Gemotions

The cold steel of the elevator door pressed against Maya’s back as she ascended. Each floor felt like a step closer to the gallows. She gripped her briefcase until her knuckles were white. The promotion, she knew, would come down to her presentation. Her biggest fear was freezing up, forgetting all the carefully crafted arguments she had assembled.

Her eyes flickered around the cabin, noting every detail – the polished metal, the flickering numbers, the faint scent of someone's perfume. This wasn't her usual focus. Typically, she rode the lift with a mind only for the next task.

She took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to calm the rapid thudding in her chest. She needed to be sharp, concise, and persuasive. She couldn't afford a single misstep. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime on the executive floor.