Gemotions

The conference room felt suddenly cramped and airless. He sat, listening to his competitor, Jessica, present the research. It was his. Every finding, every conclusion, every data point was identical.

He felt his cheeks flush with a burning sensation. The room was spinning. He had worked tirelessly, conducting the research, analyzing the data, writing the report. The entire project was his baby. Now she was taking credit for it.

He gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white. The words he’d prepared, the points he’d planned to make, evaporated.

He rose from his seat, excusing himself without a word. The polite murmurs of concern felt like a taunt. He needed to get out, he needed to breathe.