A Taste Of His Control

Chapter One

"Good morning, Annie," my assistant, Lillian, greeted me with a warm smile as I walked into the office.

I couldn't help but return the gesture, the heavy fog in my mind lifting just a tiny bit.

"Hello, Lillian. You seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today!!

"Why wouldn't I be? It's payday," she said excitedly, giving a dramatic little dance that made us both laugh.

I had honestly forgotten about the one day of the month I usually looked forward to the most. My mind had been completely consumed by other things lately, leaving my thoughts messy.

Lillian leaned against the edge of my desk, her expression shifting into a look of disdain.

"So... how are things with Josh?" She asked.

I let out a heavy sigh, shifting a stack of papers just to keep my hands busy. "Still the same!"

"Why would a man propose to you and then just completely ghost you for a week?" Lillian scoffed, crossing her arms. "If I were you, I'a cancel the engagement and dump his ass."

"It's only been a week," I mumbled, trying to find some sort of excuse for his bizarre

behavior.

"Yeah, a week," she said, pointing a finger at me. "Long enough to find another man."

I opened my mouth to defend him again, but a sharp knock on the office door cut me off.

"Delivery for Annie Lin." A delivery woman stood in the doorway, practically swallowing the frame behind a massive bouquet of pink flowers.

''That's me," I said, blinking in surprise.

The woman nodded and, with a loud groan of difficulty, she hoisted the heavy arrangement onto my desk. "You lovebirds should really consider the middlemen in your relationships," she muttered, wincing as she stretched out her lower back.

"I am so sorry about that," I said, offering her an apologetic smile.

"No problem. Just tell him to take it easy on the size next time. Sign here, please."

The moment the delivery woman left the room, Lillian practically pounced on the desk, her eyes wide. "I wonder who this is from."

I gave her a warning glare. "It's from Josh, of course."

"Oh, really?" she said, rolling her eyes.

Ignoring her sarcasm, I stepped closer to the bouquet, a genuine hint of happiness blooming inside my chest. Peonies. They were lush, fragrant, and absolutely beautiful. They were my favorite flowers.

But a small chill settled in my stomach. Josh had never given me peonies before. In the entire year we had been together, he always bought roses. That was because roses were his mother's favorite, and every time he bought flowers for me, he simply ordered a duplicate arrangement to save time. I had tried telling him countless times that I preferred peonies, but he always brushed it off, saying it wasn't a big deal.

Looking the giant bouquet, I wanted so badly to believe he had finally listened. It filled a quiet void in my heart.

"Oh, look," Lillian pointed, breaking my train of thought. "There's a card attached." Before I could even reach for it, she snatched it up and glanced at me playfully. "May I?"

"Go ahead," I sighed, amused.

Lillian cleared her throat and read in a dramatic voice: "''Dear Annie, I can't wait to be by your side, for it is all I've ever wanted. - X!" My cheeks warmed instantly, a sudden spike of heat rushing to my face.

"A little cringe," Lillian mused, tapping the card against her chin, "but that's actually really romantic."

"See?" I said, a relieved smile breaking across my face as I looked at the beautiful arrangement. "Josh isn't so bad after all."

"Josh?" Lillian scoffed, rolling her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "It's clearly from a secret admirer. Stop fantasizing about that man, Annie. He couldn't possibly have thought to do this."

"You need to start giving my fiancé some credit," I mumbled, crossing my arms defensively.

"And you need to stop making excuses for him. If it's from Josh, then why on earth does the card say 'From X'?"

"Maybe it's the name of the flower shop?" I offered weakly.

Lillian gave me a completely deadpan look.

"Girl, be serious!"

"Hey!" I suddenly raised my voice, snapping my fingers to startle her. "Where is the document I asked you to prepare yesterday?"

Lillian's eyes widened, and she immediately began taking a slow step backward toward the exit. "Huh? What did you say? I can't hear you, Annie. You'll have to speak up!"

"Don't you dare try to escape, Lillian."

"Gosh, what is wrong with my ears today?" she mumbled, her hand finding the doorknob behind her back. "What did you say? Did you say take a break?"

"I am not kidding."

"I think I need to see an audiologist. I suddenly can't hear a single thing!" And just like that, she vanished into the hallway, shutting the door tightly behind her.

I chuckled, dropping into my office chair with a loud thud. At least the distraction had gotten her off my back, for now.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed against the wooden desk. Expecting something work related, I picked it up with no expectations, only for my breath to catch in my throat. It was a text from Josh.

'Let's meet up!

My heart sped up, a relieved smile breaking across my face. He hadn't forgotten about me after all.

I arrived at our favorite café shortly afterward, my eyes searching the crowded tables until I spotted him. Josh was sitting in a corner booth, dressed entirely in black and wearing a dark pair of sunglasses.

I skeptically took the seat right across from him, looking at his attire.

"What's wrong? Did someone die?" I asked, my voice laced with genuine worry.

"No," he clipped out.

"Are you hiding from someone?"

"No!"

"Are you si-"

"Enough questions!" Josh snapped.

His sudden outburst was loud enough to draw the attention of the people at the table beside us. Realizing he had made a scene, he quickly turned to them and offered a tight, apologetic smile.