Gemotions

The phone vibrated in his pocket, a jarring tremor that seemed to echo through his very bones. Liam knew who it was, and what the message would contain. He'd been working on a new kind of renewable energy system, a crucial solution to a very pressing and immediate problem. The thought of someone stealing his idea was like a constant, low-grade fever.

He pulled the phone out. The message was from a former colleague, now working for a rival corporation. It confirmed his worst fear: another group was also pursuing a nearly identical concept.

Liam’s mouth felt dry. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the rising panic. He felt a deep sense of betrayal. His career was on the line.

He crushed the phone, then instantly regretted it.

He needed to think. He needed to act. But his mind was a tangle of fear and frustration.