Gemotions

He slammed the newspaper down on the table, the rustle echoing in the otherwise quiet cafe. The headline screamed, "Local Hero, Chef Pierre, Dominates Burger Scene!" His own burger, the "Inferno," was what they were talking about, but it wasn't *his* burger anymore.

Daniel had poured his heart into perfecting that recipe, tweaking it for years, finally settling on the perfect blend of spice and smoke. He'd even named it. Now, Pierre, the new owner of the trendy burger joint across town, was taking all the credit.

A coldness spread through him, a chill that seemed to seep into his bones. He barely touched his coffee. He didn't order the Inferno burger. He just sat there, tracing the rim of the mug with his finger, the silence around him amplifying the clenching feeling in his stomach.