While reviewing documents, Vadim muttered under his breath and occasionally glanced sideways at his deputy. The latter fidgeted in his chair, unable to understand what was expected of him. Finally, tired of the silence, he asked discontentedly, «What’s wrong, Vadim Olegovich? You haven’t said a word for half an hour, and I still have work to do.» Putting the folder aside, the director gave him a stern look and said, «We have negotiations with foreigners soon, and your translator, whom you praised so highly, turned out to be an irresponsible person.»
Vasiliy Petrovich exhaled sharply, raised his eyebrows, and responded, «Well, I didn’t know he would let us down at such a moment. He assured me there would be no problems. Maybe we should contact an agency, let them send us their specialist?» Vadim immediately shook his head, «No, I don’t want to deal with them. The last time was enough, when we almost embarrassed ourselves in front of our partners. Here’s what we’ll do: you find a reliable translator through your channels, and I’ll try to postpone the meeting with the French.»
Suddenly, loud laughter reached them. Vadim looked out the window overlooking the warehouse and saw the employees gathered in a circle, teasing the new loader. He had only recently joined them but had already caught the attention of the entire staff. Calling his deputy over, the director instructed, «Look, Vasiliy Petrovich, see what’s happening in the warehouse. I have enough worries as it is, so go there and put things in order. And explain to everyone that if they want to keep working at our company, they should behave properly and not stand around idle during work hours.»
The deputy left his office, and Vadim settled back into his chair, pondering how not to disgrace himself during the important negotiations. The translator he had counted on turned out to be merely an amateur. Although he had skills in French, they were only at the level of an advanced enthusiast. But business negotiations are a different level, where knowledge of a foreign language as if it were one’s own is required. We’re talking about multimillion-dollar contracts where every word is worth its weight in gold.
Vasiliy Petrovich had let him down, and it wasn’t the first time. Losing a contract due to the absence of a translator was an unimaginably foolish situation! At that moment, someone knocked on the office door, «Yes, come in,» Vadim said. The threshold was occupied by the head of the HR department, Irina Fedorovna, and the very same loader. Looking at them, the director asked sternly, «And what brings you to me, is the work finished or is there some problem?» Wiping the sweat that had appeared on her forehead, Irina Fedorovna blurted out, «No, no, Vadim Olegovich, I just have a small request: could we transfer this employee to the packing section?»
Standing up from his chair, the director approached and looked the manager straight in the eye, «What are you saying? And who will work on loading then? Let’s put you there, and him in your place, agree? That’s what I thought, you wouldn’t want that. Did anyone ask him if he wants to be tossed around the warehouse like a rag? Go and work, Irina Fedorovna, and don’t distract me with trifles anymore.» She darted out the door without being able to say anything, but the loader lingered a little and near the door, without turning around, said, «Merci, chef.»
Vadim even flinched slightly because those words were not just spoken as ordinary speech but were uttered with a French accent. He even thought for a moment that he was dealing with a foreigner. But, shaking his head, he muttered to himself, «Yeah, right, a simple loader and a Frenchman – that simply cannot be.» After closing the door behind him, Vadim delved back into his thoughts, dismissing the sudden suspicions about the loader’s linguistic capabilities. It simply did not fit in his head that a simple worker could possess a foreign language.
There was little time left until the meeting with the foreigners. The deputy was still silent as if he was not involved at all. The director had to personally call all the organizations that provided the relevant services. But it was all wrong: some pushed for long-term collaboration on a permanent basis with enormous payments, others offered translators with no experience in the specifics of business negotiations. Their knowledge was at the level of accompanying tourists around historical sites. Of course, all of this was categorically unsuitable. So far, nothing was working out with the translator, and Vadim was noticeably nervous.
He spent the whole day in his office and only once called his deputy, who responded with an uncertain voice that he was still searching. It was inconceivable to Vadim that they might not find someone in time who could fluently speak French. He was very stressed because he understood the full danger of the deal falling through. The foreigners planned to invest in helping and expanding his business. And if the deal did not happen, the company’s affairs would sharply deteriorate.
After closing his office, Vadim went downstairs and headed for the exit. There, he encountered that same loader again. The guy was moving pallets of goods, listening to music through headphones. It seemed like nothing unusual, but he was quietly humming to himself, in French. And not just repeating words as people often do, but clearly and without hesitation, he was delivering connected phrases. Vadim shrugged and again did not give it much importance.
In the evening at dinner, his mother came to visit, «Son, you look quite pale; maybe you should visit a clinic to check your health?» Snorting in response, Vadim said sarcastically, «More like it’s time to see a psychologist, because I have the impression that my mind is not working in the right direction.» Eleonora Maximovna was surprised by such a confession, «What does that mean, you started to doubt yourself? Don’t scare me, Vadik, my heart can’t take it.»
