Chapter 2 — I Hide Eight Languages For Three Years

That morning, as soon as I arrived at the company, I saw Tran Lam's face as cold as ice.

“There's something big going on.”

She slammed a stack of documents on the table.

“Country H's Alvarez Group wants to end its intention to cooperate.”

Everyone immediately gathered around.

"Alvarez? Isn't he the biggest prospect this year?"

“This order is at least fifty million yuan!”

“Why did it suddenly cancel?”

Tran Lam sighed: "Last month they sent an email, we used translation software to reply. They felt my attitude was superficial and lacking sincerity. Now they give us an ultimatum, they have to respond in three days, or it's over completely."

“So what to do?”

"I contacted a professional translation company to request urgent processing. But three days is too urgent."

My heart moved slightly.

“Can I see that email?”

Tran Lam gave it to me. I glanced over and my heart suddenly skipped a beat. It was an email written in Spanish. The words are extremely formal. But the translation software turns all the polite words into firm demands. I immediately averted my eyes. Can't look any more. If I just look a little more, I won't be able to help but tell the truth.

"How's it going? Do you see any problem?" Tran Lam asked.

“I don't understand Spanish.” I shook my head, my voice calm, "Wait by the translation company."

For the next three days, I lived in a state of insecurity. I know they will mistranslate. Because the tone of that letter is so subtle that it is difficult for machines or ordinary translators to grasp. On the afternoon of Tuesday, the translation company sent the plan. The sales department met to discuss and finally decided to follow their proposal: lower prices, with exclusive supply conditions. I sat listening, my palms wet with sweat. That plan... is wrong. Customers do not care about price at all. What they need is a long-term cooperative attitude and sincerity. But I can't say. On Wednesday, the Alvarez group responded.

"Your company's response disappointed us. We believe that the two sides have fundamental differences in terms of cooperation, so we decided to end all negotiations."

Tran Lam slammed the email on the table.

“The fifty million contract… just lost!”

Boss Tham Vien himself came down, his face extremely ugly.

“What happened?”

Tran Lam told the whole story. After hearing this, Tham Vien was silent for a long time.

“Language barrier?”

“Yes, the other side insists on using Spanish to communicate, and our side…”

“No one in the company knows Spanish?” Tham Vien interrupted.

“It's been surveyed, there's nothing.” The head of human resources replied.

Tham Vien's face became even colder.

"So hire outside. No matter the cost, you must find someone who knows Spanish."

After that, the atmosphere in the company became very strange. I heard all kinds of talk.

“If only the company had someone who knew Spanish.”

“That fifty million… the commission must be huge.”

“I heard that my boss is very angry, saying that our company is too unprofessional.”

I sat at my desk, feeling like a rock was weighing me down. I can obviously help. But I don't dare. In November, the company started preparing for the year-end party. But this year, the atmosphere is completely different. First, the human resources department distributed another foreign language competency survey.

“Didn't you just do the survey last month?” someone grumbled.

“Maybe the boss still wants to find it insiders.”

I looked at the survey, in the "Spanish" section, once again selected "don't know". Next is Tham Vien's schedule. In the past, he rarely went on business trips, but throughout this month he continuously flew to country H. Every time he returned, it was late at night and he looked tired. One time, I met his secretary in the elevator.

“This is the fourth time boss Tham has been to country H, right?” the colleague asked quietly.

The secretary nodded and lowered his voice: "Boss said that the Alvarez project must be taken back and he will personally negotiate."

“Is there still a chance?”

“There must be, otherwise the boss wouldn't have taken such a risk.”

I stood at the corner of the elevator, my heart clenching slightly. It turned out that he took this project very seriously. The third unusual sign came from business director Luu Phong. Last week, I was getting water at the pantry when I heard him calling.

“What? Has the Alvarez side agreed to renegotiate?”

Luu Phong's voice was full of excitement.

“So good! Boss Tham is truly amazing.”

I don't know what the other end of the line said. He continued: “That's right, the boss said we have to form a professional team... must be fluent in Spanish? Okay, I understand. Will be announced at the year-end party.” My hands shook, the water almost spilled out. Announced at the year-end party? Announce what? In the following days, the leadership met continuously. Every time after a meeting, the head of the human resources department's face is not good. One time I passed by the hallway and heard her complaining.

“How can it be so easy? People who are good at Spanish are already rare, they also have to understand foreign trade, and they also have to pay high salaries..."

Another person said: "Boss Tham's intention is very clear, no matter the cost, we must find it."

“No buts. This is an order.”

I stood in the corner of the hallway, my heart beating faster. I have a hunch. Something big will happen at the year-end party. Evening of December 18th, six o'clock, third floor of Hyatt Hotel. I wore a black dress and arrived half an hour early. The banquet hall is very large, crystal chandeliers hang down from the ceiling, sparkling in the light. The stage has been prepared, the red background highlights the words "Year Summary Conference". I found the sales desk and sat down. A moment later Tieu Vu and Ms. Truong from finance also arrived.

“This year is so epic.” Tieu Vu looked around, eyes shining, "I heard they also invited foreign guests."

“Foreign guests?”

“I don't know who it is, it's very mysterious.”

At half past six, everyone had almost arrived. The entire hall was full, more than two hundred people. I looked up at the stage. Tham Vien was present, talking to several leaders. My eyes suddenly stopped. Next to him, there were two foreigners, a man and a woman, with distinctly Western faces. The man was in his forties, wearing a dark blue vest. The woman was in her mid-thirties, blonde hair, elegant temperament.

“Who is that?” Tieu Vu also saw it.

Ms. Truong leaned closer and lowered her voice: "It seems like someone from the Alvarez group." My heart tightened slightly. Alvarez's people… why did they appear here? Before I could finish thinking, the lights in the hall went out. The big screen started showing the company's year-end video. The video ends, the lights turn back on. Tham Vien walked up to the stage and took the microphone.

“Hello everyone. First of all, thank you all for your efforts over the past year."

Applause rang out.