Chapter 2

2

1. New Interpreter at EW Agency, Tae Hyunseok (2)

A pair of icy blue eyes, cold like ice, were observing me.

“Are you Mr. Tae, who has an interview scheduled for today?”

“Yes, my name is Tae Hyunseok. Hyunseok is my given name, and Tae is my surname.”

“You’re really early.”

“Ha ha, yes.”

The woman, who introduced herself as Katie Cubitt, glanced at her watch and then looked directly into my eyes over her glasses. She was quite beautiful, making it somewhat uncomfortable to meet her gaze.

“I know the order of Korean names. Is it pronounced Tae-Hyun-seok...? Your name is quite unique.”

“No, it’s not ‘seok,’ it’s ‘seok,’ S-e-o-k.”

“...Seok?”

“Just call me Tae.”

Hearing my name, which sounded like a curse, I decided to give up on being called by it.

“Understood, Mr. Tae. Please wait over there for a moment. There’s a meeting going on, so you can use the facilities and have a cup of tea or coffee.”

“Ah... Yes.”

Katie Cubitt pointed to the lounge attached to the office and then quickly turned and disappeared down the inner corridor.

Did I come too early? Is she upset?

Her tone and behavior were so dry that it felt almost cold.

I was told to come at any time today or tomorrow, so I came a little after the start of the workday. But it seems my first impression wasn’t good. I don’t think I did anything wrong, but...

“Phew.”

I exhaled lightly to calm my nerves.

There’s no point in being nervous. I’ll have a cup of tea and try to relax, acting confidently and assertively. This isn’t Korea; in England, they give extra points for being proactive rather than modest.

Thinking this way made me feel a bit better.

I was boiling water for the coffee pot when I heard a voice from the entrance of the office.

“Is anyone here?”

I turned my head with a tea bag in hand and dropped it.

“Oh, there’s someone.”

A young man with a common appearance, his blonde hair neatly styled in a two-block regent cut, was walking towards me.

“Where’s Miss Cubitt? I came to ask her something about an advertising contract.”

“Uh...”

I had just resolved not to be nervous, but I froze.

It couldn’t be helped; the player I had only seen on video, one of the big clubs, was right in front of me.

“Excuse me?”

One of the players contracted with EW Agency, a ‘box-to-box’ midfielder for Arsenal and a key member of the Wales national team, Aaron Ramsey.

Not only Arsenal fans in Korea but all overseas football fans often criticize him as a player who is good at everything except finishing, but he is still a proud starter in the Premier League.

Perhaps because I was still dazed, Aaron Ramsey started looking at me as if I were a thief.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen you before...”

“I’m a new hire! No, I’m going to be a new hire... Uh, I’m here for an interview...”

I spoke hurriedly to clear up the misunderstanding, babbling like a recruit. My Korean mixed in, making it even harder to understand.

Aaron Ramsey smiled awkwardly, raised both hands, and made a playful face.

“Whoa, calm down. So you’re here for an interview?”

Aaron Ramsey summarized what I wanted to say. I tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“Exactly. Miss Cubitt said she would come back after the meeting.”

“Oh, I see. Then I’ll have to wait a bit. Can I sit over there?”

“Yes, of course.”

I moved stiffly to pull out a chair, and Aaron Ramsey, hesitating for a moment, said thank you and sat down. He exuded a relaxed air. I hadn’t realized he was shorter than me, but he had that unique aura of a celebrity.

A first-division player I had only seen on video or in articles.

I couldn’t sit at the same table as Aaron Ramsey and moved to a table further away.

No, no. I decided to be proactive! A Premier League player is right in front of me!

I turned my body and spoke to Aaron Ramsey again.

“Um...”

“Yes?”

Aaron Ramsey looked directly into my eyes. He seemed a bit more serious and intellectual in person than he did on video.

I forced out my voice, which wasn’t coming out easily.

“Can I have an autograph...?”

“Oh.”

