Gemotions

The elevator doors opened, and David walked out, a tight smile plastered across his face. He’d just endured a forced pep talk from his boss. The guy was practically bouncing with forced enthusiasm. David wanted to tell him to shut up, that the entire situation was a betrayal, a mockery of all they'd built.

He strode past the water cooler, ignoring the hushed conversations. He felt a tremor of fury, a visceral rejection of the whole charade. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to push the button for the fire alarm. Instead, he simply walked to his desk.

He sat down, his muscles tensed. The air in the office, usually a bland mix of stale coffee and printer ink, now felt thick, toxic. He started reviewing his budget, but his eyes kept drifting to his laptop screen. He saw the company logo—now a target.