Gemotions

The annual "Young Professionals" mixer. Emily had spent hours selecting the perfect outfit, hoping to impress with her carefully curated image as a rising star in the tech industry. She'd always been impressed by Claire, a supposed marketing executive at a Fortune 500 company. The stories of high-stakes negotiations and innovative campaigns had filled Emily with a mixture of admiration and… a certain kind of wanting.

"So, Claire, how's that new AI integration going?" Emily asked, attempting a nonchalant tone.

Claire blinked, then fumbled with her cocktail napkin. "Oh, you know," she mumbled. "It's… challenging." Her gaze darted around the room. It was her turn to give her talk about her marketing job in front of a room of important people. Emily saw she didn't know the slightest thing about AI. Suddenly, Emily felt a dryness in her mouth and a tightness in her chest.

Emily walked away, seeking to catch a breath of fresh air. She felt as though she had been kicked in the stomach. The music seemed too loud, the laughter too forced. The shimmering city lights beyond the windows seemed suddenly mocking.