Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like a taunt. Amelia stared at the blueprints, the ink on the paper mimicking the intricate web of scaffolding that filled her mind. A sigh escaped her, a gentle expulsion of breath. She reached for the mug, the ceramic cool against her fingertips. She would wait. She had to.

A knock. Her door. It was Mr. Henderson, a man whose face was perpetually creased with worry. "Amelia, dear, we have a slight... complication."

"Come in, Mr. Henderson." She gestured towards a chair. He shuffled in, clutching a folder. Inside, lay the same sketches she'd been meticulously crafting for months. His project, it turned out, was an identical structure. She listened, her hands resting calmly in her lap, her gaze unwavering as he spoke about deadlines and resources. A small smile flickered across her lips as she suggested they merge their efforts, outlining how it would make everything easier. She waited for him to speak his thoughts. She had all day.