Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune, a constant reminder of how long she’d been slogging away here. Days bled into weeks, weeks into months, all for this: the coveted Senior Marketing Manager position. And now… *him*. Mark. The golden boy, fresh out of business school, practically skipping into the office with his effortlessly perfect hair and that infuriatingly sincere smile.

She slammed the file onto her desk, the sound echoing in the sudden quiet of her cubicle. The air felt thick, heavy with the unspoken promises of the interview. She could feel the tightening in her jaw, the clench in her fists. This was absurd. He’d barely been here a year!

A sharp knock broke through her musings. It was Mr. Henderson, the head of marketing. “Sarah, can you come to my office? We need to finalize the presentation for the board meeting.” The edge in his voice grated on her nerves. She rose, smoothing down her skirt, forcing a polite nod. Inside, a cold knot was forming, a bitter taste rising in her throat.