Insanity (Insanity Series, Book 1)

by Andre Gonzalez

  “That sounds incredible,” Jeremy said, no longer able to hide the smile in his voice.

  “It is. And that’s why this is a hard company to join, even though we are relatively new. That being said, if I were to call your manager today, what do you think he would say about you?”

  Jeremy grinned, knowing Sammy would rave about him, to ease his guilt at not even saying good-bye. “I think he would tell you that I have a desire to always learn more, and that I’m a ‘go to’ person for my peers, someone the team can rely on.”

  “Thanks for sharing. That was my last question for you today. It looks like we’ll move forward with an on-site interview. Is there a time next week that might work for you?”

  “Well, the team is on the road next week,” Jeremy said. “So I can come in anytime, preferably in the afternoon.” Jeremy always avoided scheduling morning interviews, since his brain refused to fully function until after eleven.

  “Perfect!” the perky voice exclaimed. “Let’s plan for Tuesday at two. I’ll send you an email with the details.”

  Jeremy wrapped up the phone call and hung up to find Jamie leaning back on the couch with her arms crossed. “Are you shitting me?” she asked. “Did that really just happen?”

  Jeremy noticed his hands trembling. “It did. It’s that job I applied for a couple months ago. The new startup. I’m going in Tuesday for an interview.”

  “See? Just like I say: things happen for a reason. You wouldn’t have been able to answer that call if you were at work.”

  Jeremy sat next to Jamie, resting his head on her shoulder and enjoying the warmth of her breathing on his forehead.

  “It’s all going to be okay,” she reassured him.

  “I know. I love you.” He smiled, thinking of playing ping pong and drinking at work.

  13

  Jeremy sat behind the wheel of his car, a 2003 Honda Civic given to him by his mother when he turned sixteen. The cereal in his stomach swirled around like a washing machine as his nerves worked their way throughout his body, causing a slight tremble in his arms and legs.

  “Okay. Let’s do this,” he said in a shaky voice, adjusting his tie in the rearview mirror. He’d had plenty of interviews before, but couldn’t recall feeling so anxious. This time was different: he needed the job.

  His eyes stared back and he noticed the tension in his brow. He took a deep breath and tried relaxing again. “Go in and do great. You have plenty of phone experience, and it’s a psych job. You were made for this.”

  Jeremy stepped out of the car. The sun beat down on him mercilessly, making him more uncomfortable in his three-piece suit. He clenched a black folder holding multiple copies of his résumé in his sweating palm. The parking lot was a never-ending sea of cars, all reflecting the intense sun off their rooftops. He checked the time on his cell phone: 1:45, right on time.

  The gray building had windows that stretched the entire length of the facade, but the slightest tint prevented him from seeing inside. The office stood two stories tall, with two large white hands interlocked above the main entrance, the E-Nonymous company logo.

  I can’t believe I’m actually here. He had always wondered what it would be like to work for a start-up like Google or Facebook. While E-Nonymous was nowhere near those behemoth companies, business experts projected the new psychology technology company would eventually reach a similar status.

  The gravel crumbled beneath the slick soles of his dress shoes as he walked toward the building. The office couldn’t have been more than a year old.

  He climbed the three steps and reached for the glass door, pulling its cool steel handle.

  Inside was a whole other story. The door to his left had its window taped with work zone lettered across it. The door on his right had the same fate, and there was not a soul to be seen.

  A giggle echoed from above, causing Jeremy to look up toward the open space of the second-floor landing. He couldn’t see anyone to match the giggle to, but did notice some stairs to his left that led up to it.

  He wiped his clammy palms as he ascended the stairs. The door ahead revealed signage with the E-Nonymous logo and a hand-drawn rendition of the Denver city skyline below it.

  Jeremy walked to the door, keeping his shoulders upright in the Superman pose that helped him gain confidence. He pulled on the door knob, but it remained locked.

