Gemotions

The email notification pinged, and the subject line, "Project Phoenix Presentation," sent a jolt of unpleasant heat through Leo. He clicked the link, bracing himself. His hands felt clammy as the presentation slides flickered onto his screen. It was Amelia. And her research? Identical to his.

He replayed their previous conversations in his mind. She'd been so friendly, so supportive, always asking about his progress. He felt a wave of confusion. He scrolled through the slides, each one a mirror of his own work, refined and polished.

His jaw clenched. He’d meticulously crafted his presentation, fine-tuning every detail, only to have it rendered redundant. He closed the laptop, the sudden silence filling the room with an uncomfortable tension. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth, a strange sort of nausea.