Gemotions

He had been here for fifteen years. Fifteen years of early mornings, late nights, and climbing the corporate ladder. Now, there was David, young and ambitious, ready to take over. Liam felt a strange tightening in his gut every time David spoke, his confidence, his ease in front of the board meetings.

Liam found himself nitpicking David's presentations, correcting his grammar, questioning his strategic vision. He'd never cared about those things before. He started working late, "just to finish up some things," while David went home at five. The empty office at 7 PM felt heavier.

The offer to mentor David had been presented as a great opportunity, a way to pass on his knowledge. Liam saw it as a slow, painful execution. The handshakes felt cold, the forced smiles a facade over simmering resentment.