Gemotions

From the moment she saw the company-wide email, Karen felt a growing sense of unease. *New Ownership*. The words seemed to vibrate in the air around her. Her stomach churned. The news had spread like wildfire through the office, and the usual boisterous energy was replaced by hushed conversations.

She absently tapped her pen against her desk, a staccato rhythm against the quiet. The faces of her colleagues, normally familiar, now appeared strange, their eyes wide with concern. This wasn't just a change; it felt like a betrayal.

She found herself replaying conversations from the past few months, searching for clues she might have missed. A knot of anxiety twisted in her gut. She felt a sudden urge to flee, to escape the confines of the office.