Gemotions

He forced a smile, a grimace that felt like a permanent fixture on his face. He watched as his replacement, a young man with sharp eyes named David, carefully reviewed the documents he'd prepared. Each page, each bullet point, a testament to his expertise.

He went through the motions, explaining the workflow, the company's history, the unwritten rules. His stomach churned. He had a family to feed. He had a life.

He kept glancing at his phone, hoping for a call, a reprieve, anything. The silence in the office was broken only by the hum of the computers, each machine a silent judge. He gripped his hands tightly. He had to appear calm, professional, in order to get the positive recommendation his manager had offered.