AUTHOR NOTE: I write in British English so some spelling and grammar will be a little different from American English. Happy reading~ 🤗💜

|°|

"Sir, I think hiring a translator would be a wise decision because Namjoon cannot do it alone, he can't be with the rest of the members 24/7," Ren, a personal secretary for Bighit introduced this problem and solution to his boss.

Going over bangtan's travel plans, Ren's shoulders were stiff from stress and standing in a needle straight position for an hour. They came to a standstill when the trip had been extended for three more weeks. Thus bangtan would be in Los Angeles for two months rather than just a few weeks. Performing at the BBMS and promoting their new album.

However, the boss decided it would be a good idea for them to take a vacation after the promo. Bighit never really got around to hiring translators since Namjoon spoke fluent English, so it seemed a waste of time and money. Though as they grew in popularity the guys have been travelling to America more frequently even though it was only short trips. But this time is different.

That is why Namjoon can't possibly do it all by himself. He would eventually get frustrated with having to translate for his members every second. In interviews, in restaurants, in stores, everywhere. While the rest of the members could speak a little English, Ren wanted them to be more comfortable with another translator rather than having to depend on Namjoon all the time.

Boss leaned back into his chair, like a mafia leader in Hollywood movies, he portrayed an air of business and importance.

"I hear you but where are we going to get a trusted translator this late? They leave for America in three days,"

Ren smiled thinly as he readjusted his specs onto the bridge of his nose. "Not to worry sir, I know the perfect person for the job,"

"Can I trust this person?" The boss asked with a stern look.

"Yes, this person is smart, reliable and can take good care of bangtan,"

Twisting his lips side to side the boss's face soften, sighing he came to an agreement.

"Alright, you sold me when can you bring him in?"

Ren let out a breath of relief, the black tie around his neck was no longer choking him in a tight grip.

"I can ask her today sir," Ren said taking out his phone and wasting no time making the arrangements.

"Her?" The mood reversed with the drop of the single syllable. His boney hands twitched faintly as Ren stared back at his boss.

Tapping his fingers on the desk the boss questioned Ren on his friend. "Is she a good friend of yours?"

"Yes! For many years, her name is Ashley Park she is currently in college studying to be a Veterinarian,"

"A Vet huh? So she is your age? How old are you Ren?"

" I'm 34, sir,"

"Ahh, that should be fine. Is she married?"

"No, she is not married and she... is much younger than me," His eyes narrowed slightly to the clock on the wall reading ten-thirty.

"How young?" His glare hardened at his secretary. The already tense atmosphere had become more heated within the last two minutes and Ren was getting more and more anxious by the second.

"She's 24."

Ren stiffened when his boss suddenly stood up and turned to study the view in his window. As if contemplating about this new information. He knew why his boss was so worked up. Having to rely on an outsider he hasn't met to represent bangtan and the company is a risky move. Yet he didn't know why having a female interpreter bothered the boss.

Meanwhile, Ren was having a mini panic attack from the amount of potent energy his boss was exuding. When the silence seemed too unbearable his boss thankfully spoke.

"Then I expect solely professional behaviour, no silliness or lollygagging whatsoever. Ren, the reputation of bangtan is at stake here. Can your little friend understand that?" He asked, his back still to Ren.

"Yes sir, I have faith in her, she will make their reputation even better."

XXX

Hours later about seven pm in a restaurant in the middle of Seoul, Ren and the members of Bangtan were having dinner. Waiting for the check to arrive Ren took the last sips of his second glass of scotch and soda.

Resting the glass on the table, he sighed. "Guys, how do you feel about having a translator accompany you to the US?"

Namjoon's face lit up like the fourth of July he could tell this was a good idea to have another English speaker with them.

"Huh, why do we need one when we have RM Hyung?" Jungkook chimed in.

"No I think it's good, I agree on it," Namjoon said before anyone else could disagree.

"Perfect," Ren smiled. A waitress lightly placed the check on the table.

"Excuse me, is Miss Park here? Can you tell her that her friend would like to see her, please," Ren said flashing a charming smile to her. He knew it worked when she blushed and nodded frantically.

Slipping the money in the bill he got up and slipped his suit jacket back in place.

"Boys you can go home first, I'm meeting someone here,"

"Uh sure, Hyung," Namjoon said, curious to how he was meeting.

