Sweet for You: A BBW Billionaire Romance Read Free Page A

Martha prompted.
    “She’s spirited and vivacious, and I’m...well, you know what I am.”
    “Lonely?”
    Stephen flashed his executive assistant an irritated look. “Let’s not start with that again. You know I’m married to my work. I date just enough to keep the tabloids off my back, but I’m not interested in a relationship. Not at this point in my life anyway. Even though my father is gone, as his only child, it’s my duty to preserve the profitability of our family’s business.”
    “It’s not normal for a man in the prime of his life to live like a monk,” Martha argued. “Besides, what’s the point of preserving your family’s legacy if you don’t have a child of your own to take over the company someday?”
    “There’s still time for that, Martha. Besides, Abby Branson and I are from different worlds.”
    “Your world is boring, Stephen. It would be good for you to step away from your reserved, methodical existence and let someone other than me get to know the real you.”
    “The real me?”
    “Yes,” Martha said. “The charming, generous, and fiercely loyal man behind the brooding, stoic mask.”
    Stephen shook his head. Martha knew he wasn’t the type of man to wear his emotions on his sleeve. He had spent his entire life fiercely guarding his private life, which is why he usually dated vapid women who were far more interested in their own lives than his. It wasn’t his fault that people mistook his reserved demeanor for something more threatening.
    “I’ll think about dating some more,” he said. “ After the launch. I still can’t believe Miss Branson equated the act of eating our dessert to something so...wretched.”
    “She certainly knows how to get her point across,” Martha replied with a chuckle.
    “I’m glad you’re amused. But we have a significant problem on our hands. We haven’t launched a new product line in years and this was going to be our big, competitive breakthrough.”
    The company’s profits had been slipping in recent years and Stephen was worried about its future. Once the leader in gourmet foods manufacturing, Blake Foods was now ranked a dismal third and up-and-coming boutique producers were pressuring the company to do something big. The diet desserts line had been Stephen’s idea and he had a lot riding on its success.
    Martha placed a manicured hand on his shoulder. “Go home, Stephen. Have a drink and get some sleep. You’re not going to solve the problem by continuing to watch that lovely young woman spit out your dream.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” he sighed. Martha usually was.
    Tomorrow, he would call a meeting with the product team and demand a 24/7 schedule until new recipes were developed. Blake Foods needed to fast track the Phase II tasting experience.

Chapter 3
    A fter her rude performance, Abby was surprised when she got a callback for Phase II of the Blake Foods tasting experience. This time, the pay was $400. She knew exactly what to wear!
    She had used her first tasting payment to buy a simple black dress with a high waist and a scooped neckline that could be dressed up or down, just like Lois Carlyle recommended. She paired the dress with a cardigan sweater and ballet flats and felt as professional as she looked.
    On the day of her tasting she was, once again, greeted by the Research Institute’s receptionist and seated in the tasting room with the mirrored wall. Soon, Mary arrived carrying the familiar tray of desserts.
    “Abby, so good to see you again,” Mary said pleasantly.
    “Thank you, Mary. I think I should apologize for being so rude at the first tasting.”
    “No apologies needed. We appreciate your candor. Your frank and honest opinions are the kind of feedback that Blake Foods needs to improve their line before launch. Should we start this tasting with the cheesecake again?”
    Abby shrugged. She was a little apprehensive about tasting the desserts this time. While they still looked delicious, she knew that