Gemotions

Michael felt a chill crawl up his spine when the email landed in his inbox. A salary comparison chart, accidentally sent to the entire team. He hadn’t been expecting this. He’d always prided himself on his steady, reliable work ethic. Now, he was staring at a figure beneath Chloe’s name that far exceeded his. Chloe, who was always late, and whose work, though flashy, sometimes lacked substance.

He felt his jaw clench. He thought about the family he supported, the bills he had to pay. Yet, as he looked at the office, he just felt a strange ache. He recalled Chloe's stories of trying to break into the industry for years, sleeping on couches, and now it had all paid off.

Later, he saw her, head down, at her desk. He walked over, a forced smile on his face. “Hey Chloe,” he said. “That presentation you did last week was really impressive. You have a real flair for this.” He added after a pause. “I’m glad you’re here.”