"Thanks for the meal," They slithered out of the booths saying their goodbye and walked for the exit.

XXXXX

"You disgusting, lowlife, waste of people's time! Get out please!" Ashley begged as beads of sweat gathered on her forehead.

"Relax you're gonna break something again," Her co-worker called, steering a saucepan on the burner.

"But this stain won't come out!" She dipped her brush back into the soap dish scrubbing at the baked-on food on the plate.

"This is why you should soak your dishes before you wash them,"

"Well, we don't have time to do that this is a restaurant you know."

Suddenly the kitchen door opened almost knocking a waiter's tray of dishes from his hand.

When a prune looking manager thundered towards the two girl's work station.

"A customer's engagement ring fell off, I need you to look in the trash for it,"

"You're talking to her right?" Ash said, pointing to her coworker who was now busy chopping through carrots. Pretending not to hear them.

"I'm looking at you and talking to you, Park! Now go get that ring before I fired you!"

"Yes, sir!" She yelped at his sudden rage in his voice. Throwing the scrubbing pad in the sink she zoomed past him to the back door.

She was doing it for the person's ring not for the manager, and for her job since she was one slip up away from getting fired. Lifting the lids the smell of rotten garbage instantly gave her a headache. Knees scraping the cracked concrete she ransacked through the trash bags. At the corner of her eye, a cockroach's bug eyes glared at her on the trash bin.

"Hello there, you wouldn't happen to see a ring around here would you?" She asked as the roach's antenna's waved at her.

"Here?" Pointing at what looked like a new garbage bag the busboy must have just put out. Fishing through the garbage in the dark, the pungent scent of spoiled food and the friendly roach kept her company.

A speck of light glimmered weakly at her left eye. She reached out and to her fortune pulled out a shiny beautiful simple gold band.

"Ah, I found it that's crazy! Thank you~" She smiled at the bug as it crawled back into a hole in the bin.

Upon standing, a piece of scrap metal hooked on her apron, pulling her back down abruptly while the ring slipped out of her fingers. Rolling down the alleyway.

"Wait!" She shouted, crawling blindly after it, but stopped when it came to a halt in front of a pair of black Tims.

Snapping her head up she met a mysterious figure ending a call on his phone and shoving it in his pants pocket. She froze at his somewhat threatening aura and how big he appeared to her kneeling form.

He suddenly picked it up swiftly holding it up to the dull light bulb. His gaze focused on her, peeking at her lowly through the gap from his cap.

Even though she could hardly see his face she felt acute eyes roaming along her slumped body.

"Huh so there is hope for all of us," His words fell from his lips and recoiled harshly off the brick walls to her ears.

"W-what?" Her eyebrows furrowed at his crude notion, she noticed a nail-bitingly familiar smirk playing on his plump lips as he lazily dropped the ring in her lap.

"Take care of it," He turned around strolling out of sight.

"What a creep!" She said picking up the ring and dusting off the dirt and grime and heading back inside.

"Did you find it?" Her coworker asked.

"Yep! And I think I can talk to insects,"

"I think the fumes have gotten to your head,"

"Maybe,"

"It's about time," Manager hissed, snatching the jewel from her hand.

Ash scoffed. "Well..."

"He's just touchy about things relating to marriage since his wife left him,"

"That explains a lot actually,"

Speaking of marriage Ash questioned who was that weirdo in the alley. Who says that out loud to a complete stranger? She admits her messy apron attire didn't come across as the best to be seen in but that doesn't mean she was incapable of love.

She hoped she never sees that person again.

XXXXXXX

Jimin smiled and checked back his phone to see if there was another signal he could pick up to call back his mom. Dropping a call from his mother was probably worst than murder in his mother's book.

"Hey, Jimin! What are you doing back here?" Tae's voice echoed throughout the alleyway as he sprinted towards Jimin.

"Nothing, talking to a kitten,"

V's eyes brighten with the drop of the word and squatted to peer under the dumpster to spot the cat Jimin was referring to. "I don't see it here,"

Jimin laughed at his cute antics, feeling a little bad for making the poor guy look for an imaginary cat he began to walk back to the car. "She's gone now, come on let's go."

XXXXXXX

"Oh Ashley there you are, your hot friend wants to see you," The waitress walked in with a reddened face.

