Chapter 9 The interview

Nathaniel sat at a small, unremarkable desk in their modest apartment, scrolling through job listings on a cheap laptop he had bought earlier. His new plan required him to embed himself deeper into this new city, where no one knew his true identity. He wasn't here as the billionaire owner of S.A.T.F.A.R. but as an ordinary man, blending into the workforce while he worked behind the scenes on his larger goals.

Lila, dressed casually and sitting on the couch behind him, looked over the edge of a book. "Are you sure this is necessary?" she asked. "You already have access to more resources than anyone in this city."

Nathaniel smirked, not taking his eyes off the screen. "If I want to stay under the radar, I need to act like an average person. And that means getting a regular job. Besides, the less anyone suspects me, the easier it will be to deal with the real threats."

Lila nodded but didn't seem convinced. "It's risky."

"I know," Nathaniel replied. "But so is doing nothing."

He clicked on a job posting for a tech startup, one that focused on artificial intelligence and software development-right in his wheelhouse. They were looking for a systems engineer, someone who could help optimize their platforms and streamline processes. It was perfect.

Nathaniel quickly crafted a resume, using a fake name and an untraceable background. He listed just enough qualifications to get him the job without raising suspicion. His plan was simple: get inside, learn what he could, and establish some control in the tech world here before anyone realized who he really was.

After sending off his application, he turned to Lila. "I've got an interview with a small AI company tomorrow. Let's see how that goes."

---

The next day, Nathaniel woke up early, preparing himself for the interview. He wasn't nervous, but he was aware that he had to play the part of an ordinary job seeker-nothing too polished or arrogant. Lila, as usual, had prepared everything he needed, from the suit he would wear to a light breakfast.

As he dressed in the small bathroom, Nathaniel stared at himself in the mirror. Gone was the tailored perfection he was used to. Today, he looked like any other person trying to make a decent living. No one would suspect that he was a billionaire tech genius.

When he stepped out, Lila gave him a once-over and nodded approvingly. "You look... normal," she said with a hint of amusement.

Nathaniel grinned. "That's the point."

---

At the interview, Nathaniel walked into a sleek, modern office building. The company, NexaTech, was small but buzzing with energy. Young developers sat at open desks, typing furiously or talking about the latest trends in artificial intelligence. The atmosphere reminded him of S.A.T.F.A.R. in its early days, though far less advanced.

He was greeted by a receptionist, who directed him to a small conference room where the interview would take place. A few minutes later, a man in his mid-thirties walked in. He had the slightly disheveled look of a typical startup CEO-messy hair, casual clothes, but with sharp, focused eyes.

"Thanks for coming in," the man said, extending his hand. "I'm David. I run things around here."

Nathaniel shook his hand and offered a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Nate." He had decided to keep his name as close to his real one as possible without raising red flags.

They sat down, and David wasted no time diving into the interview. "So, Nate, tell me a bit about your background. What made you interested in working with us?"

Nathaniel had prepared for this. "I've always been interested in AI and its potential to change industries. I've worked on a few smaller projects in the past, mainly optimizing systems for efficiency, but I'm looking for something more challenging. NexaTech seemed like a place where I could really contribute."

David nodded, his eyes scanning Nathaniel with curiosity. "We've had a lot of interest in this position, but your resume stood out. Your skills seem... advanced for someone who hasn't worked for big names."

Nathaniel shrugged casually. "I've always preferred working under the radar. I like being hands-on, not just another cog in a big machine."

David seemed to like that answer. "I get that. We're still small, but we're growing fast. What would you say your strongest skill is when it comes to AI development?"

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, thinking for a moment before replying. "Optimization. I'm good at finding inefficiencies in systems and making them work better-faster. I also have experience integrating AI with existing frameworks without causing disruptions."

David raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That's exactly what we're looking for. We've been having some issues with our current systems, and it's slowing down production. If you can fix that, you'll be invaluable here."

Nathaniel smiled inwardly. He had already planned on fixing their systems easily. It would give him leverage, and leverage was something he intended to use.

The rest of the interview went smoothly. Nathaniel answered every technical question with ease, giving just enough information to showcase his skills without revealing too much. By the end, David was clearly sold.

"Well, Nate," David said, standing up and offering his hand again, "I think you're exactly what we need. I'll have HR send over the paperwork. Welcome to NexaTech."

Nathaniel shook his hand again, a polite smile on his face. "Thanks, I'm looking forward to it."

As he left the office, walking down the street toward the train station, Nathaniel's mind was already spinning with possibilities. He had secured the job, and now he had access to one of the city's up-and-coming tech firms. This was the perfect foothold for his next move.

When he arrived back at the apartment, Lila was waiting for him, sitting at the kitchen table. She looked up from her laptop as he entered. "How did it go?"

Nathaniel dropped his bag on the floor and grinned. "I got the job. Now, the real work begins."

Lila nodded, closing her laptop. "What's the next step?"

Nathaniel's expression turned serious. "We'll use NexaTech to quietly expand our influence here. I'll fix their systems, then leverage that to gain more control. Once we have a foothold in the tech world here, we'll be in a better position to counter any threats."

Lila leaned back in her chair, a glint of admiration in her eyes. "You always think ten steps ahead."

Nathaniel chuckled. "I have to. The game's just beginning."

As the evening settled in, Nathaniel couldn't shake the feeling that things were falling into place. Zara, Project Helix, and any other threats waiting in the shadows wouldn't see him coming. With NexaTech as his cover, he was ready to move his pieces on the board.

But as always, he knew he had to stay one step ahead. In this game, the only way to win was to control everything-before anyone realized who was truly behind the curtain.