Chapter 8 Plan

Nathaniel sat across from Lila in the modest cafe he had chosen to blend in with the locals. The city bustled outside, but inside, it was quieter, a perfect place to think through the next steps. He studied Lila for a moment, still getting used to the idea of having her around. She was calm, composed, and far more professional than he had anticipated.

But there was one thing he needed to fix immediately.

"Lila," Nathaniel started, his tone casual, "there's something I need you to do."

Lila straightened up, ready for his request. "Of course, sir. Whatever you need."

"First of all," Nathaniel said, a faint smile on his face, "stop calling me 'sir.' If we're going to pull this off, you'll need to blend in just as much as I do. From now on, call me 'brother' in public. It'll raise fewer questions if we look like family rather than billionaire and butler."

Lila hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, understanding the practicality of his request. "Understood... brother," she said, her voice smooth, though there was a faint hint of amusement in her eyes.

Nathaniel smirked. "Good. That's a start."

After finishing their coffee, they left the cafe and walked to the nearby bank. Nathaniel pulled out the purple ATM card his father had given him earlier. He wasn't sure how much was on it, but given his father's penchant for lavish gestures, he suspected it wouldn't be a small amount.

Nathaniel approached the ATM and inserted the card, keeping an eye on Lila, who stood a few steps behind him, scanning the area like a bodyguard. She was clearly taking her new role seriously, despite the shift in how she was supposed to present herself.

When the ATM screen displayed the balance, Nathaniel's eyes widened slightly-half a million dollars. His father, Edward, never did anything halfway. This was more than enough for what Nathaniel had in mind, but the amount only reinforced his desire to keep things low-profile.

He pulled the card out and pocketed it, turning back to Lila. "Looks like we're good. But we need to find a place to stay-something modest, nothing that'll draw attention."

Lila nodded, her calm demeanor never faltering. "I can start looking for apartments right away."

"Actually," Nathaniel interrupted, "I'll handle that. I need you to do something else for me."

Lila raised an eyebrow, waiting for his instructions.

"I need you to get out of that butler suit," Nathaniel said with a smirk. "If you're going to play my sister, you can't be walking around in formal attire. People will ask too many questions."

Lila blinked, surprised by the request. "You want me to change my appearance?"

Nathaniel nodded. "Exactly. Something casual. Jeans, a shirt-anything that says 'normal.' I can't have you sticking out like a sore thumb."

Lila considered this for a moment, then nodded again. "Understood, brother. I'll find something appropriate."

With the next part of the plan in motion, Nathaniel and Lila headed toward the city's quieter districts. They spent the next few hours walking through various neighborhoods, looking for apartments that were modest yet decent enough for them to stay without drawing too much attention.

Nathaniel knew that the more inconspicuous they were, the easier it would be to execute his plans. He had no intention of living like a billionaire for the next few weeks; he needed to be someone no one would suspect-a regular guy living an ordinary life.

As they explored, Nathaniel noticed how seamlessly Lila adjusted to the new role. She had changed into simple clothing-dark jeans, a fitted jacket, and sneakers. She no longer looked like a highly trained butler but rather like a normal young woman, blending into the surroundings with ease. He couldn't help but be impressed by her adaptability.

After a few more hours, they found an apartment that fit Nathaniel's criteria. It was a small, unassuming place in a less expensive part of the city. The building itself was nothing special, but it was clean and quiet. Most importantly, it was off the radar-perfect for someone looking to lie low.

As they stood in front of the building, Nathaniel looked over at Lila. "This will do," he said. "I'll take care of the lease. In the meantime, you keep up appearances. We need to make sure no one figures out who we really are."

Lila nodded, slipping effortlessly into her new role. "I'll handle it. No one will suspect a thing."

Nathaniel smiled faintly, satisfied with the day's progress. His plan was starting to come together. With the funds from the purple card, a low-profile apartment, and Lila's assistance, he could now focus on the next phase of his operation without his family-or his enemies-knowing his every move.

But as he watched the sun dip below the horizon, Nathaniel knew this was only the beginning. There were far bigger challenges ahead, and soon, he would need to face them head-on.