  A petite redhead jumped up from behind the reception desk, and approached the door with a welcoming grin. She pushed open the door, her big blue eyes scanning Jeremy in his suit; he realized he looked out of place in the casual environment.

  “Jeremy?” she asked, extending a hand.

  “Yes.” Jeremy shook her hand, noticing soft skin beneath her fragile grip.

  “Welcome, my name is M.K. Anything I can get you before your interview? Water? Soda? Snack?”

  “Water, please. That sounds good.”

  “Of course. Have a seat and I’ll get that for you.”

  M.K. had all the traits one would expect of a young receptionist. She radiated genuine joy, and spoke in a calming yet perky voice. She disappeared around the corner to the break room. All he could see from his lounge seat was a row of circular tables and chairs, where he assumed people sat for lunch.

  Jeremy gawked at his surroundings. After four years at the Bears, with their uppity office and business-casual dress code, the relaxed feel at E-Nonymous was a shock.

  The back and forth sound of a ping pong game echoed from where M.K. had gone. A handful of people walked in and out, wearing jeans, shorts, T-shirts, and even hats.

  This is where I belong, he thought. He’d always dreaded having to dress up for work.

  M.K. returned with a full glass of water. “Here you go.”

  He thanked her and examined the glass. Most places kept a small fridge in their lobby filled with bottles of water. The fact that she brought him a normal glass of what he assumed to be tap water made him feel like he was lounging around his own house.

  M.K. returned to her seat, and Jeremy noticed that her name tag showed her official title as “Office Manager.” He remembered learning that start-up companies shied away from traditional titles like “receptionist,” in an effort to move into a new era of business.

  Jeremy gulped down his water, noting the metallic flavor, when a bulky black man and an athletic blond woman approached him from the break room area.

  “Jeremy?” the blond asked.

  He stood and extended a hand. “Yes.”

  “It’s great to meet you. My name is Terri Sharpe, we spoke on the phone after your first round with our People team.” The “People” team was their human resources department.

  “Ah, yes. Great meeting you, too.” Jeremy felt his grin widen.

  “This is Trevor, another manager on the team.” Terri gestured to the black man, and they shook hands.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Trevor said in a deep, smooth voice that reminded Jeremy of a late-night talk show host.

  Jeremy felt uncomfortably overdressed. Terri wore a pair of hip-hugging jeans, showing every curve of her toned legs, and a solid white T-shirt with the company logo blown up big. Trevor wore black gym shorts, purple shoes, and an athletic shirt.

  “Let’s head in here.” Trevor gestured toward a door on Jeremy’s left. Terri led the way, pushing open the door to reveal a small meeting room. The walls were painted green, and a round table with four chairs was in the center of the room. They each took a seat, Jeremy opposite the two managers.

  “So tell us about the Bears,” Trevor started. “Such a unique job that not many people get to do.”

  Don’t bash them. Keep it clean.

  “The Bears have been a great job to have through college. They provided a flexible schedule that worked around my classes. They gave me two tickets for every game and a parking pass that I could use downtown anytime. The free entertainment was a great perk, but now I’m looking for more of a grown-up job, something steady and permanent.”

  �
��And you’re still in school for your master’s, correct?” Terri asked.

  “Yes. My classes are online, and when I have to go to campus I plan it for the evenings, so there won’t be any issues with my work schedule.”

  “That’s great. We don’t have many master’s graduates around here,” Trevor said. “Getting that will really open some doors for you, as I’m sure you know.”

  “I look forward to it,” Jeremy said. “I’m actually in an accelerated program, to obtain my Master’s degree in less than two years. After that I haven’t decided if I want to go for a PhD or open a practice.”

  “Great to hear,” Trevor said, his tone flat.

  “As we spoke about on the phone, here at E-Nonymous we’re big on our culture,” Terri said. “We’re not your typical phone counseling company. We do so much more, including a heavy focus on preventative care. We have a growing sales team to sell our services to both individuals and companies. How do you feel you would fit in here?”

