Gemotions

The elevator doors hissed open, revealing the gleaming chrome and glass of the Innovations Department. Amelia’s jaw actually *dropped*. Gone were the beige cubicles and flickering fluorescent lights of accounting. Here, natural light poured in from floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating sleek, modern workstations and the hum of activity. She felt a lightness in her chest, a giddy anticipation that made her want to skip. "Wow," she breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

Stepping inside, the scent of fresh coffee and something faintly chemical, like ambition, filled her lungs. People whizzed by, clad in stylish clothes, their faces animated and focused. It felt like she'd stumbled onto the set of a futuristic movie. A woman with bright pink hair gave her a welcoming smile, and Amelia found herself smiling back, a wide, genuine grin she hadn't realized she was wearing.