It was a regular day for Marina Goodwin, wake up, go to work, get harassed, go home, go to sleep. Marina was an assistant at Peabody Industries to pay off some student loans before returning to school. Although she worked at Peabody Industries, she has never met Mr. Peabody himself. She works for a woman, Miss Adams, and helps her organize paperwork or make sure she doesn't get behind if she wanted to take off days. Miss Adams didn't like Marina from the start, she gave her dirty looks and talked down at her. Things worsened over the 4 months Marina worked at the industry. The dirty looks turned into glares that could kill and the simple condescending tone turned into blatant insults. However these insults weren't just thrown about anything and everything, no the insults were always directed at her weight. Marina was anything but thin, she was about 5'2 and 185 pounds. She had large hips, and a bit of a stomach. Miss Adams found sick humor in poking at Marina's stomach and watching her slightly curl forward and wrap her arms around her torso. Let's admit it, that woman loved to make her a life a living hell.

With a sigh, Marina stepped out of her car and walked into the large building to start her day. She was immediately stopped by Miss Adams, who was surprisingly not dressed in her business attire. Rather, she was dressed rather casually, Marina gave a puzzled look.

"I forgot to tell you yesterday, my friend and I planned a vacation to Canada for a couple weeks. Which means you are in charge for taking the reports you have been typing up for me to the boss." Miss Adams said in her usual 'better than thou' tone.

"Wait, the boss? Do you mean Mr. Peabody directly?" Marina asked, growing a bit worried. Her anxiety started to kick in as her hands began to get clammy, she unconsciously began wringing the strap of her purse with her hands.

"Yes you dumb whale! So you better leave as good as an impression you can on him! Do not screw this up for me." She growled as she poked a well manicured finger into Marina's face. Once she was done her rant, she flipped her long bleach blonde pony tail and walked off.

"You have got to be kidding me..." Marina thought to herself as she made her way to the elevator to get to her cubicle.

As she arrived, she plopped down her purse and sat down in her chair to finish up the reports she was working on. She was nearly done as she heard someone walk up to her cubicle, She looked up. It was Amanda Rhodes, a kind co-worker who Marina would consider a friend. She shot her a small smile.

"Hey I was wondering if you were almost done with those reports so you can head them up to Mr. Peabody." Amanda said with chipper tone as she brushed a piece of long red hair behind her ear.

Marina's smile instantly faded, she looked at her report.

"Uh, yeah. I am just typing up the last of it." Marina responded.

"Great! Just head it up when it's done!" Amanda was about to walk off as Marina tapped her arm to grab her attention.

"Where do I even go to give this to Mr. Peabody?" Marina asked, nervousness beginning to grow inside of her.

"Oh! Right, all you have to do is take the elevator to the top floor to get to his pent house. Just announce yourself and he will take it from there." She responded, turned around, and walked off.

Marina turned back to face her computer and typed up the last of the report. All right let's get this over with.

She clicked print on her report and stapled all the papers together. She walked towards the elevator and began to take deep even breaths, attempting to calm herself down. The doors opened and she stepped in, pressing the button for the top floor. The trip seemed to take forever but finally the elevator stopped, the elevator made a final ding sound, and the doors opened. Marina stepped in and gulped, she began to smooth down her skirt and make sure her shirt collar was straight.

"Uhm...Hello?" Marina called into the seemingly empty pent house. "I was told to bring this report up here...I am sorry if I am not supposed to be here..." she called once more. Silence. Right when she turned around and was about to leave, she heard footsteps. She turned around to see him, the Mr. Peabody. He was looking down and adjusting the sleeves on his white button up shirt.

"Do excuse my delayed appearance, Ms. Ada-" He stopped his sentence as he finally looked up and saw Marina. She was wide eyed and looked flushed, her arms tightly wrapped around her torso, report in hand. "Oh, you aren't Ms. Adams." He said, slightly perplexed as he put his hands behind his back.

"N-no sir. I am her assistant, Marina. Marina Goodwin." She introduced herself, still wide eyed and about to go into a full fledged anxiety attack. Mr. Peabody's professional smile contoured into a look of worry.

"Ms. Goodwin, may I ask if you are feeling all right?" He asked, beginning to step closer.

Quickly, Marina unlatched her arm with the paper from her stomach and handed him the stapled papers. "Yes sir, sorry sir. I am just a little anxious. I am very sorry, I guess I will be giving you these and going. Have a good day."

"Leaving so soon? Why won't you stay for tea and get to know each other?"

Marina thought for a minute, she could leave and retreat to the comfort of her cubicle. Or she could stay here, and talk to one of the most intelligent beings on this planet. He wanted to get to know her. She was feeling brave and decided to stay.

"Oh...well ok." She responded quietly, looking up at him with her round grey eyes and gave a small smile.

"Fantastic! Take a seat here and I will prepare the tea."

Marina sat down and took in her surroundings, the penthouse was magnificent to say the least. She looked down at herself and grimaced, her stomach caused ripples and rolls of clothing. She gave a small groan, trying to suppress the negative thoughts. For now, at least. She, once again, swaddles herself with her arms.

Peabody came in with two tea-cups filled with green tea. The smell instantly slightly eased Marina. She took a deep breath and exhaled as her shoulders slumped. He walked over to her direction and handed her a cup. With slightly shaking hands she extended her arms from her stomach and grasped the warm cup. Noticing her shaking, Peabody sat down next to Marina and set down his cup on the coffee table. He turned to face her, a worried expression on his face.

"Are you sure you are feeling ok Ms. Goodwin?"

Marina simply gave a small shrug and put her head down. Still concerned, Peabody decided to change the subject.

"Well, why not tell me a bit about yourself?" He asked with a small smile.

Marina lifted her head slightly and looked in his eyes, she bit her lip and began talking. "Well, I used to live in Georgia and I went to college there for two years. Then I got offered at internship here in new york, which I am still doing. I stopped going to school for a year to focus on the internship and find a place to settle down and try to pay off some student loans. So I got a job here to be Ms Adams assistant." She instantly grimaced thinking about Ms. Adams, the woman who made her suffer everyday. "In January I am planning on returning to school online and maybe go back to the actual campus on my senior year."

"What are you studying in college?"

"Well, I am mainly into sequential arts. But I am also studying photography." Marina said with a full smile. She was beginning to loosen up and feel more comfortable.

Marina stayed at the penthouse for a few of hours, both of them telling small tales about themselves, and Marina beginning to come out of her shell. She told Peabody that she was into musical theatre and her and her friends did plays when she was in highschool. She would giggle at his puns and even say some herself. She was truly enjoying herself and completely brushed off any of her previous anxiety.

"I hate to cut our conversation short, but I have to pick up my son, Sherman, from school." Peabody said as he stood up.

"Oh I understand, its no problem. Thank you for inviting me to stay a while, sir." She thanked politely and stood up.

"It was my pleasure, miss."

Marina walked towards the elevator and pressed the button. To be honest, she was sad to have to leave so soon. It was very unlike her to hit it off with someone so quickly.

"Ms. Goodwin, I was wondering if you would like to come over for dinner sometime?"

Marina turned around, slightly shocked. "Oh! Well, yes! I would love too!" she said enthusiastically.

Peabody couldn't help but give a large smile at her tone of enthusiasm. "How does tonight sound? 8 o'clock?"

"That sounds wonderful, I will be here." She answered with a crooked smile. The elevator dinged, announcing its arrival. She turned and stepped in. "Until tonight, Mr. Peabody." and with that, the doors closed and she was gone.