A Foolish Lie

Chapter Four

 CHAPTER FOUR

 My first day rolled in and I was ready. Or well I thought I was. Over the weekend I researched the company that hired me. Fritz and Yoon was a law firm that had many international clients. They deal with big international businesses from a manufacturing corporation to the latest technology company that people are crazy about.

So, with no clue to what I signed up for, I prepared to do my best. "I have a bachelor's degree in business management after all, so I can do this!" I affirm myself as I walk in the large office.

"I can not do this!" I sigh

I was greeted by the receptionist, Mrs. Khan. She kindly showed me around. "That's Mr. Yoon's office. He may seem frightening at first but he's a kind man and a great lawyer too," she said.

"There's the kitchenette, we all have a lunch break at 12 sharp," she said while pointing to a room in the far end of the room.

"And here's your cubicle. You'll see that you already have a few documents that need to be translated from Spanish to English.

"Wait! Translate?" I looked to her with surprise.

"Yes, my dear. That's your job, isn't it? You're the translator Mr. Fritz hired, right?" she looked at me with smiling eyes.

"Oh, right. Yes, I'm the translator. That's me!" I answered trying to hide my nervousness.

"Alrighty. I'll leave you now. Have a great first day!"

I watch her walk away then I slumped on the swivel chair.

Translator.

"Stupid Taylor! This is what you get for fooling around." I smacked my face.

I called Fernando. "Hello? Nando?"

"Hey man! What's up? Isn't this your first day? How is it? he asked.

"Yeah, see that's the thing. I somehow got hired to be a translator."

"What? Somehow? What do you mean somehow? How the heck do you "somehow" get hired as a translator?" he asked.

"It's a long story. I was desperate, so I added in my resume that I know how to speak Spanish." I whispered trying not to gain attention from anyone.

"I didn't even think that they'd call me and even hire me. As I told you guys I didn't even know the position, until five minutes ago." I explained.

I heard a boisterous laugh on the other end, "Oh, dude! You messed up!"

"Español, ha! Mi amigo you and I both know that you failed all your Spanish classes in high school." Fernando laughed some more.

"I know, it was stupid to put that in my resume, but I did. Now, I got the job and I need the money."

"So can you help me translate some documents to English, please?" I plead.

"Nah man, you got into that yourself."

"I'll buy you dinner for a week."

"A month."

"Ten days"

"Three weeks" he bargained some more.

"Two weeks, that's all I can do." I sighed.

"Deal," he replied.

"Deal."

"Okay, so what will I be translating?" he asked.

"Documents."

After a few hours of work with Fernando's help during the first hour and the help of almighty Google translate for the last hours, I finally finished the document.

I checked my watch and saw it was five minutes to lunchtime. I headed to the kitchenette. Most of the people were already there. Mrs. Khan introduced me to the people. Then a dreaded question was asked, "How many languages do you speak, Taylor?" It was an old man who asked, Mr. Richard.

I slowly swallowed my sandwich and cleared my throat.

"Oh. Uhm, English, and Spanish," I looked around the room.

Then I suddenly blurted out, "Tagalog and Chinese."

Stupid fool!