Chapter 3

Vivian's POV

I was a top-tier simultaneous interpreter.

For the past three years, to support Christian's career, I had stepped back and only took on minor translation gigs. Now that Christian had frozen all my credit cards, I had to get back to work to prepare for my departure.

I contacted my former mentor and secured a spot as the lead French interpreter for a massive multinational merger.

On the day of the conference, I wore a sharp, professional blazer and arrived early at the venue.

However, when the acquiring party's delegation walked through the door, my blood froze.

Walking at the head of the group was Christian, looking powerful and intimidating in his bespoke suit. And right next to him was a glammed-up Tiffany.

Blackwood Enterprises was the buyer.

The moment Christian saw me, his brow furrowed in deep annoyance.

"What are you doing here?" his voice dripped with disgust, as if he had run into a cockroach.

My mentor quickly stepped in to explain, "Mr. Blackwood, Vivian is our agency's most elite French interpreter. She is running the translation for today's session..."

"Replace her," Christian cut him off ruthlessly. "I don't want a toxic, manipulative woman near my meetings."

My mentor looked cornered. "But Mr. Blackwood, it's too late to find a replacement, and Vivian's professional skills are unparalleled..."

Tiffany gently pulled on Christian's sleeve, offering a sweet, magnanimous smile. "Christian, it's fine. Since Vivian needs the job, let's just treat it as charity. Besides, I'm here as the cultural ambassador today. I might need her to explain some complex French terms to me."

Christian scoffed, his eyes scanning my face like a blade. "Since Tiffany is begging for you, you can stay. But you're not interpreting for the room. You are Tiffany's personal translator. You translate exactly what she says."

The meeting began.

It was a highly technical negotiation filled with complex legal and financial jargon.

Tiffany didn't know a word of French, but she insisted on pretending she was fluent. She deliberately spoke at an insanely fast pace, throwing in American slang, then looking at me mockingly.

I kept my face completely expressionless. Using my years of training, I took her incoherent ramblings and translated them into flawless, elegant, and highly professional business French.

The French delegates nodded in high appreciation of Tiffany's "brilliant insights."

During the coffee break, one of the French representatives walked over and spoke to Tiffany in French: "Miss Sterling, your business acumen is truly impressive, and your French expression is incredibly elegant."

Tiffany didn't understand a word. She turned to me.

I translated the compliment perfectly.

Tiffany smiled triumphantly and clung to Christian's arm. "Christian, look! Even the French are praising me."

Christian patted her hair lovingly. "My Tiffany is always the best."

Then, he cast a freezing glare at me, whispering in a voice only the three of us could hear, "See that? That's real talent. While you, Vivian, even in a designer blazer, are nothing but a glorified shadow speaker, a human Google Translate. You will never compare to a single finger of Tiffany's."

I stood there, keeping my spine perfectly straight.

My years of hard work, my elite education, my pride. All crushed under his boot just to elevate another woman.

I didn't argue. I just lowered my gaze, hiding the dead silence in my eyes.

"You are absolutely right, Mr. Blackwood," I said, my voice completely devoid of emotion. "I am just a speaker. Miss Sterling, would you like me to proofread your speech for the second half of the meeting?"

Christian sneered at my submissive attitude, grabbed Tiffany, and walked away.