Taking a sip, Vadim spoke, «Just problems at work. I can’t find a good specialist, and besides, my deputy seems unable to solve such a simple task. Turns out, I’m bad at selecting staff… and yet I pay them a salary that others could only dream of.» Folding her hands in front of her, Eleonora Maximovna said sorrowfully, «Calm down, son, it’s not as bleak as it seems at first glance. Look around you, the solution to your problem might be right under your nose.»
His mother’s suggestion sparked an interesting thought, «You know, I think there’s one person who might be worth checking out. We have a young guy working as a loader. Honestly, the warehouse staff constantly laughs at him, claiming he’s clumsy. Often forgets where to deliver goods or just zones out and doesn’t hear management’s demands. And also, as I noticed, he seems a bit too delicate for a loader, almost like an intellectual. Though, maybe I’m wrong and it’s not even about his behavior. He once uttered a phrase in perfect French, as if he was a real foreigner. I thought it was just a joke, but today, leaving the warehouse, I heard him singing a song also in French.»
Lifting her index finger significantly, Eleonora Maximovna said, «So check this loader out, find out who he is, you never know what life has in store.. Haven’t I taught you, son? You did serve in intelligence after all. Get on this tomorrow, it’s somewhat embarrassing that such a respected businessman can’t find a French translator. Really, it’s not Chinese or Japanese, where specialists are worth their weight in gold.» Vadim thanked his mother for her practical advice and the very next day, he promptly took it to heart.
But first, Vadim summoned his deputy. «Well, Vasiliy Petrovich, any progress?» The latter hesitated and then cautiously replied, «How should I put it? I have a couple of people in mind, but they need to be vetted. I also spoke with the previous specialist, and he seems to have promised to help.» Waving his hand dismissively, Vadim said, «Alright, for now, stop your search. I’ll figure something out myself. In the meantime, focus on internal matters—our employees seem to have gotten too relaxed.»
Calling the HR department, Vadim asked Irina Fedorovna to bring that loader to him again. «And what’s the guy’s name? With all this stress, I haven’t even had a chance to get to know him.» The HR manager chuckled over the phone and then replied quite seriously, «Same as yours, Vadim, but his middle name is Sergeyevich.» The director was slightly surprised. «A namesake? Well, bring him to my office; let’s talk.»
As the loader stepped into the director’s office, he stopped modestly near the door. «Vadim Olegovich, if this is about my colleagues teasing me at work, I’m not to blame. They think I’m slow, but I just don’t want to damage the goods, so I have to be careful.» Vadim leaned back in his chair and, most unexpectedly, greeted him in French. The loader was taken aback for a moment but calmly replied without missing a beat. Pointing to a chair near the wall, the director asked, «You speak French?» The young man nodded. «Fluently.» Vadim Olegovich was quite surprised. «May I ask—where did you acquire such deep knowledge?»
The loader sat down and began to explain. «Our family has an intellectual lineage. My grandmother once told me that our roots trace back to minor nobility. My father taught French at a university, and my mother worked as a translator in publishing. I always knew what I wanted to do, and right after school, I easily got into the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the university. But during my third year, disaster struck our family—my father and grandmother both passed away on the same day. I remember my mother fell into such a deep depression that the world ceased to exist for her. Endless hospital visits, medications, and more hospital visits followed. I had to take an academic leave and start working because treatment is expensive. If my mother doesn’t recover, I may have to give up my studies altogether. That’s my story.»
Vadim Olegovich listened without interrupting, and as soon as the young man finished, he said, «You see, Vadim, how blind I am to my own employees. I didn’t even notice such a capable and talented person among the regular workers.» The director pulled out a stack of papers from his desk and handed them to the young man. «Take a look at these documents. Can you handle translating them?» The loader carefully reviewed the sheets and said, «Of course. There’s some specific terminology here, but I’m familiar with it. My father taught me a lot, and I didn’t waste my time at university.» Vadim Olegovich sighed with relief. «We have French partners coming for negotiations soon. Can you work as a translator for us?» The young man smiled shyly. «Of course, it would be my pleasure.»
«Excellent! Then you’ll need to familiarize yourself with all the documentation; we still have some time. If everything goes well, I promise to transfer you to a better position.» The young man took the documents but hesitated, as if he wanted to say something else. «Vadim Olegovich, I’ve only been working here for a short time, but… well… there are some not-so-good things happening in the warehouse.» The director gave him an encouraging look. «Tell me everything as it is.»
