins and stumbled out of the room. I grabbed the first man I saw in the corridor. I didn’t remember much of what followed… only that I was the aggressor, and that I had passed out more than once. A flash of guilt flickered across his eyes. He sat up, his back to me as he began pulling on his clothes. “I… I misjudged you,” he said quietly. “I’ll look into it. If what you’re saying is true, I will take responsibility.” Once he was dressed, he turned back to look at me. Seeing my small, shivering form huddled under the sheets, his gaze softened, his mind clearly drifting back to the intimacy of the night. I looked at my clothes scattered on the floor. They were torn to shreds. “Can you… help me buy some clothes?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “What size?” “Medium.” He rubbed his nose, clearing his throat as he pulled out his phone to text his assistant. The silence in the room became suffocating. I buried myself under the covers, avoiding his gaze entirely. Within twenty minutes, a bag of clothes arrived. He laid his business card, a package of pills, and a black credit card on the nightstand. “These are the emergency contraceptives, my card, and the clothes. There’s thirty thousand dollars on this card. The pin is six zeros. Call me if you need anything.” “Pills?” I poked my head out from under the blanket, panic rising in my chest. “What pills? Are you… sick? Do you have something?” His face flushed with annoyance. “It’s a morning-after pill. You were drugged. If you get pregnant, we don’t know how those chemicals might affect your body or a fetus.” I let out a long breath, relief washing over me. “You don’t need to take responsibility,” I mumbled. “I’ll take the medicine.” The chat feed popped up again. “She’s so naive, it’s almost painful.” “If I were her, I’d make him take responsibility. She just got fired, and she’s got nothing.” “I feel so bad for her. She’s beautiful but so helpless. She’s just a clumsy sweetheart.” “Honestly, it’s kind of sweet that they were each other’s first.” My cheeks burned even hotter. These comments were entirely too honest. He stared at me for a long moment before speaking. “Put your clothes on. I’m taking you to the hospital.” “Why?” I asked, genuinely confused. “I need to make sure you’re healthy, and we need a toxicology report. Don’t you want justice?” I looked down, a familiar sense of defeat settling over me. “If I go to the police, I’ll lose my job for sure.” I was pretty, yes, but I only had an associate degree from a community college. It had taken me months to find a job that paid enough to cover my rent. I couldn’t afford to lose it. God had given me a beautiful face, but He hadn’t given me the courage or the resources to protect it. I just wanted to survive. “I’ll handle the job situation,” he said firmly. “Just tell me: do you want justice?” I hesitated, then slowly nodded. After a quick shower, I pulled on the fresh clothes. Looking at my bare face in the mirror, my lips were slightly swollen, but my skin was glowing. “The side character is literally prettier than the Heroine. This is wild.” The comments really had no filter. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I looked at his tall, imposing figure. Under all that bulk, he carried himself with an innate authority, though I still couldn’t quite see him as the typical romance novel billionaire. He cleared his throat. “My name is Beckett Harrington. Let’s go.” I picked up the glass of water he had poured and swallowed the pill, then followed him out. But as we reached the elevator, my knees buckled. My legs were trembling so badly I had to lean against the wall. Beckett noticed immediately. His cheeks turned a light pink as he reached out, steadying me by my waist. “I’ll have my assistant buy you some flat shoes,” he murmured. I kept my head down, my face burning, as he guided me into the elevator. Up close, he smelled incredible—a rich, comforting blend of sandalwood and subtle amber that felt entirely custom-made. 2 After leaving the hotel, we drove straight to the hospital. He arranged for a blood draw and had the doctor check if the drugs had left any lingering damage. I was already exhausted, and losing blood made me feel utterly drained. Throughout the process, Beckett was quiet, occasionally looking at his phone to coordinate work. He really was attentive, despite his intimidating size. Once we left the clinic, he turned to me. “I’ve secured the security footage from the club. The manager is willing to testify, and a staff member confirmed they saw your drink being spiked.” A sudden warmth bloomed in my chest. A complete stranger was fighting for me. “The blood test will serve as concrete evidence. I’m taking you to the police station now to file a report. I’ve already contacted my lawyer to handle your company.” I nodded, my voice small. “Thank you.” “Don’t worry about it. Technically, I was a victim too.” I bit my lip, too embarrassed to respond. “For the report,” he added, “we’ll tell them I’m your boyfriend.” With Beckett’s help, the police report was filed smoothly. As we walked out of the station, my phone buzzed. It was a text from my manager: Don’t bother coming in today. You’re fired. A wave of bitter injustice washed over me. Beckett looked down at my phone, then at me. “To