“And a photo...”

Realizing why I was so nervous, Aaron Ramsey smiled and asked where he should sign.

I quickly rummaged through my bag and pulled out the cleanest notebook and a digital camera. I had to capture it in the best quality possible.

I took a selfie with him, shoulder to shoulder, and got his autograph.

Hehe, I have to show this in the group chat.

My first day in England, and things are going well. I really feel like I’ve entered the world of football.

Zing.

As soon as I separated from Aaron Ramsey, my phone, which I had put in my pocket, vibrated. I was about to check it when I heard murmurs coming from the room where Katie Cubitt had gone.

The meeting must be over.

Katie Cubitt, who came out of the meeting room, didn’t act silly like me and treated Aaron Ramsey casually. Seeing this, I realized this was really an agency. Aaron Ramsey, who seemed to have finished his business, said goodbye to Katie Cubitt, winked at me, and left the agency.

Katie Cubitt approached me with a few documents in hand from her desk.

“Let’s start right away. Is that okay?”

“Here?”

“Is there a problem?”

I thought we would go to a meeting room or a reception room. With employees all around, I felt a bit embarrassed.

But I decided to be confident and assertive.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Then let’s start.”

What’s the rush? Katie Cubitt sat down and started speaking in Spanish.

*

“You’re hired.”

“Huh?”

“You’re hired.”

Katie Cubitt handed me a contract.

It took less than 10 minutes. It was suspiciously simple. She only checked my Spanish and didn’t verify any other languages. If it were a small agency, I might have suspected an illegal contract.

But what is EW Agency? One of the giant agencies with contracts with hundreds of players, including dozens from the first division.

I started to review the contract. Katie Cubitt, giving me time to read, sipped her tea a few times without saying anything.

There was nothing wrong with it. It matched what I had heard.

Until the summer transfer window, I would be assigned as an interpreter and assistant for one player, and during the summer transfer window, I would help with interpreting and miscellaneous tasks for various agents. The contract ends on the day the summer transfer window closes.

Before the summer transfer window, I would be closely attached to a player, observing every aspect of their life, and during the summer transfer window, I would follow agents in contract negotiations. It was a perfect growth plan to gain experience. Everything was as planned.

“Is everything in order?”

As soon as I finished reading the contract, Katie Cubitt asked. How did she know my reading speed? It gave me a bit of a chill, but I nodded.

“Any questions?”

It seemed like everything would be done quickly, but I had one question.

“Here, about the job and the contract period. It says I will be assigned as an interpreter and assistant for one player designated by the agency until the summer transfer window. Which player will I be assigned to?”

“Ah...”

Katie Cubitt, who had been speaking without hesitation like a Siberian high-speed train, paused. Some of the people in the office flinched, and I felt their gazes on me.

“...Sebastian Rodriguez.”

The other people in the office, who had been looking elsewhere, turned their gazes towards me.

What?

“Sebastian Rodriguez?”

“Yes.”

Katie Cubitt was back to her usual expression. The people in the office who had been looking at me started focusing on their work.

This is suspicious. Should I ask more?

“Are you talking about the player who came from the Atletico Madrid youth system and transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion this season? He’s also a former Spain U-20 national team player.”

“...How did you know?”

How did I know? I read an article.

Sebastian Rodriguez was a player I knew to some extent. He had performed well at the 2015 U-20 World Cup and, more importantly, dominated the English second division as soon as he transferred this season. However, from the lack of recent articles, it seemed his performance had declined.

“To work in the industry, this is basic knowledge. Didn’t he get a lot of media coverage at the beginning of the season?”

“...Yes.”

It seemed my show of knowledge worked. A bit of curiosity flickered in Katie Cubitt’s usually emotionless eyes, but she quickly hid it.

“I’m glad you know. That saves me some explanation. You’ll get a detailed briefing from the senior, but let’s go over the specifics of the contract now. I’m busy.”

