Daniel settled into the chair across from Ksenia, still feeling somewhat detached. He spoke with a hint of melancholy in his voice.

"I'm prepared to start therapy, Ksenia, but I want to focus on specific phases of my life - particularly the most traumatic ones that began here, in Moscow."

"That's good to hear," she responded with a disarming smile. "I'm pleased you've come to this decision, Daniel. So, where would you like to begin?"

He suppressed a faint smile. Daniel planned to start with his initial week in Moscow, detailing everything he had experienced. He aimed to convey his openness and sincerity through Ksenia, hoping she could relay his messages to Alexander. If Alexander wouldn't listen to him directly, perhaps he'd heed Ksenia's words. Daniel was determined to guide Alexander to this realization and would go to great lengths to achieve it.

"Ever heard a consulting joke, Ksenia?" Daniel's smile widened, becoming more genuine.

"No, but I'm eager to hear one," Ksenia replied, settling back, her diamond earring catching the sunlight and sparkling brilliantly.

"Do you know the difference between a dick and a slide?" Daniel relished the slight bewilderment that momentarily pierced her professional demeanor.

***

"Daniel, forget about the numbers for a moment," Nikita said, snapping his fingers to get his attention. Daniel offered a slightly strained smile, not revealing his distaste for the gesture. Despite the company's Western vibe, there was a local touch to the culture, and in Russia, snapping fingers wasn't considered rude.

"Let's take a quick break. Ever heard the joke about the difference between a slide and a dick?"

Daniel took a sip of water, choking and nearly spitting it out over the keyboard, while the room erupted in laughter. Nikita, pleased with the reaction he got, chuckled and said, "Unlike a dick, a slide can be polished indefinitely."

Still recovering from his coughing fit, Daniel chuckled. His slides had indeed been revised countless times over just a few days; he'd lost track of the number of changes.

"I've got one from a colleague in New York," he began. "An analyst and his partner were out hunting. By evening, they found a clearing. The partner said, 'Set up a tent, build a fire, and I'll fetch some food.' So, the analyst got to work, building a fire and setting up the tent. Exhausted, he sat down. Just then, the partner burst into the clearing, pursued by an angry grizzly. As he dashed past the flabbergasted analyst, he yelled, 'Skin this one while I go find another!'"

"That's just like me!" Igor, the analyst, exclaimed, laughing as he tapped the table, joining in the collective laughter. Mikhail, typically reserved and quiet, now wore a thoughtful smile as he commented:

"Flabbergasted. Your Russian is impressive, Daniel. Not only do you speak like a local, but you also sound like an educated one. A typical neighborhood tough wouldn't use a word like that; they'd opt for simpler terms like 'shook' or 'blown away'. How did you achieve such fluency?"

"Mainly through family, and then exposure to the environment," Daniel replied with a shrug. "I grew up with a Russian mother and grandmother, speaking with them only in Russian. With my grandmother, I even followed a Russian curriculum she designed for me. I read Russian books, watched Russian films – essentially, I didn't just learn the language; I absorbed it from a very young age. Later, at university, realizing that fluency in my second native language could be advantageous, I consciously and independently refined it: expanding my business and technical vocabulary and engaging with the Russian club."

"A man of the future," Mikhail mused. "I hope my kids grow up not just speaking English, but thinking in it as naturally as they do in Russian, effortlessly switching between the two. I've noticed your English - it's quite neutral, without an American accent. Was that intentional?"

"It's partly due to my upbringing," Daniel explained. "While I'm technically a second-generation American, I'm effectively a first-generation one. My parents moved to the U.S. on a green card, and English wasn't their native language. Shortly after I was born, we began traveling internationally due to my parents' expat assignments. They spoke English but with their unique accents and speech patterns," Daniel paused, reflecting on his upbringing. "My schooling varied based on the expat package we had. I attended a French lycée, a Singaporean school, or an American school at different times. When the expenses were on us, I went to more affordable schools. So, I don't have a strictly American accent and don't see myself as purely American. I consider myself a contemporary nomad without a fixed homeland."

"Truly a man of the future," Mikhail remarked. "I..." His words were interrupted as Pavel burst into the room.

