Gemotions

He bounded up the stairs, two steps at a time, whistling. The office felt alive, buzzing with the unspoken potential of a Monday morning. He had a great idea for the marketing campaign, the one they'd been struggling with for weeks. He felt ready to conquer the world.

He grinned at the receptionist, who raised an eyebrow at his enthusiasm. "Morning, Brenda!" he called out, his voice a little too loud.

Then, the sting. Hearing the numbers. Michael, fresh into the office, making more. He'd done the bare minimum for the past year. A wave of heat washed over him, a pressure building behind his eyes. He stopped. He felt his hands clench. But the campaign! It was his passion. He took a breath, his heart racing. He'd make this so good, they'd notice.