“Wait a moment. One more question. Is there a problem with Sebastian Rodriguez?”

I stopped Katie Cubitt, who was trying to change the subject. I needed to address this clearly.

Katie Cubitt didn’t waver as she had before.

“No, there’s no problem with the player. He’s just in a bit of a slump. And as you can see from the contract, you can quit within a week if you wish.”

She answered me directly with a steady gaze. I found the clause and nodded. It stated that I wouldn’t have to pay any compensation if I quit within a week.

If there is a problem with Sebastian, I have enough time to confirm it directly.

Katie Cubitt took out a pen and tapped the contract.

“Shall we go over the specifics?”

“Sure.”

Katie Cubitt asked me about the details of the provided facilities, salary payment method, and various incentives, and wrote them down on the contract with her pen.

“Billy.”

As soon as the contract was completed, a red-haired man rushed over and took it, then sat down and filed it.

The provided facilities included accommodation. Although it wasn’t in London but in Brighton, where Sebastian lived, free accommodation made me feel good.

The salary was paid weekly, and the amount was quite satisfactory. They even provided a food allowance.

The treatment was good, which is why this is a giant agency. I just hope there’s no major problem with Sebastian so I can complete this contract.

“Here it is.”

Billy handed the completed contract to Katie Cubitt and me. I quickly skimmed it and signed it to finalize the contract.

“Since you probably haven’t adjusted to the time difference yet, would you like to rest for a day and go to Brighton tomorrow?”

“No, I’m fine. I’d like to go today and meet the player.”

“Huh?”

Katie Cubitt looked over the contract again.

“It says you start tomorrow.”

“It’s fine.”

I was excited to finally start, and I wasn’t tired because I had slept well on the plane.

Katie Cubitt had a strange expression, as if she couldn’t understand why I would work when it wasn’t specified in the contract. But I come from Korea, where such common sense doesn’t apply.

I am a Korean, a nation of overtime workers. My body is accustomed to working overtime.

Katie Cubitt sighed deeply.

“You’re just like Miss Summer. Are all Koreans like this?”

“Koreans?”

“Yes. They always want to work overtime and keep trying to get me to drink with them, which is strange.”

Katie Cubitt grumbled, as if she couldn’t understand.

Hearing the word “Korean” in an unexpected place, I felt a bit of warmth and looked around the office.

“She’s on a business trip today.”

I scratched my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

At the same time, Katie Cubitt called out to a man who was packing his bag from a distance.

“Mr. Watson!”

The man, who couldn’t hide his large build even in a suit, had a bald head and a bristly red beard, as if his hair had been pulled out and stuck into his chin.

“This is Mr. Tae. He will be assigned to Sebastian until the end of the season and will assist with interpreting and support during the transfer window.”

Up close, he was even more imposing. He looked to be around 190 cm tall.

Mr. Watson looked at me with an expression that said, “This guy?”

“This is Harry Watson from the Client Services team. You’ll be going to Brighton with him. Mr. Watson will explain the details. He is your senior.”

In foreign companies, a senior (senior) is equivalent to a mentor in Korea. I extended my hand first.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Tae Hyunseok.”

“I’m Harry Watson.”

Harry Watson shook my hand gruffly.

At the same time, my phone vibrated.

Zing.

“Ah, Mr. Watson. Chris just called. He’s waiting for us at the Red Dragon downstairs.”

As soon as Katie Cubitt finished speaking, Harry Watson’s expression turned grim, and he squeezed my hand tighter. I tried to think of what I might have done wrong and how to get out of this situation. Then, Katie Cubitt spoke in a cold voice.

“Mr. Watson, as I always say, we are in business, not charity.”

“I know, but... I’ll go and see.”

Harry Watson, about to raise his voice, closed his mouth when he met Katie Cubitt’s gaze. He let go of my hand, went to his desk to grab his briefcase, and walked towards the agency entrance.

I said goodbye to Katie Cubitt and followed Harry Watson.