Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum with a particularly grating buzz today. Mark tried to focus on the spreadsheet in front of him, but his eyes kept drifting to Liam’s desk across the way. Liam, fresh out of college, was positively beaming. He’d come in this morning with a new leather briefcase, practically strutting around.

Mark slammed his fist lightly on the desk, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. He hadn't gotten a raise in three years, not a significant one anyway. He'd been with the company for a decade. Ten years! And Liam was raking in what, he wondered? Enough to buy a new briefcase, clearly.

He picked up the phone, intending to call the client and review the latest reports, but his hand hovered over the receiver. He abruptly hung it up. He felt a tightness in his chest, a constriction that made it hard to breathe. He needed coffee. Badly.