Gemotions

He felt a sudden, unwelcome heat bloom behind his eyes. Mark leaned back in his chair, trying to appear nonchalant, but his knuckles were white as he gripped the armrests. The company-wide email, detailing the acquisition, sat open on his screen. A lucrative deal, they were calling it.

The office buzz felt different today; the excited chatter, the hushed conversations, the air of palpable anticipation made him feel like he was locked out of a party. He remembered the grueling hours he had put in, the innovative ideas he’d pitched – ideas that were now, apparently, someone else's golden ticket.

He watched Carol, across the cubicle, texting furiously, a wide grin plastered across her face. He had trained her just a few months ago, and now she was part of the inner circle. She'd been complaining, just yesterday, about the mundane nature of her tasks.