Chapter 196: Tail

"We’re being followed ma’am," Lillian’s driver reported as he looked at the vehicle behind them through the rear view mirror.He had taken a couple of turns willfully, only to have the same car still tailing them.

"Keep driving," Lillian replied as her eyes remained glued to the phone, while she chatted with Ethan.

He had already informed her that a couple of people were on her tail and she shouldn’t worry, just act like she noticed nothing.

The driver nodded and kept driving forward, Miss Romanova had ordered them to ensure Miss Hayes’ safety no matter what, and that was exactly what he planned on doing.

Tapping behind the steering wheel, he sent a ping to all the other guards assigned to her and to both OmniTech’s CEO and Miss Romanova.

The ping revealed their live location, Incase anything unplanned ended up happening. If things went wrong, backup would arrive in less than a minute.

"Ma’am," he said carefully, "should I attempt to lose them?"

Lillian finally looked up, her eyes were completely calm, almost bored. Ethan’s last message sat at the top of her screen.

Ethan: Stick to your normal route. Don’t make them nervous yet.

She placed her phone on her lap.

"No, stay on the usual path home." She shook her head.

According to Ethan, they had visited her apartment earlier so it was no use running around with them,

The driver hesitated, her orders went against every instinct he had, but at the same time, she couldn’t refuse them, after all, she was his boss now.

"Understood," he nodded.

He took the next turn, her normal one and watched the tailing car mimic the move exactly.

He didn’t like that, not one bit.

They drove in silence as he apartment building came into view, the driver pulled up at the parking lot, as he subtly glanced back to see their tailers had stopped just a small distance away from the gate.

He guided Lillian towards the private elevator which led directly to her floor, staying half a step behind her.

He was both alert and a bit tense, and his hand was hovering just close enough to his concealed sidearm without actually drawing it.

When the elevator arrived, he pressed the button for her floor, then stepped aside.

"I’ll stop here, ma’am," he said.

Lillian gave a small nod, "good work. Inform Irina that I’m safely back at the apartment."

"Yes, ma’am."

He waited until the elevator doors slid shut before pulling out his phone and typing out a quick, secured message.

Then he turned sharply, eyes scanning the hallway and especially the distant parking gate. The tailing car was still there, idly watching.

Something was definitely wrong.

***

The elevator doors slid open into Lillian’s new penthouse, and she stepped out quietly.

Instantly, she felt it.

A presence, there was someone else in here.

Though, she quickly relaxed when she smelt the perfume that hung in the air. It was a pretty recognizable one and only one person she knew, had it.

"Welcome home," Ethan’s voice echoed calmly from her left.

She turned and saw him standing by the glass window, city lights painting his silhouette gold and blue.

He didn’t look tense, if anything, he looked like someone who had been waiting for her.

"You got here fast," she said, lifting a brow.

"I just got here," Ethan put his phone back into his pocket.

That was a lie, he had been waiting for almost half an hour for her, hence the reason there was food covered on the dining table.

One which she immediately caught a whiff of.

A faint warmth eased into Lillian’s chest at the sight of him, but she kept her expression composed.

"You cooked?" she asked, trying, and failing, not to sound impressed.

Ethan shrugged lightly, "figured you’d skip lunch again."

"I didn’t skip—"

"Yes, you did, he didn’t even give her time to deny it, "twice."

She folded her arms, "Athena snitched, didn’t she?"

His silence was answer enough.

Lillian sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She walked toward the dining table, lifting a corner of the foil.

The scent of freshly cooked food drifted out.

Her mouth instantly started watering but before she could extend her hand to pick up a spoon, Ethan was already by her and had gently slapped it away.

She looked like some kind of wronged puppy as she looked at him in question.

"Wash your hands first," he ordered, unwilling to let her take a single bite, not intil she followed his order anyway.

With a defeated sigh, she walked towards the kitchen sink and washed both hands before going back to the table and sitting down.

Lillian showed both hands to him and he only chuckled in response before moving the plate towards him.

"Where’s yours?" She asked, seeing that there was only one plate.

