My Bully Thought I Only Spoke Spanish Until I Saved a $40 Million Deal Chapter 09

My Bully Thought I Only Spoke Spanish Until I Saved a $40 Million Deal Chapter 09

Julian listened beside us without speaking.

Derek’s expression was subtle.

Briar took a deep breath.

“Fine, I’ll ask another question.” She turned to Julian. “Mr. Cole, bonuses for the Apex project are distributed among project team members, right?”

“Yes.”

“Elara joined the project temporarily later, and she only handled translation work. But she wasn’t on the original team list. So she shouldn’t get the full bonus.”

It was a ruthless move.

She stopped attacking my resume directly—knowing she couldn’t win. Instead, she targeted financial interests.

Julian thought for a moment. “Well… Briar has a point. Elara joined mid-project—”

“I specifically requested Elara for this project.”

A voice I didn’t recognize cut in.

Everyone turned around.

Kael Rainer stood at the conference room door.

He wore a dark navy overcoat, held a document bag, and had a calm expression.

“Mr. Rainer!” Julian clearly didn’t expect him to show up. “Why are you here?”

“I came to deliver the contract. I was passing by.” Kael walked in, placed the document bag on the table. “I heard your meeting. The door wasn’t fully closed.”

He glanced at Briar.

“Elara led the core negotiation of this project. On our first meeting, she saved the entire negotiation in the final five minutes. During the meeting with UAE clients, she used Arabic to secure me $8 million in profit. How you distribute bonuses is your business, but I suggest you figure out—who is the key person of this project.”

Briar’s face flushed red and pale alternately.

“Mr. Rainer, I didn’t—”

“Also.” Kael looked at Julian.

“There’s a clause in this contract—all subsequent translation work for Apex is assigned exclusively to Elara. If she leaves Veridian, this contract will be automatically terminated.”

Everyone was stunned.

Julian picked up the contract and flipped through two pages.

His hands were obviously shaking.

“Mr. Rainer, you mean—”

“I’m clear. This contract is worth $120 million USD every year. The designated translator is Elara. If you replace her, the deal is off.”

120 million.

Everyone in the room looked at me.

Briar’s face had lost all color.

Julian put down the contract and looked at me.

“Elara…”

“Mr. Cole?”

“Starting today, you’re no longer in an entry-level position.”

“Then what am I?”

He paused.

“Associate Director of the Translation Department. Salary… we’ll discuss privately.”

Briar stood up abruptly.

“Mr. Cole! She’s only been here three years! I’ve been here seven!”

Julian didn’t look at her.

“Briar, sit down.”

Briar stood there, her lips pale.

Kael had already turned and walked out.

As he passed me, he whispered a sentence.

In French.

“You deserve a better position.”

I froze for a moment.

He had already walked out of the conference room.

After the meeting, the Translation Department erupted.

Everyone was talking about me.

“She actually speaks eight languages?”

“$80k a year for three years? Is she crazy?”

“Did you see Kael Rainer’s contract? He specifically asked for her! $120 million!”

“Briar’s face is priceless, I mean the color.”

I returned to my desk and tidied up the surface.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Kael.

[Understood the French line?]

“Yes.”

[What do you think?]

“I’m thinking about it.”

[Take your time. No rush.]

I put down my phone.

Jessa bounced over.

“Elara!!! You’re Associate Director now!!! Associate Director!!! I’ll treat you to sushi!!!”

“Don’t get excited. This Associate Director position won’t be easy.”

“Why?”

“Because Briar won’t let it go.”

I was right.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Briar asked to meet me.

Not in the office, but at the coffee shop downstairs.

She was the one who invited me.

“Elara, let’s talk.”

I sat down.

“You hid for three years and exposed yourself overnight. Do you think life will be easy for you from now on?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m warning you.” She stirred her coffee. “You think being promoted to Associate Director makes you safe? All the connections, client relationships, and internal resources of the Translation Department are in my hands. You’re a newly promoted person, you have nothing.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Simple. Give me the Associate Director position. You keep working as the liaison translator and get your project bonuses. I manage the department, you handle the business. We both get what we want.”

“What if I say no?”

Briar’s smile turned cold.