  They stared at Jeremy. This is what they really want to know.

  “I’ve done some research online. Your careers page on the website makes your company sound truly incredible, and the word in some forums seems to confirm it.” Jeremy paused, gathering his next train of thought. “I’ll be honest. Working here would be a complete culture shock. I’ve never worked for a company that puts so much stock into its employees, not to mention the comfortable vibes of just being in the office.”

  Trevor nodded, looking at Terri to see if she had any more questions. She didn’t and opened the floor for any questions Jeremy had. He asked some administrative questions regarding pay and benefits.

  “It’s been an absolute pleasure meeting you,” Terri said with a wide grin that showed polished white teeth.

  “Thanks for coming in,” Trevor stood, extending a hand. “We’ll be in touch.”

  They walked Jeremy out of the room and toward the main entrance. He noticed M.K. had a pair of headphones on, typing on her computer.

  “We’ll see you soon,” Terri said, patting Jeremy on the shoulder.

  “Thank you both so much,” Jeremy said as he opened the door and left the office.

  The door closed behind him as he made his way to the stairs. As he descended, his instinct told him he would be back in the building soon enough. He had a sense of belonging. Fate.

  As cliché as it sounded, and as much as he hated it when Jamie told him this, he did believe that everything happened for a reason. Certain doors closed so that others could be opened.

  But the Bears door hadn’t just been closed—it had been slammed shut in his face. He had been caught off guard, and as a result felt nothing but shock during the process. But as he left his interview with E-Nonymous, he wished he could have ranted to Sue Ellen. He wanted to yell in her face, demean her for allowing such unfair treatment of her staff, slap her across her bitchy face for the years of disgust that had built up working for her.

  He realized now just how much he hated his life while working for the Bears. Every day after work he had to have a drink to cope with the depression that tried to take over him.

  “If you wake up every day dreading the day ahead, happiness vanishes real quick,” his father once told him.

  You’re my destiny, he thought as he sat in his car staring at the E-Nonymous office building. “You’re my next open door. You have to be.”

  14

  One week later

  The airplane rumbled with turbulence as it started its descent into Chicago’s Midway Airport. Jamie took the window seat so she could sleep more comfortably. Jeremy craned his neck to get a view of the never-ending Chicago city skyline. Their flight was scheduled to land at noon.

  “Wow,” Jeremy gasped. He had traveled outside of Colorado, but Los Angeles was the only other big city he’d seen. The sheer size of Chicago was unlike anything he had seen before. The buildings, parks, and homes that stood against the backdrop of Lake Michigan made it look like its own country.

  “Babe, wake up.” Jeremy nudged Jamie.

  Her eyes fluttered as she came back to consciousness. “What is it?” she asked groggily.

  “The city,” Jeremy said, nodding toward the window. “It’s so damn big.”

  Jeremy caught a whiff of her melon-scented shampoo as she turned her head to the window. “Looks pretty cool. You ready to explore Chi-town?”

  “You know it.” The captain crackled over the intercom to announce that the plane would begin its descent into the city.

  Jamie grabbed hold of his hand during the bumpy landing. The fifteen-minute tumble ended with a hard thud as the wheels touched down on Earth again.

  They deboarded the plane and navigated through the airport with ease as they obtained their bags from the carousel and followed signs to the train station that would take them to their hotel in the heart of the city. The subway appeared to have lived a long life from the dents and scratches on its metal exterior.

  The panels in the train windows flashed LOOP, which would take them into downtown and the Magnificent Mile. Jeremy and Jamie got a seat toward the back of the train, their suitcases in front of them. The rumbling of the tracks beneath them gently rocked all the passengers side-to-side in their seats.

  The jungle of skyscrapers appeared through a haze of smog. The Willis Tower stood the tallest, overlooking the rest of the city with its white spire that seemed to reach for outer space. The tracks were elevated above the ground, providing a bird’s-eye view of the passing neighborhoods.

