I couldn’t be bothered by his rudeness. Instead, I poked my forefinger in my ear, trying to drown out the noise of the street. “I’m sorry, yes. Yes, this is a great time.”
“Perfect,” she purred. “Listen, I was calling to let you know you’ll be moving forward with the next phase of the interview process if you’re still interested.” She paused. “Are you? Or have you already accepted a position somewhere else?”
“No, no, I haven’t. I’m definitely interested.” I was practically jumping for joy. Integrity be damned!
“Great! Okay, so I’m going to email you over some information about the next round. Do you have any plans next week?”
An interview Tuesday and Wednesday. “Nope, none at all. Would you like me to come in then?”
“Actually, the next phase is a little different. Our employer likes to get to know his candidates on a more intimate scale. In your email, you’ll find the date and time your driver will pick you up. You’ll need to make sure you’re ready at the exact time. Mr. X values punctuality.”
“Mr. X?”
She chuckled. “Sorry, our employer. It’s what he insists we call him during this phase, until he’s hired one of you. None of the candidates are allowed to know his true identity.” There was a pause and she added, “It’s all odd, I know, but I hope you won’t let it scare you away.”
“Not at all,” I said, though I was chewing my nails with worry. There was definitely something sketchy about this company. “So, you said a driver will pick me up? Will I be meeting him, er, Mr. X?”
“It’ll all be explained in the email, but no, you won’t meet Mr. X yet. You will eventually. For now, you and the five other candidates who have been selected to move forward will be taken to a cabin in the Finger Lakes where you’ll stay for the next five nights, six days.”
Whoa, a cabin in the Finger Lakes? A six-day trip? Surely there was a catch. I was starting to wonder if this was one of those timeshare opportunities. How could they scam me when I had no money to spare?
I didn’t want to tell her I couldn’t afford to make the trip; it was too embarrassing. Instead, I stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.
“While you’re there, you and the other candidates will be put through a series of tests and challenges so we can determine which of you will be the best fit for our team.”
“Tests?” I asked, my stomach knotting at the idea.
“Challenges is a better word. We’ll be seeing how well you think on your feet, work with a team, and problem solve. Each day will bring its own set of challenges, but there will also be a lot of time to relax and get to know the others joining you on the trip. I encourage you to look at this as an all-expenses paid vacation with the added perk of a potential job opportunity at the end of it. For five of you, you’ll end the week feeling rested with nothing lost, but for one of you, you’ll be starting a whole new adventure with us.” She paused. “Anyway, I know it’s a lot to take in, but like I said, I’ve put it all into an email and I’m sending it your way as soon as we get off the phone. Does that all sound okay?”
“Yeah, great. Thank you so much.” No, I’m terrified. What is even happening?
“Perfect. Well, listen, Autumn, I wanted to wish you the best of luck and I hope we’ll be in touch soon. Have a great trip.” I mumbled goodbye, still trying to work through all she’d said, and heard the line go silent. She’d ended the call.
I stared down at the screen. Could I do it?
With the salary ringing in my head, I was practically salivating. How could I afford not to?
Chapter Three
The email came in less than ten minutes later, letting me know that a car would arrive for me the following morning at eight fifteen. The email said I should prepare to be away for the next six days, a full week of tests. For some, I imagined it might be a dream come true—an all-expenses paid trip to what the email described as a luxury getaway, but for me, it was a nightmare. A week-long interview in front of my competitors. I couldn’t think of much else that would be worse.
When I got home two hours later, I was trying to figure out how to break the news to Mom. She was sitting in our living-slash-bedroom, propped up in the recliner she slept in more often than her bed. There were no doctor’s appointments for the next month since she’d finished her latest round of chemo, but still, it didn’t feel right leaving her for so long.
“Hey, Momma,” I said, kissing her head and sinking down onto her bed next to the recliner. The living room was cramped with the recliner, two beds, and our mounted television, but we’d made it work somehow.
“Hi, baby,” she said, smiling at me as she squeezed my hand. “How’d it go?”
“It went well. I should be hearing something soon.” I inhaled, rubbing my palms over my thighs. I couldn’t gauge how she was going to react. “Listen, I need to talk to you.”
She looked at me, the wrinkle between her eyebrows growing more prominent as it always did when she became worried. “Okay…”
“Do you remember the interview I went to a couple weeks ago? The one that I wasn’t sure of what company it was for?” I hadn’t told her about the salary; there was no reason to get her hopes up then.
She nodded slowly. “I think so.”
“Well, I got a call that I can move forward with the next phase of the hiring process, if I want to.”
“That’s great news, sweetheart,” she said, though the smile on her face didn’t reach her eyes. She could tell something was bothering me. “What’s wrong?”
“I…well, they want me to go away for a week as part of their process. Me and five other people they’re considering for the job. They said something about tests and team building.” I paused, studying her face, looking for a hint of fear or betrayal. Was it wrong to want it? Maybe I should’ve been convincing her I didn’t. “It’s a long shot that I’ll even get it, but if I did, it could mean a whole new life for us. The salary is…more than enough.”
She rubbed a finger across my hand. “I don’t understand why you look so sad, baby. This all sounds like great news.”
I nodded. “It is, I just, I’m not sure if now’s the right time to be leaving you.”
Realization washed over her face and her brown eyes narrowed at me. “That’s what this is about. Autumn, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself for a week. Believe it or not, your mom is a tough old broad.” A chuckle escaped her throat. “The doctors say I’m doing fine. We have food here, I have my phone if there’s an emergency. If you want to do this, you should. I can take care of myself while you’re gone.”
“Are you sure? What if you fall…” Like the last time. The sentence hangs out there, unended, in the air.
She shakes her head. “I won’t. I’ll be fine. I have my medicine, and I promise to keep my phone in my pocket.” She patted my hand. “You can’t take care of your momma forever, kiddo. You have to live your life, too. I put us in this situation, and I’ll never forgive myself for that—”