“Could you be more specific?”
A few guests shifted in their seats.
Antoine frowned.
“International economic policy is specific enough.”
Elena's expression remained composed.
“It's a large field, monsieur. Would you prefer monetary policy, cross-border investment, agricultural trade, customs regulations, or supply-chain dependency?”
Silence settled over the table.
Antoine stared at her.
Then he laughed.
“International trade between the European Union and Latin America.”
Elena nodded.
“Would you like to discuss the impact of tariffs, agricultural subsidies, foreign direct investment, or the distribution of risk within cross-border logistics contracts?”
The Spanish investor slowly straightened.
Antoine's smile weakened.
He had expected the waitress to look embarrassed.
Perhaps laugh nervously.
Perhaps admit that she could speak a few conversational phrases but couldn't follow a complicated discussion.
Instead, she'd just divided his broad subject into four credible areas of economic analysis.
He narrowed his eyes.
“Choose whichever you believe you understand.”
Elena looked directly at him.
Then, in precise, natural Spanish, she answered.
“Si quiere hablar de comercio internacional, empecemos por una pregunta fundamental: ¿quién asume realmente el riesgo cuando una empresa promete beneficios que todavía no están respaldados por contratos vinculantes?”
One of the executives stopped moving.
The Spanish investor turned sharply toward Elena.
The waitress continued, her Spanish flowing effortlessly.
“Una carta de intención no equivale a un contrato de compraventa. Una previsión de ingresos no equivale a dinero garantizado. Y presentar ambas cosas como si fueran lo mismo puede distorsionar por completo el valor de una inversión.”
Antoine's expression changed.
He understood enough Spanish to recognize what she was saying.
But that wasn't why his fingers tightened around his wineglass.
He had heard those exact concerns before.
They appeared in a confidential assessment of his company's proposed expansion into Spain.
An assessment his financial director had assured him was unnecessarily critical.
An assessment he believed would never become part of a public discussion.
And now a young waitress was explaining the same weaknesses while standing beside his dinner table.
Elena stopped speaking.
The silence was absolute.
Finally, the Spanish investor asked softly, “¿Dónde estudió usted economía?”
Where did you study economics?
Elena turned toward her.
“En Granada, primero. Actualmente continúo mis estudios en París.”
The investor stared.
Elena continued.
“Y antes de trabajar aquí esta noche, pasé la mañana revisando modelos de inversión internacional.”
Antoine looked between them.
His brow furrowed.
“What's she saying?”
The Spanish investor slowly turned toward him.