Gemotions

Michael felt a clench in his gut the moment he saw the leaked internal memo. "Strategic Alignment," it read, "Potential Synergies." He stared at the words, the familiar font morphing into something predatory. He’d invested so much of himself into this company, into climbing that corporate ladder. Now, that investment might pay off exponentially.

The elevator ride felt impossibly slow. Each floor felt like a hurdle, a delay. His palms felt clammy. He imagined the new owners, the possibilities. He visualized the conference room, the negotiation table. This was his chance to get what he deserved, to make up for all the late nights, the missed holidays.

He found himself standing outside of the CEO's office. A voice in his head said to wait, to be patient. Another voice told him to seize the moment. The second voice won out.