"Hey, everyone!" Pavel greeted with his usual enthusiasm, seemingly oblivious to the sudden change in the office's mood. People greeted him with professional smiles and attentive nods. "Here's the plan: I'll need a brief update on your progress by five today. We'll reconvene for dinner at seven to discuss further. Have a great day!" With that, Pavel exited just as swiftly as he had entered.

"That guy's a walking caffeine overdose," Nikita murmured under his breath, causing Daniel to suppress a chuckle.

Daniel forwarded the file to Pavel, massaging his throbbing temples and trying to clear his blurred vision. Staring at the screen was intensifying his headache and causing his eyes to water. Despite being in Moscow for a week, his jetlag persisted. It had been a hectic week since his arrival. He was immediately thrust into the project upon landing, not even allowing him to drop off his suitcase at the serviced apartment provided for him. Daniel had arrived late that evening, exhausted and overwhelmed. Fortunately, the apartment was a pleasant surprise. Instead of the usual hotel room for short-term assignments, he was given a comfortable serviced apartment within the office complex.

The following morning, Daniel, still battling sleep deprivation, was grateful for this arrangement. The compact kitchenette had a coffee maker, microwave, and stove, allowing him the convenience of brewing coffee or warming up meals. Plus, he could walk to the office in his suit without needing to bundle up against the cold.

Money was excellent but it was not going to come easy. By day's end, his head felt hollow from the intensity of the work. Thankfully, his accommodation was close to the office; otherwise, he might have been completely drained and performed poorly. Moscow, glimpsed from the cab window upon his early morning arrival and later from the office, appeared gray and architecturally mismatched. Modern business centers, shining with mirrored facades, overshadowed beautiful historic mansions, creating an eclectic but oddly captivating urban landscape.

Unfortunately, he had little time to explore. Time itself felt incredibly precious: rushing through intricate passages to reach the office in the muted morning light, grabbing a double Americano to jolt awake, only to leave the buzzing office in the same subdued evening. Clearly, he was being tested, and Daniel was rising to the occasion.

The work was undeniably stimulating: the project was genuinely intriguing and intricate, precisely the kind that would bolster his portfolio upon his return to Westinghouse. The Atlas Venture Fund had hired consultants to perform due diligence on Hydra, a Russian startup pioneering a new method to extract hydrogen from water. This wasn't the conventional electrolysis; instead, they used low-power lasers. Daniel delved into the methodology and background with keen interest.

The process involved introducing a suspension of aluminum nanoparticles into water, then using a laser to trigger aluminum oxide, which subsequently reacted with the water, yielding pure hydrogen. This innovative approach promised to produce hydrogen with twice the energy efficiency of traditional electrolysis.

As it stands, this method likely represents the pinnacle of energy-efficient green hydrogen production. "Green" hydrogen, the truly eco-friendly variant, was the ultimate goal - a beacon of purity amidst the spectrum of hydrogen hues. In contrast, gray hydrogen is derived from natural gas, blue hydrogen uses a similar method but incorporates CO2 capture, and brown hydrogen is a byproduct of coal gasification. These alternatives merely serve as deceptive tactics by energy corporations, masquerading as "green" while still relying on fossil fuels and perpetuating CO2 emissions.

During the Soviet era, there was an initiative to construct a tidal power plant in Kamchatka. However, the project was abandoned as there wasn't a pressing demand for a substantial energy supply on the peninsula at the time. With the emergence of technologies capable of extracting hydrogen from water, interest in the project was reignited. Given the region's unique natural attributes, a plant of significant capacity could be built, potentially supplying up to fifty percent of the nation's current energy production with almost cost-free electricity.

This explained Alexander Bystritsky's keen interest in acquiring the sole Russian hydrogen production technology and joining the hydrogen race in Kamchatka with the likes of Gazprom.

The project team was very strong: Pavel Ivanov, the lead partner, ensured everyone stayed focused and aligned with the client; Mikhail Ershov, a composed and reserved senior consultant, managed the logistics stream; Nikita Dalin, the number-crunching consultant, did the market stream; Daniel was responsible for the production stream; Igor Evseev did into financial modeling; and interns Murad and Nikolai were there to support the team. Nikolai was paired with Daniel for stream support and generally help with his integration. Although the interns had been assigned before Daniel joined, Mikhail graciously offered the intern to Daniel, who welcomed the support - his workload was already intense. Pavel oversaw the entire project from his office, likely believing he had completed the critical task of selling the project to the client.

