“I'm sorry, sir. I was making sure the document didn't come into contact with the hot cup.”
Walter looked toward the page.
Then at her.
“You can read that?”
Imani hesitated.
“Yes, sir.”
He laughed.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“I read Japanese.”
One of the executives looked interested.
Walter leaned back.
“You speak a little Japanese, you mean.”
Imani kept her voice calm. “I lived in Japan for several years.”
The billionaire smiled.
“Well, I suppose that makes you an expert.”
His tone made the insult unmistakable.
Imani didn't respond.
Walter looked toward his guests.
“Everyone thinks they're an expert these days.”
Then he turned back to her.
“Tell me something. Do you understand what a Japanese corporate acquisition agreement looks like?”
Imani took a breath.
“Yes, sir.”
The table became quiet.
Walter stared.
For a moment, he seemed almost offended by the answer.
Then his smile returned.
“Excellent.”
He glanced toward the cash.
“Let's have some fun.”
Julian shifted in his seat.
“Dad, we don't need—”
Walter raised one hand.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
Imani looked at him.
He grinned.
“Read a page of Japanese accurately, and the money's yours.”
The laughter started.
Hiroshi didn't join in.
Neither did the Japanese finance director.
The interpreter looked embarrassed.
But several American executives laughed loudly enough to encourage Walter.
Imani looked toward the open folder.
Then toward Julian.
His expression had changed.
She felt a sudden certainty that the agreement contained something he didn't want examined.
For a moment, she thought about refusing the wager.
Walking away.
Finishing her shift.
Returning home to her mother.
Then she remembered the supervisor who had once told her to ignore a translation discrepancy because a wealthy client was in a hurry.
She remembered the consequences of remaining silent.
And she remembered Mrs. Fujita's warning that careful readers noticed what other people were trying not to say.
So she accepted.
“Which page?”
Walter chose page twenty.
And the entire evening changed.
When Imani finished explaining the voting provision, the Japanese delegation was silent.
Hiroshi Aizawa looked toward his legal documents.
Then toward the American executives.
“Is this part of the agreement we negotiated?”
His interpreter began translating.
Imani understood the question directly, but she remained quiet.
The dispute was no longer a language exercise.
It concerned the transaction itself, and qualified counsel needed to take control.
Walter turned toward Julian.
“Answer him.”
Julian swallowed.
“The language concerns financing support.”
“Financing support for what?”
“The acquisition.”
Walter pointed toward the document.
“Then why does it refer to voting authority over Sterling Dynamics Holdings?”
Julian's expression hardened.
“Dad, you're taking a complicated provision out of context.”