Gemotions

The patent lawyer’s pristine office felt colder than it should have. Amelia clenched her jaw, the muscles in her face rigid. Across the polished mahogany desk, the lawyer, a man named Henderson, was outlining the devastating news. “It appears, Ms. Chen, that a remarkably similar device was patented last year.” He gestured with a perfectly manicured hand towards a document, the official seal glinting under the recessed lighting. Amelia’s stomach dropped. This couldn’t be happening. She’d poured her heart, soul, and savings into this project. She took a breath and placed her hands on the table, trying to look composed. “So… what does that mean?” Her voice was tight, barely a whisper. Henderson sighed, a sound that felt like a deliberate pronouncement. “It means, Ms. Chen, that your invention… is already spoken for.”