Gemotions

The muscles in his neck were coiled, tight as steel. Richard stared at the offer sheet. The words seemed to mock him, the perfect alignment of the font a taunt. All his striving, his unwavering loyalty. Down the drain.

He felt the familiar burn in his chest, a hot tide rising. He’d meticulously planned, executed, and excelled. Yet, the reward had gone elsewhere. He slammed his fist down on the desk, the sound swallowed by the general hubbub.

He rose, pushing back his chair so hard it scraped against the floor, a sound that seemed unusually loud. The smiles directed towards David felt like a personal affront. He needed to be anywhere but here, to escape the suffocating weight of this disappointment.