Two days later he received one of those phone calls . In school . Luckily it came during a break, or the teacher would likely have gone ballistic . As it was it only served to undermine his persona as a member of geek squad .

"Ulf Hammargren speaking," he answered in English .

He listened to the request while he walked up to the blackboard .

"My first time fee as a temporary employee is 5000 hourly . If you want to sign me up as an independent contractor it's 10000 hourly . Minimum one hour whenever I initiate work . "

He started taking notes on the blackboard, fervently wis.h.i.+ng it had been a proper whiteboard instead . Sure, the chalk felt nostalgic in his hands, but it was a poor subst.i.tute for a set of differently coloured whiteboard markers .

"Yes that's correct . I'm sorry but that part isn't open for negotiation . I've received too many urgent emails and phone calls forcing me to be on standby . " 'They always try to pay for the aggregated total, but I'll be d.a.m.ned if I'll do five minutes here and ten minutes there all over the course of a day and getting paid peanuts . '

He jotted down the main outline of what the other party wanted . Pacing back and forth in front of the blackboard he quickly estimated the scope .

"Twenty hours, including lectures . I'll bring a chaperone who stands in as contractee on my part . "

The blackboard showed a schedule for a day of preparation, two workshops, two lectures and a few hours to wrap it all up .

"Eh, yes, you'll be billed separately for the chaperone . I don't employ any personnel . "

Ulf wiped all superfluous data from the blackboard .

"Thank you . You'll receive a formal offer by email later today . I'm available from next week, but I strongly suggest we schedule the events for next month . "

With that the phone call was done, and Ulf photographed the blackboard .

When he was about to wipe it clean he heard the murmur from the cla.s.sroom . 'b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, they heard my business voice! In English to boot . My act is falling apart quickly now . ' People were certain to start talking . He had to act quickly to get the club set up before he broke the 3:1 monopoly on rumours .

Behind him his cla.s.smates had already started talking . It was only his perceived being a geek that prevented any of them from approaching him directly .

'If I can keep it together until summer break . ' That was probably the outer limit . Sooner or later they'd find out he worked part time as a management consultant . And eventually they would learn of the exorbitant fees he charged returning customers . Between 30 and 50 thousand yen per hour .

When the teachers eventually found out he averaged well over half a million yen a month there would be h.e.l.l to pay, because that was a lot more than their salaries . Worst of all, Amaya would find out he paid for the extra security she believed was part of the increased rent . He didn't want that . She needed to feel that she could care for both of them .

'Daughter mine, you always try to be my mother . I'll keep you safe . I won't lose you as well . ' His legal guardian, his daughter .

Two days later he received one of those phone calls . In school . Luckily it came during a break, or the teacher would likely have gone ballistic . As it was it only served to undermine his persona as a member of geek squad . Ulf Hammargren speaking, he answered in English . He listened to the request while he walked up to the blackboard . My first time fee as a temporary employee is 5000 hourly . If you want to sign me up as an independent contractor its 10000 hourly . Minimum one hour whenever I initiate work . He started taking notes on the blackboard, fervently wis.h.i.+ng it had been a proper whiteboard instead . Sure, the chalk felt nostalgic in his hands, but it was a poor subst.i.tute for a set of differently coloured whiteboard markers . Yes thats correct . Im sorry but that part isnt open for negotiation . Ive received too many urgent emails and phone calls forcing me to be on standby . They always try to pay for the aggregated total, but Ill be d.a.m.ned if Ill do five minutes here and ten minutes there all over the course of a day and getting paid peanuts . He jotted down the main outline of what the other party wanted . Pacing back and forth in front of the blackboard he quickly estimated the scope . Twenty hours, including lectures . Ill bring a chaperone who stands in as contractee on my part . The blackboard showed a schedule for a day of preparation, two workshops, two lectures and a few hours to wrap it all up . Eh, yes, youll be billed separately for the chaperone . I dont employ any personnel . Ulf wiped all superfluous data from the blackboard . Thank you . Youll receive a formal offer by email later today . Im available from next week, but I strongly suggest we schedule the events for next month . With that the phone call was done, and Ulf photographed the blackboard . When he was about to wipe it clean he heard the murmur from the cla.s.sroom . b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, they heard my business voice! In English to boot . My act is falling apart quickly now . People were certain to start talking . He had to act quickly to get the club set up before he broke the 3:1 monopoly on rumours . Behind him his cla.s.smates had already started talking . It was only his perceived being a geek that prevented any of them from approaching him directly . If I can keep it together until summer break . That was probably the outer limit . Sooner or later theyd find out he worked part time as a management consultant . And eventually they would learn of the exorbitant fees he charged returning customers . Between 30 and 50 thousand yen per hour . When the teachers eventually found out he averaged well over half a million yen a month there would be h.e.l.l to pay, because that was a lot more than their salaries . Worst of all, Amaya would find out he paid for the extra security she believed was part of the increased rent . He didnt want that . She needed to feel that she could care for both of them . Daughter mine, you always try to be my mother . Ill keep you safe . I wont lose you as well . His legal guardian, his daughter .