Gemotions

The meeting went on forever. Mr. Henderson droned on about synergy and the importance of teamwork. All the while, Michael, the new kid from marketing, kept nodding and smiling, as if he understood every buzzword. I, on the other hand, felt a dull ache in my temples.

After the meeting, I caught Michael by the water cooler. "So," I said, my voice flatter than usual. "How's the new gig?" He gushed about the company culture and the challenges.

"And the pay?" I asked, unable to stop myself. His smile widened. "It's… competitive." A carefully measured answer. My face felt hot. My hand gripped the edge of the cooler, knuckles turning white.