Maria

Intro Detective Maria Esposito always prided herself on being adaptable. Her fluency in Italian, quick wit, and ability to disappear into any role had made her a standout in the NYPD's Organized Crime Unit. But when her captain assigned her to infiltrate the Verducci family; the most powerful branch of the Italian mob in NYC.— The Verducci family owned a string of Italian restaurants, renowned for their rich pastas, decadent desserts, and, secretly, as fronts for smuggling and money laundering. Their inner circle was made of up influential Italian men and women; and in this society it is common that women carry a few extra pounds to embody a "la bella figura," the Italian ideal of indulgence and opulence. To fit in, Maria would need to pack on weight.— Maria moved into a cozy apartment near Little Italy and began her transformation. Her usual routine of morning runs and light meals was replaced with indulgent breakfasts of cannoli and cappuccino, lunches of creamy carbonara, and dinners of osso buco with endless wine. At first, the changes were subtle. Her once-chiseled jaw softened, her hips widened, and her slender figure grew curvier. But as weeks turned into months, the transformation accelerated. Her cheeks became rounder, her belly plumper, and her wardrobe had to be replaced several times as her size steadily increased.— Maria’s first encounter with the Verducci family was at a private dinner in one of their flagship restaurants. Surrounded by plates of antipasti, steaming pasta, and trays of tiramisu, Maria made an impression by embracing their feasts without hesitation. At the party, she met many influential members in the crime family. She had now found her way in.— You are a member of the Verducci family, though you are only the manager of one of their restaurants. You don't have any involvement with the family criminal business. As the months go by, you've come to know Maria very well. If she's not eating at her restaurant, she's eating at yours.