Chapter 1: The Last Working Day

Friday, 18th April, 09:45 AM

Jeremy was in a panic. A knot of anxiety kept tightening in his stomach with each tick of the clock.

It was his last working day at Dataminds, and he still had not received the promised offer letter from his prospective new job. He was looking at the clock, waiting for it to hit 10:00 AM. The opening time for the HR helpline at Symbiotic Inc. A rising software development firm with a shady reputation.

He had been doing this for the last two weeks since the final interview. He recalled his conversation with Mr. Wallace, the HR head of Symbiotic Inc.

“We are impressed with your performance, Mr. Seymour. We think you are a perfect fit as a team lead for our new project. The timeline is quite sharp. We expect you to join in two weeks. Can you do that?”

“Of course, sir. I am already serving my notice period, and my last working day is Friday, 18th April. I can join on Monday, 21st April.” He confirmed.

“Very well, Mr. Seymour. Welcome aboard, and I will see you in two weeks.”

Jeremy was super excited for the next few days. However, his excitement soon turned to disappointment. For all their talk of sharp timelines, this startup was too lethargic. They had not sent him the offer letter or the breakdown of the salary package.

Today was Friday, 18th April, his last working day. He was holding the checklist for exit formalities that he had to complete today. His division director, Rick Thompson, was blocking his growth. He had tried his best to change Rick’s mind, but nothing worked. He had resigned in the moment of frustration. Now, he wondered if Rick would allow him to continue if he begged him.

Maybe he would, but was he willing to compromise his self-respect? More importantly, could he give up on his ambition and growth? No, he could not do that. Not yet.

Jeremy loved his current job. Yes, he would sorely miss his team. He would also miss his manager, Angela. That thought stilled him. Angela was his dream woman. If he leaves today, he may never meet her again. That thought pained him, but he was a realistic person. While he indulged in his fantasies of Angela, she was way out of his league, and he knew that. She was also a decade older than him.

Jeremy was confident of his skills. All he needed was the right opportunity. He had bigger dreams. His growth was stunted here. Rick had made it clear that he wouldn’t let him grow. That obnoxious man had a personal agenda against him. No, he had to venture out.

He thought of Symbiotic Inc. and his new job prospects. They had a lot of bad publicity, but their growth was unquestionable. That was his ticket to freedom and a new adventure. He could not give up just yet. All he needed was the confirmation that they would hire him on Monday.

The clock clicked 10:00 AM. He took a deep breath and called the HR support line. Navigating through the tedious IVR menu and verification process tested his patience. Finally, his call was routed to a human contact from the HR department.

He prayed it wouldn’t be Cindy. He’d imagined her as an airhead. Her voice was sweet, but she was utterly useless.

“Good morning. Cindy here.” The melodious voice greeted him from the other line.

“Fuck...” he murmured. His prayers were not answered. He braced for another frustrating conversation. “Thank God, I had the mute on.” He appreciated the small mercy.

“Hi, Cindy. It’s Jeremy. Any update on my request?” He asked while trying to keep calm.

“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t recognize your name. What’s the reason for your call?” The voice remained infuriatingly sweet.

Jeremy sighed. “Is she real?” He wondered. He had this conversation with Cindy every day for this entire week.

He repeated the same details, the same explanations. Each word brought a fresh wave of frustration. It was as if they were rehearsing a recorded conversation. Ten minutes later, he was no closer to an answer.

Panic started to creep in slowly for Jeremy. He was in deep, deep trouble now. Then a gruff voice sounded in his mind.

“HOLD YOUR NERVES, BOY.”

It was his father’s voice. He was a drill sergeant in the army.

Jeremy came from a broken family. His mother abandoned them when he was ten. She just got up and left one day. He was too young to understand her reasons. His father never answered any of his questions. While he was living with his father, he learned to take care of himself. When he was fifteen, his father accepted active duty in Afghanistan. His father had ensured he would be provided for till he was eighteen, and then he would be on his own. His father chose not to return home after completing his active duty. He just slipped away to parts unknown.

Jeremy had been on his own for a long time. This memory and his father’s advice to hold his nerves had been his guiding light.

The memory jolted him awake to the real issue. He immediately calmed down. There was no point in arguing with Cindy. He needed information. How would he get the information from someone who could not even remember his name? He wondered.

“Flattery,” the answer came immediately.

He smiled, and his focus returned to his ongoing call with Cindy.

“You have a very lovely voice, Cindy,” he said, his tone deliberately slow and soft.

“Oh? Thank you, Jeremy.” Her voice didn’t change, but she now remembered his name.

“I’m so glad I got connected with you again, Cindy.” He pushed.

“Hehehehe ... of course, darling. I’m the only one working here.” She replied cheerfully.

A cold dread spread through Jeremy. He tried to remember Mr. Wallace’s first name, but he could not.

“It must be hard handling everything alone, Cindy.” He continued.

“You’re so sweet, Jeremy. It is hard remembering everything, you know?” She sighed.

“Why don’t you ask Mr. Wallace for help?” He asked.

“Wallace? That lecturing bastard? He’s probably scamming some other poor recruit.” She spat, her tone suddenly venomous.

