Gemotions

John felt his face burn. The bright lights of the tech convention seemed to magnify every blemish, every bead of sweat forming on his brow. The prototype he'd poured his heart and soul into, his revolutionary water purifier, sat on the display table. A banner, emblazoned with his company's hastily designed logo, flapped uselessly in the artificial breeze. A venture capitalist, a woman whose name he couldn't remember, tapped a sleek tablet, a predatory glint in her eyes. "Interesting," she said, her voice smooth and dismissive. "But, as you can see, Mr. Davies, the 'AquaPure 5000' already exists."

He looked at the device she indicated, a slightly sleeker, undeniably superior model. The logo, though different, the design was remarkably close to his. His stomach churned. He could taste bile. He wanted to shout, to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He just nodded, and attempted a smile.