"Hot friend? Don't have any of those,"

"Yeah, you know the tall one in the suit with a sexy smile,"

Ash tried to pin any one of her friends with the description but none came to mind.

"Uh-huh, okay I'll be right back,"

"Ash, can you take this plate out for me while you're out there? Table 2," Wendy, the head waitress asked kindly as she placed a mountain of dirty dishes in the sink. Ash grimaced inwardly at the amount she had to wash, she could feel her fingers already getting pruney.

"Sure," Rinsing her hands she placed up the tray exiting the kitchen. Searching for her 'hot friend' in the sea of bodies as the heat from the plate was steaming through the tray, scorching her hand. Picking up her pace she suddenly paused when a hand pressed gently on her lower back when a mouth near her ear whispered.

"Hey Love, I need you,"

A tumbling chill bolted up to her spine she could do nothing as she felt the tray slip from her fingertips- crashing and splattering mercilessly on the tiled ground.

Whipping her head to beat the crap out of the pervert she was shocked to see him, her so-called 'hot friend.'

"Ren! What are you doing here?!"

"I've come for you my love," He smiled blowing her a kiss.

"Don't ever do that again!"

"Park!!" An outraged scream and a frustrated manager marched towards the scene of the crime. Ashley braced herself for the scolding.

"This is the seventh dish you have broken this mouth and you have no money in your paycheck for me to take it out of!"

"Sir I'm so sorry I can explain-"

"Don't bother, you're fired! Get your things and get out of my restaurant!"

Ashley slammed her locker in a range of mixed emotions, anger, sadness, hopelessness and strangely, relieved. She had been thinking about quitting the job for a few weeks now due to the manger being rude and unreasonable towards several employees. Nevertheless, she needed the money so she stayed. Now she had a reason to leave- granted she had to leave cause she was fired but still it was the right push she needed in order to get out of that place.

Ashley gave her coworker and friend a final hug she was going to miss working with her, she was the only thing that made coming to work bearable.

"Hope you find a new job soon, and good luck out there,"

"Yah, I was fired not released from prison," Ash teased. They both giggled as Ash waved goodbye.

Stepping out the front door she breathed in the cool night breeze, a hint of alcohol and steamy food coming from the nearby restaurants kissed her flushed cheeks.

Ren gazed up at her, his bangs blowing gracefully across his forehead. A final puff of smoke left his thin lips, flicking the bud on the ground he opened the passenger door.

"Come on kid, I'll buy you a juice box."

Not in the mood to argue she took him up on his offer.

Minutes into the car ride she was embraced by his over-familiar scent of sweet cologne and second-hand smoke.

"Sorry about getting you fired,"

"It's fine I was already thinking about quitting," She leaned against the door observing the sights as they pass.

Another moment of stillness between them passed and he spoke. "I need your help,"

"What's wrong? Are you in trouble?"

"I need a favour,"

"Okay? What's up?" Her voice leaking concern.

"Can you go to America with Bangtan for two months as their translator?"

"You know she shouldn't be driving when under the influence of alcohol,"

"Yah! I'm not drunk!"

"Well, you sound out of your mind!"

"I'm very serious Ash!" Ren whined, hitting his hands on the steering wheel.

"Okay let me explain. The company wants to hire you for a job as an interpreter to accompany bangtan to America, since Namjoon, bangtan's leader can't do it alone. Please we will pay for the expenses and I even have your ticket ready, all you have to do is agree."

"I don't know... I have school and studying to do," She muttered, doubtfully.

"Aren't you on vacation?"

"Yeah but..."

Ren gritted his teeth harshly. "Look you rather spend your vacation working as a dishwasher in another crappy, shabby restaurant or go to LA and hang out with BTS charge free. Make a choice,"

Damn. Ren really had a way of convincing her to do the wildest things.

"Well, when you put it that way... okay I'll do it!"

"Great! You leave in three days so you better get packing, I'll pick you up at 8 am, your plane leaves at 10, and remember to bring your passport and ID, understood?" He asked coming to a stop in front of her house.

"Y-yeah? I think." She got out of the car, bending so she can see him through the window.

"Thank you for this, I owe you one,"

"Anything for you. Goodnight, text me when you get home,"

"Still caring as always, goodnight," He said sliding up the window and driving off.

Two months with international superstars BTS, that will be interesting.