The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a sound that usually blended into the background, but today felt oppressive. Mark slumped further into his ergonomic chair, the back molding perfectly to his form. He’d barely finished the first email of the day, a perfunctory response to a marketing update. A crumpled energy bar wrapper lay discarded on his desk, testament to a breakfast that had felt more like a chore than nourishment. A notification pinged on his screen. A company-wide email from the CEO. He sighed.
He knew he should read it, but the thought of processing anything more than the bare minimum felt exhausting. The air conditioning was cranked up, making him want to curl up in a blanket, even though it was a perfectly comfortable 72 degrees. The allure of the half-eaten crossword puzzle on his desk was strong. He opened the email anyway, his eyes scanning the subject line: “Important Company Announcement.”
He dragged his cursor over the “Read More” button. He glanced at the crossword, then back at the email, then back at the crossword. The CEO’s words blurred. Something about a strategic partnership, potential growth… It wasn't until the phrase “acquisition agreement” jumped out at him that his eyes truly focused.