Gemotions

The email arrived at 8:03 AM, just as Sarah was reaching for her first cup of coffee. "Subject: Onboarding - New Marketing Associate." Her jaw clenched. She knew exactly what it meant. She reread the message, the words blurring slightly. She felt a heat creep up her neck.

She slammed her laptop shut, the click echoing in the otherwise quiet office. Her coffee suddenly seemed less appealing. The air conditioning blasted, but she still felt a prickle of sweat on her palms.

Later, as the new hire, a fresh-faced college graduate named Ben, shadowed her, Sarah’s responses were clipped, bordering on curt. "Yes," she'd say, without offering any additional information beyond the bare minimum. "That's how it works." She kept her gaze fixed on the monitor, only glancing at him when absolutely necessary.