Now, the team needed to deliver the equally important stages of execution and successful presentation.

In New York, Daniel had previously been involved in a due diligence, but only verifying and finalizing the market analysis. This happened towards the end when an analyst fell ill. Thus, he experienced just the final week and a half of the intense four-week exercise This brief exposure was sufficient for him to grasp the demanding rhythm of working sixteen-hour days and the efficiency of a well-synchronized team.

The project was meticulously crafted under strict confidentiality, operating in isolation from the rest of the company. It had no official project name and was not a topic of discussion in the cafeteria or among colleagues. It was also absent from the weekly "Barometer" newsletter, which assessed the morale of various project teams based on consultant surveys.

Pavel's approach contrasted with that of Richard Stein, with whom Daniel had collaborated during his first due dill. While Richard organized problem-solving sessions twice a week to address challenges and track progress, Pavel preferred individual interactions throughout the week, planning to convene the entire team the following week.

By 2030, it was projected that the cost of hydrogen would match that of diesel, marking a significant turning point for the hydrogen industry. The global hydrogen market will reach one trillion dollars by 2030. The primary markets expected to drive this demand include the EU, Japan, Korea, and China, where hydrogen can be easily transported using the existing logistics infrastructure by blending it with natural gas. Even capturing a modest market share of five to ten percent could result in sales ranging from fifty to one hundred billion dollars by 2030. These figures are truly staggering.

As Daniel read through the numbers again, he felt a surge of excitement and grew increasingly passionate about the project. While Hydra's valuation seemed high at one hundred and fifty million dollars, especially considering it was still in the prototype stage, it appeared promising given the potential sales of fifty to one hundred billion dollars by 2030.

The project was undeniably exceptional, leaving Daniel in awe. He felt fortunate to have landed such a significant and promising project early in his consulting career. However, this also came with immense pressure. He was under constant scrutiny, pressured to accelerate his pace, and he knew that any misstep in this critical project could jeopardize his future with the company. While established partners might have the leeway to make mistakes, Daniel, in his current role as a junior consultant, didn't have that luxury. A single error could prevent him from being selected for future projects, potentially leading to unemployment after months of waiting.

With this in mind, Daniel meticulously reviewed calculations, cross-referenced information in the benchmark database, and carefully analyzed data provided by Nikolai. He preferred to personally verify the data, delegating Nikolai primarily to sourcing information on production inputs.

The work was both captivating and painstakingly detailed.

At times, he found it challenging to decipher his own conclusions. During such moments of mental fatigue, Daniel would retreat to the coffee zone. The Moscow office of the company had a unique touch to its break area, offering not just the usual snacks like nuts, protein bars, and smoothies but also local treats like honey gingerbread, Belevsky pastille, and farmer's marshmallows. There, he would grab a quick bite, pour himself a double Americano, and relax in a massage chair.

The gentle vibrations of the chair eased his tense muscles, while the semi-dark ambiance of the massage room allowed his eyes to rest from the glaring monitor. The combination of sugar, protein, and caffeine revitalized his energy levels. By the time the timer signaled the end of his break, Daniel felt rejuvenated and ready to dive back into work.

"I'm afraid I have to cut you off, our time is up," Ksenia announced. "Thank you for sharing so openly, Daniel. Today's session was incredibly productive. You're a captivating storyteller; I could vividly picture everything you described. I had no idea consulting was so challenging before meeting you."

"It used to be challenging," Daniel interjected with a somber tone. "But not anymore, and it won't be in the future."

"Let's try to focus on the positives," Ksenia suggested, trying to steer the conversation in a more optimistic direction. "If you'd like, I can schedule a two-hour session for you next time."

"No, an hour will be enough. Delving into the past is too draining for me," Daniel responded firmly. His aim was to ensure Ksenia felt at ease and could relay the details to Alexander indirectly. If he overwhelmed her with excessive information, she might miss the crucial points. He believed in sharing information gradually to achieve the desired impact, even if he felt tempted to expedite the process. He had already rushed things before, but now he needed to proceed with caution and precision.

___________________________________________________________

In this and further chapters flashbacks are in cursive.