He Bet $10,000 the Black Waitress Couldn’t Speak German — Unaware She Was a Court Interpreter!
Chapter 11
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Nia read it twice—not because she did not understand, but because there it was: the thing she had been trying to make other people see, written by the person who had done it.Celia pushed the laptop closer. "I'll send you everything.""You need to give this to the investigators. And tell them what you did."Celia looked frightened. Nia understood that fear, but she did not remove the responsibility."I can sit beside you while you make the call. But you have to speak."Before the meeting could be arranged, Victor called Celia. She stared at the screen until it stopped. Then a message arrived:Bring the laptop. Now.Ruth looked at Nia. Nia was already calling Owen.An hour later, Celia was giving her account, with her records preserved and the original messages available for examination."You're very quiet," Ruth told Nia. "I thought proof would feel better.""It might. Later." Nia looked at her hands. "I keep thinking about how easy it was.""For him to change a page?""For everyone else to change how they saw me."Ruth sat closer. "Not everyone."Nia leaned against her shoulder. For a few minutes, she let herself be tired.The following day, Marta asked Nia to join a meeting. Nia almost refused. Then she thought of the staff who had seen her sent home. "I'll come."Victor was there when she arrived, as were Owen, Marta, and two people from Marta's team. Victor looked at Nia's coat. "No apron today?"She took the empty chair. Owen placed a folder on the table. "The invoice was created after the dinner."Victor shrugged. "Administrative delay. We can't rush these things, can we? We had a deal."Marta opened her laptop. "The complete recording shows exactly why the check was written.""A tasteless joke. I've admitted that.""Then why did you describe it as payment for translation work?"Victor looked toward Owen. "Are we really doing this in front of staff?"Nia spoke: "You accused me in front of staff."He turned to her. "You should be careful about taking sides in something you don't understand.""I understand the paragraph I translated.""Then explain it to me."Marta placed two copies beside each other. "And we understand the replacement your office inserted."Victor's eyes moved to the door. Celia entered. He stood halfway. "Where have you been?"She took a seat across from him. "Answering questions."The room became very still. Victor looked at the documents again, then at Celia. "You're making a serious mistake."Celia's hands trembled under the table. "Yes. I already did."Marta closed the laptop. "The proposed agreement is suspended. The records have been provided to the appropriate investigators. Our office will issue a correction about Ms. Brooks today."Victor pushed back his chair. "You think one waitress is worth destroying this project?"