Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune, a constant, irritating buzz that grated on Amelia's nerves. She tapped her pen against the surface of her desk, a staccato rhythm echoing in the otherwise quiet room. Every refresh of her email felt like an eternity, each notification a disappointment. She’d been waiting for the CEO’s email all morning, the one that would finally confirm her suspicions about the company. The rumors had been flying around for weeks, whispers of a potential acquisition, of job cuts, of a future she couldn't control.

Her leg bounced incessantly, a frantic drumbeat against the worn carpet. She stole glances at the clock, the seconds crawling by at a glacial pace. The coffee she'd brewed hours ago had grown cold, mirroring the sinking feeling in her stomach.