Punching Bag

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Godwin leads me to one of the bathrooms and I lock the door behind me.

I brace myself with both hands on the bathroom sink before finally taking a relieving breath.

I knew my plan was risky but I thought the worse thing that could happen was that he fired me, not beat me half to death upside down in a fucking punching bag.

Reddington warned me that Townsend is barely considered a human being. I should've taken his warning more seriously, prepared myself better.

I look into the mirror in front of me. My dark blonde hair is wild and matted with my blood. I have two cuts on my lip and several bruises on my face, arms and if I checked I'm sure my ribs would be a deep purple all over. My green eyes vibrant in contrast with the smudge eye makeup I had on.

Reddington worried I was too young for this job. I may be young at twenty five years old but I'm in no way inexperienced and he knows this. My age does prove to be an obstacle for the business side of things. That and I'm a woman of course, but I've managed well so far. I thought if anything it would make Townsend go easy on me, or even be more open towards me, but its obvious this isn't the case.

I use the hand towel on the rack with some water to wipe the blood off me as best I can. Then I rinse my hair out under the sink and dry it with a towel. Not the best I've ever looked but it'll have to do.

I unlock the bathroom door to find Godwin waiting out in the hallway for me.

"We do apologise for all of this. Please follow me." I give him a nod and follow him through what I guess is a house. I was blindfolded when they dragged me in here.

Eventually the hallway opens up to a large living space. A big twelve seating wooden dining table takes up most of the room. On it is fruits, pastries, eggs, bacon and breads. At the head of the table seated is Townsend.

He makes eye contact and stands up from the table in greeting.

"Cora, please join me." He gestures to the seat nearest himself then sits back down.

I look at him, then without meaning to, I hesitantly look around the room. On the otherside of it is Vandyke standing near the window, and Godwin has moved to sit on the sofa. Slowly I walk over to be seated next to Townsend.

As soon as I'm seated he begins eating. So I do too, out of politeness. One won't really be hungry after having their insides smashed in.

"There's some pain medication beside you." His words startle me and I flick my gaze towards him. He's looking at me, waiting for a response. Has he been looking at me this whole time? Did he notice I was flinching every time I moved from the pain? He must have.

Next to my glass of juice is two white pills. I don't even think about asking him what they are I just take them.

"Thank you." I say before swallowing them down.

He laughs softly. "Dont be stupid. If it wasn't for my fucking useless men you wouldn't need them." I don't know what to do so I just smile gently.

We eat in silence for a brief moment before Townsend interrupts it again.

"Cora, why do you work for me?" He asks. I set down my cutlery.

"I've been apart of these kind of businesses for as long as I've known. Family involvement." I remember to be vague. Easier to not trip yourself up with the lies.

He leans in closer to me, giving me all of his attention. "Okay but why for me."

I take a moment to think. I could compliment his work style, his success. I could say the job just came up and it was nothing special. Or I could make it interesting.

"Honestly, I've known who you are for a long time. The businessnesses you run, the connections you have. I have a problem, and could use your connections." People are almost always in this business for themselves. Hopefully he respects my so called honesty.

He joins his fists together and rests his chin on them, narrowing his eyes at me.

"And if I help you, you'd be forever in my debt? Forever loyal?"

Immediately I take notice of how much harsher my chest is rising. Townsend is confusing but my reaction to him is even more.

I can't help the words that come out of my mouth.

"Of course."