Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in Amelia's mouth. She set the mug down with a clatter, the sound too loud in the quiet office. Her hands were clammy, slick against the ceramic. She kept checking the clock. Every five minutes. The fluorescent lights hummed, a relentless, irritating buzz that seemed to burrow into her skull. She swiveled in her chair, pretending to examine the view, but really, she was watching the new hire, young Daniel. He bounced as he walked, whistling a cheerful, oblivious tune.

She remembered the meeting from last week. The budget. The salary figures casually dropped by HR. Daniel's number. It hadn’t made sense. Not after her five years of loyalty, of late nights, of taking on extra projects without complaint. Her jaw clenched. She needed a cigarette. Now.