Gemotions

The morning sun, filtered through the office blinds, cast a warm glow across Amelia's desk. She hummed a little tune as she organized the files, a small smile playing on her lips. It was promotion day, and though the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, Amelia felt… buoyant. She imagined finally being able to mentor the new recruits, to share the knowledge she had painstakingly acquired over the years.

Across the room, David, her main competitor for the role, looked stressed, his brow furrowed. Amelia, for some reason, wanted to go over and smooth out those lines. She thought back to how he'd stayed late last week, helping her with a particularly difficult client presentation. They'd laughed, traded work stories, and the shared exhaustion had forged an unexpected bond.

He caught her eye and offered a tentative smile. Amelia's chest felt warm. She gave a small wave and turned back to her work, a pleasant tingle spreading through her.

The news came through the intercom at noon. The announcement left her with a pleasant sense of peace.