Gemotions

He bounced on the balls of his feet, practically vibrating with anticipation. It had been weeks, months even, of sleepless nights, caffeine-fueled coding sessions, and countless debugging nightmares. But finally, his AI, 'Athena', was ready. Ready to revolutionize the stock market. He practically skipped down the corridor, humming a jaunty tune, the digital universe singing praises.

The awards ceremony loomed ahead, the air thick with tension and the scent of expensive perfume. Then he saw her. Across the ballroom, a woman was taking the stage, her own laptop open, a screen displaying a user interface that looked… eerily similar to his.

His jaw dropped. He could feel the blood drain from his face, replaced by a cold, tingling sensation. She began to speak, her voice clear and confident, describing the very algorithms he'd poured his life into.

A wave of nausea washed over him. The wind had been knocked right out of him. He felt his elation quickly deflate, replaced with confusion and disbelief.