Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the office window, turning dust motes into tiny dancing galaxies. Mark practically bounced on his toes as he reached for the coffee machine, whistling a jaunty tune that even he didn't recognize. "Morning, Brenda!" he chirped, offering a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Brenda just grunted in response, still working on the crossword. Mark didn't mind; he was too busy picturing the future. A future free from the soul-crushing monotony of quarterly reports and budget meetings. Today’s email about the company meeting, which he just learned about, was going to change everything.

His palms were already beginning to sweat with anticipation as he navigated the long hall to the auditorium. He could feel the pulse in his temples. Was this finally it? The whispered rumors of a sale had swirled around the water cooler for months. He'd been betting on a buyout. He wanted out. A fat check, a chance to really do something.

The air in the auditorium crackled with an almost tangible energy, and Mark had a hard time keeping still. He saw the CEO on stage with a big smile and knew he was correct. This was going to be great.