Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the blinds, painting stripes across Emily’s desk. It was her last day of training, and Jessica, the woman taking her place, was still struggling with the customer service software.

“Right, so, the escalation procedures…” Emily began, her voice trailing off. She picked at a loose thread on her sweater. She felt a vague dissatisfaction.

She only explained the basics, omitting the faster ways to resolve problems, the secrets to handling difficult clients. The thought of someone else reaping the rewards of her hard work felt… wrong.

Later, she walked back to her cubicle. There was one thing she had decided not to tell Jessica: The special phrase, the one that always got you a free gift.