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After years of reading along, here's my attempt at of story. Comments are welcome. Got some help from AI. Once upon an adrenaline-charged match evening at the Sky Sports studios, Hayley McQueen, the vivacious and accomplished moderator, sat on her modern styled chair, beneath the glaring studio lights, her sky-blue eyes sparkling with the day's sports news. Just as she adjusted her wireless mic for the evening show, her mind wandered towards the prospect of her forthcoming vacation. She was to set sail with her loved ones, leaving her work aside for weeks of ultimate relaxation and enjoyment on a luxury cruise. A tiny smirk of anticipation stole her lips as she envisioned herself in her bikini, lounging by the ship’s pool, basking in the warm sun, and feasting on the exceptional onboard cuisine. The day finally arrived. She with her family embarked on the seemingly endless azure water, ready for the time of their lives. Before long, the routine was established. Each morning began with a refreshing dip in the lavish infinity pool, which later turned into a leisurely float as the day lazed on. Then, there was the spritz of the fruity cocktail at the pool bar, the flavor reminding her of exotic destinations. At every meal, she relished the exquisite epicurean delights, prepared meticulously by the talented chefs on board, paired perfectly with a fancy glass of wine. Days went blissfully by. Yet one morning, as she slipped on her favourite bikini, she noticed a subtle snugness. With mild bewilderment, she gazed down to find her midsection slightly plumper than before. It seemed the gourmet meals, fruity cocktails, and relaxed days by the pool were beginning to take their toll on her waistline. Instead of panicking, Hayley shrugged it off, calling it a 'vacation gain'. She recalled her gym back home; her sanctuary against those pesky pounds. As justification flowed, a slice of the cruise's famous tiramisu found itself in her hands. Yet subconsciously, she felt a jab of guilt; her impending Sky Sports show post-vacation made her nervous. After a series of such delightful and indulgent days, the final day of the cruise dawned. Standing on the ship's deck, Hayley bid goodbye to her extravagant holiday home. As the wind danced through her hair, she laughingly confessed to having gained around 45 pounds. Wide-eyed, her family noticed the excess weight showcasing itself around her waist, her breasts, and her hips. Still, Hayley’s resplendent confidence made her glow more than ever. Home at last, Hayley welcomed her usual routine. As she returned to Sky Sports, she was greeted with an unavoidable task - the all-important 'Deadline Day'. It was not unusual for Hayley to anchor this event. The morning of the big day arrived and Hayley found solace in the richness of a full English breakfast. The hearty dish filled her belly, making her feel warm, satisfied, and considerably stuffed. Dressed in a loose summer dress, she arrived at the Sky studio moments before her show. For the first time ever, the flight of stairs leading to her wardrobe seemed endless, every step a laborious effort. When she finally made it, sitting down on her wardrobe chair felt like trying to fit a misshaped puzzle piece into a well-defined mould. Contrary to her usual self, she indulged in a few glazed donuts and a generous serving of ice cream. As she relished the sinful treat, an unprecedented feeling started to settle in - her belly was stretching out more, a gentle reminder of the instant gratification she has also consumed. Known to have a classic style, her fans dearly missed her in the tight-fitting yellow skirt and the chic black blouse. These were the attires that showed off her well-toned body in 2016, when she was an astonishing fifty pounds lighter. Despite her assistants' desperate attempts, they were unable to hoist the skirt over her full hips. Even her trusted allies, the stomach cruncher and the girdle, were of little help today. An alternative outfit was picked out - slightly roomier than the last one, but just as unforgiving. As Hayley slipped into this second-choice outfit, a familiar reality dawned on her - the blouse's buttons were a battle to close, the skirt's zipper a struggle. strands of her skin fought for visibility through the gaping buttonholes. Freshly put-on makeup were soon streaky and patchy; all thanks to effort-induced sweat and short, irregular breaths. With a slow waddle, Hayley entered the studio. As she sank into her seat, the audible groan was enough proof of the chair's potential melancholy. Her crew members, while in silent disbelief, could also hear the tell-tale creaking of her outfit's seams. Hayley was entirely focused on maintaining composure until the end of the shoot. Backstage, she was battling a rebellious stomach, clearly upset by the morning's unregulated feast. Her bloated stomach begged for release. Unfortunately, the tight skirt, girdle and uncompromising chair offered no room for release. She regretted the hearty breakfast, the donuts and ice cream. After some time Hayley decided to brave standing up, each arm struggling with an armrest to lift her from the depths of the creaking chair. On-stage, under the cameras, she fought a war with her burgeoning belly, a war to keep the buttons from revealing their explosive potential. Her body was in turmoil, desperate for the relief only a solid fart could provide, but held hostage by her overtly tight clothing. In a sudden breach of concentration, Hayley dropped her iPad. As she bent down to retrieve it, a scene straight from a fantasy comedy flick unfolded. Almost in a circus-like sequence, each button on her blouse and skirt shot into the air. Her too-tight skirt and blouse tore open, exposing a struggling girdle and stomach cruncher underneath. This spectacle, however, was just the opening act. The grand finale saw the previously constrained girdle and cruncher fly across the studio, leaving Hayley in just her panties and bra, with her ample tummy and butt in full focus for the camera. In her anxiety, an audaciously loud fart, amplified by the studio's acoustics, filled the air. As if cued on point, the commercial break began, saving Hayley from future embarrassment. Her face a crimson hue of embarrassment, Hayley fainted under all the stress and shock. When she woke, she was greeted by her own image frozen on the staff's screens, instantly becoming a memorable Sky Sports Deadline Day moment.