Nathaniel and Lila had finally settled into the modest apartment they had found. It was far from luxurious-just a small one-bedroom space with a living room and a basic kitchen. They didn't have any furniture yet, and the only thing they could do was spread out the few blankets Nathaniel had purchased earlier.

That night, they both slept on the floor, using their jackets as makeshift pillows. It was a stark contrast to the opulence Nathaniel was used to, but for him, it felt liberating. No pretense, no expectations-just a simple, quiet night away from the weight of his usual life.

As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind spun with plans for the next day. First on the list: home essentials. He needed to buy some basic appliances and furniture to make the apartment livable. It wouldn't be anything fancy, just enough to keep up appearances while he kept his head low.

He glanced over at Lila, who had already drifted off to sleep. She had adapted quickly to her new role, and despite the discomfort of their current living situation, she hadn't complained once. Nathaniel couldn't help but admire her professionalism. He closed his eyes, preparing for the busy day ahead.

---

The next morning, Nathaniel woke early, groggy from sleeping on the hard floor. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he noticed that Lila was already up, moving around the apartment with a quiet efficiency.

He sat up, watching her curiously. She was no longer dressed in the simple, casual clothes she had worn the day before. Instead, she had donned a different outfit-a fitted black turtleneck and sleek pants that made her look more like a high-end assistant than a butler. But it wasn't her outfit that caught Nathaniel off guard. It was the way she moved, the precision in her actions, as if she had seamlessly shifted into a new role overnight.

"Morning," Nathaniel mumbled, stretching as he stood up. "I was planning to head out to get some appliances today. We can't keep living like this."

Lila turned to face him, her expression calm but with a hint of something else-confidence. "No need for that, brother," she said smoothly, slipping effortlessly into the role he had assigned her. "I've already made arrangements."

Nathaniel blinked, surprised. "You... what?"

Lila gave him a small smile. "I took the liberty of contacting a few suppliers early this morning. I've secured a deal with a local store, and they'll be delivering the essentials within the hour-furniture, kitchen appliances, everything we need to make this place functional."

Nathaniel stared at her for a moment, processing what she had just said. He hadn't expected Lila to take such initiative, especially considering their low-key situation. But then again, she was the daughter of his family's trusted butler. It made sense that she would be highly resourceful.

"You did all that while I was asleep?" he asked, genuinely impressed.

Lila nodded. "It's part of my job, isn't it? I know you want to keep things discreet, but I also understand the importance of maintaining a certain standard, even in a situation like this. I made sure the deliveries are being made under the radar-no one will know who we really are."

Nathaniel shook his head in disbelief, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You've definitely exceeded my expectations, Lila. I guess I underestimated you."

Lila's smile widened, just a fraction. "I aim to please, brother."

Nathaniel chuckled, still getting used to her calling him that. But he couldn't deny how useful Lila was proving to be. She wasn't just a butler-she was an asset, someone who could anticipate his needs and make things happen without drawing attention.

Just as she had said, within the hour, a delivery truck arrived with the items she had ordered. They spent the rest of the morning setting up the apartment-assembling furniture, plugging in appliances, and arranging the space so that it felt more like a home and less like an empty shell.

By midday, the apartment looked completely different. It was still modest, but now it had a functional kitchen, a small dining table, a couch, and even a few decorations that gave it some warmth. Nathaniel couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, despite knowing this was only a temporary hideaway.

As they finished setting up, Nathaniel looked over at Lila, who was placing the last few items in the kitchen. "You know," he said, leaning against the doorframe, "you're really good at this. It's almost like you were trained for it."

Lila gave him a sidelong glance, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I've had years of practice. My father made sure I could handle anything that might come up."

Nathaniel nodded, his respect for her growing by the minute. "I can see that. I'm glad to have you on my side."

Lila paused for a moment, then turned to face him fully. "And I'm glad to be here, brother. Whatever plans you have, you can count on me to see them through."

Nathaniel smiled, feeling more confident than ever about the path ahead. With Lila by his side, he knew he could move forward with his plans-whatever challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them.

Now that they had a secure base of operations, Nathaniel's mind began to turn toward the next phase of his strategy. There were still threats lurking in the shadows-Zara, Project Helix, and the mysteries surrounding his father's connections-but he was ready for them. This time, he had control.

And with Lila's help, he intended to keep it that way.