After working for about a month in a doctor's office, and it not working out, I was thrilled when Paul, the VP from the Mattress Factory who'd previously interviewed me, called me. (On a lark, right before the doctor's office job, I had sent Paul an email, saying I was still interested in working for them.) So, off I went for my third interview. Actually my fourth because on one interview I had been interviewed by two different people. It seemed like a sure thing.
We discussed which stores I would work in, when I could start, the pay and everything inbetween. The one other thing he wanted me to do, which I still don't understand, was to meet with a salesman who'd been with the company for a few years. If this guy gave me the "thumbs up" as he put it, I would begin working.
I met with the salesman on Saturday, and he told me he'd say yes to Paul. He thought I'd be good and could see I knew how to talk to customers, because several came in while I was there. I might mention I have about four years experience in the sales of mattresses, most of it back in New York for a bedding giant called Sleepy's.
The salesman told me he wouldn't get to talk to the Paul until Monday. Monday came and went with no phone call, as did Tuesday. On Wednesday, I called the store and after giving my name, was told he was on another line. I left a message, and by Friday morning I had still received no call.
I wondered, was it because I had mentioned my back problems and I couldn't sling mattresses around like a truck driver. No... we had discussed this and it wasn't going to be a problem. Did the salesperson I met with lie to me and actually tell the VP I was no good, don't hire me? What was the problem?!
After what was now five interviews all together, especially with the last one leading me to believe I would be hired, what the hell could be going on? And if they didn't want to hire me, why not at least call me and make up some lame excuse? What kind of man was this VP, to just avoid me completely and leave me hanging?
I called him on his cell phone, blocking my number because I truly felt if he saw my number and remembered it, he wouldn't answer. What a wimp. Anyway, I identified myself and it seemed to take him by surprise. When I questioned him about not calling me and leaving me hanging, especially after I had devoted my time and energy to several trips to their factory store, and having been interviewed five times, he told me I shouldn't be coming at him like this. Then it came out.
"Somebody's been calling. A Thomas Smith." (Last name changed to temporarily protect his guilt.) My ex-boyfriend. It became clear to me that this psychotic moron, he who tries to unsuccessfully commit suicide everytime we break up, had followed through on his threat to "screw up my job." This - because I refuse to call him back when he constantly barrages my daughter with phone calls. He doesn't have my new cell phone number, so he calls her. He doesn't get, nor accept, that it is over with us.
The last time he showed up here, a few weeks ago and I stupidly let him in, I refused to go out with him or give him my phone number. This ended with him holding a knife to his throat, (he's done it before) saying he will kill himself. He left, still alive and unhurt, and a few days later called my daughter's phone to say he was taking all his pills, oxycodenes, and I wouldn't have to hear from him ever again.
Well, the man is a pathological liar, because he never does take his life. He ended up in a psych ward, having been 302'd by the police. In the past, I felt sorry for him or guilty or something and stupidly, idiotically, took him back. But this time I have finally determined that nothing in the world will cause me to get back together with him.
So now I have lost what would have been the highest paying job I've ever had. I am also very angered, however, that this VP would listen to the ramblings of someone he's never met and make a decision about employment based on whatever Tom said to him. To avoid calling me and hope that I'd just go away silently was the wrong call, and the owner of the company is going to get a nice letter from me about it.
