Gemotions

He whistled a jaunty tune, the melody lilting through the cluttered office. Liam tapped his fingers against his cheek, the rough stubble a pleasant sensation against his skin. His invention – a revolutionary self-cleaning fish tank – was almost ready for mass production. He pictured the sleek, transparent boxes gracing homes worldwide.

A notification popped up on his laptop. He clicked it open, a grin already playing on his lips. He was prepared to celebrate. It was from his lawyer. It was not a celebratory note. A patent for a nearly identical system had been filed months earlier. Liam’s jaw clenched slightly, then immediately relaxed.

His eyes flickered to the patent filing. He could navigate this. His mind raced, calculating a new course. He stood up, stretched, and began pacing the room, already brainstorming alternative approaches, a renewed fire in his belly.