Prologue I stood at the window and stared in utter amazement at the behemoth before me. The MS Adephagia, the newest ship of the Greek Cruise Line, was the biggest cruise ship in the world. And was she big! At just over 240,000 GT and 1,200 feet in length, she dwarfed the other ships at the cruise terminal. Dock workers hustled to reprovision the ship with everything her passengers would need on their 15-day voyage. Forklifts moved massive pallets of food – so much food – into position as busy crew members unloaded them and stashed them aboard. With a maximum capacity of 7,100 passengers (cared for by an additional 2,400 crew), the Adephagia would need as much food as she could carry – especially if the dining onboard was as utterly incredible as I’d heard. It would undoubtedly be a prominent part of the article I’d write afterwards. I worked for Seawise Travels magazine as a travel writer. I turned around and slowly looked around the passenger waiting area. Many sat together in excited groups, laughing and speaking loudly. Some sat quietly and read books or were glued to their phones. A few were standing over by the drink table and sucking down the complimentary water, coffee, or tea. Off in an adjacent room was the Aegean Club’s waiting area. These were the passengers who paid top dollar for the most luxurious experience: spacious suites, exclusive amenities, and 24/7 butler and concierge service. I’d read great things about the Aegean Club, but it was way out of my company’s price range. I could see the people inside downing flutes of champagne and gobbling up the hors d’oeuvres that white-jacketed servers brought them. These people weren’t even aboard the ship yet, and they were already getting VIP treatment. Someone bumped into me, and I was almost knocked off my feet. I recovered quickly and straightened myself up. The woman who’d run into me looked mortified and apologized profusely. I smiled and shrugged it off. She looked to be in her late-20s or early-30s, and had shoulder-length emerald green hair. Her makeup was flawless too. “My fault,” I said. “I wasn’t paying attention.” “I wasn’t either,” she said. “I need to be better about not being in such a hurry all the time.” “A cruise is a good way to work on that,” I said as I motioned over to the windows and the massive ship just beyond. “Especially this one.” “I hope so,” she said. “This is my first one, so I don’t really know what to expect. My friend talked me into it.” Her plump little face showed a mixture of both excitement and anxiety. “I think you’re in for a treat,” I said smiling. “The Adephagia is fantastic, from what I’ve heard. There’ll be no shortage of things for you to do aboard. And that’s even counting the shore excursions.” The 15-day cruise would take us to six islands in the Eastern Caribbean, and activities included everything from zip-lining to walking food tours of the various towns and cities. “Emily!” A voice called out from across the room. We both turned and saw a woman strolling out from the Aegean Club’s waiting area. Emily! We’re over here.” “Your friend, I take it?” “Yeah.” She quickly turned and motioned to give her a minute. “The Aegean Club, huh? Impressive! You really will be in for a treat this voyage.” I took a deep breath and held out my hand. “I’m Josh.” “Emily,” she said taking my hand. “But you already knew that.” She smiled warmly and looked as if she was studying my face. “It was really nice to meet you, Josh. Hope to see you around the ship.” “Likewise,” I said. “And enjoy the Aegean Club!” Emily flashed another smile and turned and walked quickly towards her friend. They hugged each other, and immediately started talking excitedly. I turned back to the window but still saw them in my side vision. After a moment, her friend’s eyes went wide in mild surprise. It was then that I noticed Emily’s little potbelly and love handles, which spilled out over her waistband and shook slightly when she moved. I stopped breathing. They both laughed as Emily patted her stomach and gave it a little jiggle. This is going to be an amazing cruise, I thought to myself.