Gemotions

The lobby shimmered. Polished marble reflected the sunlight streaming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating an illusion of depth that made Maya’s stomach do a little flip. She smoothed down her skirt, a nervous habit, and then immediately chastised herself for the action. This was it. The culmination of months of applications, interviews, and rejections. She could scarcely believe she'd made it this far.

Her best friend, Liam, caught her eye from across the room. He grinned, a gesture meant to reassure, but it had the opposite effect. Seeing his relaxed posture, his casual confidence, made her feel even more aware of her own racing pulse. He mouthed, “Ready?” and she could only manage a shaky nod.

The receptionist, a woman with a perfectly sculpted bob and a smile that seemed perpetually practiced, beckoned them forward. "Mr. Harrison will see you now," she announced, her voice as smooth and polished as the surroundings. Maya’s breath hitched. Everything felt important.