prevent them from trying to harass or threaten you, you should stay at my place for now. I’ll resolve your company’s contract issues this afternoon, and once that’s done, we can have a proper talk.” I opened my mouth to decline. I didn’t want to be a burden. But the chat feed flared up instantly. “Maisie, do not go back to your apartment! It’s dangerous!” “The big boss of her company was the one who set the whole thing up. He wanted her as his mistress.” “If they find her alone, she’s finished. Those corporate sharks won’t let her go easily.” “They probably have people waiting at her apartment right now.” The rejection died in my throat. We had already crossed the ultimate line anyway. Staying at his place for a couple of days couldn’t hurt. And if things went south, sleeping with him again was a far better alternative than being cornered by those predators. “Okay. Thank you.” He wasn’t the arrogant billionaire I expected; he was actually incredibly decent. Beckett drove me to a massive estate nestled in a highly secured, gated community. The driveway wrapped around a beautiful stone fountain. “Marie,” Beckett called out as we entered, before turning to me with an embarrassed look. He realized he still didn’t know my name. “Hi, Marie. I’m Maisie. Maisie Albright.” “Miss Albright will be staying with us for a while,” Beckett told the housekeeper. “Please get her settled.” “Of course, sir.” Beckett turned to me. “I have to handle some urgent matters. Let Marie know if you need anything.” I watched him leave, then followed Marie to a beautifully appointed guest room. After a warm bath, I muted my phone and sank into the mattress. The bed was incredibly comfortable. Exhausted from the night before, I closed my eyes and was instantly pulled into sleep, though memories of his heavy breathing and strong arms kept drifting through my mind. “For a big guy, he sure had stamina…” I mumbled into the pillow, my face burning in the dark. 3 When I woke up, the first thing I saw on my phone was a bank notification: $15,000 had been deposited into my account. Then came an apologetic text from the HR director at my old company. She claimed she hadn’t managed her staff properly. The supervisor who had set me up had been arrested, and the company was offering me a $12,000 emotional distress settlement, plus three months of severance pay. Over twenty-seven thousand dollars. I sat up, staring at the screen. I had never seen this much money in my life. I had graduated college a year ago. My first job ended abruptly when the creepy owner tried to touch me; I slapped him, and he refused to pay my final salary. It took me months to find this second job, only to be set up after three short months. I grew up in a small town. Because I developed faster than the other girls, I was constantly whispered about. By middle school, there were rumors that I was a provocateur. To protect myself, I wore oversized clothes, never touched skirts, and kept myself completely covered. Yet, I still ended up here. A soft knock sounded at the door. I opened it to find Beckett standing there. “Have you been crying?” he asked gently. I quickly wiped my cheeks. “I just received the settlement from the company. Thank you.” “It’s only what you deserve.” An awkward silence settled between us. “Marie said you haven’t eaten all day. Are you feeling unwell?” The sudden warmth in his voice made my heart race. I stole a quick glance at him. “Just… a little sore. I’ve been sleeping.” The chat feed immediately started teasing. “Haha… they didn’t sleep until 5 AM, of course she’s sore.” “People always say weight affects performance, but clearly, the Male Lead has no issues.” I wished I could shut these comments off. Looking at Beckett, I felt dizzy. “Come down for dinner,” he said, his expression slightly strained. The dining table was covered in my favorite comfort foods: garlic butter shrimp, stone crab, steamed fish, and a warm, savory soup. I was so hungry I forgot my manners, digging in happily. But then I noticed he was barely eating, just watching me. I froze, slowly putting down a strawberry. “I… I was just really hungry. I don’t normally eat this much.” Growing up, I never had luxury meals. After my parents passed away when I was fourteen, my aunt took custody of me. She controlled my parents’ life insurance, giving me a meager allowance while her own children lived comfortably. I had worked double shifts at a boba shop just to buy textbooks. “Did you not get enough to eat?” Beckett asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “No, I’m full,” I whispered, embarrassed. He smiled, a genuine, warm expression that entirely transformed his face. “He is so whipped already.” “Honestly, she’s so beautiful, she deserves to be the main character.” “Maisie,” Beckett said, leaning back. “We need to talk about last night.” I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I need you to take responsibility,” he said. “What?” I stared at him, utterly bewildered. He looked slightly defensive. “Well, you don’t lose out in this deal either.” I couldn’t help but stare at his worried face. He had helped me so much today. “How do you want me to take responsibility?” Beckett cleared his throat, trying to look businesslike. “Marry me.”
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