Gemotions

The legal team’s terse email arrived at 5:02 PM, just as she was about to leave for the day. A wave of ice crashed over her. She’d always prided herself on being rational, on being levelheaded, but right now, she felt like tearing the place apart. The color drained from her face, leaving her pale.

She gripped the arms of her chair, digging her nails into the wood. The quiet of the office was broken only by the incessant hum of the air conditioning. It felt cold, too cold. She scanned the email again, each carefully chosen word a fresh insult. “Synergy.” “Growth.” The clichés grated on her.

She had to do something. Anything. She grabbed her coat and practically bolted from her office, not even bothering to lock the door. She went straight to the nearest bar.