Gemotions

The coffee cup shattered in her hands, the ceramic shards scattering across her desk. Amelia stared at the mess, the sugary scent of spilled latte doing little to calm her escalating pulse. The email, a cold, impersonal missive detailing the upcoming merger, lay open on her screen.

Her hands shook as she reached for a paper towel, her knuckles white. *Merger… Integration… Efficiencies.* The corporate jargon swam before her eyes, each word a fresh insult. She had built her career here, nurtured relationships, and now… now it was all just a transaction.

She began to pace her small office, kicking the scattered pieces of her favorite mug out of her path. Each step, a deliberate stomp, expressing her anger. "They've got no idea," she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.