  “You notice none of these houses have any yards?” Jeremy asked. “It’s house on top of house as far as you can see.”

  “I know, it’s crazy,” Jamie said. “I guess that’s what happens in a big city. You gotta save space somehow.”

  A couple stops before their arrival at the Loop, the train took a dip into the underground, swallowing its passengers with darkness before the internal lights flickered to life. The first stop in the Loop brought mobs of people crowding the platforms, then stampeding their way into the car, bringing a stale warmth and musty smell of body odor.

  The static voice on the intercom announced that their stop was next, and Jeremy gave Jamie a look of How the fuck do we get out of here? They couldn’t see the door anymore. Jamie took the lead, pushing through the crowd with her suitcase, dragging her boyfriend behind her. They reached the exit just as the doors slid shut behind them, smacking Jeremy’s suitcase in the process.

  “Holy shit, that was crazy,” Jamie said as they gathered themselves on the platform, watching the train rattle away into the tunnel.

  “Can you believe those people?” Jeremy said. “No one even made eye contact!”

  After navigating through the concourse and up a short flight of stairs, the streets of downtown Chicago welcomed them with the bustle they expected from the nation’s third largest city. Awestruck, they rotated around for a panoramic view of their surroundings, as an old man approached them.

  “Welcome to Chicago, folks,” the old man said. He wore a torn shirt and pants, appearing homeless. He held a cup of coffee steaming from the lid and took a sip, then wiped his scruffy white beard. “Where are you looking to go this fine afternoon?”

  Jeremy hesitated. “We’re staying at the Hyatt, which way is that?”

  “Ah, the Hyatt,” the old man crackled. “You’re only two blocks away. One that way, then one left will get you there.” He pointed east, toward the lake, Jeremy remembered.

  “Thank you so much, sir,” Jeremy said, starting in that direction.

  “Any chance you can spare me a buck for being your first tour guide?”

  “Sorry, we literally just got here and haven’t even stopped for cash,” Jeremy said.

  “I can wait for you outside the hotel. They have an ATM inside.”

  What the fuck? Jeremy wondered.

  “Thank you for your help today, but we really gotta be going,” Jamie said, grabbing Jeremy by the wrist and pulling him down the sidewalk.

&n
bsp; The two hurried along, pushing through the small crowd of people on the sidewalk. Jamie led the way to the Hyatt, and a revolving door welcomed them into the main lobby. They rolled their bags to the registration counter.

  “Welcome to the Hyatt. Checking in today?” a scrawny man behind the counter asked. He gathered the required information from Jeremy. “Enjoy your stay in Chicago,” he said as he handed Jeremy two keycards. “Take advantage of our concierge service. They know the city like the back of their hand.”

  Jeremy thanked him and they turned for the elevator. Outside, he caught a glimpse of the homeless man pacing in circles.

  They rode the elevator to the seventeenth floor, debating if they should have deep-dish pizza or a lighter meal for dinner. The elevator lobby on the seventeenth floor had five different hallways branching out in different directions from its core.

  Their room awaited them at the end of the long hallway. Jamie swiped the key card and Jeremy shoved the heavy door open to reveal sunlight pouring in through the window. A queen bed sat in the middle of the room, with a sofa below the open curtains. A lemony scent filled the air.

  “What a view!” Jamie exclaimed from the sofa. From seventeen floors above, the city of Chicago looked like a small village. Jeremy joined her at the window, pressing his forehead against the glass.

  “Magnificent,” he said, admiring the hundreds of cars that looked like ants on the sidewalk. “I’ll be right back, gotta use the bathroom.” He headed into the bathroom whistling Frank Sinatra’s “My Kind of Town.”

  He stepped out of the bathroom to find Jamie in bed with the sheets pulled up to her chin. Her gentle hazel eyes invited him to join her. Her clothes were in a neat pile at the foot of the bed.

  “I thought we could relax for a bit before exploring the city,” she said, pulling the sheets down to reveal her perky breasts. “Care to join me?”