The loader stood up from his chair, pointed toward the shelves with goods near one of the terminals, and said, «Look here, Vadim Olegovich, that’s where the goods are taken for loading. Usually, a truck arrives, and we load the goods on pallets into it. But recently, I noticed that your deputy has been releasing goods to someone else. They’re not being recorded on the invoices, so it’s likely that these goods are going off the books.»
The director clasped his hands behind his head and said, «And all this time, I blamed the accounting department. I thought they were making calculation errors and giving me faulty reports. Now it’s clear where Vasiliy Petrovich suddenly got the money for a new car. Although he was just about to take out a loan.» Frowning, Vadim continued, «Alright, we’ll deal with this matter later, but for now, we’re going to the store to get you some new clothes. But the most important thing is, my deputy must know nothing about this.» The loader ran his finger across his lips, signaling that he wouldn’t let a word slip.
The next day, the foreign investors finally arrived. Following the director’s instructions, Vasiliy Petrovich personally went to pick them up. He also hinted to Vadim that he had almost resolved the issue with the translator and that the person would likely show up soon. Nodding in response, the director said, «Alright, as you say, but I have a more interesting option that will surprise you greatly.» The deputy, still clueless, pretended everything was fine and left to fetch the French investors.
It’s worth mentioning that Vadim spared no expense in dressing the loader. He bought him the most expensive clothes, and interestingly, they fit him like a glove. It seemed as if the loader had been born in those clothes. Moreover, his entire appearance transformed significantly. It was no wonder Vadim had once told his mother that the loader behaved like an intellectual, a refined gentleman. He truly exuded the demeanor of an educated and cultured person. Now it was time to test his abilities in practice.
The investors were already gathered in the conference room, visibly nervous. Vadim approached his deputy and asked if everything was ready. «Of course, I promised to find someone; they should be arriving any minute now,» Vasiliy Petrovich replied. However, the director gestured toward the door, saying, «Go to the conference room to keep our guests from worrying. I’ll bring the French specialist myself. And don’t look at me like that—I wasn’t sitting idle either; I’ve been preparing.» The deputy left, still unable to understand what the director was hinting at.
A few minutes later, Vadim entered the conference room with the loader. Vasiliy Petrovich was stunned to see one of the warehouse workers in the meeting room. Judging by his expression, he wanted to say something to the director, but Vadim gestured for him to stay silent. Then, to the deputy’s complete shock, the loader began speaking to the guests in fluent French. The investors nodded in response and pulled out folders with documents.
Vadim provided the points to be translated, and the loader meticulously and confidently conveyed them. The crucial negotiations went smoothly, and the deal was not jeopardized. Meanwhile, Vasiliy Petrovich, realizing he had been made a fool of, was figuratively tearing his hair out. He understood what was happening but barely managed to stay seated until the end of the meeting. He couldn’t leave because the director, while conducting negotiations, was also keeping a close eye on him. It was clear that Vadim Olegovich had already made up his mind about what to do with him next.
Loader Vadim masterfully translated everything the director said to the French investors. As a result, they were satisfied and signed a lucrative contract. Before leaving, they expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to interact with such an intelligent and well-rounded young man. After shaking hands with them, the director gave his deputy a stern look and said, «Escort our guests and ensure they get to the airport safely. Then come back—we’re going to have a very serious conversation.»
Vasiliy Petrovich left the room, and the director, turning to the loader, added, «That’s how you put people in their place when they overstep and aim too high.» The deputy carried out his instructions, but when he returned, he was unpleasantly surprised to find that he had been demoted to the position of facilities manager. Naturally, he wanted to know what was going on. The conversation was brief:
«Vasiliy Petrovich, you’ll work as a facilities manager for now while I figure out why we have inventory shortages in the warehouse. I’ll conduct a full audit, and then we’ll decide what to do with you. Now go—and I hope the buckets and mops don’t mysteriously disappear.»
The deputy grumbled something in response and stormed out of the office. Soon after, it became known that he had submitted his resignation, stating, «I can’t work as a facilities manager—it’s humiliating for someone like me.»
To be fair, Vadim could have punished Vasiliy Petrovich by firing him for theft, as the warehouse shortages were clearly tied to him. However, instead of taking a harsh approach, Vadim simply let him go. After resolving the issue, the director promoted the loader to a new position. He entrusted him with managing the sales department and assigned him a high salary. Vadim also gave him strict instructions to complete his education.
«Vadim, your new salary is enough to help your mother, but don’t forget about your studies. You understand that having a diploma is essential. You won’t stay in marketing forever—you need to grow.»
The former deputy was unable to secure another high-ranking position and eventually had to leave the city, presumably in search of a fresh start elsewhere. As for the former loader, Vadim, he has excelled as the head of the sales department, achieving significant success both in his personal development and in improving the company’s prosperity.
