Under his control

CHAPTER 2

Annie couldn’t move. Her phone was still in her hand, but her fingers had gone numb.

See you soon, Annie.

He said her name. Her heart started beating so fast it felt like it was trying to escape her chest.

“No… no… no…”

She looked around quickly, People were walking past her like nothing was wrong.

But for Annie…

Everything had stopped.

“How does he know me…?”

This wasn’t online again. This wasn’t just comments and likes This was real.

Someone knew her. Someone was watching her.

Her phone slipped a little in her hand as another notification came in.

She flinched again. But this time…

It wasn’t him. It was her bank app. Her eyes widened. Slowly… she opened it. Her breath stopped.

Balance: 0.00$

Her whole body went cold.

“No…”

She refreshed it. Still zero.

“No, no, no”

Her salary. Her last pay. Everything. Gone. Her head started spinning.

“that’s not possible…”

Her hands started shaking badly now. She quickly checked her messages. Nothing. No alert. No explanation. Nothing. Tears started forming in her eyes.

“This can’t be happening…”

Everything was falling apart. Everything at once.

Her job. Her money. Her life. Her chest tightened so much it hurt. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. Then her phone buzzed again.

Unknown number.

Her heart dropped. Slowly… She opened it.

Unknown number: Life changes fast.

Her eyes filled with tears.

“What do you want from me…?” she whispered.

Another message came in.

Unknown number: Tomorrow. 9 AM.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Unknown number: Don’t be late.

That night, Annie didn’t sleep, not even for a minute, she just sat on her bed, staring at nothing. Her mind kept replaying everything.

The post. The message. Her bank account. Her name.

It didn’t make sense.

None of it made sense, her mother coughed softly in the next room,

Annie closed her eyes tightly. Guilt hit her hard. She had nothing now. No job. No money. Nothing.

Her stepfather’s voice echoed in her head.

“Useless girl!”

“What choice do I have…?” she whispered.

Silence answered her, she looked down at her phone again.

9 AM.

Samuel Group.

Her stomach twisted, it felt like walking into fire, but staying here Was already burning her.

The next morning came too fast, Annie stood in front of the building. Her hands were cold. Her legs felt weak.

Samuel Group.

It was even bigger in real life, Tall. Shiny. Untouchable Like him.

She swallowed hard.

“I can’t do this…”

But her feet didn’t move. Her mother’s face flashed in her mind.

The hospital bills. The empty kitchen. Her stepfather’s voice.

“…I have to.”

She took a deep breath. And walked in.

Everything inside felt… different, Clean, Cold, Controlled,

People moved fast. Confident. No one looked scared, Except her.

She walked slowly, holding her bag tightly. Her heart wouldn’t calm down.

A woman at the front desk looked up.

“Can I help you?”

Annie nodded quickly.

“I’m here for an appointment”

The woman typed something.

Then paused. Her expression changed.

“Oh.”

Annie’s stomach twisted.

“Name?”

“Annie…”

The woman nodded slowly.

Then picked up the phone.

“She’s here.”

Annie blinked.

She’s here?

Before she could ask anything, someone walked up to her. A tall woman. Sharp eyes. No smile.

“Follow me.”

Annie didn’t argue. She just followed.

Her heart was beating louder with every step.

They walked through long halls. Glass walls. Big offices.

Everything looked expensive. Everything looked powerful.

Like she didn’t belong there.

They stopped in front of a big door. The woman turned to her.

“Go in.”

Annie blinked.

“Alone?”

The woman didn’t answer. She just walked away.

Annie stood there. Frozen. Her hand slowly reached for the door. Her heart was pounding so hard now, it almost hurt.

“This is a bad idea…”

But she pushed the door open anyway. The room was quiet. Too quiet. Big. Cold. And then,

She saw him. Sitting at the head of the table. Still. Calm. Watching her.

Stephen Samuel.

He didn’t move. Didn’t smile. Didn’t speak. He just watched her.

“Close the door.”

His voice was low. Calm. But heavy.

She quickly turned and closed it. Her hands were shaking.

When she faced him again, He was still looking at her. That same look. Sharp. Deep. Like he could see everything.

“I… I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

She didn’t plan it.

It just came out.

“I didn’t mean”

“Sit.”

She stopped immediately. Her body moved before she could think. She sat down.

Her hands resting on her lap. Shaking. The silence came back. Heavy. Uncomfortable.

“I read it,” he said finally.

Her heart dropped.

“Every word.”

Her throat went dry.

“I was just”

“Tired?” he cut in.

She froze. “…yes.”

“Angry?”

She nodded slowly.

“Frustrated?”

Another nod.

He leaned forward slightly.

“Good.”

Annie blinked.

“What…?”

That wasn’t what she expected. At all.

He reached for a file. Then slid it toward her.

“Sign it.”

She looked down. Her hands trembling as she opened it.

Her eyes scanned the page. Her breath caught. A job contract. High salary. More money than she had ever seen. Her head spun.

“This… this is too much…”

“Yes.”

“But why…?” she whispered.

Her eyes slowly lifted to his.

He held her gaze.

And then, A small smile touched his lips. Not warm. Not kind. But Dangerous.

“Because I want you close.”

Her heart skipped. Her chest tightened.

“…close for what?” she asked softly.

He didn’t answer immediately. He just kept looking at her.

Like he was deciding something.

“Because you interest me.”

Her breath caught. That word again.

“Interest”.

Not anger. Not hate. Something else.

Something worse

Everything felt… wrong. Too easy.

Too planned. Like this wasn’t a coincidence.

Before she could speak again,

Her phone buzzed loudly in her bag. She flinched. He didn’t. He just watched her.

“Answer it,” he said calmly.

Her hands shook as she pulled it out.

A message. From Sophia.

Her only friend.

Sophia: Annie… what is going on?

Another message came in.

Sophia: People are posting about you.

Her fingers trembled. Another one.

Sophia: They’re saying you slept with him for money.

Annie’s breath stopped.

“What…?”

Her chest tightened painfully. Her eyes filled with tears.

“That’s not true…”

Her voice came out broken.

Slowly… She lifted her head. And looked at Stephen.

He was already watching her.

“Did you”

Her voice shook.

“Did you do this…?”

The room went silent.

Stephen didn’t answer immediately.

He just leaned back in his chair. Still looking at her. Then finally… He spoke. Low. Controlled. Dangerous.

“Do you think I need to lie…”

He paused. His eyes darkening slightly.

“To ruin you?”

Annie’s heart dropped.

Because in that moment… She realized something terrifying.

This wasn’t about the post anymore.

This wasn’t about a job.

This wasn’t even about her mistake.

This was something else. Something bigger. Something she didn’t understand yet. And before she could even process it

Her phone buzzed again.

Another message.

But this time, it wasn’t from Sophia. It wasn’t from him. It was from an unknown number. Her hands shook as she opened it. Her eyes widened. Her blood ran cold.

Unknown: Check your mother.

Annie shot up from her seat. Her heart slamming hard against her chest.

“What did you do?!” she gasped, panic rising fast.

Stephen didn’t move. Didn’t react. He just watched her.

Annie grabbed her bag, her hands shaking uncontrollably. And ran for the door.