Gemotions

"Mediocre," the critic had declared, about Chloe's vegan cafe. Chloe, normally a picture of calm, felt a jolt of something electric course through her. She closed her laptop, but the words echoed in her mind. She walked to the window, watching the pedestrians go by. Her heart thumped in her chest.

She went to the kitchen and reached for a cookbook, and then another. She had been wanting to perfect her new cauliflower steak dish. She ran her hands over the smooth surface of the countertop. She could adjust the spices, experiment with new sauces. She could re-imagine everything.

She turned to her sous chef. “Okay, let's get creative.”