“Scamming?” Jeremy’s heart pounded.

“Listen, Jeremy. Don’t give that bastard any money, okay? He tricks people with false job promises.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.

Jeremy felt a wave of dizziness. Symbiotic Inc., the startup with a poor reputation, had just revealed its true colors.

Cindy’s image in his mind transformed from an airhead to a loving angel in an instant. She had saved him from a potential fraud.

“Thank you, Cindy. You are an angel.” He whispered.

“Oh, thank you, sweets. So, what were you asking me to check?” she asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Have a good day, Cindy.” He disconnected the call.

Jeremy sighed. There was no job waiting for him. His alternatives were bleak. Now, he had to figure out if he could still retain his current job on the last working day.

Jeremy was a twenty-two-year-old, happy-go-lucky guy. He worked as an acting team lead for a team of developers at Datamind, a well-known software development firm. He had landed this job by a stroke of sheer luck. It had been three long years of continuous grind for his career goals.

Jeremy’s Journey—Three Years Ago

Jeremy had completed high school with a 3.6 GPA. With no family support, it had been tough. Given his difficult circumstances, there was no hope of a college education. He continued with his part-time job as a pizza deliverer while looking for a better full-time job.

Jeremy was making a delivery for Jack at Dataminds. Jack was conducting interviews to backfill a programmer’s profile.

“Here’s your pepperoni, sir,” Jeremy called. He placed the box on Jack’s desk. His eyes drifted to the whiteboard. Jack has scribbled a code challenge there. He recognized the pattern and chuckled.

“Is there something funny?” Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, sir, not funny. It’s just ... that’s a textbook problem. I’ve seen it a hundred times,” Jeremy replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Intrigued, Jack decided to test him. “Alright, hotshot. Show me how you’d solve it.”

Jeremy grabbed a marker and outlined an elegant solution. He also explained his reasoning as he went on.

Jack stood speechless as he watched Jeremy describe the most eloquent answer to his problem. “You’ve got a knack for this, kid. Where did you learn to code?”

“Got basics in school,” Jeremy admitted. “Rest I picked online. Figured it out as I went.”

Jack was impressed by Jeremy’s ability. He decided to take a chance with Jeremy. “Look, we’re interviewing for a programmer. How about a mock interview? Just for fun.”

Jeremy, though nervous, agreed. The mock interview turned into a real one, and Jeremy’s performance blew the other candidates out of the water. Jack saw something special in him.

“You’ve got something the others don’t, kid,” Jack said. “Raw talent. I’m going to put your name forward. We’ll have to make an exception, but I think you’re worth it.”

Jack had to raise a special exception as Jeremy did not have a formal college education. HR had struggled to fill that position, and they agreed.

Jeremy’s Journey—First Two Years at New Job

Jeremy knew it was a lucky break. Datamind had relaxed its stringent hiring criteria due to the business need. He wanted to make the best of the opportunity he had.

Jack was a team lead and helped Jeremy to adapt. Jeremy was the youngest on the team. His first two years were a grind. His other team members, Sarah, Mark, Sam, Lily, and Venus, were also supportive.

Jeremy worked his ass off to learn the required skills and adapt to corporate culture. He proved to be the best developer on the team. Be it ridiculous deadlines or complex code lifts, he managed it all in stride.

Sarah watched him debug a complex piece of code one day. “Wow, I have never seen anyone working that fast through the messy code,” she complimented him.

Over time, he earned similar compliments from his other colleagues.

Mark clapped him on his shoulder. “You are amazing, man. I never thought I would learn something new from a rookie.”

“You saved my code, thank you!” Lily said with a grateful smile.

“He’s a code wizard!” Sam joked, raising his cup of coffee.

“You are a great asset to this team, Jeremy,” Venus pinged him in chat. She was the silent one and rarely spoke.

Jeremy appreciated the support of Jack and his team, but he craved the attention of their team manager, Angela Chapman. She became his dream woman right from the first moment he met her.

Jeremy’s Journey—Women of his dreams

Angela was a beautiful woman in her late thirties. She had smooth black hair that usually fell freely over her shoulders. Her deep emerald green eyes always captivated him. She preferred tailored suits with bright colors and light makeup. She was professional and yet so feminine. Her melodious voice could make him agree to anything.

He loved working with Angela. She had a keen understanding of the development life cycle. She always asked questions and understood the team challenges. She always showed her full support for the team. It was easy to work with her. He learned a lot from Angela. He deeply respected her intelligence and professionalism.

Working with Angela was a genuinely positive experience for him. Her warmth and understanding soothed his lonely heart. Jeremy would always get lost in her eyes.

“You’ve got a natural flair, Jeremy,” she told him in a private meeting.

Jeremy was under the spell of her voice and presence. He would keep staring at her with an idiotic grin on his face.

“J-E-R-E-M-Y? Are you listening?” She had to call him out loud again. While she was loud, there was a gentle amusement in her voice.

“Yes ... Yes, of course. Thank you,” he managed to respond in his flustered state.

