Chapter 4 — I Hide Eight Languages For Three Years

I placed the trophy on the table, my hands still shaking slightly. At half past nine, the prize giving ended. MC stepped up: "Next, please invite boss Tham to give a speech summarizing the year." Tham Vien stepped onto the stage and held the microphone.

"Today is a special day. Not only because of the year-end party, but also because our company is about to enter an important turning point."

The whole hall was silent.

"The Alvarez project will be the largest project in the company's history. But at the same time, it will also be the most difficult. It requires us to have a truly international vision, and real language competence."

He stopped.

"I know the promise just now makes many people find it hard to believe. 59% salary increase... that's a really big number."

"But I want to make it clear, this is not empty talk. The company needs truly capable people, not to fill vacancies. If there is anyone who is truly fluent in Spanish, I will not only keep my word, but also assign responsibility."

He looked around the hall.

"So, I'll ask again. Here... does no one really know Spanish?"

The atmosphere fell silent again. I bit my lip and bowed my head. Fingers tighten the hem of the dress. Stand up… or continue to be silent? At that moment, there was sudden movement in the corner of the room. A voice rang out.

“Sir, I know.”

All eyes simultaneously turned towards that direction. I also raised my head. At the corner table, a middle-aged man wearing glasses stood up. That is a long-time employee of the finance department, Tien Quoc An. Over fifty years old, quiet, existing in the company like a shadow. He stood up and took out an old yellow envelope from the briefcase next to him. Holding it, he walked straight towards the stage. The whole hall held its breath. The wine glass in my hand slid down, hitting the table with a "click" sound. Tieu Vu's fork fell to the ground. Someone behind him took a sharp breath. The HR manager stared at the paper bag, his face pale. Tien Quoc An stopped in front of the stage and raised his voice — in standard Madrid accent:

“Senor Shen, tengo algo que mostrarle.”

“Boss Tham, I have something to show you.”

Fluent Spanish rang out, spreading throughout the hall. Tham Vien's face changed, his eyes flashed with surprise. Fernando and Sofia looked at each other, clearly also surprised. Tien Quoc An gave the paper bag to Tham Vien. He took it and slowly opened it. Inside is a file. A copy of the certificate stamped in red. Tham Vien turned the first page, looked up at him, her eyes full of disbelief.

“University of Madrid… master's in linguistics?”

The whole hall roared. Tien Quoc An nodded: "Graduated in 1987." Tham Vien continued to flip, his voice shaking slightly: "Spanish simultaneous interpretation certificate... recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of country B?"

“Taken in 1990.” He replied, his voice calm. “After that, I worked as a translator at the embassy of country B in country H for eight years.”

The whole hall exploded.

“What?!”

“Does he have such a great background?!”

“Ever been a diplomatic interpreter?!”

Heaven and earth seemed to rotate before my eyes. The whole world... started to deviate from orbit. The old accountant who bows his head every day to calculate accounts... has such a past? Luu Phong jumped up, his voice changed: "Teacher Tien, why didn't you say anything?"

“No one asked.” Tien Quoc An replied blandly, "Furthermore, when I joined, I applied for a financial position, not a translator."

Tham Vien put the file on the table and looked at him for a long time. Silent for a few seconds, he asked: “Why are you saying it now?” Tien Quoc An looked straight at him, his voice calm: "Because of what you said earlier."

"What you said was in Spanish. 59% salary increase for people who know Spanish. But you used the wrong word."

The whole hall fell into silence again. Not even the sound of breathing was heard. I held my breath, my heart beating rapidly. Tien Quoc An continued: "You use 'todos los presentes', meaning 'all those present'. But if you want to say 'all those who know Spanish', it must be 'todos los que hablen espanol'. Your sentence... is not grammatically correct." Tham Vien's expression froze. Fernando laughed, saying a sentence in Spanish. Tien Quoc An immediately responded, fluently. The two talked back and forth for nearly a minute. No one in the whole hall understood, they could only watch them talk. Finally, Fernando gave a thumbs up, turned to Tham Vien and said in English: "This person's Spanish is better than many of our local staff in country H." Tham Vien's face changed a few times, then smiled: "Teacher Tien is really secretive." He turned to the whole hall: "Does anyone else know Spanish?" My nails dug deep into my palms. No one stood up anymore. Tham Vien looked at Tien Quoc An and said solemnly: "From tomorrow, I am the deputy director of the international business department. Salary increase is 59%, effective immediately." Applause rose like waves. But I sat still. I missed it. Missed it completely. When the party ended, it was almost eleven o'clock. Everyone started to leave, I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave.

“Luc Vy, wait a minute.”

Tran Lam called me back. I turned my head: "Miss Tran?"

"Boss Tham told me to tell you to go to his room at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. There's something important to talk about."

Tran Lam's expression is somewhat complicated. My heart clenched slightly: "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure. You'll know tomorrow when you come up."

I nodded and left the hotel. The night wind was cold, making me shiver. I stood on the side of the road, looking at the traffic passing by, my mind was confused. Why does Tham Vien want to see me? Is it because of the phrase “sorry I don't know Spanish”? Phone vibrates. Message from Tran Lam: "Forgot to say, when you meet boss tomorrow, remember to bring your resume to work. Human resources will prepare it for you." Job application? My hands trembled slightly. I answered: “Yes.” Putting down the phone, I suddenly remembered something. Three years before starting the job, the human resources department asked to submit photocopies of all certificates. At that time, I hesitated for a long time, but in the end I still photocopied everything and submitted it. The CV was only written in English, but in the file— My face immediately turned pale. In it are all my language certificates. Not a single book is missing. I used to think that HR wouldn't look carefully, thinking that they would be buried in the file, forever undiscovered. But now... Tham Vien wants to see my file. My secret… is about to be revealed. The next morning, nine fifty, I was at the company. The human resources department has prepared the documents and placed them in a document bag.

“This is my file.” The head of the human resources department gave it to me, his eyes looking a bit strange. “Boss Tham is waiting.”

I took it, my hands shaking slightly. Standing in front of Tham Vien's door, I took a deep breath and knocked. I pushed the door and walked in. Tham Vien sat behind the desk, looking at documents.

“Hello boss.”

“Sit down.” He raised his head and pointed to the chair opposite.

I sat down and put down my file bag onto the table. Tham Vien looked at the file bag for a few seconds. Then he opened his hand. He took the document inside and flipped through the pages. The front page is my photos and basic information. Second page… His movements stopped. Above is a photocopy of all the certificates I submitted. High-level specialized English. DELE C2 Spanish certificate. DALF C2 French certificate. German certificate with perfect score. Japanese language certificate N1 maximum score. Korean language certificate level 6. Russian interpretation certificate. High level Arabic language certificate. Eight books, neatly arranged. Tham Vien raised his head, his eyes sharp as knives. His voice was very calm, but each word seemed to pound.

“Luc Vy, explain to me.”

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. His fingers lightly tapped the certificates.

"When I started working, the staff asked me to submit all my certificates. I submitted them. But in my CV... I only wrote in English."

He closed the file, his voice turned cold.

“So for the past three years, you've been lying to the company?”

My tears fell.

“I don't… I just…”

"Just what? It's just that it feels safer to hide it?"

I bit my lip, unable to say a word. Tham Vien stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to me.

“Last night at the party, when I said that in Spanish… you understood, right?”

I was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.