He just smiled in response and patted her head before saying, "eat."

Lillian obediently followed his words and started eating only to look up and see a small frown on his face.

No, there wasn’t a frown there, but she had gotten so used to observing him that she could now pick up even the smallest of changes in his expression.

"Tell me," she said softly, "how many are following me?"

"Two directly," Ethan answered as he leaned one shoulder against the window frame, "but there are more watching the surrounding area."

Her heartbeat jumped — but she hid it well.

"And you’re being extremely calm about this," she said, narrowing her eyes.

He smirked faintly. "Someone has to be."

Lillian rolled her eyes, but she stepped closer to him, almost unconsciously seeking the reassurance of his presence.

"Are they Victor’s?" she asked.

"No doubt," Ethan replied, the words cold but steady, "he thinks you’re his opening and he believes you’re alone."

She breathed out slowly.

"...I’m guessing you didn’t correct him?"

"Not yet," Ethan said, "I’m waiting for him to make a mistake big enough that he can’t crawl away from."

He reached out, brushing a stray strand behind her ear with an unexpected gentleness.

"You’re safe," he said quietly, "I’ll keep making sure of that."

Her breath caught.

"Promise?" she whispered as she placed the spoon down.

He smiled and said, "I promise."

Lillian stared at him for a long moment, spoon resting quietly on the table.

There was something about the way he said it — calm, certain, absolute — that made the promise feel heavier than any oath sworn in court.

"Good," she whispered, her voice steadier than the emotion rising behind it. "Because they looked... too prepared today."

Ethan’s eyes sharpened almost imperceptibly. "They were."

He walked around the table, fingers tapping lightly against the surface as if aligning pieces in his head.

"They came to your apartment earlier," he said, "but they didn’t enter. They were confirming your routine."

"That’s—" Lillian clenched her jaw, "annoying."

"It’s also sloppy," Ethan added. "Victor’s getting impatient."

She raised a brow. "And that’s good?"

"It means he’ll start making mistakes," Ethan said with a small smile, though his eyes were cold, "and I only need one."

Lillian went quiet, not because she was afraid, but because she was thinking.

Her mind worked differently from his; she saw patterns and business plays, not the predatory angles Ethan saw.

"So what’s the plan?" she asked finally.

Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a black folder. He dropped it gently onto the table in front of her.

Lillian blinked. "What’s this?"

"Everything you’ll need to ruin Victor’s next move," Ethan replied, "quietly."

She brushed her fingers over the cover, then looked back up at him.

"You’re not planning to confront him yet?"

"Not yet." Ethan leaned his hands on the back of the chair opposite her. "You’re the bait he wants. And I need him focused on you for what comes next."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, "You’re using me."

"Yes," he said plainly, "but only in a way that keeps you safest."

"...That sounded better in your head, didn’t it?"

He exhaled lightly — maybe even a laugh.

"Probably."

Lillian finally picked up the spoon, but her gaze stayed locked on him.

"So what’s actually coming next?"

Ethan met her eyes, and in that moment, all traces of the gentle teasing vanished.

His expression turned dark, the kind of ruthlessness he never showed to anyone else.

"Next?" he said quietly.

"We make Victor regret ever looking in your direction."

Lillian felt a chill slide down her spine. Deep down, all she felt was anticipation.

"And after that?" she asked.

Ethan stepped closer, close enough that she could smell the faint heat of his cologne.

"After that," he said, his voice low, "I destroy everything he’s using to revive himself, carefully, publicly and permanently."

Lillian swallowed, unable to stop the small smile forming.

"...I like when he talks like that," she muttered absentmindedly.

"Hmm?" He asked looking at her which caused her to slap both hands on her mouth.

"Did I say that out loud?" She asked, embarrassed.

A slow, dangerous smirk curved Ethan’s lips.

"Yes," he said softly, "you said that out loud."

Lillian looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. She spun around in her chair, burying her face in her hands.

But then she paused and lifted her head,

"Wait a minute, you’re my boyfriend now," she muttered, "I’m allowed to do this much."

"Yes, you are," Ethan answered with a chuckle.