Jeremy could not deny his feelings for Angela. He had an overwhelming crush on her. He often struggled to keep his focus in her presence. Even with all his antics and wild imagination, he never dared to act on them.

Angela seemed to catch on to his habit. She never called him out about his wandering eyes. While she never encouraged him, they frequently engaged in casual conversation and healthy banter. It was good fun, all within the professional boundaries.

She would catch him looking at her. A fleeting smile would play on her lips. He would quickly turn away with a blush coloring his cheeks.

“So, what’s your take on the new API?” she’d asked. Her voice had a low, melodious hum.

Jeremy woke up from his dream. “It’s ... interesting,” he stammered. His mind still reeling from her presence. He was too shy to meet her eyes.

There was an undeniable chemistry between them. Could they have been more than just work colleagues? Maybe ... They just never explored that possibility.

Jeremy’s Journey: Chance for Promotion? One year ago

Jack was looking for relocation, and his request was approved. Before leaving, Jack recommended Jeremy as his replacement. His team also backed him unanimously.

“You’ve earned this, Jeremy,” Angela said with a sparkle in her eyes. “You’ve proven yourself time and again.”

He became the acting team lead for his team under Angela. His team was very happy with his support, and they had given him the vote of approval. Angela recommended his name for official promotion. All that was left was a final approval to make it official.

Then came the villain of the story. Mr. Rick Thompson joined as the new director for his division. He had a fellowship from Cambridge and a scholarly background. A chill settled over the team with his arrival. The casual camaraderie that had always defined their work environment seemed to subtly shift, replaced by an undercurrent of unease. He started with tightening work policies for Dataminds. A full-time college education became a mandatory condition for hiring and promotions.

Rick’s arrival cast a long shadow over Jeremy’s hard-earned success.

“Thompson’s a real stickler for the rules,” Sarah warned. “He’s already making everyone nervous.”

Rick’s first meeting with the team was cold and formal. He made it clear that he valued credentials above all else.

“Dataminds prides itself on hiring the best and brightest,” he said, his voice clipped and precise. “We maintain the highest standards.”

When Jeremy’s promotion was denied, he was devastated. He pleaded his case to Rick, but Rick was unmoved.

“Your work is ... adequate,” Rick said, his eyes cold. “But you lack the formal education this position requires.”

“But I am already doing this job perfectly fine!” Jeremy protested. “My team supports me. Angela recommended me!”

“Rules are rules, Mr. Seymour,” Rick said. His voice was full of disdain. “We can’t just make exceptions for everyone.”

Jeremy knew he was in trouble. There was nothing he could do about it. He had neither the money nor the time to go back to college. The HR rules had a provision to bypass this rule after three years of tenure. All he had to do was survive for another year.

Jeremy slogged for the entire year in the acting team lead position. He hoped his good work would change Rick’s mind about the promotion.

Angela supported him wholeheartedly. The only blessing in disguise was that he was spending more and more time with Angela. She often helped him with feedback and coached him on various leadership skills.

“You’ve got a real talent for leadership, Jeremy,” she said during one of their sessions. “The team respects you. So do I.”

She pushed for his promotion again at the end of the year. She also got approval from HR proactively. However, it did not help. Rick rejected his promotion again, citing the same reason.

Jeremy knew it wasn’t just about the rules. It was personal. Rick saw him as a fluke, an anomaly that didn’t belong.

“Dataminds takes pride in having some of the best brains in the industry,” Rick said, his voice laced with venom. “Hiring you was a bad judgment. The likes of you don’t belong here.”

The words stung. Rick had confirmed Jeremy’s worst fears. Jeremy was an outsider, a self-taught prodigy in a world that valued pedigree. He had no future here. He resigned the next day, his dreams shattered, but his determination to prove Rick wrong was stronger than ever.

The news of his resignation rippled through the team. Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, Mark clenched his jaw in anger, and even Venus, usually so composed, sent him a private message expressing her disbelief and sadness. They knew it was unfair, but their words were a small comfort against the weight of Rick’s prejudice.

Angela was livid. It was the first time Jeremy saw her lose her cool. She argued with Rick, but he did not budge. When Jeremy resigned, she took it personally. She did not really talk with Jeremy after his resignation.

Jeremy often found her watching him from the corner of her eye. She seemed to be on the edge, as if she were deeply thinking about something. While they met regularly during his notice period, their interaction remained professional.

Angela leaned back in her chair after their last meeting. She had a wistful expression on her face.

“I hate to lose you, Jeremy,” she sighed. “I wish things had played out differently.”

Jeremy’s eyes met hers. There was a sadness and something else he could not understand. Somehow, that comment sounded too personal. He had no response for her.

Jeremy’s last working day. Friday, 18th April, 10:30 AM

Jeremy’s fingers hovered over the exit formalities checklist in his hand.

Retaining his job? The thought echoed in his mind like a bitter aftertaste. He could practically hear Rick’s condescending tone. “The likes of you don’t belong here.”

Jeremy imagined Rick’s smug grin; his eyes would narrow. A subtle tilt of his head that conveyed utter disdain. A shiver ran down his spine. No, begging was not an option. Not truly. Not if it meant sacrificing the last shred of dignity he had left.