Some invitations are really traps wearing a smile—what happens when trust becomes the most dangerous seat in the boat?
Flash Fiction Prompt
Jake should’ve noticed the way his boss smiled—too wide, too calm—when he said the trip would be “good for team bonding.”
Jake had been waiting for a chance like this—an invitation from the CEO himself, a one-on-one weekend canoe trip where strategy, promotions, and future plans would be discussed over calm water and open sky. Everyone said it was a sign he was being groomed for the next big step. His wife kissed him at the door, saying she knew he’d come back with good news.
What Jake didn’t know was that his boss had already written the ending.
The lake was deep, remote, and quiet—too quiet. No cell signal, no nearby cabins, no other boats. Just the two of them and water that could swallow a man without leaving a ripple. Jake paddled with excitement. His boss paddled with calculation. A loose bolt on a seat bracket, a “surprise” shift in weight, a hand that wouldn’t reach out in time—an accident no one would question.
Jake thought the meeting was about his future. He didn’t realize it was about erasing it.
Reader Engagement Question
If you were Jake, what subtle warning sign would have convinced you something was wrong before stepping into that canoe?
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