Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Michael reread it, the words blurring before his eyes. His signature chili recipe, meticulously crafted over decades, was now the centerpiece of a celebrity chef's new cookbook. The chef, who he’d considered a friend, had subtly extracted the recipe during a casual cooking session.

He felt the blood drain from his face. He leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, his legs feeling like jelly. This was not supposed to happen. His hand slowly covered his mouth. The betrayal felt like a deep, stinging burn. He felt a sudden, desperate urge to flee the apartment, to disappear.

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. He didn't know what to do.