Under the Radar

Chapter 7a - Underestimate

Warnings: References to sex trafficking, violence and some gore descriptions, misogynistic references

(One final part to come! Thank you so much for reading/commenting so far - it's been so lovely seeing your reactions!)

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"Joe....hey" you mumble, trying your best to mask your sheer terror. You figure you might as well try to feign innocence...it wasn't likely to work...but it's all you had.

"Can you believe it?" You surprise yourself when it comes out in a somewhat sunshiney tone that you desperately pulled from some hidden depths. "I was just going to bed and saw that report didn't attach to my email to Walsh. So I just came in to send it...what a ditz huh?" You laugh hollowly.

He smiles. You never noticed how shark-like his smile looked until just now. How his eyes are just...empty...soulless.

It's clear he's not buying it, but you continue.

"H-how about you? Burning the midnight oil?" You plaster a smile over your face. The sides of your mouth ache with the strain.

"Sure am" he says quietly. "I get a lot of my best work done at night, actually".

You nod. "Well...I don't want to distract you any further. My bed is calling! I'll see you tomorrow".

You lurch forward towards the door but a strong arm shoots up and blocks your movement.

"Joe..." you whisper, your voice thick with fear. You're suddenly very aware of his strength, his size. The way he looms over you. You had considered that attractive just a few hours before, but now it seems chilling.

"No. Stay".

Your strained smile appears again. "I really shouldn't..."

His eyes move to the folder in your hands then back to your face again. "Did I forget to file that away? Whoops. How careless of me" he smirks. "Looks like I need to brush up on my confidentiality training".

You can't speak. You just stare back at him, your throat drying up and your breath strangled.

He sighs dramatically. "A pity. You've messed up the timeline now..."

Your eyes widen as you stare back at him. "Joe...you're...you're part of Project Cotton?" You eke out. "How...how could you? What..."

He rolls his eyes. "Spare me the theatrics" he groans. "Now I have to accelerate things..." he picks up his phone from his pocket and begins to send a text. "Typical you, huh sweetheart? Too involved for your own good. Anyone else would've ignored the file...or not even come into the office at this time just to send a damn email...but of course you did. And now I gotta change the plan. Ugh..."

You're still in shock. "Joe...how could you do this to me?" You whisper. "We're friends...we nearly kissed-"

He laughs. "Are we friends? Or have I just thrown you a few lines to show what a good guy I am, and get you to trust me?"

You stammer, trying to respond but unable to find the words.

"It's easy, really. I throw out a few choice words - tell you how proud I am of you, how smart you are...and you eat it up and I get you on side. I pretend I shun the guys' nights, stick up for you so you can see how brave I am...simple. It's always the same with girls like you" he shrugs.

"And then I act like I like you...but tell you we can't be together yet cos it's not appropriate...yada yada yada...and that means you trust me and think I have integrity because I didn't immediately try to fuck you. But then...And sorry we're skipping this part so you have to use your imagination...I have an epiphany! And I do want to be with you!! And when I take you out on our 'date' you follow me willingly wherever I tell you to because you trust me implicitly - no matter how late at night it is. And then I do the drop off, my buyer pays the full balance and poof!...I'm 50k richer".